My favorite western. It deserved to win on its own merits, regardless of Clints earlier work.
Also it’s a movie about westerns. To the Academy, made up of people who are heavily involved in movies, that might resonate a little more then with the population at large. That probably helped to give it an edge as well.
It won because it was and is an excellent film. One of the best westerns ever made.
I like Silverado but I have major problems with it. It seems to me that Kasdan made a movie that was about an hour too long, then he had to cut it. Some of the plot threads went no where, particularly Rosanna Arquette’s.
[minor nitpick]Marisa Tomei won Best Supporting Actress[/minor nitpick] However, your point is quite right!