The Blind Side (2009)

Nominated producer(s): Gil Netter, Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson

Director: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Lily Collins, Jae Head, Kim Dickens, Kathy Bates
Studio: Warner Bros.

Other Oscar noms/wins: greatest actress (Sandra Bullock, winner)

Sandra Bullock has been a star for the reason that ‘80s, headlining field workplace hits like “Speed” (1993) and “While You Were Sleeping” (1996), but we by no means actually thought the Academy would really feel inclined to reward her.

Then got here “The Blind Side” the place Bullock performs Leigh Anne Tuohy, who alongside along with her household, turns into the “white savior” to the poor Black child in John Lee Hancock’s story of real-life NFL first-round draft decide and All-American Michael Oher.

The film didn’t precisely rack up passionate critiques, however earning profits can do wonders in your Oscar marketing campaign. Not to say that soccer was front-and-center throughout that a part of the awards season.

Its stunning greatest image nom clearly got here together with Bullock’s eventual greatest actress win and pushed out extra deserving movies comparable to “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “The Messenger” and “Star Trek.”

Nonetheless, essentially the most deserving movie did win – Kathryn Bigelow’s history-making “The Hurt Locker.” Either manner, I’ll all the time love Sandy.

Seabiscuit (2003)

Nominated producer(s): Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Gary Ross

Director: Gary Ross
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Banks, Gary Stevens, William H. Macy
Studio: Universal Pictures

Other Oscar noms/wins: tailored screenplay (Gary Ross), manufacturing design (Jeannine Oppewall, Leslie Pope), cinematography (John Schwartzman), costume design (Judianna Makovsky), movie modifying (William Goldenberg), sound mixing (Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, Tod A. Maitland)

Director Gary Ross, in his pre-Hunger Games period, delivers a paint-by-numbers story of horse-racing through the Great Depression. Perhaps in the identical boat as greatest image winner “Chariots of Fire” (1981), the film has been largely forgotten, however that’s as a result of feeling very a lot caught in its time. During the early aughts, it was typical to see studios angling for awards consideration with a softball comparable to “Seabiscuit,” which grossed over $140 million.

With a latest revisit, I discovered myself engaged as soon as once more, with a killer efficiency from Jeff Bridges, and recalling how throughout that awards season, William H. Macy managed to land a Globe nod because the fast-talking commentator and Chris Cooper picked up a SAG point out because the sensible horse coach. Nothing for Bridges or star Tobey Maguire.

Chariots of Fire (1981)

Nominated producer(s): David Puttnam (winner)

Director: Hugh Hudson
Starring: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nigel Havers, Cheryl Campbell, Alice Krige, Lindsay Anderson, Dennis Christopher, Nigel Davenport, Brad Davis, Peter Egan, John Gielgud, Ian Holm, Patrick Magee
Studio: twentieth Century Fox

Other Oscar noms/wins: director, supporting actor (Ian Holm), tailored screenplay (Colin Welland, winner), costume design (Milena Canonero, winner), movie modifying (Terry Rawlings), authentic rating (Vangelis, winner)

People will sometimes point out the rating of “Chariots of Fire” earlier than speaking about the rest as of late. That’s largely as a result of the film is among the least talked-about winners, and it doesn’t stand out as a foul movie, it was a cinematic 12 months that gave the world much more memorable films like “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Reds.”

The story of two British monitor runners through the 1924 Olympics marked the top of a five-year consecutive run of the Oscars nominating sports activities films, but it surely ushered in one of many least memorable a long time of greatest image winners within the 80s.

