The Following 10 were either never nominated for best picture or should have won best picture, but didn’t. All of these are my opinion, you may or may not agree, but film is subjective so I could care less.
- Interstellar
2015 was one of the greatest years for film in modern history. A 29 year old Damien Chazelle headlined with Whiplash, Birdman took the Oscar, but 12 year production Boyhood was also nominated, along with The Imitation Game, American Sniper, Selma, and The Theory of Everything, a stacked year. However, Interstellar, an extremely thought provoking, interesting, and emotional movies was not even recognized by the Academy, a movie now within the top 15 greatest movies of all time (ranked by IMDB). The academy has always proved it’s had a tough time choosing the best film, but this was a mistake.
2. The Pursuit of Happiness
Will Smith getting his five dollars back and falling for a knock knock joke from six year old Jaden Smith, made me an emotional wreck. In a year without heavy competition in the field, The Pursuit of Happiness wasn’t given a single nod by the academy. Will Smith, however, was given a nomination for Best Actor.
3. Logan
Most audiences have come to realize the humanity that lies in the script of Logan; to see the humanity that hides beneath the eyes of a man made out to be a monster. Logan is a better superhero movie than Black Panther, which did not deserve an oscar nomination. This superhero movie did.
4. Saving Mr. Banks
With a cast like Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks, I’m not sure how people underestimate this movie but even rotten tomatoes has Saving Mr. Banks ranked at a mediocre 79%. This movie was far from mediocre, everything was done with perfection and ease; in a style so unique to this film I believe audiences and the academy truly missed the meaning of this film.
5. Django Unchained
Leonardo diCaprio actually sliced open his hand, remained in character, proceeded to cover Broomhilda’s face in his blood, her expression plastered with pure terror as she realized it was real. Django Unchained was nominated for best picture but documentary Argo took the win. Argo’s a great movie, but it’s Django.
6. It’s a Wonderful Life
Cemented as one of the greatest holiday movies, It’s a Wonderful Life, filmed in 1946, stars Jimmy Stewart in the most depressing and uplifting story about love and life. This film lost to The Best Years of Our Lives in the best picture race. I’m not sure about everyone else but I’ve never seen The Best Years of Our Lives. That’s all.
7. Jaws
Losing to Jack Nicholson isn’t the worst way to miss out on an Oscar, but the lasting impact Jaws has had on the world of production, editing, and film scores outweighed One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
8. Wizard of Oz
I can’t truly consider this a snub but wanted to include it on the list. Released the same year as Gone With the Wind, Wuthering Heights, and Of Mice and Men, Wizard of Oz revolutionized the filmmaking process by filming in color, something never done before. That being said, Gone With the Wind rightfully won the Oscar, but it was worth giving Wizard of Oz credit where credit is due.
9. To Kill a Mockingbird
Gregory Peck starred in the film almost one-hundred percent of teenagers are forced to watch or read the book sometime between freshman and senior year of highschool. This is one screenplay that was adapted true to the novel and actually competes with the book for which is better, most say the book; but I argue that Gregory Peck embodies Finch.
10. The Shawshank Redemption
Last but not least, in 1995 The Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction, and Forrest Gump we’re all up for best picture, IMDB’s number one and number six movie of all time, respectively, lost to the eleventh greatest movie of all time. I write this not to complain about the choice but more to celebrate the amount of filmmakers telling moving stories without the expectation to win an award. Filmmakers don’t make movies to win trophies, they make movies to tell stories; an idea I believe is getting lost as production companies look to make more money, to win more awards, and get paid better in order to do it again.
Grant's Entertainment Review 