Best Non-Oscar Winners, No. 3


Recently I chronicled my favorite Best Picture Winners since 1970. Now, for the next three weeks, I'll be sharing my 10 favorite films that fell short of Best Picture despite being nominees since 1990.

3. Up In The Air
Starring: George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, and Vera Farmiga
Director: Jason Reitman
About: This list has featured some movies that are real favorites of mine, which is partly how they ended up on the list. While the top two on this list the next couple of weeks have strong cultural statements, this might be the most personal option on this list. I love "Up In The Air." It's one of my favorite movies of all time, and I thought it was a masterpiece on a number of levels. I've probably seen it 50 times, and I've taught a movie class on it twice. I'm not objective. Nor am I objective about the fact that "The Hurt Locker" is over rated and "Avatar" is a visual masterpiece with a shallow and cliche story. Those were the two films that were at the top of the heap the year that "Up In The Air" came out. I thought "Up In The Air" was the best then, and I still do, and it's a shame the film didn't do better. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, but it won nothing. I thought it was a great performance from Clooney, and one that could have won any of the awards it was nominated for, but it got nothing. But it's a funny and poignant film, and one that is well worth checking out if you've never seen it.
Rating: R for language and some sexual content.

Top 10 Non-Winners:
10. Fargo (1996)
9. Whiplash (2014)
8. L.A. Confidential (1997)
7. The Social Network (2010)
6. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
5. There Will Be Blood (2007)
4. Inception (2010)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve
Read more