The Oscars Got It Wrong Every Year, Tell Me a Year and I'll Fix It (1 Viewer)

[DocHolliday]

1994 should have been The Shawshank Redemption.

Tell me you don't always watch it when it's on tv vs Forrest Gump which I never watch over and over and over.

They blew this badly.

Pulp Fiction set a course for cinema for the next three decade.

I agree with this comment about Pulp Fiction.
But it's also so maddingly inconsistent in quality.
The Butch/Marsellus story is phenomenal.
The Mr. Wolf story is really good, too.
The mix up of time periods was very well done.
But the Vince/Mia story is weak.
And the last 10 minutes in the coffee shop is painfully bad...
That's why I called it overrated. It's very good but not the all time great it's made out to be.
I think that Jackie Brown and IB are both better.

Hmmm not sure I’ve ever heard someone r say Vince-Mia was weak. That’s one of my favorite parts. I also agree that it’s not my favorite QT. But it was the right movie at the time.

The use of the intro leading into **** Dale and the non-temporal aspect of the movie made it so forward-thinking in 1994 that those things became commonplace (attention to soundtrack, pacing of the movie, and the sequencing of events being messed with by a very present director). It's hard to overestimate how groundbreaking that film was in numerous ways.

That it didn't win the Oscar is such a mistake.

Is it a better story than Shawshank? Probably not. It is, after all, pulpy Pulp Fiction. Dime store novels vs. Stephen King's five dollar paperbacks. But it's a better movie experience.

Quiz Show. I do not understand the love and I think it's because they play up the Van Doren-as-establishment part that it becomes compelling. " The Uncle Tom of the Jews," the investigator's girlfriend calls him. It plays up the identity politics of it, which is why I think it gets so much credit in retrospect. I saw it in theatres and it was compelling, but it was a bit of a snooze fest.

Only a portion of that is what I found compelling about Quiz Show. It’s based on - and decently true to - something that really happened. Jack Barry was chased out of television because of this scandal - that really happened. It took decades for him to make a comeback…..and Joker’s Wild IS one of the greatest game shows of all time!!

“Reality TV”, starting with when The Real World was scripted and phony, is the moment when the quiz show cheating scandals basically became acceptable again. People no longer care if the whole thing is rigged — if a quiz show was rigged today, Gen Z idiots like my kids wouldn’t care at all. As long as it was on TikTok, it’s all just entertainment.

I do think your point about the anti-establishment aspect as relates to Van Doren vs Stempel, is part of the allure of how the story was told in the movie. It’s good moviemaking.

As mentioned previously, Quiz Show was my least favorite of the 4 good nominees that year. But compared to Gump? Quiz Show is a really good movie. Gump is mediocre at best. I will never watch that movie again.

This was a thoughtful reply to my kvetching. I did like Quiz Show, I just think it's gotten way too much love after the affair was over, you know? It's one of those things that got a re-evaluation that I don't think needed one. It was pretty well-received at the time and that's how I remember the movie. Good movie.

Anyway, that's an interesting post you made.

Thx rock. Btw, I can definitely appreciate anyone who thinks it is overrated and shouldn’t have been nominated at all. Totally fair point of view — but I still think it is more deserving than Gump.

Other movies that could have been deserving of nomination:

The Lion King
Dumb and Dumber
Ace Ventura (love this movie!!!)
Ed Wood
Clerks

Etc

I would watch any of those movies over Gump, no questions asked.

PS - I’m going off what IMDB says were movies from that year. Apologies if I’m getting any release dates wrong

I get the possibility of Shawshank over Gump but none of the others stand a chance. Gump was the right choice. It has it all. Humor, a love story, underdog struggles, and touches on a bunch of society issues including handicaps, drug addiction, suicide, racism, incest/child abuse, poverty, religion, war, bullying, etc.

Shawshank for me is the winner but I’ve never understood the Gump hate.

I certainly don’t hate Gump…..it just ain’t no Shawshank or Pulp Fiction for that matter.

Folks have different tastes.

 

[Eephus]

1994 should have been The Shawshank Redemption.

Tell me you don't always watch it when it's on tv vs Forrest Gump which I never watch over and over and over.

They blew this badly.

Pulp Fiction set a course for cinema for the next three decade.

I agree with this comment about Pulp Fiction.
But it's also so maddingly inconsistent in quality.
The Butch/Marsellus story is phenomenal.
The Mr. Wolf story is really good, too.
The mix up of time periods was very well done.
But the Vince/Mia story is weak.
And the last 10 minutes in the coffee shop is painfully bad...
That's why I called it overrated. It's very good but not the all time great it's made out to be.
I think that Jackie Brown and IB are both better.

Hmmm not sure I’ve ever heard someone r say Vince-Mia was weak. That’s one of my favorite parts. I also agree that it’s not my favorite QT. But it was the right movie at the time.

The use of the intro leading into **** Dale and the non-temporal aspect of the movie made it so forward-thinking in 1994 that those things became commonplace (attention to soundtrack, pacing of the movie, and the sequencing of events being messed with by a very present director). It's hard to overestimate how groundbreaking that film was in numerous ways.

That it didn't win the Oscar is such a mistake.

Is it a better story than Shawshank? Probably not. It is, after all, pulpy Pulp Fiction. Dime store novels vs. Stephen King's five dollar paperbacks. But it's a better movie experience.

Quiz Show. I do not understand the love and I think it's because they play up the Van Doren-as-establishment part that it becomes compelling. " The Uncle Tom of the Jews," the investigator's girlfriend calls him. It plays up the identity politics of it, which is why I think it gets so much credit in retrospect. I saw it in theatres and it was compelling, but it was a bit of a snooze fest.

Only a portion of that is what I found compelling about Quiz Show. It’s based on - and decently true to - something that really happened. Jack Barry was chased out of television because of this scandal - that really happened. It took decades for him to make a comeback…..and Joker’s Wild IS one of the greatest game shows of all time!!

“Reality TV”, starting with when The Real World was scripted and phony, is the moment when the quiz show cheating scandals basically became acceptable again. People no longer care if the whole thing is rigged — if a quiz show was rigged today, Gen Z idiots like my kids wouldn’t care at all. As long as it was on TikTok, it’s all just entertainment.

I do think your point about the anti-establishment aspect as relates to Van Doren vs Stempel, is part of the allure of how the story was told in the movie. It’s good moviemaking.

