Tues Top Ten: Stars Without (Competitive) Oscars
Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 7:00PM Do you miss Oscar season or are you glad it's over? I'm feeling a little bit of both right now, which is why this image that a reader sent me is so great. It's Glenn Close & Michelle Pfeiffer on Oscar night in 1989, when they both lost for their roles in Dangerous Liaisons (1988). Michelle did take the stage as a presenter that night (alongside Dennis Quaid).
Who knew that the Merquise de Merteuil and Madame Tourvel could exhibit any such tenderness for each other? (Or maybe the Merquise is just looking for the softest spot on Tourvel's neck in which to sink her fangs?)
So the picture got me to thinking about stars who've never won Oscars despite multiple nods. (Of course the most egregiously mistreated stars in Hollywood are the great actors who've never even been nominated... but that's a different list.) For this Tuesday Top Ten, I thought we'd do things a little differently and the rank will be determined not by my opinion but by Oscar's through the number of nominations. I determine the order if stars have the same number of losing nominations.
TOP TEN WORKING FILMS STARS
WITH MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS WHO'VE
NEVER WON A COMPETITIVE OSCAR
Honorable Mentions: Mickey Rooney, Eleanor Parker, Kirk Douglas (yes, they're all still alive), Jane Alexander, Debra Winger, Diane Ladd and Marsha Mason each won three-to-four nominations but since none of these famous actors are working much or at all in features anymore, I decided to make this a list of top “working” stars instead. As for the bottom third of the top ten list, since there are a lot of stars who’ve earned three nominations without ever winning, I had to make judgement calls as to who to include. So my apologies to: Laura Linney, Joaquin Phoenix and Sigourney Weaver (and others with 3 nominations) who just-missed here.
Johnny Depp, The Dangerous Liaisons girls and more after the jump...
10 Johnny Depp
3 Nominations (2003-2007): The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Finding Neverland, Sweeney Todd
Closest He Came To Winning: Pirates, for which he snagged the SAG, probably got him to third place in a tough Oscar race. Despite the unfortunate calcification of his gift of late (does he any interest in recognizable humanity anymore?) there’s no denying the imaginative triumph of his first nomination, nor the turns preceding it that won him a devoted following prior to that theme park ride mainstream epiphany that he had a special gift.
Worst Snub: Either of his Edwards for Tim Burton
What He Should Have Won For: Edward Scissorhands (1990, maybe) or Pirates (2003), neither of which are anything like typical Oscar roles but that doesn't mean he wasn't Oscar worthy in both of them.
Will He Ever Win?: Five or six years ago who would’ve ever said no? But given the repetitive downward spiral of his career creatively he’ll have to break free of longtime collaborator Burton and his accompanying cartoon quirks to get a real shot again.
09 Joan Allen
3 Nominations (1995-2000): Nixon, The Crucible, The Contender
Closest She Came to Winning: She was probably a runner up with her first, losing to Oscar’s favorite throwback type (the hooker with the heart of gold) via Mira Sorvino in Mighty Aphrodite.
Most Universally Bitched About Snub: Pleasantville (1998)
What She Should Have Won For: The Upside of Anger (not nominated). The latter still stings since she was working on a level so far above nearly all of the nominees that year.
Will She Ever Win? Hollywood seems to have lost interest, which is a shame.
08 Michelle Pfeiffer
3 Nominations (1988-1992): Dangerous Liaisons, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Love Field
Closest She Came: in 1989 she was the presumed frontrunner until mass sentimentality swept Hollywood and made Jessica Tandy the oldest Best Actress winner ever for Driving Miss Daisy. Shame on everyone!
