Re: Great Movies with zero Oscar Nominations?
Adam, I think it helps to keep in perspective what the Oscars actually are - industry awards. No more, no less.
Therefore movie industry trends, tastes and politics have a tremendous effect on the nominations and winners. The winners represent more a snapshot of the times than they do films for the ages. The one thing a great film needs to earn its status as "great" is the test of time, which of course isn't possible with any annual awards. (Who can say what the "best" movie of any given year is anyway? But don't we love to try!)
I simply think it's wise for those who love movies to understand that the Academy Awards are more about movie business than they are film art. Along the way they do honor some fine films and technical achievement. But I don't think an Oscar BP win is automatically an imprimatur of excellence.
Which is absolutely OK. The Oscars are fun to handicap and it's interesting to see what independents and up and coming filmmakers are on Hollywood's radar. I'm there for the dresses, no question.
My annual "rant" (intended ironically, doncha know) has more to do with people getting too invested in the Oscars as validation one way or the other. Kramer vs Kramer will never be a great film, while certain classics ignored by AMPAS such as The Third Man, The Searchers, Vertigo, Rules of the Game, City Lights, Touch of Evil etc. are great films no matter what their track record for awards.
So some years Oscar "pleases" me more than others but I view the event as entertainment, not life and death. Am I annoyed Scorsese has never won an Oscar? You betcha. But Scorsese is a great director whether he wins an Oscar or not. So are many other great artists who never won a gold statue in competition.
My favorite 5 movies of 2006 are nowhere to be seen in BP nominations (Children of Men, Pan's Labyrinth, Army of Shadows, The Death of Mr. Lazarescu, United 93) but 4 of the above have noms in other categories and 2 others in my top ten (The Departed and The Queen) did get BP nods. That's a high precentage year for me.
Joe, you might want to consider looking at the Sight & Sound thread for a list of movies. You might consider expanding this thread to include movies that were nominated in any category but did not win Best Picture.
That would include such beauties as Citizen Kane, The Maltese Falcon, and many others, just as you found recent movies Sideways & Finding Neverland more satisfying than the eventual BP winner (my pic would've been The Aviator).
Robert, I agree with you 100%. just because I had a great time watching a certain movie (e.g. The Hidden, Inside Man) doesn't make it a great film.
