Barbie was THE biggest movie of 2023. Literally. It grossed more money than any other film: $1.45 billion. While the film did receive 8 Oscar nominations (a respectable number), there were two glaring snubs. Margot Robbie who played that title character wasn't nominated for Best Actress. Even more confusingly, Greta Gerwig was not nominated for Best Director. How can a film gross more money than any other movie of the year and be nominated for Best Picture, but it's director wasn't the cream of the crop? Nor its major star? Confusing, indeed.
Marilyn Monroe is an icon synonymous with timeless elegance and cinematic allure. She left an indelible mark on American pop culture during the mid-20th century. As a quintessential Hollywood star, Monroe captivated audiences with her magnetic presence, transcending the silver screen to become an enduring symbol of glamour and sensuality. Despite her significant contributions to film and her undeniable impact on the cultural zeitgeist, it remains a notable historical quirk that Monroe was never nominated for an Oscar throughout her career. This includes her performance in Some Like It Hot, which won her a Golden Globe! And the film as a whole has since been deemed one of the best films ever made. The Oscars didn't deem it worth enough, however.
After the commercial and critical success of the 2015 Broadway revival of The Color Purple musical, plans were put in place to make a film adaptation. The 2023 film opened to critical acclaim but it wasn't nominated for in any music category. And even though Danielle Brooks was nominated for Best Supporting Actress (in the same role Oprah was nominated for), Fantasia was snubbed by the academy. That role won Cynthia Erivo a Tony Award, and critics lauded Fantasia's performance as one of the best of the film. Yet, it wasn't enough for her to get a nomination from the Oscars.
Alfred Hitchcock, often hailed as the "Master of Suspense," stands as one of the most influential and revered directors in the history of cinema. Despite his profound impact on the art of filmmaking, Hitchcock experienced an unusual and somewhat perplexing relationship with the Academy Awards. Nominated five times for Best Director throughout his illustrious career, Hitchcock never secured the coveted Oscar statuette. This absence of formal recognition in the form of an Academy Award is a glaring incongruity in light of his lasting contributions to the suspense thriller genre and his enduring influence on countless filmmakers. Hitchcock's films, such as Psycho, Vertigo, and North by Northwest, have become cinematic landmarks, shaping the language of suspense and visual storytelling. His best chance was the year his film Rebecca won Best Picture, but he didn't win Best Director.
2001: A Space Odyssey, Stanley Kubrick's groundbreaking sci-fi epic, stands as an unparalleled cinematic achievement that has transcended the boundaries of its genre and redefined the possibilities of visual storytelling. Despite its enduring legacy as one of the greatest films of all time, the Academy Awards in 1969 curiously overlooked the film for even a Best Picture nomination. Kubrick's visionary exploration of human evolution, artificial intelligence, and the mysteries of the cosmos revolutionized filmmaking with its innovative special effects, meticulous attention to detail, and a profound, enigmatic narrative. The absence of a Best Picture nomination, while surprising to many, serves as a reminder of the Academy's occasional reluctance to fully embrace unconventional and groundbreaking works. Nevertheless, 2001: A Space Odyssey has endured as a cinematic landmark, influencing generations of filmmakers.
At the 95th Academy Awards in 2003, there were no women nominated in the Best Director category. That seemed more than a little strange considering that in the previous two years, women WON the award! To add insult to injury, the film Women Talking was nominated for Best Picture. So even though that film was good enough to be nominated as one of the best films of the year, its director Sarah Polley couldn't even get a nomination? Aftersun was another film that achieved critical acclaim from movie critics and earned a Best Actor nomination for its star Paul Mescal. Yet, again, the director Charlotte Wells couldn't get a nomination.
Citizen Kane is hailed as one of the greatest films in cinematic history. It stands as a towering testament to the genius of Orson Welles. Released in 1941, the film revolutionized storytelling and cinematography, employing innovative techniques that forever altered the landscape of filmmaking. It was one of the first films to make extensive use of deep focus, where the foreground, background, and in between space are all in sharp focus. The film also has numerous low-angle shots looking up from well below the characters and including room ceilings in the shot. Despite its groundbreaking impact and critical acclaim, Citizen Kane received only one Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, a fact that has perplexed film enthusiasts for decades. When modern audiences watch the film today, they may not even realize how innovative the techniques are; that's how ahead of its time it was. It lost Best Picture to How Green Was My Valley.
In the realm of Hollywood, Glenn Close stands as a paragon of acting prowess and versatility, gracing the silver screen with performances that resonate across genres and generations. Yet, despite her unparalleled talent and a distinguished career spanning decades, the elusive Oscar statuette has remained just out of reach for this iconic actress. Close has been nominated for an Academy Award 8 times, sharing the record for most nominations without a win. Her Oscar-worthy portrayals, marked by depth and nuance, have traversed a diverse range of roles, from the hauntingly mesmerizing Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction to the gender-bending brilliance of Albert Nobbs. The absence of an Oscar on her illustrious shelf remains one of Hollywood's most puzzling conundrums, a reflection not of her abilities but perhaps an enigma embedded in the unpredictable dynamics of the industry's recognition. Nonetheless, Glenn Close's legacy endures as a testament to her enduring talent, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of audiences worldwide.
Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo, a cinematic masterpiece released in 1958, stands as a testament to the disconnect that sometimes exists between critical acclaim and awards recognition. Despite its enduring impact on film culture and its subsequent elevation to the status of one of the greatest films of all time, Vertigo did not secure a single Academy Award win during its initial release. This omission is now regarded as a perplexing chapter in Oscar history, given the film's intricate narrative, groundbreaking cinematography, and Hitchcock's masterful direction. Over the years, Vertigo has garnered the appreciation it deserves, recognized for its psychological depth, visual innovation, and Bernard Herrmann's haunting score. Since the turn of the millennium, the film's re-evaluation has grown and even currently surpasses that of Citizen Kane's as seen by its top 2 finish in the past two Sight & Sound critic's polls of the best films of all time.
The 78th Academy Awards in 2006 witnessed a cinematic moment that echoed far beyond the confines of the Dolby Theatre, as Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain entered the ceremony as the frontrunner and a cultural touchstone. The poignant love story between two cowboys, portrayed by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, garnered widespread critical acclaim for its nuanced storytelling, exceptional performances, and groundbreaking exploration of themes rarely addressed in mainstream cinema. Despite being the favorite for the coveted Best Picture category, the Oscar went to Crash, a film that has not held up well to retrospective criticism especially since 2020. The unexpected outcome raised questions about the Academy's willingness to embrace groundbreaking narratives and pushed discussions about representation and cultural biases in the film industry. Brokeback Mountain may not have claimed the Best Picture statuette, but its enduring impact on LGBTQ+ cinema and its role in reshaping conversations about love, identity, and acceptance in mainstream storytelling remains an indelible part of its legacy.
Alfonso Cuarón's Roma, a visually stunning and emotionally resonant cinematic masterpiece, entered the 91st Academy Awards in 2019 as a strong contender for Best Picture, having garnered widespread critical acclaim and numerous accolades throughout the awards season. However, despite being the favorite among many cinephiles and industry insiders, Roma ultimately lost the Best Picture category to Green Book. Like Crash in 2006, Green Book has been criticized for being too simplistic and heavy-handed in tackling themes of race relations. The outcome sparked discussions about the Academy's preferences and criteria for recognizing exceptional filmmaking, as Roma had already secured three Oscars for Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Foreign Language Film. The disparity in its recognition underscored the complexities and biases that can influence Oscar decisions, leaving Roma as a poignant reminder that even the most celebrated and artistically groundbreaking films may not always secure the industry's top honor.
Peter O'Toole, the legendary actor with a career spanning over five decades, etched his name into the annals of cinematic history with remarkable performances that showcased his immense talent and versatility. Astonishingly, O'Toole shares the record (with Glenn Close) for receiving the most Academy Award nominations without a single win, having been nominated 8 times. His iconic roles include the charismatic T.E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia (losing to Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird) and the enigmatic Henry II in The Lion in Winter. He earned critical acclaim and admiration from peers and audiences alike. The absence of an Oscar on O'Toole's shelf has become a symbol of both his enduring contributions to the craft and the capricious nature of awards recognition in the film industry. Despite never claiming the coveted competitive statuette, he was given an honorary Oscar in 2002 billed as a lifetime achievement award.
Cary Grant, the epitome of suavity and charm on the silver screen, remains an enduring icon in the pantheon of Hollywood legends. Despite his reputation as one of the greatest actors of all time, Grant faced the peculiar circumstance of never winning an Academy Award throughout his illustrious career. Nominated twice for Best Actor, first for Penny Serenade in 1941 and later for None But the Lonely Heart in 1944, Grant's inability to secure the coveted Oscar has been a point of curiosity and debate among film enthusiasts. His versatility, impeccable comedic timing, and dramatic range in films like North by Northwest and An Affair to Remember solidify his status as a timeless leading man.
In 2007, Dreamgirls burst onto the Oscar scene with a dazzling array of nominations, leading the pack with the most nods of the year. This soulful musical, adapted from the Broadway stage, showcased powerhouse performances and a dynamic soundtrack that resonated with audiences and critics alike. However, despite its dominance in the technical and supporting categories, Dreamgirls found itself notably absent from the nominations for the most prolific awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress. How is that possible to be the most nominated film of the year but not secure a nomination for Best Picture?
Stanley Kubrick was a visionary filmmaker whose impact on cinema is immeasurable. His films are characterized by meticulous craftsmanship, profound storytelling, and groundbreaking visual techniques that have left an indelible mark on cinema and audiences even today. However, he faced an intriguing relationship with the Academy Awards throughout his illustrious career. Despite being widely regarded as one of the most influential directors in the history of filmmaking, Kubrick never won a directing Oscar. He was nominated for Best Director four times—first for 2001: A Space Odyssey and later for films like Dr. Strangelove, A Clockwork Orange, and Full Metal Jacket—without any wins. His lone Oscar win in 13 total nominations was in visual effects for 2001: A Space Odyssey (also the only Academy Award that acclaimed film won).
