The Oscars always get it wrong

[Ed Gordon]

The Oscars always get it wrong. Here are the real best pictures of the past 50 years.

With the perspective of time, we can now discern what movie was actually the best

Perspective by Dan Zak and Amy Argetsinger
Updated March 7, 2024 at 9:28 a.m. EST|Published March 22, 2022 at 6:00 a.m. EDT

UPDATED on March 7, 2024: We published this fine quarrel in 2016, but they just keep on handing out Oscars to the wrong movies, so we have updated it for your further education — and reassessed some earlier years as well.


Let’s take a walk through the past five decades of best picture winners of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It’s an almost unbroken chain of incorrect decisions! But with the perspective lent to us by the passage of time, we can now confidently look back and discern what was actually the best. Doing our best to set the record straight here, but don’t hesitate to argue with us in the comments section.

1974

• Nominees: Chinatown, The Conversation, Lenny, The Godfather Part II, The Towering Inferno
• Best picture winner: The Godfather Part II
• The actual best picture: Chinatown

“Chinatown” is a Top 10 film of all time: tight yet sumptuous, with a crackerjack script and legendary performances. (We will never recover from some of John Huston’s creepier line readings.) The movie’s central theme — good intentions humiliated by graft and turpitude — is timeless, and the movie stings no matter when (or how many times) you watch it.

Full article at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-...-best-picture/

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Hindsight is indeed 20/20. The Oscars seem to be awarded based on many factors that have nothing to do with the actual quality of the film.

[Osi Osgood]

Not a big surprise, but quite true. It wasn't always that way. These days, quotas of name that alternate lifestyles, (next year's thing to champion ... Beastiality? ), Let's see, which nationality or gender had been under represented? Oscar winners! I haven't trusted Oscar sensibilities for at least 30 or more years. (Note: the 8mm forum does not necessarily endorse the opinions of it's members). 😀😜🫢🤨

[Douglas Meltzer]

Ed,

Sure, the Oscars have messed up many times, however in reference to that first example, Chinatown did not lose to an inferior movie. Both films are masterpieces, however I would say The Godfather Part II deserved the award.

[Ed Gordon]

Interest in the Oscars has plummeted over the years. I have not watched them in years.


Source: USA Today

[Rob Young]

Ryan Gosling performing “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie last night was the best thing I’ve seen from the Oscar night in years. Just what it needed.

[Janice Glesser]

Ryan Gosling performing “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie last night was the best thing I’ve seen from the Oscar night in years. Just what it needed.

Rob you are so right. The awards show itself was dull and boring. Everything just seemed under-stated...EXCEPT Ryan Gosling's "I am Ken." It was a shot of adrenaline.

I had seen almost all the movies nominated and really didn't care which one won Best Picture. However I was surprised that Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon didn't do better. Other than being way too long...it was much more interesting than Oppenheimer IMO...Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Nero's performances were outstanding.

My favorite little movie was the documentary called The Last Repair Shop. This was about a group of volunteers that repair musical instruments for free to be used in schools. Wonderful!

[Edward Nicielnik]

The best thing in the Ocars was Margot Robbie they could not get enough of her but Barbie won best song the Barbie Movie was fun and it made a lot of money

[Alan Paterson]

We got them live in the UK here, sadly with Jonathan Ross intervening as our presenter. We watched the first award for Best Supporting Actress, which went to Da'vine Joy Randolph for her role in 'The Holdovers' then headed to bed. Actors without a script can be a sad sight to behold.

[Osi Osgood]

Honestly, I thought both Godfather I and II were highly overated. I found them boring, quite honestly, and I've never understood all the hoopla about them. I guess it all comes down to what you expect from a film. "Man in the Wilderness", from that same time period, though slow moving, is an incredible story of survival, and most folks today do not even know it exists. It's far more entertaining than the Godfather films. Interestingly, it's fun to compare "Godfather" with the fun and over the top "Scarface", and how in a short ten years, the "gangster/mobster' film genre changed.

[Ed Gordon]

Honestly, I thought both Godfather I and II were highly overated...

I enjoyed Godfather I, but never had an interest in the sequel. I think Godfather was one of those movies like Dune; if you have not read the book, you probably won't enjoy it as much as those that have read the book.

[Janice Glesser]

I was happy that Wes Anderson won an Oscar. Ever since I saw Moonlight Kingdom I've enjoyed watching his movies... Loved The Grand Budapest. I did see The Wonderful Life of Henry Sugar, but didn't realize it had been nominated. It was a strange quirky little movie very... typical Wes Anderson. He always has really good actors in his movies and I'm sure they enjoy working with him.

[Graham Ritchie]

I am pleased that "Oppenheimer" did well, as its also a timely reminder to many once again, of the dangerous times we still live in, if ever nuclear weapons were to be used.