Since I was a little kid, I loved watching the Oscars. First time I watched (part of the show) was back in 1981, when I cheered when The Empire Strikes Back won its technical awards. Following year, I cheered for E.T. and the Return of the Jedi. I have been watching this show for over 20 years now. During many years, I have felt the frustration of seing awsome movies nominated for best picture getting beat by non desserving, lame competitors. Annie Hall over Star Wars?? Woody Allen over Spielberg?? The Dark Knight getting snubbed for the stupid Strange Case of Benjamin Button??
It is very normal for the Academy to reward biopics, period dramas adapted from boring classics, and dialogue heavy dramas. But in very rare cases, the Academy has made very wise choices.
Here are the 10 coolest and unusual best picture winners so far.
10-Midnight Cowboy, 1970- This movie was rated X, and it tells the story of a Texas redneck (John Voight) who goes to New York and becomes friends with a hustler played by Dustin Hoffman, who introduces him to prostitution. Although the graphic sex scenes are heterosexual in nature, it is an implied gay love stroy.
09-The French Connection, 1972 - This is a straigh forward action movie, which opened the floodgates for films like the Dirty Harry films, the Lethal Weapons series, and 1980's tough cop movies. Never again has the Academy considered a film like it, with shootouts and a mean climax chase scene.
08-Rocky, 1977 - Stallone wrote the script for this movie in 3 days (according to legend). It's gritty, moving and inspiring. First and only sports movie to win this category.
07-Braveheart, 1996- An epic story reminscent of grandiose classics like Ben Hur. Thousands of extras, killer cinematography, brilliantly choreographed battle scenes. Difference?? Way more violent, gory and more fun to watch than its predecessors. What else do you expect from Mel Gibson?
06-Platoon, 1987- Oliver Stone's masterpiece demystifies war and takes away the heroism of the protagonists as they kill, rape and maim innocent Vietnamese inocent villagers without regard wether they were vietcong or not. This film critizices our country's errors regarding the preparation of US military for war and the psychological consequences of the horrors of war on our soldiers. Still relevant today.
05-One Flew Over the Coocko's Nest, 1976-A very low budget psycho drama disguised as a slapstick comedy. Jack Nicholson plays a con man accused of statutory rape after having sex with a 17 year old. He avoids jail by pleading to be mentally ill. He ends up in a mental institution, becomes friends with fellow patients and plans rebellion against the strict guards and doctors, while he slowly goes crazy himself. Very unusual pick for a best movie at the Oscars. It beat Jaws, but also beat Barry Lyndon, Kubrick's slow paced 18th century drama, which was probably the front runner at the time.
04-Gladiator, 2001-Great movie. Also remiscent of Ben Hur and Spartacus. Outstanding cinematography and exhilarating action sequences. Why a rare pick? because it is an action movie that rose above Erin Brochovich, Trafic and Chocolat, its more traditional competitors. Although Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (a kung fu drama) would have been a better pick, Gladiator was my second favorite at the time.
3-The Departed, 2007- This is a remake of a Hong Kong cop vs mafia thriller. However, it is a killer story. It is unpredictable, engrossing, with the best headshaking climax I have ever seen. When I watch this movie, I feel sad, not for the characters, but for Martin Scorsese, because it is very unlikely he will make a bad ass film like it again.
2-The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King, 2004- Beautiful film. This is the one time the award for best picture has gone to a fantasy genre film. Very unusual pick for the academy, due to its vast special effects (the academy does not like eye candy) and the fact that this is film takes place in the fantasy/sci fi realm. Despite the visual beauty, this film also had a strong emotional caliber and resonance, due to the performances be Elijah Woods and Sean Austin. I hope the day comes when Christopher Nolan, Neil Bloomkamp or even Peter Jacson himself, bring us a film of this size and caliber, and gets considered by the academy.
1-The Silence of The Lambs, 1992-This is the one and only time a horror movie has been awarded with the best picture prize. Only two have been nominated in the past for best picture (Jaws and The Exorcist). Although not supernatural in scope, the film gives a supernatural aura about its villains, presenting them as "human monsters". The movie features one of the most memorable villains in movie history, a flawless script and an unconventional vulnerable heroine. The film is grisly and scarier than any of the Scream movies, or any 3D slasher gorefest at the movies today.
Honorable Mention: Slumdog Millionaire, 2009- This was my pick after The Dark Knight was left out of the competition. The film is Indian, despite being directed by Danny Boyle (Brit), with Brittish funding. 25% of the dialogue is in Hindi, and the film is set in a culture and even circumstances very different from our western day to day. Brilliant, funny and suspenseful.
I hope the academy looks back at these films and award sci fi films, historical fiction, or any film that is creative and unconventional.
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