As mentioned previously, Quiz Show was my least favorite of the 4 good nominees that year. But compared to Gump? Quiz Show is a really good movie. Gump is mediocre at best. I will never watch that movie again.

This was a thoughtful reply to my kvetching. I did like Quiz Show, I just think it's gotten way too much love after the affair was over, you know? It's one of those things that got a re-evaluation that I don't think needed one. It was pretty well-received at the time and that's how I remember the movie. Good movie.

Anyway, that's an interesting post you made.

Thx rock. Btw, I can definitely appreciate anyone who thinks it is overrated and shouldn’t have been nominated at all. Totally fair point of view — but I still think it is more deserving than Gump.

Other movies that could have been deserving of nomination:

The Lion King
Dumb and Dumber
Ace Ventura (love this movie!!!)
Ed Wood
Clerks

Etc

I would watch any of those movies over Gump, no questions asked.

PS - I’m going off what IMDB says were movies from that year. Apologies if I’m getting any release dates wrong

I get the possibility of Shawshank over Gump but none of the others stand a chance. Gump was the right choice. It has it all. Humor, a love story, underdog struggles, and touches on a bunch of society issues including handicaps, drug addiction, suicide, racism, incest/child abuse, poverty, religion, war, bullying, etc.

Shawshank for me is the winner but I’ve never understood the Gump hate.

I certainly don’t hate Gump…..it just ain’t no Shawshank or Pulp Fiction for that matter.

Folks have different tastes.

like a box of chocolates even

 

[rockaction]

I think all four movies (Gump, Pulp Fiction, Shawshank, and Quiz Show) are fine movies in their own right. No problem with Gump.

 

[Moonlight]

I’ll answer some more inquiries this evening

Im still waiting for 2010 (the year that Hurt Locker won)

Actual Winner: The Hurt Locker

Interesting fact: The Hurt Locker is the lowest grossing Best Picture winner of all time (excluding the COVID year for Nomadland). Avatar was the goliath it defeated- it would have been the highest grossing winner ever. I like both movies. I was very late to the Avatar game but I saw it in 3D when it was re- released before the sequel. It legitmately was good IMO and would represent an interesting choice for the Academy. But there is a better and more interesting choice to be made: Up. No animated movie has won but they are movies too. Beautifully crafted with all the things we love about any other film: great imagination, music, visuals and performances. Comedy, drama, action, sadness. The ideas and themes converyed in Pixar's Up are ones we rarely see put to screen. Aging isn't an idea that usually gets on the big screen and espcially not to appeal to such a mass audience. Carl and the balloon have fully entered the culture. Up has made people of all ages laugh and cry and experience so many real human thoughts and feelings, all in a 96 minutes. It converys more in that time than most 160 minute epic dramas. It's the best movie of the year and honoring a category of movie that rarely gets the level of respect it deserves. Why can't beloved movies made for all ages also be the best?

In the 2010 the envelope should have read Up

It’s actually A Serious Man but Up was really good and definitely better than Hurt Locker

A Serious Man was one of my least favorite films this century.
Maybe I expected too much since it was the Coen Brothers.
But watching a bunch of jerks take advantage of a complete schmuck was miserable and I must have missed whatever humor was supposed to be there.
Then it abruptly ended... (and none too soon)

We havent done the Godfather yet

1973

This is a pretty easy one for me though probably not a big crowd pleasing answer here. You don't have to look too hard. The Godfather didn't win the most awards at the 1973 show. There is a movie that won best director, actress, supporting actor, music, sound, art direction, cinematography and editing. It is the only movie to ever win 8 awards and not get Best Picture. So it was kind of an anomaly that Bob Fosse's Cabaret didn't win Best Picture in the actual show. This is the musical I recommend to people who don't think they like musicals. It's got a kind of messy 70s independent drama going on about young somewhat wayward people trying to find their way through life and relationships- lots of sex, drugs and bad decisions. All but 1 one of the musical numbers are set inside the club so this isn't a movie where people at the grocery store just start singing and dancing. Then the final and key element is that this all takes place in early 1930s Germany as the Weimar Republic is crumbling and the NAZIs are taking control of the country. This movie will entertain you but it will also terrify you. It is a dark dark movie and one that has unfortunately aged all too well.

Sorry Godfather, I love you but the 1973 Best Picture was Cabaret.

Gosh no.
I think for me a good test to use in determining a great movie is when channel surfing do you stop and begin watching it whenever it’s on.
Godfather yes, Cabaret no.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

I’ll answer some more inquiries this evening

Im still waiting for 2010 (the year that Hurt Locker won)

Actual Winner: The Hurt Locker

Interesting fact: The Hurt Locker is the lowest grossing Best Picture winner of all time (excluding the COVID year for Nomadland). Avatar was the goliath it defeated- it would have been the highest grossing winner ever. I like both movies. I was very late to the Avatar game but I saw it in 3D when it was re- released before the sequel. It legitmately was good IMO and would represent an interesting choice for the Academy. But there is a better and more interesting choice to be made: Up. No animated movie has won but they are movies too. Beautifully crafted with all the things we love about any other film: great imagination, music, visuals and performances. Comedy, drama, action, sadness. The ideas and themes converyed in Pixar's Up are ones we rarely see put to screen. Aging isn't an idea that usually gets on the big screen and espcially not to appeal to such a mass audience. Carl and the balloon have fully entered the culture. Up has made people of all ages laugh and cry and experience so many real human thoughts and feelings, all in a 96 minutes. It converys more in that time than most 160 minute epic dramas. It's the best movie of the year and honoring a category of movie that rarely gets the level of respect it deserves. Why can't beloved movies made for all ages also be the best?

