The Top Ten Opinions...

Crash's Best Picture win last March is one of the Oscars' biggest shockers ever

By Danny West

THE 10 MOST QUESTIONABLE BEST PICTURE DECISIONS EVER

10. Around the World in 80 Days vs. The Ten Commandments (1956)

Forgetting just the Best Picture aspect of this, The Ten Commandments is one of the most snubbed films in Oscar history. Heston’s performance got him a Golden Globe, but no attention from the Academy. In fact, of its seven nods it only won the award for special effects. Meanwhile, Around the World in 80 Days took home five awards and was pretty much never watched again. Well, that’s not true, but I tell you one thing: nobody is watching Around the World in 80 Days religiously (heh) every Easter Sunday on ABC.

#9. The English Patient vs. Fargo (1996)

Everyone agrees that The English Patient was great. Okay, not everyone, but everyone can at least agree that it’s “pretty.” In my opinion, “pretty” isn’t good enough to win nine Oscars. Has anyone watched this movie since 1996? And what is with Ralph Fiennes and the apparent curse he has? He’s flawless in every role he’s in and never wins anything. Then again, Johnny Alba and we here at The Oscar Igloo said it best: “it isn’t about who we want to win, it’s about who will.” And it’s just as well. If who we—and virtually every film critic in 1996—wanted to win did, I’d have less to write about.

Was Pulp Fiction robbed from the big prize?

#8. Ordinary People vs. Raging Bull (1980)

This could almost be Rocky vs. Raging Bull even though they’re a couple of years apart. The Academy hates giving the same kinds of movies wins. Thankfully for Million Dollar Baby, the Academy felt twenty plus years is enough to not exclude a fine film just because it was about boxing. There are a precious few people in the know that I’ve talked to that feel Ordinary People stood the test of time far better than Raging Bull. But hey, at least De Niro got his.

#7 Crash vs. Brokeback Mountain (2006)

Crash had everything going against it. Brokeback Mountain’s release was timed so perfectly. By the end of November, it’d crawled through the bloodstream of America by means of a few little theaters at a time and it was stirring up controversy as fast as it was gaining supporters. Surely a “beginning of the year” film didn’t stand a chance against such a powerhouse. Never underestimate the influence of the Los Angeles factor on AMPAS. Also, never question Roger Ebert’s psychic abilities. He totally saw it coming.

#6 Going My Way vs. Double Indemnity (1944)

Going My Way won seven Oscars, Double Indemnity was nominated for seven and won precisely jack. I don’t know how things were back in 1944, but I can tell you this much, Double Indemnity’s film noir flavor certainly hits home more today than Going My Way’s Bing Crosby marketing and choir selections. I’m not saying it isn’t one of the best films of the whole decade, but it certainly doesn’t stand up to the all-important time test compared to DI. Maybe I’m just outraged by Double Indemnity’s inability to win ANYTHING. Surely there are old timers who read the Igloo. Let me hear you guys.

#5 The Best Years of Our Lives vs. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

If the last one didn’t rile up the old schoolers, surely this one will. Seriously, how can the Academy not watch Jimmy Stewart at the end of It’s a Wonderful Life and not think, “wow, we really botched this one.” And again, it won NOTHING. No Oscars whatsoever. Blasphemy if you ask me. Maybe the Academy saw ‘Best Years’ first and didn’t feel like watching another movie about life. I’d ask the old timers to let me hear them again, but they’ve indubitably fallen asleep by now.

One of the most popular Best Picture nominees of all time: The Shawshank Redemption

#4 Rocky vs. Taxi Driver (1978)

Taxi Driver is still being praised for its incredible performances and Rocky is still being parodied and mocked, arguably and hopefully unintentionally by Stallone himself (depending on how this next installment goes.) On the other hand, we should probably thank the Academy for giving to Rocky instead of Raging Bull. If a Best Picture Oscar meant five increasingly bad sequels to Raging Bull (or Taxi Driver), then I’m satisfied the way things are.

#3 The French Connection vs. A Clockwork Orange (1972)

2001: A Space Odyssey’s special effects win was the only Oscar Stanley Kubrick ever received. This is nothing shy of appalling. Every time some wet-behind-the-ears film fan boy starts studying up on film history and watching the classics, they develop an appreciation for the auteur. Then they take a glance at the Oscar archives and see just how snubbed he was. “Wow! He didn’t win anything practically!” I know kid, I know. The French Connection is a classic in its own right, but it is still at its core, an old cop movie. A Clockwork Orange is an examination of society, ethics and psychology in a beautiful innovative way. Watch A Clockwork Orange and then see if you can sit through twenty minutes of The French Connection afterward. I dare you.

#2 Forrest Gump vs. The Shawshank Redemption vs. Pulp Fiction (1994)

The only threesome in this list because I couldn’t decide which to put up against the Gump. 1994 was a thick field in the Best Picture race, and although I’m a strong advocate of all three films, I have to say I’ve heard a lot of negativity towards Forrest Gump. I thought it was adored by all, but apparently both Shawshank and Pulp Fiction have die-hards mean enough to tear into Forrest worse than Lt. Dan did. I hope this special gets enough reads just to hear some of the loyal Igloo’s reader responses. What do you think guys? What should’ve won 1994?

The biggest upset: The iconic Citizen Kane lost the Best Picture Oscar

#1 How Green Was My Valley vs. Citizen Kane (1941)

When I got the idea for this special last year when Crash shocked everyone (except Ebert, credit where credit is due), I had to think about ten seconds before I knew what the number one choice would be. I don’t think I’ll lose any credibility by saying this, but I’ve never seen How Green Was My Valley. I don’t think it matters. The only thing that counts is that it isn’t Citizen Kane and thus, isn’t the cornerstone of modern American cinema. Movies are practically measured in the era before and after Orson Welles’ masterpiece and yet it wasn’t good enough for that one year? It’s the first film shown in every directing course in the country, but it just couldn’t edge out whatever that Valley flick is? I know, I know. Don’t knock it til you’ve seen it, but again, it’s Citizen Kane. The most commonly named film in the “Best Movie Ever” discussion and yet it didn’t win best picture. That makes it the mother of all Best Picture flubs.

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