Heaven Can Wait (1978)

Nominated producer(s): Warren Beatty

Director: Warren Beatty, Buck Henry
Starring: Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, James Mason, Charles Grodin, Dyan Cannon, Buck Henry, Vincent Gardenia, Jack Warden
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Other Oscar noms/wins: director, greatest actor (Warren Beatty), supporting actor (Jack Warden), supporting actress (Dyan Cannon), tailored screenplay (Elaine May, Warren Beatty), manufacturing design (Paul Sylbert, Edwin O’Donovan, George Gaines, winner), cinematography (William A. Fraker), authentic rating (Dave Grusin)

It’s not too typically we see the Oscars embrace screwball comedies, however they did with Warren Beatty and Buck Henry’s sports-fantasy dramedy a few Los Angeles Rams quarterback who’s mistakenly taken to heaven in his prime.

Co-written by Beatty and the fabulous Elaine May, the film brings morally invigorating inquiries to the floor concerning mortality and our goal right here on Earth.

In one other banger lineup of greatest image nominees of the Seventies, the film misplaced the award to “The Deer Hunter,” together with “An Unmarried Woman,” “Coming Home” and “Midnight Express.”

The Champ (1931)

Nominated producer(s): None named

Director: King Vidor
Starring: Wallace Beery, Jackie Cooper, Irene Rich, Roscoe Ates
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Other Oscar noms/wins: director, greatest actor (Berry, winner), authentic story (Frances Marion, winner)

The washed-up alcoholic boxer is performed by the fantastic Walter Beery, whose profession skyrocketed after its launch, helped by his function in “Min and Bill” the identical 12 months. At the fifth Academy Awards ceremony, one of the best actor class resulted in the one tie in its historical past, with Beery and Fredric March from “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” sharing the prize. Interestingly, March had acquired one vote greater than Beery however Academy guidelines at the moment thought-about such an in depth margin to be a tie. Under present Academy guidelines, twin awards are given just for actual ties.

Despite combined critiques from critics, the film discovered its manner into one of the best image lineup, dropping to MGM’s “Grand Hotel,” the one movie to win greatest image with a sole nomination.

Ford v Ferrari (2019)

Nominated producer(s): Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, James Mangold

Director: James Mangold
Starring: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitríona Balfe, Tracy Letts, Josh Lucas
Studio: twentieth Century Fox

Other Oscar noms/wins: movie modifying (Andrew Buckland and Michael McCusker, winners), sound mixing (Paul Massey, David Giammarco, Steven Morrow), sound modifying (Donald Sylvester, winner)

It’s a recognized truth: James Mangold is aware of how you can make a film.

Shifting gears into the world of racing, the movie tells the story of automotive designer Carroll Shelby and race automobile driver Ken Miles (performed exquisitely by Christian Bale). The action-packed story brings the highs and lows, making a world by which the viewers is just too afraid to blink with concern they might miss one thing.

Also embedded throughout the well-crafted flick is Tracy Letts, who soars in his temporary however memorable function as Henry Ford, who goes on a joyride to recollect.

The history-making non-English winner “Parasite” beat the movie by a mile.

The Fighter (2010)

Nominated producer(s): David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman, Mark Wahlberg

Director: David O. Russell
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Jack McGee
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Other Oscar noms/wins: director, supporting actor (Christian Bale, winner), supporting actress (Amy Adams), supporting actress (Melissa Leo, winner), movie modifying (Pamela Martin)

In what many take into account to be the beginning of David O. Russell’s relentless pursuit to win an Oscar, after shepherding zany, offbeat comedies like “Flirting with Disaster” (1996) and “I Heart Huckabees” (2004), his tackle the lifetime of boxer Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) attempting to flee the shadow of his troubled brother Dickie (Christian Bale) stays the strongest effort of his later movies.

This is among the few boxing films the place the fights exterior the ring closely outweigh those we view inside, comparable to Amy Adams taking up Micky’s sisters.

“The Fighter” will all the time maintain a particular place in my coronary heart as a result of it gave us considered one of historical past’s most thirsty awards campaigns (that paid off) — with “CONSIDER” with supporting actress winner Melissa Leo’s face plastered throughout advertisements.

“The Fighter” misplaced to a different biopic, “The King’s Speech.”