Worst Snubbings: Scarface and White Oleander
What She Should Have Won For: The Fabulous Baker Boys and White Oleander (not nominated). I’d add Batman Returns for a third Oscar (no, for real. it's clearly one of the most memorable turns of an entire decade) but it’s hard to quibble with Emma Thompson’s win for indelibly moving work in the majestic Howard’s End
Will She Ever Win? No. Oscar doesn’t have much use for women over 50 (sad but true) and Pfeiffer has always been too cool an actress to trade on sentiment, something you need to win when you’re past a certain age. (If you’re a woman, at least)
Can Amy Adams snag a trophy next time? It's now or never if you ask me.
07 Amy Adams
4 Nominations (2005-2012): Junebug, Doubt, The Fighter, The Master
Closest She Came: That’s a tough call. I doubt she was actually close in any of those races though she might have been a distant second place for Junebug. But the ease with which she nabs nominations theoretically suggests I could be very wrong about this
Most Universally Bitched About "Snub": Enchanted
What She Should’ve Won For: She would’ve made a worthy if not definitively deserved winner on her first or third nominations but isn’t four nominations enough for that particular filmography?
Will She Ever Win? Only if it’s in the next few years and she hustles for a 5th nomination - Janis Joplin? – if so momentum could do half the work for her. Otherwise she's toast since Oscar streaks rarely last much longer than hers has.
06 Ed Harris
4 nominations (1995-2002): Apollo 13, The Truman Show, Pollock, The Hours
Closest He Came: 1998 was a strange Best Supporting Actor year but my guess is that he very narrowly lost his Truman Show bid to James Coburn in Affliction.
Was He Ever Snubbed? I'm not sure you could say so but he did nearly win a critics prize for The Right Stuff (1983)
What He Should’ve Won For: The Truman Show
Will He Ever Win? Something tells me no since he couldn't get winners traction for very baity parts like the ones he was nominated for.
05 Annette Bening (4 nominations)
4 Nominations (1990-2010): The Grifters, American Beauty, Being Julia, The Kids Are All Right
Closest She Came To Winning: She was, I'd guess, the runner up for three of her four Oscar races but I suspect it was American Beauty for which she came the closest to holding a statue of her own (oh you know she's held Warren's!). That film was possibly thisclose to joining The Silence of the Lambs and precious few other films as a winner of all five top Oscar prizes. Being Julia… her historic Round Two with Hilary Swank was probably the only time she wasn't in second place; the last minute surge that year was all about Vera Drake’s Imelda Staunton.
Most Obvious Snubbing? Bugsy (1991) which was otherwise a huge hit with Oscar
What She Should've Won For? Hmmmm. Runner up sounds right in many cases... but I would have voted for her on her first and fourth nominations given the state of those races.
Will She Ever Win? I think so …but in supporting. She works a lot still and hasn’t lost even a touch of her range or fire.
04 Julianne Moore
4 Nominations (1997-2002): Boogie Nights, The End of the Affair, The Hours, Far From Heaven
Closest She Came: I doubt she’s ever been runner up even. For shame! Historically it helps to be double nominated in a given year but the late Best Actress surge in 2002 was all about Renee Zellweger in Chicago (who took the SAG prize) and Catherine Zeta Jones was so far out front for the same film in Supporting Actress that only Meryl Streep was a perceived challenger.
What She Should Have Won For: Safe (1995) maybe but that was such a strong Actress year that any number of women would have made satisfying winners. But definitely Boogie Nights (1997) for which I suspect she was in third place -- ridiculous since it might be THE Supporting Performance of its decade -- and Far From Heaven (2002... third place again). So anything short of two Oscars at this point is embarrassing. For the Academy, not for her.
Will She Ever Win an Oscar? I don't believe so. She’s been a respected actress for nearly 20 years but never the “it” girl which is when it’s easiest to win Oscars. I don't even think they'll hand her an Honorary since Oscar has a strange thing against women. (Only a small percentage of honorary Oscar winners are women... and yet Oprah has one. No, I don't get that either.)
Would you have given Albert Finney the Oscar for Erin Brockovich?