In the 2010 the envelope should have read Up

It’s actually A Serious Man but Up was really good and definitely better than Hurt Locker

A Serious Man was one of my least favorite films this century.
Maybe I expected too much since it was the Coen Brothers.
But watching a bunch of jerks take advantage of a complete schmuck was miserable and I must have missed whatever humor was supposed to be there.
Then it abruptly ended... (and none too soon)

We havent done the Godfather yet

1973

This is a pretty easy one for me though probably not a big crowd pleasing answer here. You don't have to look too hard. The Godfather didn't win the most awards at the 1973 show. There is a movie that won best director, actress, supporting actor, music, sound, art direction, cinematography and editing. It is the only movie to ever win 8 awards and not get Best Picture. So it was kind of an anomaly that Bob Fosse's Cabaret didn't win Best Picture in the actual show. This is the musical I recommend to people who don't think they like musicals. It's got a kind of messy 70s independent drama going on about young somewhat wayward people trying to find their way through life and relationships- lots of sex, drugs and bad decisions. All but 1 one of the musical numbers are set inside the club so this isn't a movie where people at the grocery store just start singing and dancing. Then the final and key element is that this all takes place in early 1930s Germany as the Weimar Republic is crumbling and the NAZIs are taking control of the country. This movie will entertain you but it will also terrify you. It is a dark dark movie and one that has unfortunately aged all too well.

Sorry Godfather, I love you but the 1973 Best Picture was Cabaret.

Gosh no.
I think for me a good test to use in determining a great movie is when channel surfing do you stop and begin watching it whenever it’s on.
Godfather yes, Cabaret no.

I think great vs favorite is a different thing. There’s some movies I’d watch 100 times that would get ranked behind something I’d only watch once

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Also Nickel Boys

This guy just finish film school and use every trick he could think of? I don’t know, it was unique but awkward.

 

[Don Quixote]

I’ll answer some more inquiries this evening

Im still waiting for 2010 (the year that Hurt Locker won)

Actual Winner: The Hurt Locker

Interesting fact: The Hurt Locker is the lowest grossing Best Picture winner of all time (excluding the COVID year for Nomadland). Avatar was the goliath it defeated- it would have been the highest grossing winner ever. I like both movies. I was very late to the Avatar game but I saw it in 3D when it was re- released before the sequel. It legitmately was good IMO and would represent an interesting choice for the Academy. But there is a better and more interesting choice to be made: Up. No animated movie has won but they are movies too. Beautifully crafted with all the things we love about any other film: great imagination, music, visuals and performances. Comedy, drama, action, sadness. The ideas and themes converyed in Pixar's Up are ones we rarely see put to screen. Aging isn't an idea that usually gets on the big screen and espcially not to appeal to such a mass audience. Carl and the balloon have fully entered the culture. Up has made people of all ages laugh and cry and experience so many real human thoughts and feelings, all in a 96 minutes. It converys more in that time than most 160 minute epic dramas. It's the best movie of the year and honoring a category of movie that rarely gets the level of respect it deserves. Why can't beloved movies made for all ages also be the best?

In the 2010 the envelope should have read Up

It’s actually A Serious Man but Up was really good and definitely better than Hurt Locker

A Serious Man was one of my least favorite films this century.
Maybe I expected too much since it was the Coen Brothers.
But watching a bunch of jerks take advantage of a complete schmuck was miserable and I must have missed whatever humor was supposed to be there.
Then it abruptly ended... (and none too soon)

We havent done the Godfather yet

1973

This is a pretty easy one for me though probably not a big crowd pleasing answer here. You don't have to look too hard. The Godfather didn't win the most awards at the 1973 show. There is a movie that won best director, actress, supporting actor, music, sound, art direction, cinematography and editing. It is the only movie to ever win 8 awards and not get Best Picture. So it was kind of an anomaly that Bob Fosse's Cabaret didn't win Best Picture in the actual show. This is the musical I recommend to people who don't think they like musicals. It's got a kind of messy 70s independent drama going on about young somewhat wayward people trying to find their way through life and relationships- lots of sex, drugs and bad decisions. All but 1 one of the musical numbers are set inside the club so this isn't a movie where people at the grocery store just start singing and dancing. Then the final and key element is that this all takes place in early 1930s Germany as the Weimar Republic is crumbling and the NAZIs are taking control of the country. This movie will entertain you but it will also terrify you. It is a dark dark movie and one that has unfortunately aged all too well.

Sorry Godfather, I love you but the 1973 Best Picture was Cabaret.

Gosh no.
I think for me a good test to use in determining a great movie is when channel surfing do you stop and begin watching it whenever it’s on.
Godfather yes, Cabaret no.

Even if 80s won’t say it, I do think a part of this thread is shtick. For example, even as good of a movie that Spinal Tap is, based on what he has said in other threads, I in no way I believe that he truly believes deep down that Spinal Tap deserved Best Picture over Amadeus (he had Amadeus as his 2nd favorite movies of the 80s when he and KP did a ranking of 80s movies).

Did the Academy get it right 100% of the time? No. Did it get it wrong 100% of the time? Also no. Premise here is the latter though. I’d probably put it closer to the Academy got it wrong about 80% of the time. Just roll with the premise and enjoy is my take.

 

[Ilov80s]

I think I’ve cleared all the years posted. Anyone got anything else?

 

[Don Quixote]

I think I’ve cleared all the years posted. Anyone got anything else?

I’ll offer up 1958 awards. 1957 one of the my favorite movie years.

 

[Ilov80s]

I think I’ve cleared all the years posted. Anyone got anything else?

I’ll offer up 1958 awards. 1957 one of the my favorite movie years.

1958

Cracking open a new decade, we didn't have anything between 47 and 71.

Actual Winner: The Bridge on the River Kwai

Great year and in no way was The Bridge of the River Kwai a bad choice. David Lean is up there with Hitchcock and Kubrick for me. However, this was ,as you suggested, a loaded year. My favorite movie of the year, Sweet Smell of Success, isn't even in contention, that is how good 1957 was. They should get out of the jungle and instead should be looking in the court rooms. We have a courtroom movie nominated in 1958 that was very twisty and pulpy, loaded with big stars and from a man who was already considered Hollywood royalty at the time. It was a much talked about hit as well. One of those, "don't tell anyone about the ending" type movies. I am talking about Billy Wilder's Witness for the Prosecution with Tyrone Powers, Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton. But let's be real, it's no The Bridge on the River Kwai (the highest grossing movie of the year by a mile). But wait, there's this other small, very contained court room movie made by a guy from TV. Critics liked it but the film was a box off dud. The kind of winner in 1958 that would have caused most Americans to scratch their head or declare the show out of touch. Yet, looking back, I can't think of a single movie from the year more in touch with America, what we wrestle with as Americans, how we think and make decisions. It manages to both paint very broadly so it is accessible to all viewers but it does it without ever seeming too cheap or false.

In 1958, the envelope should have created one of the great shocking Best Picture results in history, with the winner being 12 Angry Men.


