The Oscars are not the be-all-and-end-all of cinematic gold. But they usually get things right, giving the award to the most deserving performer. Sometimes, however, they mess up and completely ignore some fine acting and some wonderful films. Forget winning, some excellent pieces of film history were completely overlooked by the authorities of American film. This is called an "Oscar snub".
So here are the 6 worst Oscar snubs in the history of Oscar snubs:
Scarlett Johansson for Best Supporting Actress in Match Point (2005)
With her first movie for writer/director Woody Allen, ScarJo brought it. She's seductive and vulnerable, conniving and slightly innocent. Scarlett nailed her part, which brought about many other roles as a seductress. As the film goes on, her character becomes more real and more desperate for love and happiness. Scarlett Johansson does some of her best work with Woody Allen and this is her best performance. She got the Golden Globe nomination so the Oscar nom wasn't such a pipe dream. Who knows what goes on in the head of Oscar voters?
Uma Thurman for Best Actress in Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004)
If the Academy can nominate Thurman for her half-hour in Pulp Fiction then they should have nominated her as the Bride in the four-hour revenge saga that is Kill Bill. In "Vol. 1", she was a killing machine which was awesome but the Bride was hardly a real, 3-dimensional person (of course, you mustn't forget that's what Quentin Tarantino was going for). "Vol. 2" is when the Bride becomes Beatrix Kiddo. We get her backstory and we understand her complex relationship with the titular Bill. Thurman does some amazing acting especially in the talky last 40 minutes. Plus the scene where she's trapped in the coffin--a crazy mix of fear, fury and determination. Honestly, what were the Oscar voters thinking?
Jennifer Garner for Best Supporting Actress in Juno (2007)
It's not even like Juno was under-the-Oscar-radar. Star Ellen Page, writer Diablo Cody, director Jason Reitman, the picture itself--all were nominated. So why was Garner overlooked? She did the best acting job in the film! Heartbreaking, tender, real, sometimes funny, Vanessa is the heartbeat and soul of the movie. And her character was refreshing in that she was the only normal person in a movie full of out-of-this-world people. And the scene where she feels Juno's belly? That is just acting at its finest. Oh, and Jennifer Garner's never won an Emmy either.
(500) Days of Summer for Best Original Screenplay, Best Picture (2009)
With the inclusion of five extra nominees, it seemed this surprising, time-jumping romantic-comedy would have a chance. It's funny, romantic, original--the perfect romantic-comedy. Fine, maybe Best Picture was a stretch. But the fact that it wasn't nominated for Best Original Screenplay is a crime. There hasn't been a romantic-comedy like this one in a long time and I thought that would help along this little indie. For a while, it was the frontrunner nominee but it seemed to just fall out of popularity.
Robert Downey Jr. for Best Actor in Iron Man (2008)
Jon Favreau's superhero film is a step above any of the other superhero films including Christopher Nolan's uber=serious "Batman" series. But Iron Man is both fun and exciting and actually about something serious. Headlining this wonderful picture is RDJ, who makes Tony Stark despicable at first but still totally heroic. And when he becomes Iron Man, it's an example of determination, intellect and campy fun. However, the Academy voters thought that having too much fun at the movies meant illegitimate cinema.
Christian Bale for Best Actor in American Psycho (2000)
Bale gives a twisted, hilarious and disturbing performance as Patrick Bateman. It seems pretty hammy and over-the-top at first, but look for the scene in which Bateman calls his lawyer and confesses to the crimes. Zany, desperate, confused--Bale is able to pour so much into the material. Who knew an insane murderer could be so much fun? It seems Oscar voters didn't have as much dark fun as I did.
Honorable Mentions:
Keira Knightley for Best Actress in The Duchess
Tobey Maguire for Best Actor in Brothers
Melanie Laurent for Best Supporting Actress in Inglourious Basterds
Jackie Earle Haley for Best Supporting Actor in Watchmen
Wall-E for Best Picture
What do you think about Oscar snubs?