03 Albert Finney
5 Nominations (1963-2000): Tom Jones, Murder on the Orient Express, The Dresser, Under the Volcano, Erin Brockovich
Closest He Came: Benicio Del Toro was a strong frontrunner in 2000 but I imagine Finney had the lions share of dissenting votes for that other Best Picture nominated Steven Soderbergh film. As for his debut nomination - Tom Jones did win Best Picture which is often pared with Best Actor but it's tough to imagine him even being runner up in that particular Best Actor year given the competition and the fact that he was only 27 and, thus, one of the youngest Best Actor nominees ever.
Will He Ever Win? He needs another role as good as the one he got in Brockovich
02 Glenn Close
6 Nominations (1982-2011): The World According to Garp, The Big Chill, The Natural, Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, Albert Nobbs
Closest She Came: Ouch does her Oscar history hurt. She was very obviously the close (excuse me) runner up in two consecutive years 1987-1988 after a gargantuan amount of momentum from her debut (Garp) onward.
Snubs?: Not really. The most noticeable miss was Reversal of Fortune (1990) since she had been so very popular with AMPAS for all of the 1980s. But by then AMPAS was probably embarrassed to keep stiffing her.
Will She Ever Win: Your guess is as good as mine but given that Meryl Streep gets nearly all the meaty roles for women over 60 and the bulk of female Oscars go to women in their late 20s/early 30s...
Consolation Prize: She's shares the most nominated losing women ever prize with Queen of Supporting Actresses Thelma Ritter and the legendary Deborah Kerr and none of them will be forgotten.
01 Peter O'Toole
8 nominations (1962-2007): Lawrence of Arabia, Becket, The Lion in Winter, Goodbye Mr Chips, The Ruling Class, The Stunt Man, My Favorite Year, Venus
Closest He Came: You'd think the title character in Lawrence of Arabia would win you an Oscar but he had the misfortune of being up against another equally iconic role (Gregory Peck’s lawyer father in To Kill a Mockingbird) in a year in which he also had the "misfortune" of being too young (having just turned 30) and maybe even too beautiful (that's only welcome in actresses that young!) at the time for Hollywood's top male honor.
Consolation Prize: He already has an Honorary Oscar and the distinction of being the most nominated actor of all time, male or female, never to win the big prize.
WHICH OSCARS OR HOW MANY WOULD YOU GIVE THESE PEOPLE?
Do you take issue with the list?
Was Oscar too generous or not generous enough with each of them?
And what to do with Oscars huge back catalogue of mistreated ladies they never gave prizes too during the peak of their film careers?
Reader Comments (92)
How ironic that the blogger who laments Oscar's ageism wishes Tandy had lost to young ingenue Pfeiffer. (Not that I can blame you.)
I would love Albert Finney to get another great role.
Aaron, I couldnt have said it better myself. Michelle reminds me of Julianne Moore and Naomi Watts, quieter, more reserved, subtle personalities. Not Reese/Bullock/Hathaway. She will most likely be nominated again but I dont think she has the personality of an Oscar Winner.
I read that she was doing Oz because she wanted to do at least one movie her daughter could watch, and she said she took Matilda on set with her a few times to help her understand what was it that her mom does. But it could also be a smart career move, who knows.
I cant untill this day believe Gosling wasnt nominated for Blue Valentine. Uber-embarassing. Second hand embarassment to the max.
Nathaniel, you would have given Benning the Oscar for kids are allright? So no Nina Meyers for you?
God, that was SUCH a great line up. I'm still torn between Benning and Williams that year. I LOVE blue Valentine, so that maybe gives Michelle the edge..... Dont know.
Sigourney deserved one for Death and the Maiden - astonishing that she wasn't even nominated in 1994 when it's perceived (at least now) as such a weak Best Actress year.