ETA: Anyone else think the movie should have just been called Bridge on the River Kwai? Adding a "The" before Bridge just sounds weird. Too many "the"s. For that small mistake alone, we can not give them the award lol.

 

[Don Quixote]

I think I’ve cleared all the years posted. Anyone got anything else?

I’ll offer up 1958 awards. 1957 one of the my favorite movie years.

1958

Cracking open a new decade, we didn't have anything between 47 and 71.

Actual Winner: Bridge on the River Kwai

Great year and in no way was The Bridge of the River Kwai a bad choice. David Lean is up there with Hitchcock and Kubrick for me. However, this was ,as you suggested, a loaded year. My favorite movie of the year, Sweet Smell of Success, isn't even in contention, that is how good 1957 was. They should get out of the jungle and instead should be looking in the court rooms. We have a courtroom movie nominated in 1958 that was very twisty and pulpy, loaded with big stars and from a man who was already considered Hollywood royalty at the time. It was a much talked about hit as well. One of those, "don't tell anyone about the ending" type movies. I am talking about Billy Wilder's Witness for the Prosecution with Tyrone Powers, Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton. But let's be real, it's no Bridge on the River Kwai (the highest grossing movie of the year by a mile). But wait, there's this other small, very contained court room movie made by a guy from TV. Critics liked it but the film was a box off dud. The kind of winner in 1958 that would have caused most Americans to scratch their head or declare the show out of touch. Yet, looking back, I can't think of a single movie from the year more in touch with America, what we wrestle with as Americans, how we think and make decisions. It manages to both paint very broadly so it is accessible to all viewers but it does it without ever seeming too cheap or false.

In 1958, the envelope should have created one of the great shocking Best Picture results in history, with the winner being 12 Angry Men.


ETA: Anyone else think the movie should have just been called Bridge on the River Kwai? Adding a "The" before Bridge just sounds weird. Too many "the"s. For that small mistake alone, we can not give them the award lol.

Good pick and I think that’s where I’d have to go as alternative too. Did not even get to mention Kubrick’s Paths of Glory, or Andy Griffith’s turn in A Face in the Crowd. Some classic foreign films in Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood, Fellini’s Night of Cabiria, and Bergman’s The Seventh Seal too.

 

[Murph]

1965

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Did the Academy get it right 100% of the time? No. Did it get it wrong 100% of the time? Also no. Premise here is the latter though. I’d probably put it closer to the Academy got it wrong about 80% of the time. Just roll with the premise and enjoy is my take.

I agree with most of this. It is interesting though that 80% wrong is the same percentage as if you just drew 1 of 5 names out of a hat.

 

[Eephus]

Did the Academy get it right 100% of the time? No. Did it get it wrong 100% of the time? Also no. Premise here is the latter though. I’d probably put it closer to the Academy got it wrong about 80% of the time. Just roll with the premise and enjoy is my take.

I agree with most of this. It is interesting though that 80% wrong is the same percentage as if you just drew 1 of 5 names out of a hat.

At the end of the day, the Oscars are a popularity contest among industry voters. They're subject to biases and promotional campaigns like any other election. But I think the biggest factor is simply that tastes and standards change over time. What contemporary voters valued when they cast their ballots in 1955, 65 or 75 are different from what we would consider today.

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

1997, please.

 

[northern exposure]

2016?

Don't think this year has been done yet.

 

[Ilov80s]

1965

Actual Winner: My Fair Lady

This is a slam dunk for me. I've stated a goal of mine is to see more comedies get the recognition they deserve. It just so happens one of the best satires ever made was eligible in 1965. Dr Strangelove is my homerun pick. Peter Sellers losing Best Actor to Rex Harrison for Henry Higgins stings too. It's a darn shame Kubrick never won an Oscar, none of his movies ever won Best Picture either. Strangelove manages to be funny but also taps right into the great fear of the time. Kubrick originally intended it as a serious drama but he found the idea of someone accidentally setting off an irrevserible chain of events that would end the world was too serious to be taken serious.

Gee, I wish we had one of them doomsday machines.

The 1965 winner definitely should have been Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

 

[Ilov80s]

1997, please.

Actual Winner: The English Patient

It's a funny spot for me to be in. I've been a longtime defender of The English Patient as a really good movie. But just becaust I really liked it, doesn't make it the best movie of 1996. And it certainly isn't. That honor goes to Coen Brothers' black comedy neo noir, Fargo. Does anyone disagree on this? What exactly is the argument against it? I don't think there is misstep in the movie and don't give me that **** about Mikey Yanagita, @Andy Dufresne has been over this a million times. It was essential.

The 1997 Best Picture Winner needed to be Fargo

 

[Sand]

I think I’ve cleared all the years posted. Anyone got anything else?

I’ll offer up 1958 awards. 1957 one of the my favorite movie years.

1958

Cracking open a new decade, we didn't have anything between 47 and 71.

Actual Winner: The Bridge on the River Kwai

Great year and in no way was The Bridge of the River Kwai a bad choice. David Lean is up there with Hitchcock and Kubrick for me. However, this was ,as you suggested, a loaded year. My favorite movie of the year, Sweet Smell of Success, isn't even in contention, that is how good 1957 was. They should get out of the jungle and instead should be looking in the court rooms. We have a courtroom movie nominated in 1958 that was very twisty and pulpy, loaded with big stars and from a man who was already considered Hollywood royalty at the time. It was a much talked about hit as well. One of those, "don't tell anyone about the ending" type movies. I am talking about Billy Wilder's Witness for the Prosecution with Tyrone Powers, Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton. But let's be real, it's no The Bridge on the River Kwai (the highest grossing movie of the year by a mile). But wait, there's this other small, very contained court room movie made by a guy from TV. Critics liked it but the film was a box off dud. The kind of winner in 1958 that would have caused most Americans to scratch their head or declare the show out of touch. Yet, looking back, I can't think of a single movie from the year more in touch with America, what we wrestle with as Americans, how we think and make decisions. It manages to both paint very broadly so it is accessible to all viewers but it does it without ever seeming too cheap or false.

In 1958, the envelope should have created one of the great shocking Best Picture results in history, with the winner being 12 Angry Men.


ETA: Anyone else think the movie should have just been called Bridge on the River Kwai? Adding a "The" before Bridge just sounds weird. Too many "the"s. For that small mistake alone, we can not give them the award lol.