Breaking Away (1979)

Nominated producer(s): Peter Yates

Director: Peter Yates
Starring: Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley, Barbara Barrie, Paul Dooley, Robyn Douglass
Studio: twentieth Century Fox

Other Oscar noms/wins: director, supporting actress (Barbara Barrie), authentic screenplay (Steve Tesich, winner), authentic music rating adaptation (Patrick Williams)

Peter Yates’ coming-of-age movie about 4 youngsters from Indiana who use biking to flee is a good looking ode to childhood and the desires we quit on.

Utilizing the most effective ensembles of actors of the Seventies, the film’s foursome evinces uncooked and fearless expertise, all main as much as a remaining race that goes down as some of the thrilling in cinema historical past.

“Breaking Away” misplaced to the household drama “Kramer vs. Kramer” starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep.

King Richard (2021)

Nominated producer(s): Tim White, Trevor White, Will Smith

Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green
Starring: Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Tony Goldwyn, Jon Bernthal
Studio: Warner Bros.

Other Oscar noms/wins: greatest actor (Will Smith, winner), supporting actress (Aunjanue Ellis), authentic screenplay (Zach Baylin), movie modifying (Pamela Martin) authentic music (“Be Alive” by Beyoncé and Dixson)

94th Oscars ceremony aside, Will Smith’s transformation into Richard Williams, the daddy of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams, is a luscious endeavor for the veteran actor and worthy of the statuette he received for his portrayal.

What provides to the movie’s delight because it appears to be like on the early days of coaching the eventual athletes is how director Reinaldo Marcus Green is unafraid to indicate Richard as a flawed man. It exhibits human conduct is just not all the time black-and-white, and questionable actions can have one of the best intentions.

With a fierce appearing ensemble together with supporting actress nominee Aunjanue Ellis, newcomer Saniyya Sidney, and the hilarious Jon Bernthal, “King Richard” makes you’re feeling alive, as Beyoncé says.

The movie misplaced to the first streaming best picture winner, “CODA.”

Jerry Maguire (1996)

Nominated producer(s): James L. Brooks, Laurence Mark, Richard Sakai, Cameron Crowe

Director: Cameron Crowe
Starring: Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Renée Zellweger, Kelly Preston, Jerry O’Connell, Jay Mohr, Bonnie Hunt, Regina King
Studio: Sony Pictures

Other Oscar noms/wins: greatest actor (Tom Cruise), supporting actor (Cuba Gooding Jr., winner), authentic screenplay (Cameron Crowe), movie modifying (Joe Hutshing)

Another film with a memorable one-liner — “Show me the money.”

And that’s simply what author and director Cameron Crowe did for the studio, and the film’s star Tom Cruise, on this story of a sports activities agent who has an ethical epiphany.

Part rom-com, and dude-bro-film, “Jerry Maguire” is unapologetic about attempting to attraction to the plenty, using a few clichés, however by no means with out sincerity because it walks us all by means of the tantalizing topic of soccer offers and video games. It’s not stunning, contemplating one of many movie’s producers is none apart from James L. Brooks of “Terms of Endearment” (1983) and “As Good as It Gets” (1997), who is aware of how you can create that steadiness.

However, there was no hope for the film to topple the steamroller that was “The English Patient,” particularly given it additionally shared the lineup with one other basic comedy, “Fargo.”

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Nominated producer(s): Clint Eastwood, Albert S. Ruddy, Tom Rosenberg (winner)

Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman, Jay Baruchel, Mike Colter, Anthony Mackie, Margo Martindale
Studio: Warner Bros.

Other Oscar noms/wins: director (winner), greatest actor (Clint Eastwood), greatest actress (Hilary Swank, winner), supporting actor (Morgan Freeman, winner), tailored screenplay (Paul Haggis), movie modifying (Joel Cox)

Clint Eastwood’s boxing drama has been a legacy since its Oscar win for greatest image, dropping in on the final second of its awards season. And then, it turned the narrative round from what many assumed was going to be the long-awaited profitable 12 months for Martin Scorsese for “The Aviator” to a second triumphant win for Eastwood, in addition to Hilary Swank.

