24 February 2008

Oscar Losers


In the run up to tonight's Academy Awards, cinema advertising company Pearl and Dean have released a poll of films thath people think should have won the Oscar for best picture. There are some great movies in the list and one of my favourites, Frank Darabont's prison drama The Shawshank Redeption came top. It was nominated for seven Oscars but lost out to FOrrest Gump (though it did win best adapted screenplay).

However there are a couple of strange ones. The Great Escape better than the winner 1964 Tom Jones? I've never been a fan of It's a Wonderful Life (to smaltzy). I think American Beauty has more depth than The Sixth Sense (though a great film). And what about those NOT on the list: The Graduate losing out to In the Heat of the Night in 68? Or worse, Raging Bull losing out to Ordinary People? Goodfellas beaten by Dances WIth Wolves.
And I can't remember any horror films winning. Se7en, The Thing, The Fly, The Shining, The Exorcist (lost out to The Sting). The onlywinner I can think of is Silence of the Lambs.
I wonder if there will be anu surprises tonight?

Best films that didn't win the best picture Oscar:

1. The Shawshank Redemption
2. The Sixth Sense
3. Fight Club
4. Blade Runner
5= It's a Wonderful Life
5= The Great Escape
7= Taxi Driver
7= Psycho
9. Singin' in the Rain
10. Dr Strangelove

1 comment:

Vimes said...

Could comment on most of those but only remember what half of them lost out too, not to mention films like Bladerunner, Fight Club, Psycho and Strangelove are cult status films the fact people remember them despite not getting the possible plaudits says it all they don't need Oscars.

Shawshank was criminally neglected from the Oscars, but to be fair Gump was a very well written and produced film.

The Gradute deserved an Oscar but Heat of the Night is an awesome film both in its day and now - okay I'm biased its one of my favourite films of all time