Here are some of my personal favorites. Some would be real longshots for an Oscar, but in my perfect world, a few of the honorees would be…
The Wizard of Oz. AKA the most watchable movie ever made. Best Picture.
The Shawshank Redemption. A masterpiece of emotional restraint, storytelling, and acting by the entire cast. If you can keep from floating away on a raft of tears in the end, you’re made of stone.
Harold and Maude. My favorite screen romance, and surely the winner for Best Soundtrack and Best Song.
Last of the Mohicans. Okay, I lied. This is my favorite screen romance. Best Score by a mile. So much better than the novel, you’ll forget there ever was a novel.
Lady Jane. Best tragic romance, with Cary Elwes looking so handsome you’ll melt on the floor. Best costumes, for sure.
Terminator. Second-best tragic romance, and Michael Biehn will own your soul.
Breaking Away. This is one of those movies I can’t help but watch every time it shows up on TV–a classic story of a young man figuring out who he is and where he belongs. Bonus points for the opera score.
Blazing Saddles. What can I say? I’m in charge here. This movie is so stupidly funny it deserves something.
Henry V and Much Ado About Nothing take the prize for Best Collaboration by a Now-Divorced Couple–Kenneth Branagh and the incomparable Emma Thompson.
Hoop Dreams. A movie every person in America should see, along with Apollo 13.
Sense and Sensibility. The only feature film that does justice to Jane Austen.
Amadeus. This probably won an Oscar for something, surely. A flawless depiction of genius and passion.
So there you are. Just a few overlooked faves. How about you?
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February 22, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Gina Black
Harold and Maude! Absolutely should have won an Oscar for something–or they should have made the category “Best Cult Film.”
Amadeus? 8 Oscars, including Best Film and Director.
February 23, 2008 at 2:41 am
Jody Allen
My choices would be:
Inn of the Sixth Happiness,
Monty Phyton’s Holy Grail,
Persuasion (best Jane Austen, sorry)
Mrs Henderson Presents
February 23, 2008 at 4:54 am
FatherRay
Snowfall at Willow Lake
Harold and Maude
Last of the Mohicas
Somwhere in Time
The Russians are Coming - LOL! - How did that get in here?
February 23, 2008 at 8:37 am
susanwiggs
I’m not surprised AMADEUS won so many Oscars. I’m just surprised that for once I had the good taste to love the winner. Same goes for SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE.
Totally agree w/Ray on Somewhere in Time.
February 23, 2008 at 8:33 pm
samq
I have to agree with Jody. The Amanda Root Persuasion is the best Jane Austen feature ever. Then Sense and Sensibility. And maybe a very far off third is the Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice.
But Lady Jane, I always melt. And bawl. Even though I know what to expect.
I would add Room With A View for best ever movie adaptation from a novel.
February 25, 2008 at 8:42 am
amoore611
I’m not a fan of a TON of Oscar movies. I’m not a fan of a lot of popular movies or classics for that matter. I’ll refrain from listing specifics because something’s always thrown at me.
There should be a separate category for children. I always thought the children in When a Man Loves a Women were spectacular. The husband agrees and he hated that movie. I always thought When Harry Met Sally should have won (though I believe it was actually nominated). I actually thought Enchanted should have been nominated. It was really cute and had a mix of animated, CGI and live action. I thought Gone Baby Gone should have gotten more recognition. It was a fantastic movie. I was pleasantly surprised that Ratatouille was nominated for so many awards. I’m fine with it winning only animated feature, but it got a nod for many others as well.
February 26, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Arti
As for this year’s Oscar nominees, I cheered for Julie Christie in Away From Her, and Sarah Polley, who wrote the adapted screenplay and directed the movie.
Atonement is another good one, both movie and book.
However, they didn’t win. Just another lesson of “winning isn’t everything.” I sure enjoyed watching, reading, and writing reviews about them.