Top 10 Movies That Never Won an Oscar, But Should Have

If you couldn't tell from what I have posted for reviews, you will sure know by now that I am biased towards classic movies.  I love watching them just to see what kind of ideas they had to use for filming before computers were hot.  This list, however, is about the classics the Academy (in my opinion) overlooked.  Across the internet, you see lists of movies that never won "Best Picture," but this is about what never won, period.  This is my first top ten list, so I hope this goes well.  Without further ado, let's begin.





10. Die Hard

What is there not to say about this film?  This is the perfect example of how an action movie can appeal to both kids - making them feel like a tough cop as John McClane (Bruce Willis) is portrayed - and adults and be adequate simultaneously.  I guarantee you that the Academy would never vote this film for best picture (not favoring action films very often), but it was nominated for visuals, sound, sound effects, and editing.  I felt it could have at least walked home with Sound, but nevertheless it didn't.

9. Reservoir Dogs

I've reviewed this before, so I will be brief, hopefully.  Quentin Tarantino is known for making movies with a rendezvous involved (Pulp Fiction, Inglorious Basterds, etc.), but this movie is nothing but one.  Starring one of my favorite ensembles of a group of criminals, with lots of suspense and excitement, not knowing what will happen next to who.  This movie failed to receive any Oscar or even Golden Globe Nomination, which is a big shame.

8. The Big Lebowski

Arguably one of the best the Coen Brothers ever made, this film is everything any kind of film-lover would enjoy, with its smart story, well-done cinematography, and its memorable performances from Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore, and possibly the best sidekick put on screen, John Goodman as Walter Sobchak.  This movie also has one of the most hysterical stories ever done, about the "Dude" (Bridges) getting redemption for his soiled rug.  Sadly, this film received no nominations, much like "Dogs" not even for John Goodman for Best Supporting Actor.  What a tragedy.

7. Stand By Me

This is one of the most innocent movies ever made, being a story of four young boys who go on an adventure to seek a dead body, in hopes of being famous.  Okay, maybe not the most innocent thing out there.  It's has a perfect run time of 89 minutes (1 hour, 29 minutes) and has so many memorable moments.  River Phoenix and Wil Wheaton especially stand out, and the older gang is so much fun to see.  This movie only earned a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, which it should have won but lost to A Room With a View.

6. Fight Club

Yep, here it comes - the all-and-mighty Fight Club.  This movie is incredible with the best performances I have ever seen by leads Edward Norton and Brad Pitt.  It has one of the best stories of the 90s, being about an insomniac (Norton) and a soap salesman (Pitt) starting an organization to reduce male stress.  I know some people find it terribly overrated, but this film is one of my all-time favorites.  If it's one of my all-time favorites, why is it number six?  Because it wasn't nominated for enough Oscars, only one, for Sound Effects.  This may seem like a weird reason, but that's your problem.

5. A Clockwork Orange/Dr. Strangelove

  These movies are so unique in such crazy ways.  Both being made by Kubrick, I tied them for this position.  A Clockwork Orange is an incredible interpretation of a sadistic teenage rapist who volunteers for therapy to reduce crime in a futuristic Britain, and the pacing is top-notch, with Malcolm McDowell's strongest performance.  Dr. Strangelove has Peter Sellers being Eddie Murphy, before Eddie Murphy was Eddie Murphy, playing three lead roles involving the stop of a nuclear holocaust.  Clockwork was nominated for Editing, Adapted Screenplay, Director, and Picture; Strangelove was nominated for Lead Actor (Sellers), Adapted Screenplay, Director, and Picture.

4. Psycho/Rear Window

 I promise you this is the last tie on the list, but this is because they are made by Alfred Hitchcock.  I personally prefer Psycho more, but some seen to like Rear Window more so this position is tied.  Psycho is the definition the question "how was this movie omitted from Best Picture?"  It had such a wonderful story, brilliant pacing, Anthony Perkins playing the role of a lifetime, and an ending that influences all horror films today.  Jimmy Stewart gives one of his best performances in Rear Window, playing a photographer stuck in a wheelchair who spies on a neighbor's window, suspecting them of being a murderer.  Classic Hitchcock.  Psycho was nominated for Black-and-White Cinematography and Art Direction, Supporting Actress (Janet Leigh) and Director; Rear Window was nominated for Sound Recording, Color Cinematography, Screenplay, and Director.

3. It's a Wonderful Life

I've reviewed this before as well, so things may be repeated.  This is a wonderful movie (ironic, yes), which is more perfectly suited for the holidays better than any other movie, ever.  Jimmy Stewart gives most likely his most powerful performance after serving for World War II, being George Bailey, a depressed businessman who is helped by an angel without wings who shows him what life would be like without him.  It's a beautiful story, with top-notch writing and performances which make this movie just as great, even to this day.  This movie was nominated for Best Sound Recording, Film Editing,  Lead Actor (Stewart), Director, and Picture.

2. 12 Angry Men

This is a movie that is impossible not to love.  It has one of the most memorable character-studies of an ensemble I have ever seen, analyzing 12 jurors with completely different personalities.  Taking place in a murder trial, one of them, juror eight (Henry Fonda) tries to persuade the rest that the case isn't as clear as the prosecutor had said.  Fonda gives one of his most underrated, heroic performances, and every one of the jurors should be nominated or awarded, but there are only two acting awards.  It was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, Director, and Picture.

1. The Shawshank Redemption
I'm sorry, everyone, I tried not to put this at number one, but I couldn't resist.  This movie is perfect; it is number one on IMDb for many reasons.  How about the innocence of all the jail mates surrounding Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), or the prefect pacing this film has, despite being two hours and 22 minutes long?  What about the thrilling opening, sending chills down your spine each time watching the court case?  How about its striking musical score it provides?  And especially, what about the bond that he and his friend Red (Morgan Freeman) share with a bright, hopeful, tear-inducing ending?  This is usually regarded as one the best movies ever, and I am usually biased when it comes to this movie.  Oh, and no, I was not payed by Warner Brothers or Castle Rock to write about this entry.  The movie was nominated for Best Sound, Cinematography, Film Editing, Original Score, Adapted Screenplay, Lead Actor (Freeman), and Picture.  How could this movie not win any Oscars, let alone not nominating Frank Darabont for Best Director?  Shame on you, Academy, shame on you.