# In hindsight, what pictures should have been nominated for Best Picture in 2000? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 25, 2013, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323 "2013-02-25T05:39:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/1 "2013-02-25T05:39:40Z")
As most of us know, The Academy often gets things very wrong. So I want to take a random year, and see if we can form some sort of consensus, in hindsight, about what movies should have been nominated for best picture. Let’s try this for the year 2000. If we have fun with it, maybe we’ll try other years. The movies actually nominated for Best Picture in 2000: Gladiator (winner) Chocolat Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Erin Brockovich Traffic Here’s a list of [notable films from the year 2000](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_in_film#Notable_films_released_in_2000). From that list, and with the benefit of hindsight, my nominees would be: [Best In Show](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218839/?ref_=sr_1) [High Fidelity](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146882/?ref_=sr_1) [O Brother, Where Art Thou?](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190590/?ref_=sr_1) (winner) [Cast Away](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162222/?ref_=sr_1) [Gladiator](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/?ref_=sr_1) (deserved a nomination, not a win,IMHO) (I almost nominated [The Tao of Steve](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0234853/?ref_=sr_1) as a dark horse. I love that movie, but maybe it’s not quite Best Picture material.) Your picks? ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/2 "2013-02-25T05:46:27Z")
**American Psycho Dancer in The Dark** ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/3 "2013-02-25T05:50:13Z")
Let me clarify. Ideally I’d like each poster to give me a list of their 5 nominees. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/4 "2013-02-25T05:59:02Z")
I’ll go through the list again. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/5 "2013-02-25T05:59:25Z")
2000, so there was still a cap on 5 for possible nominees. I’d give the win to _O Brother, Where Art Thou?_ with the other nominees being _Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon_ _Almost Famous_ _High Fidelity_ _Snatch_ ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/6 "2013-02-25T06:00:33Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > Sorry, **Dancer in The Dark** doesn’t count since it’s Danish. I’ll go through the list again. That wouldn’t disqualify it. Best Picture nominees are usually American films but they don’t have to be. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/7 "2013-02-25T06:04:40Z")
Good list bienville. In fact I missed Almost Famous. My revised list: [Almost Famous](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181875/?ref_=sr_1) (very much deserved a nomination) [High Fidelity](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146882/?ref_=sr_1) [O Brother, Where Art Thou?](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190590/?ref_=sr_1) (winner) [Cast Away](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162222/?ref_=sr_1) [Gladiator](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/?ref_=sr_1) I liked _Snatch_ very much, but it wouldn’t _quite_ make my list. _Crouching Tiger_ really didn’t do much for me. ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/8 "2013-02-25T06:05:37Z")
Good thread idea, this is fun! O Brother, Where Art Thou? \<-- Best Picture Gladiator Erin Brockovich Memento Snatch I really wanted to give the best picture to “Snatch” as it’s one of my favorite movies of all time, but O Brother has such a greater mass appeal, amazing music, and had a delightful style all it’s own. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/9 "2013-02-25T06:13:14Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > That wouldn’t disqualify it. Best Picture nominees are usually American films but they don’t have to be. Yeah, I thought about that after I posted it. I’ll add: **Memento Requiem For a Dream Shadow of The Vampire** (I do like **Snatch** , too.) ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/10 "2013-02-25T06:22:34Z")
Traffic O brother Gladiator Before Night Falls Quills It’s what I thought then and what I think now. For my money Traffic is easily the best film of that year. O brother is second. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/11 "2013-02-25T07:33:05Z")
Winner: O Brother, Where Art Thou? Other nominees: Almost Famous Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Memento Best in Show Other favorites of mine: Sexy Beast You Can Count on Me ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/12 "2013-02-25T07:42:07Z")
I know you want 5, but I’m going with current rules (sorry) All the Pretty Horses Almost Famous Best in Show Castaway\* Chocolat Erin Brockovich Finding Forester Memento Men of Honor Pollock \*=winner ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/13 "2013-02-25T09:24:47Z")
I wish I could contribute more to a full list but I haven’t seen a lot of these movies. I would give the award to Cast Away. I think Memento, Snatch, Best In Show and O Brother Where Art Thou deserve nominations. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/14 "2013-02-25T15:22:13Z")
_Best in Show_ is a very funny movie – I actually watched it again a week or two ago – but it really isn’t Best Picture caliber. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/15 "2013-02-25T15:35:05Z")
**etv78** , I agree with you that All the Pretty Horses is an underappreciated film. **twickster** , define your terms. What, in your view, makes a film “Best Picture caliber”? For me, it is amovie that bears many repeat viewings (which is part of the reason I think hindsight of a few years is helpful in this exercise). Several of the actual nominees just don’t hold up by that standard, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/16 "2013-02-25T18:44:37Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > _Best in Show_ is a very funny movie – I actually watched it again a week or two ago – but it really isn’t Best Picture caliber. I tend to give good comedies extra credit because comedy is so hard, and because the Academy tends not to recognize them. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/17 "2013-02-25T19:24:37Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > _Best in Show_ is a very funny movie – I actually watched it again a week or two ago – but it really isn’t Best Picture caliber. Agreed. I love Best in Show, but it’s not really a Best Picture quality film. Best Picture isn’t just about being an enjoyable movie… It’s about the sum of its various parts, the editing, the acting, the writing, etc. When you have a movie that excels in multiple areas, you have a BP caliber film. I’m willing to be proven wrong here, but I don’t think you could give me very many examples of a BP winner or nominee that wasn’t also lauded for its various components. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/18 "2013-02-25T19:29:36Z")
My five nominees for 2000 would be: Almost Famous Billy Elliot Cast Away Gladiator Requiem for a Dream My dark horse would be Nurse Betty, a vastly underrated film. ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/19 "2013-02-25T19:41:17Z")
Traffic (winner) Gladiator Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Requiem for a Dream Memento Sort of an odd year, in my opinion; after Traffic and Gladiator, you could probably talk me into choosing from at least six films for those last three spots (the three above, Erin Brockovich, O Brother, and Almost Famous), and possibly a couple more. ---
**Author:** ![Kepler1571](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/db5fbb/32.png) [@Kepler1571](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kepler1571)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323/20 "2013-02-25T19:45:07Z")
Memento \* Chicken Run Best in Show I’d leave the other two slots vacant, although if I got my wish I’d add Ginger Snaps. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-hindsight-what-pictures-should-have-been-nominated-for-best-picture-in-2000/651323.md?page=2)