The academy nailed this one.

 

[Ilov80s]

2016?

Don't think this year has been done yet.

2016

Actual Winner: Spotlight

I will start by saying I liked Spotlight at the time but have never revisited it. Maybe a second watch would change my mind but I doubt it. The Oscars haven't been too kind to action movies and I am not really the biggest action fan. Which is why me pounding the table for Mad Max Fury Road is so surprising. This is not the kind of movie I almsot ever totally fall for but Fury Road is just different. Truly one of the most perfect pure action movies I've ever seen.

The 2016 winner could have and should have been Mad Max Fury Road

 

[Ilov80s]

I think I’ve cleared all the years posted. Anyone got anything else?

I’ll offer up 1958 awards. 1957 one of the my favorite movie years.

1958

Cracking open a new decade, we didn't have anything between 47 and 71.

Actual Winner: The Bridge on the River Kwai

Great year and in no way was The Bridge of the River Kwai a bad choice. David Lean is up there with Hitchcock and Kubrick for me. However, this was ,as you suggested, a loaded year. My favorite movie of the year, Sweet Smell of Success, isn't even in contention, that is how good 1957 was. They should get out of the jungle and instead should be looking in the court rooms. We have a courtroom movie nominated in 1958 that was very twisty and pulpy, loaded with big stars and from a man who was already considered Hollywood royalty at the time. It was a much talked about hit as well. One of those, "don't tell anyone about the ending" type movies. I am talking about Billy Wilder's Witness for the Prosecution with Tyrone Powers, Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton. But let's be real, it's no The Bridge on the River Kwai (the highest grossing movie of the year by a mile). But wait, there's this other small, very contained court room movie made by a guy from TV. Critics liked it but the film was a box off dud. The kind of winner in 1958 that would have caused most Americans to scratch their head or declare the show out of touch. Yet, looking back, I can't think of a single movie from the year more in touch with America, what we wrestle with as Americans, how we think and make decisions. It manages to both paint very broadly so it is accessible to all viewers but it does it without ever seeming too cheap or false.

In 1958, the envelope should have created one of the great shocking Best Picture results in history, with the winner being 12 Angry Men.


ETA: Anyone else think the movie should have just been called Bridge on the River Kwai? Adding a "The" before Bridge just sounds weird. Too many "the"s. For that small mistake alone, we can not give them the award lol.

The academy nailed this one.

It is for sure one of the times they were the least wrong. Biggest hit of the year, a nostaligc WW2 movie, they made the easy choice. I just think this was the perfect spot to defy expectations and pick a smaller film that hadn't yet found it's audience.

 

[Ilov80s]

Did the Academy get it right 100% of the time? No. Did it get it wrong 100% of the time? Also no. Premise here is the latter though. I’d probably put it closer to the Academy got it wrong about 80% of the time. Just roll with the premise and enjoy is my take.

I agree with most of this. It is interesting though that 80% wrong is the same percentage as if you just drew 1 of 5 names out of a hat.

At the end of the day, the Oscars are a popularity contest among industry voters. They're subject to biases and promotional campaigns like any other election. But I think the biggest factor is simply that tastes and standards change over time. What contemporary voters valued when they cast their ballots in 1955, 65 or 75 are different from what we would consider today.

Yes and I am working with hindsight which is quite the advantage

 

[nightmare]

2016?

Don't think this year has been done yet.

2016

Actual Winner: Spotlight

I will start by saying I liked Spotlight at the time but have never revisited it. Maybe a second watch would change my mind but I doubt it. The Oscars haven't been too kind to action movies and I am not really the biggest action fan. Which is why me pounding the table for Mad Max Fury Road is so surprising. This is not the kind of movie I almsot ever totally fall for but Fury Road is just different. Truly one of the most perfect pure action movies I've ever seen.

The 2016 winner could have and should have been Mad Max Fury Road

No. I love action movies, but Spotlight is the better choice. Fury Road is that good but it is what most action movies are- a chase movie.

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

1997, please.

Actual Winner: The English Patient

It's a funny spot for me to be in. I've been a longtime defender of The English Patient as a really good movie. But just becaust I really liked it, doesn't make it the best movie of 1996. And it certainly isn't. That honor goes to Coen Brothers' black comedy neo noir, Fargo. Does anyone disagree on this? What exactly is the argument against it? I don't think there is misstep in the movie and don't give me that **** about Mikey Yanagita, @Andy Dufresne has been over this a million times. It was essential.

The 1997 Best Picture Winner needed to be Fargo

Fargo was definitely the best picture nominated, by a wide margin. One of my favorites of the past 30 years.

But I think Lone Star deserved a nomination as well--also one of my favorites. And after many viewings of both, I think Lone Star was a just a bit better. Both are fantastic films.

 

[Ilov80s]

2016?

Don't think this year has been done yet.

2016

Actual Winner: Spotlight

I will start by saying I liked Spotlight at the time but have never revisited it. Maybe a second watch would change my mind but I doubt it. The Oscars haven't been too kind to action movies and I am not really the biggest action fan. Which is why me pounding the table for Mad Max Fury Road is so surprising. This is not the kind of movie I almsot ever totally fall for but Fury Road is just different. Truly one of the most perfect pure action movies I've ever seen.

The 2016 winner could have and should have been Mad Max Fury Road

No. I love action movies, but Spotlight is the better choice. Fury Road is that good but it is what most action movies are- a chase movie.

I agree that Fury Road is only a chase. Even more so than most action movies. Howver it's executed to such absolute perfection. Sometimes there is a movie with a big message or covering a big picture and that's important and deserves the accolades. But sometimes a simple movie, designed with no purpose but to entrtatain- if done perfectly- should be awarded. Or at least I think so.

 

[Sand]

I think I’ve cleared all the years posted. Anyone got anything else?

I’ll offer up 1958 awards. 1957 one of the my favorite movie years.

1958

Cracking open a new decade, we didn't have anything between 47 and 71.

