(post-1970; check out the most egregious directing and writing snubs. Return tomorrow for the worst “Best Picture” winners.)
SUPPORTING ACTORS
*Madeline Kahn, 1974, Lili Von Shtupp in “Blazing Saddles.” She lost to Ingrid Bergman for “Murder on the Orient Express.” Great comedians usually get jobbed — very tiring.
*Piper Laurie, 1976, Margaret White in “Carrie.” “Network” is a far better movie, but Beatrice Straight’s contributions were minimal, especially when compared to Laurie’s bravura turn as a fundamentalist crackpot.
*Kathy Bates, 2002, for “About Schmidt.” Bates disrobed; Catherine Zeta-Jones didn’t and still wins an Oscar for her role in the worst movie ever to win Best Picture.
*Holly Hunter, 2003, “Thirteen.” Lost to Renee Zellweger’s laughably bad Southern accent.
*William H. Macy, 1996, “Fargo.” Jerry Lundegaard never could catch a break. Cuba Gooding, Jr. won instead. You know the rest.
*Al Pacino, 1972, “The Godfather.” Back when he was brilliant, but Joel Grey wore make-up and won for “Cabaret.”
*Benicio del Toro, 2003, “21 Grams.” del Toro has never been better, and that’s saying something. Tim Robbins was the best thing about “Mystic River,” but that’s not saying much. Please, no more movies set among Boston’s working class.
LEAD ACTORS
*Denzel Washington, “Malcom X”; Clint Eastwood, “Unforgiven,” 1992. Al Pacino won for “Scent of a Woman,” and an insufferable ham was born.
*Anthony Hopkins, “The Remains of the Day,” 1993. A truly heartbreaking performance — the best of Hopkins’ career. Too bad his character had AIDS (see Hanks, Tom, “Philadelphia”).
*Robert DeNiro, “Taxi Driver”; William Holden, “Network,” 1976. Peter Finch was marvelous as Howard Beale, but his was a supporting role. Holden was the heart of “Network.” DeNiro was Travis Bickle.
*Peter Sellers, “Being There,” 1979. If I need to explain this one, you must be new to the Malcontent.
*Robert Duvall, “The Apostle,” 1997. Nicholson won for playing a variation of himself in “As Good as It Gets.” I can’t think of a more authentic performance than Duvall’s conflicted preacher. This may be the worst snub of all.
*Paul Newman, “The Verdict”; Dustin Hoffman, “Tootsie,” 1982. Ben Kingsley is a great actor, and a convincing Gandhi, but Newman gave the performance of his career. Hoffman was an unconvincing woman, but that was the point.
*Nick Nolte, “Affliction,” 1998. Robbed by the Italian Robin Williams, Roberto Benigni.
*Heath Ledger, “Brokeback Mountain,” 2005. Philip Seymour Hoffman was very good as Capote, but I didn’t much care for the movie. Was it expert mimicry, or brilliant acting? In the eye of the beholder, I guess.
*Ellen Burstyn, “Requiem for a Dream,” Laura Linney, “You Can Count on Me,” 2000. Winner: Julia Roberts, “Erin Brockovich”;
*Julianne Moore, “Far From Heaven,” 2002. Winner: Nicole Kidman, “The Hours”;
*Stockard Channing, “Six Degrees of Separation,” Angela Bassett, “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” Emma Thompson, “The Remains of the Day,” Debra Winger, “Shadowlands,” 1993. Winner: Holly Hunter, “The Piano”;
*Anyone besides Helen Hunt, “As Good as It Gets,” 1997. I liked her better in “Quarterback Princess“;
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