In Eastwood’s signature type, the film about an brisk feminine boxer who captures the guts of her hardened coach is his “most shadow-y” film ever. Nonetheless, it does its job exquisitely, that includes what I imagine to be Eastwood’s finest acting moments, and introduces the world to the abilities of Anthony Mackie.

The Pride of the Yankees (1942)

Nominated producer(s): Samuel Goldwyn Productions

Director: Sam Wood
Starring: Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, Babe Ruth, Walter Brennan
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures

Other Oscar noms/wins: greatest actor (Gary Cooper), greatest actress (Teresa Wright), authentic story (Paul Gallico), screenplay (Herman J. Mankiewicz, Jo Swerling), artwork direction-interior ornament black-and-white (Perry Ferguson, Howard Bristol), cinematography black-and-white (Rudolph Maté), movie modifying (Daniel Mandell, winner), sound recording (Thomas T. Moulton), particular results (Jack Cosgrove, Ray Binger, Thomas T. Moulton), music scoring of a dramatic or comedy image (Leigh Harline)

America’s favourite pastime has a particular place in our hearts, and there have been heroes to emerge from it comparable to New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig. Released one 12 months after Gehrig’s demise from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (higher generally known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease”), the baseball movie is a superb tribute with sensational performances by Gary Cooper because the MLB participant and Teresa Wright as his spouse Eleanor.

Delivering some of the important scenes in movie historical past, Cooper’s retirement speech on the Yankee Stadium diamond units off the waterworks in a profound manner.

The movie misplaced the Oscar high prize to William Wyler’s “Mrs. Miniver.”

The Hustler (1961)

Nominated producer(s): Robert Rossen

Director: Robert Rossen
Starring: Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, Jackie Gleason, Myron McCormick
Studio: 20^th Century Fox

Other Oscar noms/wins: director, greatest actor (Paul Newman), greatest actress (Piper Laurie), supporting actor (Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott), tailored screenplay (Sidney Carroll, Robert Rossen), artwork route black-and-white (Harry Horner, Gene Callahan, winner), cinematography black-and-white (Eugen Schufftan, winner)

It’s not clear whether or not it’s frequent information to youthful cinephiles that Paul Newman’s Oscar-winning efficiency in Martin Scorsese’s “The Color of Money” (1986) is a sequel to Robert Rossen’s basic by which Newman originated the function {of professional} pool participant Eddie Felson.

Many take into account the movie to be considered one of Newman’s best appearing endeavors, in addition to his co-star Jackie Gleason’s. But the movie’s ruthless method to its story and characters doesn’t relaxation upon the query of whether or not who wins or loses. Rather, it’s all in regards to the fixation on Eddie, and the way his decisions have an effect on the viewer’s emotions about him.

At the Oscars, the film was steamrolled by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins’ adaptation of the musical “West Side Story.” “The Hustler” was capable of decide up its two wins as a result of it was throughout a time the Academy was dividing among the technical races between black-and-white and colour photos.

Field of Dreams (1989)

Nominated producer(s): Lawrence Gordon, Charles Gordon

Director: Phil Alden Robinson
Starring: Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta, Burt Lancaster
Studio: Universal Pictures

Other Oscar noms/wins: tailored screenplay (Phil Alden Robinson), authentic rating (James Horner)

“If you build it, he will come.”

It’s not too typically a film line ripples all through historical past, particularly for a movie that was launched over 35 years in the past. Phil Alden Robinson’s basic baseball film had star Kevin Costner in his prime, enjoying Ray Kinsella, a person who hears a voice in his head telling him to construct a baseball area.

What follows is a whimsical story that results in one of many largest tearjerker scenes in a Dad film of all time – when Ray reunites together with his father and asks him, “You wanna have a catch?”