Actual Winner: The Bridge on the River Kwai

Great year and in no way was The Bridge of the River Kwai a bad choice. David Lean is up there with Hitchcock and Kubrick for me. However, this was ,as you suggested, a loaded year. My favorite movie of the year, Sweet Smell of Success, isn't even in contention, that is how good 1957 was. They should get out of the jungle and instead should be looking in the court rooms. We have a courtroom movie nominated in 1958 that was very twisty and pulpy, loaded with big stars and from a man who was already considered Hollywood royalty at the time. It was a much talked about hit as well. One of those, "don't tell anyone about the ending" type movies. I am talking about Billy Wilder's Witness for the Prosecution with Tyrone Powers, Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton. But let's be real, it's no The Bridge on the River Kwai (the highest grossing movie of the year by a mile). But wait, there's this other small, very contained court room movie made by a guy from TV. Critics liked it but the film was a box off dud. The kind of winner in 1958 that would have caused most Americans to scratch their head or declare the show out of touch. Yet, looking back, I can't think of a single movie from the year more in touch with America, what we wrestle with as Americans, how we think and make decisions. It manages to both paint very broadly so it is accessible to all viewers but it does it without ever seeming too cheap or false.

In 1958, the envelope should have created one of the great shocking Best Picture results in history, with the winner being 12 Angry Men.


ETA: Anyone else think the movie should have just been called Bridge on the River Kwai? Adding a "The" before Bridge just sounds weird. Too many "the"s. For that small mistake alone, we can not give them the award lol.

The academy nailed this one.

It is for sure one of the times they were the least wrong. Biggest hit of the year, a nostaligc WW2 movie, they made the easy choice. I just think this was the perfect spot to defy expectations and pick a smaller film that hadn't yet found it's audience.

I can see that. IMO, Bridge on the River Kwai is one of those movies that could win any year. It really was one of the best movies of all time.

 

[Sand]

I think I’ve cleared all the years posted. Anyone got anything else?

You never did 2001.

 

[Ilov80s]

I think I’ve cleared all the years posted. Anyone got anything else?

You never did 2001.

Actual Winner: Gladiator

I know Gladiator isn't the right choice but after that, wow I am left in a tough spot. Traffic, Almost Famous, Yi Yi, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Memento, Erin Brokovich. Seriously, how I am supposed to pick? So I go back in time to my younger self at the time, 18-19 years old and I know which movie fascinated me the most. It was beautiful, different, majestic, romantic, surprising and exciting. I've rewatched it many times and it still hasn't lost that magic for me.

The 2001 Oscar should have gone to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

 

[Don Quixote]

I think I’ve cleared all the years posted. Anyone got anything else?

You never did 2001.

Actual Winner: Gladiator

I know Gladiator isn't the right choice but after that, wow I am left in a tough spot. Traffic, Almost Famous, Yi Yi, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Memento, Erin Brokovich. Seriously, how I am supposed to pick? So I go back in time to my younger self at the time, 18-19 years old and I know which movie fascinated me the most. It was beautiful, different, majestic, romantic, surprising and exciting. I've rewatched it many times and it still hasn't lost that magic for me.

The 2001 Oscar should have gone to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

As I know you are fellow WKW fan, biggest oversight to me in retrospect is “In the Mood for Love” getting denied even a nomination in the best foreign language film category. Crouching Tiger still would have won because of it was the rare foreign language film to break through with that impact, but In the Mood for Love’s standing has increased a lot in retrospect.

 

[Ilov80s]

I think I’ve cleared all the years posted. Anyone got anything else?

You never did 2001.

Actual Winner: Gladiator

I know Gladiator isn't the right choice but after that, wow I am left in a tough spot. Traffic, Almost Famous, Yi Yi, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Memento, Erin Brokovich. Seriously, how I am supposed to pick? So I go back in time to my younger self at the time, 18-19 years old and I know which movie fascinated me the most. It was beautiful, different, majestic, romantic, surprising and exciting. I've rewatched it many times and it still hasn't lost that magic for me.

The 2001 Oscar should have gone to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

As I know you are fellow WKW fan, biggest oversight to me in retrospect is “In the Mood for Love” getting denied even a nomination in the best foreign language film category. Crouching Tiger still would have won because of it was the rare foreign language film to break through with that impact, but In the Mood for Love’s standing has increased a lot in retrospect.

hmmmm maybe you should ask me about the 2002 Oscars...

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

1997, please.

Actual Winner: The English Patient

It's a funny spot for me to be in. I've been a longtime defender of The English Patient as a really good movie. But just becaust I really liked it, doesn't make it the best movie of 1996. And it certainly isn't. That honor goes to Coen Brothers' black comedy neo noir, Fargo. Does anyone disagree on this? What exactly is the argument against it? I don't think there is misstep in the movie and don't give me that **** about Mikey Yanagita, @Andy Dufresne has been over this a million times. It was essential.

The 1997 Best Picture Winner needed to be Fargo

Fargo was definitely the best picture nominated, by a wide margin. One of my favorites of the past 30 years.

But I think Lone Star deserved a nomination as well--also one of my favorites. And after many viewings of both, I think Lone Star was a just a bit better. Both are fantastic films.

And Frances McDormand has great scenes in both films.........

 

[Eephus]

As I know you are fellow WKW fan, biggest oversight to me in retrospect is “In the Mood for Love” getting denied even a nomination in the best foreign language film category. Crouching Tiger still would have won because of it was the rare foreign language film to break through with that impact, but In the Mood for Love’s standing has increased a lot in retrospect.

The way the academy handles the foreign language category leads to a lot of oversights.

 

[Eephus]

I can see that. IMO, Bridge on the River Kwai is one of those movies that could win any year. It really was one of the best movies of all time.

The Bridge on the River Kwai was on TCM this afternoon. I caught about 15-20 minutes while waiting for Mrs. Eephus. It's been a while and I'd forgotten what a wiseacre William Holden's character was. Holden was the king of mid-century American cynics playing variations on this character in Stalag 17, Sunset Boulevard and other films. I guess it was important to contrast him with Guinness and Hawkins' British propriety but it was laid on pretty thick.

The movie came from the era where Oscar rewarded spectacle above all else. It's a much better film than Oscar winners Around the World in 80 Days and The Greatest Show on Earth.

 

[Sand]

I think I’ve cleared all the years posted. Anyone got anything else?

You never did 2001.

Actual Winner: Gladiator

I know Gladiator isn't the right choice but after that, wow I am left in a tough spot. Traffic, Almost Famous, Yi Yi, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Memento, Erin Brokovich. Seriously, how I am supposed to pick? So I go back in time to my younger self at the time, 18-19 years old and I know which movie fascinated me the most. It was beautiful, different, majestic, romantic, surprising and exciting. I've rewatched it many times and it still hasn't lost that magic for me.

