Oscar Snubbed Films

Films That Should Have Won Oscars

The 91st Academy Awards have come and gone and I couldn't be ANY happier, BUT, I failed to capitalize on the event like I'd originally planned. So without further ado, here is my personal list (in no particular order) of movies that deserved to win for Best Picture.

Disclaimer: The plan is to ONLY list 10 movies, but there's a slight chance I might get carried away. My apologies in advance.

1) Pretty In Pink (1986) - Say something smart...

2) The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) - My first glimpse of Steve Carell before becoming a bonafide junkie of 'The Office.' I remember being in tears when I first saw this movie; tears of laughter. We also got to see a young Kevin Hart with a few funny lines.

3) The Fugitive (1993) - So, Tommy Lee Jones won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, but that wasn't enough. The film ALONE was fantastic. Based on the TV series (of the same name) back in the 60s, the 1993 thriller (damn! it's been 26 years??) had me at the edge of my seat. I loved every bit of it, rooting immensely for Harrison Ford to evade the law. 

4) The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) - Let's see... I got slapstick comedy, California, Leslie Nielson at his best, sprinkled with a little baseball and O.J. Simpson (before the Ford Bronco chase). If that isn't enough for an Oscar I don't know what is... 

5) The Sandlot (1993) - This movie was flawless. If you grew up a baseball junkie, this was/is a must see. Unfortunately, kids these days would rather make ASMR videos and shoot 3-pointers from half-court.

6) Fatal Attraction (1987) - I'll go on record by saying Michael Douglas is my 2nd favorite actor (Denzel takes the crown) and he was certainly "the man" for a good stretch of the 80s and beyond. If you enjoy crazy, psychotic women chasing after wealthy men, brace yourselves. The movie received 6 nominations, but went home empty handed.

7) Wall Street (1987) -  Mike Douglas and a young Charlie Sheen did their best to convince me that corporate was the way to go... until my very first job on Wall St. had me contemplating whether life was even worth living 😂 I loved this movie, along with Gordon Gekko's memorable quotables, and though Douglas won an Oscar for Best Actor, the film itself also went home empty handed. 

8) Kids (1995) - Aaaah, NYC circa 1995; such great memories. No way on God's Green Earth would this movie have EVER seen the light of day on Hollywood's grandest stage, but the Independent flick was  brilliantly filmed; showcasing the lives of a group of teens set in early 90s NYC. The movie highlighted sex, drugs, alcohol, mischief and it almost felt too real. I remember watching it for the first time with an old friend who rented the movie from Blockbuster Video. We watched intently, mesmerized by the realism and I desperately wanted to become "cool" afterwards.

9) The Hangover (2009) - Vegas, comedy, and Bradley Cooper before he started making love songs with Lady Gaga. One of my all-time favorites films. In fact, I'll go on record and say I've thoroughly enjoyed all 3 Hangover movies. 

10) The Town (2010) - Ben Affleck stars in this thriller about a group of bank robbers who come up with an immaculate game plan to commit bank robberies throughout the city of Boston. The best part about the film? they actually got away with the crimes for a good stretch! 'The Town' is one of the first flicks I can recall cheering on the "bad guys" hoping they'd escape the law... until eventually they were caught. OF COURSE they were.

***I can't stop at 10. But to my credit, I warned you!***

11) House Party (1990) - Bright colors, high-top fades and plenty of laughs. I remember seeing this at the theater envisioning life as a free-spirited teen who danced and got all of the ladies... until I became a sports jock who ran home to play video games and watch The Ricki Lake Show.
House Party was a defining moment in cinema, showcasing many young acts of hip-hop, becoming an instant classic; a term I typically won't throw around so easily. The movie made such an impact on black culture, where LeBron James has openly discussed his plans on remaking it.
Sigh...
If he knows what's best, he'll leave this ALREADY CLASSIC-THANKS, LEBRON, BUT NO THANKS! movie alone.

12) Sleeping with the Enemy (1991) - "Laaaaaaurrrrrraaaa!"  
I'm inclined to watch this movie anytime it comes on TV, and for some strange reason... that's a LOT these days - some 28 years after it hit theaters. Yet another thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. 

13) Friday (1995) - Cult classic. 'Nuff said.

14) Major League (1989) - I seriously thought I had a shot at making it to the Big Leagues after watching this classic. Loved every bit of this film.

15) The Wrestler (2008) - Very underrated flick (as far as never being discussed with other great films), starring Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei, who both took home individual awards. The movie peels back the layers of the world of professional wrestling and for those who have followed me throughout my journey, you know I grew up a wrestling nut, so it was a must-see. Strangely, I've only watched this movie once (unlike the others on my list), but I remember being blown away by the storyline. This movie certainly played with my emotions... almost identical to what wrestling did to me as a kid. The irony.

It was extremely hard leaving out some other well-deserved Oscar snubbed movies, but I'll certainly revisit this at a later date...