Biggest upsets in Academy Award history
by Matthew Socey
There’s already been a major upset in this year’s Academy Award nominations, as 13-year-old Keisha Castle-Hughes received a Best Actress nod for her performance in Whale Rider (it’s on video, go see it). Her nomination shut out Nicole Kidman’s performance in Cold Mountain and (depending on whom you talk to) Scarlett Johansson’s in Lost In Translation. Will she pull the ultimate upset and actually win? We’ll find out on Feb. 29. Here are some previous Oscar winners that when announced made many go, “Oh my God! No way!” Note: This list only covers the four acting awards and Best Picture. I know some of you are still reeling from “The Morning After” winning Best Song over “Ben,” but space is limited …
Best Actor 2002: Adrien Brody in The Pianist Other Noted Nominees: Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York; Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt; Michael Caine in The Quiet American. Nobody bet on Brody. No one. Somebody in Vegas must have had a heart attack. Daniel Day-Lewis’s comeback? Number four for Jack? After two supporting actor awards, a lead statue for Caine? No wonder Brody smooched Halle Berry when he got to the podium.
Best Picture 1998: Shakespeare In Love ONN: Saving Private Ryan. Everyone thought this was a lock when Steven Spielberg won for Best Director for SPR. With its Barbershop level of honesty, I found Shakespeare to be a better film than Ryan. You can ask me about it on the street. I’ll tell you.
Best Supporting Actress 1996: Juliette Binoche in The English Patient ONN: Lauren Bacall in The Mirror Has Two Faces. Everyone thought this was going to be the unofficial career achievement nod for Lauren Bacall. It helps that she was the best thing about that film. You should have seen the look on her face when Binoche’s name was read. Binoche does an excellent job in Patient and she was the character I cared about the most in that film, but wow, what a reaction.
Best Picture 1981: Chariots Of Fire ONN: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Reds, On Golden Pond, Atlantic City.
Best Actor 1974: Art Carney in Harry and Tonto ONN: Albert Finney in Murder on the Orient Express; Dustin Hoffman in Lenny; Jack Nicholson in Chinatown; Al Pacino in The Godfather Part II. In college basketball terms, Chariots of Fire and Art Carney were both number 15 seeds and they won the whole damn thing.
Best Picture 1968: Oliver! ONN: The Lion in Winter, Romeo and Juliet, Funny Girl. Not only did this good (not great) musical win Best Picture, but 2001: A Space Odyssey wasn’t even nominated. Oliver! director Carol Reed won his first and only Best Director award and this was the same guy who made The Third Man.
Best Actress 1960: Elizabeth Taylor in Butterfield 8 ONN: Deborah Kerr in The Sundowners; Shirley MacLaine in The Apartment. The reason this made the list is because it’s one of the worst performances to win this award. The melodramatic film doesn’t help, either. Try watching it. Taylor would later make amends by deservedly winning Best Actress six years later for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Best Picture 1956: Around The World In 80 Days ONN: Giant, The King & I, The Ten Commandments.
Best Picture 1952: The Greatest Show on Earth ONN: High Noon, Moulin Rouge, The Quiet Man. The Greatest Show on Earth? (Comic Book Guy voice) Worst Best Picture winner ever. This was only so producer Cecil B. DeMille could have an award on his desk. Around The World In 80 Days was OK, but Best Picture over Giant, The King & I and The Ten Commandments? This was Buster Douglas beating Mike Tyson. There’s a remake of 80 Days coming later this year. Aren’t you excited?
Best Picture 1941: How Green Was My Valley ONN: Citizen Kane, The Maltese Falcon, Sergeant York, Suspicion. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very good film, but c’mon. This is also a reminder that Valley director John Ford won four directing Oscars (Valley, The Quiet Man, The Informer, The Grapes of Wrath), none for his westerns (Stagecoach, The Searchers, My Darling Clementine).
Matthew Socey is co-host of Saturday Matinee on 1430 AM WXNT and The Art Of The Matter on 90.1 WFYI.