The 2001 Oscar should have gone to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

As I know you are fellow WKW fan, biggest oversight to me in retrospect is “In the Mood for Love” getting denied even a nomination in the best foreign language film category. Crouching Tiger still would have won because of it was the rare foreign language film to break through with that impact, but In the Mood for Love’s standing has increased a lot in retrospect.

hmmmm maybe you should ask me about the 2002 Oscars...

Maybe I should...

 

[bigbottom]

Okay, @Ilov80s, who should win tonight? Want to hear your pick and then find out if the Oscars finally get it right.

 

[Ilov80s]

I think I’ve cleared all the years posted. Anyone got anything else?

You never did 2001.

Actual Winner: Gladiator

I know Gladiator isn't the right choice but after that, wow I am left in a tough spot. Traffic, Almost Famous, Yi Yi, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Memento, Erin Brokovich. Seriously, how I am supposed to pick? So I go back in time to my younger self at the time, 18-19 years old and I know which movie fascinated me the most. It was beautiful, different, majestic, romantic, surprising and exciting. I've rewatched it many times and it still hasn't lost that magic for me.

The 2001 Oscar should have gone to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

As I know you are fellow WKW fan, biggest oversight to me in retrospect is “In the Mood for Love” getting denied even a nomination in the best foreign language film category. Crouching Tiger still would have won because of it was the rare foreign language film to break through with that impact, but In the Mood for Love’s standing has increased a lot in retrospect.

hmmmm maybe you should ask me about the 2002 Oscars...

Maybe I should...

OK maybe you shouldn't have lol. I did some research and thought In the Mood for Love would have been eligible for the 2002 awards since it didn't get a US release until 2001 but upon further reading, it was submitted to the Oscars for for the best foreign film award for the 2001 awards but was not even given a nomination. That is silly. Really IMO 3 of the 5 best films of 2001 were from Asia: Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Yi Yi and In the Mood for Love

Ok I'll do 2002 anyway

Actual Winner: A Beautiful Mind

Zzzzzzz....that is my review for A Beautiful Mind. My personal pick this year was In the Bedroom but I don't think that is the right winner necesarily even if it would please me the most. I get the case for Mulholland Drive but I think it actually makes sense if Lynch never wins an Oscar. His movies are best left existing outside the norm. When there is going to be a new series or trilogy, there seems to be this idea that we should wait until the end to award the whole production. I don't like that. If it's that great, reward it right away. There is no reason a rookie shouldn't win MVP if they are the best player in the league. Maybe they Derrick Rose it and never live up the dominance of their beginning phase or maybe they go Wilt Chamberlain and keep on winning. If The Godfather series can have 2 Best Picture winners, why couldn't Lord of the Rings at least be given a shot at it? Fellowship of the Rings was an amazing accomplishment. Truly delivered 100% on it's promise. Don't compare it to Towers or King, those weren't out yet. Just compare it the other movies of 2001. I think the choice becomes obvious.

And the 2002 winner should have been Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings

 

[Ilov80s]

Okay, @Ilov80s, who should win tonight? Want to hear your pick and then find out if the Oscars finally get it right.

I’m torn between The Brutalist and Anora but there are several I haven’t seen yet so that makes it a little tough. Using Letterboxd, I was to see that I’ve watched 75% of all movies ever nominated for Best Picture.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

YEAR MY WINNER -- ACTUAL WINNER
2020 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood --Parasite

I just got done watching Parasite and immediately thought of this thread. I'm a little confused how this won other than maybe the Oscars doing some PR.

 

[Ilov80s]

YEAR MY WINNER -- ACTUAL WINNER
2020 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood --Parasite

I just got done watching Parasite and immediately thought of this thread. I'm a little confused how this won other than maybe the Oscars doing some PR.

Ignoring whether my premise for this thread is genuine or not, Parasite is probably one of the most liked winners in awhile (at least along critics, film nerds, cinephiles, etc). It seems like in 20 years that will be considered one of the best winners maybe of all time and it’s pretty much instantly become part of “the cannon”. It’s rare for movies with so much societal criticism to also be so fun and twisty. But you’re the second person in the last few weeks here who just saw it and didn’t like it. What about it did you not care for?


And here’s a little rant that I’ve had on my mind for awhile. It’s not directed at you, just seems like a good time for it:
As for the academy having an agenda, I see that a lot. There are certainly trends and certain things in the air from time to time but remember there’s almost 10,000 people who vote for the Academy Awards so this isn’t a small cabal operating with secret motives and most of the narratives we create are probably just us tying to “make sense” of something that is a bit more random or complex than we like to deal with. In a year when say a minority wins a big award and people go “oh look the academy is trying to satisfy X minority group or make some political statement”. The reality may be the minority won by 50 votes over some old white person and it wasn’t a statement, just a close vote between two popular choices.

 

[Don Quixote]

YEAR MY WINNER -- ACTUAL WINNER
2020 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood --Parasite

I just got done watching Parasite and immediately thought of this thread. I'm a little confused how this won other than maybe the Oscars doing some PR.

Ignoring whether my premise for this thread is genuine or not, Parasite is probably one of the most liked winners in awhile (at least along critics, film nerds, cinephiles, etc). It seems like in 20 years that will be considered one of the best winners maybe of all time and it’s pretty much instantly become part of “the cannon”. It’s rare for movies with so much societal criticism to also be so fun and twisty. But you’re the second person in the last few weeks here who just saw it and didn’t like it. What about it did you not care for?


And here’s a little rant that I’ve had on my mind for awhile. It’s not directed at you, just seems like a good time for it:
As for the academy having an agenda, I see that a lot. There are certainly trends and certain things in the air from time to time but remember there’s almost 10,000 people who vote for the Academy Awards so this isn’t a small cabal operating with secret motives and most of the narratives we create are probably just us tying to “make sense” of something that is a bit more random or complex than we like to deal with. In a year when say a minority wins a big award and people go “oh look the academy is trying to satisfy X minority group or make some political statement”. The reality may be the minority won by 50 votes over some old white person and it wasn’t a statement, just a close vote between two popular choices.

I like that they do ranked choice voting for Best Picture, whereas other awards are just done by plurality vote. With plurality, votes getting split can cause issues. When CODA won, I think I read that it was not everyone’s first favorite, but it was a lot of people’s second favorite film of the year.