Alongside a lineup of masterful greatest image nominees — “Born on the Fourth of July,” “Dead Poets Society” and “My Left Foot” — the lot misplaced out to the forgettable comedy “Driving Miss Daisy.”

Moneyball (2011)

Nominated producer(s): Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz, Brad Pitt

Director: Bennett Miller
Starring: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Chris Pratt, Stephen Bishop, Jack McGee
Studio: Sony Pictures

Other Oscar noms/wins: greatest actor (Brad Pitt), supporting actor (Jonah Hill), tailored screenplay (Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin, Stan Chervin), movie modifying (Christopher Tellefsen), sound mixing (Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, David Giammarco, Ed Novick)

Math is tough, however Bennett Miller’s vivacious look into the Oakland Athletics’ try and redefine baseball is a spectacle of story, with superb performances from the Oscar-nominated Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill (who confirmed the world how good of an actor he could be) and the overlooked but always reliable Philip Seymour Hoffman.

With a whippersnapper of a script by Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin and Stan Chervin, the Sony film manages to maintain the dialogue in laymen’s phrases, by no means attempting to say it’s smarter than the remainder of us.

It virtually performs out like a documentary characteristic, with some extremely good-looking topics.

Unfortunately, the drama went residence empty-handed, dropping the ultimate award to the silent film, “The Artist.”

Raging Bull (1980)

Nominated producer(s): Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff

Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, Nicholas Colasanto
Studio: United Artists

Other Oscar noms/wins: director, greatest actor (Robert DeNiro, winner), supporting actor (Joe Pesci), supporting actress (Cathy Moriarty), cinematography (Michael Chapman), movie modifying (Thelma Schoonmaker, winner), sound (Donald O. Mitchell, Bill Nicholson, David J. Kimball, Les Lazarowitz)

Before “Silence” (2016) got here on the scene, the story of Jake LaMotta, a violent and ill-tempered boxer who destroys his life each in and outdoors of the ring, was the definitive movie by master auteur Martin Scorsese.

Written by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin (criminally snubbed for tailored screenplay), Scorsese makes use of monochromatic palettes and the career-defining roles of his stars to color a darkish, however enlivened portrait of remorse and redemption.

The film was edged out within the high race by Robert Redford’s “Ordinary People.”

Rocky (1976)

Nominated producer(s): Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff (winners)

Director: John G. Avildsen
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith
Studio: United Artists

Other Oscar noms/wins: director (winner), greatest actor (Sylvester Stallone), greatest actress (Talia Shire), supporting actor (Burgess Meredith, Burt Young), authentic screenplay (Stallone), movie modifying (Richard Halsey and Scott Conrad, winner), sound (Harry W. Tetrick, William L. McCaughey, Lyle J. Burbridge, Bud Alper), authentic music (“Gonna Fly Now” by Bill Conti, Carol Connors, Ayn Robbins)

Everyone has heard some model of the story of a grandparent, father or mother or sibling going to the movie show and watching “Rocky” for the very first time. It typically ends with the narrator waking up the subsequent morning, ingesting a uncooked egg, and going for an early morning run, and by no means making an attempt that ever once more.

In what could be categorized as one of many high 5 best greatest image lineups of all-time, the underdog story of boxer Rocky Balboa manifested itself in actual life, beating out “All the President’s Men,” “Bound for Glory,” “Network” and “Taxi Driver.” It would have been fascinating to cowl that dynamite 12 months as an awards pundit after which watch the telecast and never know what would win the ultimate class of the night time – particularly coming after “Network” received three appearing awards and authentic screenplay, and “All the President’s Men” had tied for essentially the most statuettes with 4 together with supporting actor and tailored screenplay.

Nonetheless, the DGA-winning “Rocky” prevailed and has since been thought-about one of many defining sports activities films in historical past. Watching TV spots and trailers of the period, it’s fascinating to listen to Stallone compared to the likes of Marlon Brando, Paul Newman, Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro.

They weren’t conscious of the sequels that may observe.