Most gems are often undervalued and underappreciated and this applies without a doubt to the silver screen. Puzzling judgement by the panel has seen many cinematic masterpieces miss out on the coveted Oscars. Below is our top 10 pick of iconic films, which despite being Oscar-worthy have been assigned the ignominy of forever living in the shade.
- The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
This masterpiece of a movie adapted from Stephen King’s novella of the same name surprisingly bombed at the box office. Despite the cold reception from the hoi polloi, it was nominated for seven Oscars but sadly came out empty handed.
- Fight Club (1999)
How was this gem of a movie overlooked by the panel? The Oscar-worthy performance of the actors was left unappreciated once again. Or maybe, just maybe, the panel did not want to talk about Fight Club? We’ll never know.
- The Shining (1980)
The horror masterpiece still revered by fans and critics alike allegedly missed out on the Oscars due to the Academy’s distaste for the genre. The second of King’s work on our list to miss out on the silver screen’s major accolade, it really was ahead of its time and set a precedent for others to follow.
- American Psycho (2000)
Another classic that was passed over by the panel saw Christian Bale star as the psychotic Patrick Bateman. Mary Harron did an incredible job to portray Bret Easton Ellis’ controversial novel on the big screen and its Oscar-less existence has left many stumped including us.
- The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)
The thrilling biopic of Jordan Belfort, the notorious stockbroker and scammer, has every Tom, Dick and Harry up and running to make it big in life. The movie picked up five nominations but failed to win any. Don’t ask us why. We’re equally clueless.
- The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly (1966)
Sergio Leone’s handiwork should have won him at least the Best Picture or Best Director. However, criticism over its portrayal of violence meant that this Clint Eastwood blockbuster received the short end of the stick.
- The Wind Rises (2013)
The animated movie which opened to word-wide acclaim was denied an Oscar in a decision that baffled many fans and critics. Made by Studio Ghibli, the famous Japanese film studio who brought us Totoro, it lost out to Disney’s Frozen in the animated category.
- Leon: The Professional (1994)
It is no surprise that Luc Besson’s work of art failed to receive a single Oscar nomination, given the institute’s disdain of violence. The last nail in the coffin was probably the fact that it was a foreign language movie – French, to be precise. The movie starring Natalie Portman and Jean Reno was certainly hard done by when it clearly deserved an award.
- Miller’s Crossing (1990)
The Coen brothers have always delivered top-notch hits over the years and this prohibition-era tale was no different. It missed out on the Oscars for its portrayal of raw violence, which is surprising given the Coen brothers’ status as Academy darlings in recent years.
- Drive (2011)
This Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan starrer had many of us at the edge of our seats with its grim portrayal of vulnerability and violence. Muted emotions set against the backdrop of crime left us wanting for more. It may have not won an Oscar but it certainly won our hearts.
While there are many more movie which rightfully deserve an Oscar but sadly we could not fit them all in our list. All the more reason for you to grab some popcorn and awaken the film connoisseur in you.
Also Read
Binge-Watch Sessions: Top 10 TV Shows You Can’t Afford To Miss In 2021