 

[bigbottom]

Okay, @Ilov80s , I was trying to bust your schtick upthread when I asked you your choice for winner this year before the show. You punted, and are now free to pick something other than Anora. That said, I’m still curious if you think the Academy messed up again this year (whether truly or as schtick). I haven’t seen The Brutalist, and it may very well be Best Picture worthy, but between Corbet’s and Brody’s acceptance speeches, I’m almost avoiding it on principle.

 

[Ilov80s]

Okay, @Ilov80s , I was trying to bust your schtick upthread when I asked you your choice for winner this year before the show. You punted, and are now free to pick something other than Anora. That said, I’m still curious if you think the Academy messed up again this year (whether truly or as schtick). I haven’t seen The Brutalist, and it may very well be Best Picture worthy, but between Corbet’s and Brody’s acceptance speeches, I’m almost avoiding it on principle.

2025
Actual Winner: Anora

Yeah it's of course a little tiny bit schtick maybe. I think Anora was my favorite movie of the year and Sing Sing was truly excellent as well. And you are right Brady Corbet and Adrien Brody are self important blowbags. But isn't that a little bit what the Oscars are about? A grand event of look at me, I am such an important artist. In this case, it is warranted IMO. The Brutalist is the epic all about America period piece of movie making that was built for things like the Oscars and to make a movie on this scale for less than $10 million is truly impressive. It's beautifully filmed, it has an instant classic score, tremendous performances (Guy Pierce deserved the Best Supporting Oscar) and it's a movie about this moment in time. It is an immigration story and its a messy, ugly one. It speaks well to the moment we are living in. I know I advocated here over and over for more comedy and so it's tough for me to then say a comedy winning Best Picture was the wrong choice but it was the wrong choice (even if it's winning did save us 10 more minutes of autofellatio).

And the winner for Best Picture should have been The Brutalist.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

It seems like in 20 years that will be considered one of the best winners maybe of all time and it’s pretty much instantly become part of “the cannon”. But you’re the second person in the last few weeks here who just saw it and didn’t like it. What about it did you not care for?

I might take that bet but as you say "at least along critics, film nerds, cinephiles," and not us common plebs. I think it's a bit of an artsy film which is likely why critics, film nerds, and cinephiles love it. I think some of it could be a "me" problem. I think I have a hard time really sympathizing with characters that take actions that I think are morally dejectable so I didn't like the ending much or some of the actions taken by the poor family. Even if you (general) say "oh well, that was the whole point!" Making unlikeable characters is good film making? I think the message(s) of the movie fell flat, at least IMO. The "twist" is ok but it wasn't mindblowing. I may have misspoke a little, I don't think its the worst movie ever or anything just that I felt that it was overrated and confused about how it won best picture and you yourself don't think it should have won best picture unless this is just shtick.

 

[Ilov80s]

It seems like in 20 years that will be considered one of the best winners maybe of all time and it’s pretty much instantly become part of “the cannon”. But you’re the second person in the last few weeks here who just saw it and didn’t like it. What about it did you not care for?

I might take that bet but as you say "at least along critics, film nerds, cinephiles," and not us common plebs. I think it's a bit of an artsy film which is likely why critics, film nerds, and cinephiles love it. I think some of it could be a "me" problem. I think I have a hard time really sympathizing with characters that take actions that I think are morally dejectable so I didn't like the ending much or some of the actions taken by the poor family. Even if you (general) say "oh well, that was the whole point!" Making unlikeable characters is good film making? I think the message(s) of the movie fell flat, at least IMO. The "twist" is ok but it wasn't mindblowing. I may have misspoke a little, I don't think its the worst movie ever or anything just that I felt that it was overrated and confused about how it won best picture and you yourself don't think it should have won best picture unless this is just shtick.

I do think it’s one of the best movies of the 2020s but I genuinely do prefer Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. I think unlikable characters can be good filmmaking- see Breaking Bad and Goodfellas and The Sopranos and The Social Network. But it doesn’t mean that the movie is good just because of that. I thought it was very funny and quite shocking. The metaphor/symbolism worked well for me even though they were very obvious. The poor family does take some extreme actions but the wealthy family were pretty awful as well. They just have the money to cover it all up and make it look nice and shiny.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

What exactly did they do? They asked if the poor dad had washed his hands and said he smelled. Or did I miss something?

 

[Ilov80s]

What exactly did they do? They asked if the poor dad had washed his hands and said he smelled. Or did I miss something?

Just rude, oblivious, entitled. Not evil people or anything. Just very representative of the privileged wealthy living on the backs of the most of their countrymen who are literally living in ****. They are the class who take advantage of others and can thus afford to be nice. The poor family doesn’t have the luxury that allows them to be nice and honest, etc.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

What exactly did they do? They asked if the poor dad had washed his hands and said he smelled. Or did I miss something?

Just rude, oblivious, entitled. Not evil people or anything. Just very representative of the privileged wealthy living on the backs of the most of their countrymen who are literally living in ****. They are the class who take advantage of others and can thus afford to be nice. The poor family doesn’t have the luxury that allows them to be nice and honest, etc.

Reminds me if the Sopranos episode where Carmella is always friendly with Charmaine Bucco but iirc they are catering a party and Carmella clearly just treats her like “the help”

 

[Ilov80s]

What exactly did they do? They asked if the poor dad had washed his hands and said he smelled. Or did I miss something?

Just rude, oblivious, entitled. Not evil people or anything. Just very representative of the privileged wealthy living on the backs of the most of their countrymen who are literally living in ****. They are the class who take advantage of others and can thus afford to be nice. The poor family doesn’t have the luxury that allows them to be nice and honest, etc.

Reminds me if the Sopranos episode where Carmella is always friendly with Charmaine Bucco but iirc they are catering a party and Carmella clearly just treats her like “the help”

That’s a great comparison. And of course Carmella sometimes would have best her moral tantrums about how awful Tony was and it’s all dirty money but she generally had no problem spending it and enjoying even though she knew people were robbed, beaten and killed for her to enjoy that lifestyle.

 

[Don Quixote]

While this is bumped… 1940 awards for 1939 movies. Lots of all-timers to pick from.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Looks like you already did my favorite year - 1997. How about another favorite year of 2007 movies/2008 Oscars?