I think the difference between the European 'Grande Dames' (Dench, Smith, Rampling, Deneuve etc) and their American counterparts is that they appear to have had zero cosmetic surgery. They get roles in their 50s, 60s and 70s becasue they can play 'everywomen' in their 50s, 60s and 70s. It's one thing to complain about roles for American actresses in that age bracket, but are there any box-office draws who COULD play a 60 or 70 year old 'everywoman'? Jane Fonda and Faye Dunaway (just two examples) would need quite specific characters, no? It's a vicious cycle of course - actresses are scared of lack of work after they hit 50, so try and remain youthful with surgery. Yet they're simultaneously removing any opportunity of playing Vera Drake later in life... and that's a solid part of why Meryl Streep (who CAN play the 'every woman') gets all the prime parts. My ramble was inspired by seeing Joan Allen and thinking that the last time she on screen I thought she was a little 'stretched'...
David - You are SOO Right.
Sometimes I forget about Death and the Maiden.
It's Brilliant and so damn suspenseful!!!
Evan -- that's the great fuckover moment of my life -- be careful what you wish for!
I don't really care about age, actually. I just want it to not be an obstacle when someone is the best whether they're 25 or 90. I mean it's RIDICULOUS that Jennifer Lawrence beat Riva this year... because Riva was so much better. But it's ridiculous that Tandy beat Pfeiffer that time since Pfeiffer was giving a once in a lifetime masterclass on superstar ascendance that's also great acting and Tandy was just good in Daisy and they felt the need to reward her barely existent screen career instead of someone who might legitimately have a claim to a legendary screen career (despite how much she squandered her opportunity post 1995. anyway... ARGH. It's my own fault for bringing this topic up!
Amanda -- yes. here's my nominees and medalists that year...
Nathaniel, have you ever done a never-Oscar-nommed list before? I think it would be an interesting read if you haven't.
I've just remembered that Glenn Close presented Deborah Kerr's honorary Oscar in 1994.
@ Nathaniel:
Well, as lovely as Kathleen is in Peggy Sue, Sigourney takes that easily for me. Ripley is my personal Jesus after all, and Aliens (together with Alien) is my favorite film. And I'm not even gonna name other wins I give her - I'd be labeled a huge fanboy :p.
But don't feel sad for Kathleen. I give her two wins (Body Heat and The War of the Roses).
Still it's a great list, or better said, list of greats.
Just one other thing. Can you believe Mia Farrow never got a nomination. I can never get used to that fact.
If I had my way:
1. Pfeiffer would have two Oscars by now ("Batman Returns" and "White Oleander").
2. Adams would have only garnered two nominations ("Junebug" and "The Fighter" with a win for the latter.
3. Bening would have won for "Being Julia" (even my much younger cousins who don't follow the awards races the way I do can't believe that she has yet to win).
4. Close would have won for "Dangerous Liaisons" hands down.
Nathaniel, I agree with your assessment that in most cases a win is only possible for an actor with multiple nods during that brief window in which they are consistently nominated.
Nathaniel, judging by the quotation marks around Amy Adams's "snub", I gather you were not a fan of her work in Enchanted? Or just not Top 5 worthy that year? I personally thought she was rather brilliant and would have loved to have seen her get a nod for that perfectly pitched, demented performance, certainly over Cate Blanchett in that dreadful Elizabeth sequel.
Where's the 80's top 10 list?
BTW, Dangerous Liaisons, #1
As much as I'm a fan of Depp, I only really get the nomination for Pirates. I thought he was lovely in Neverland but not Oscar-worthy, and I found him to be surprisingly one-note in Sweeney.
I'd also give Bening the Oscar for Being Julia. But, having said that, I should probably see Eternal Sunshine again. Loved it when I saw it but could use a reminder.
Harris should have won for Pollock.
Close should only have 5. That Nobbs nomination was a joke, especially considering how strong the Best Actresss field was last year.
Ugh. Basinger over Moore in '97. Just awful. And Basinger has pretty much disappeared since then, which really pisses me off. She had a mediocre film career before the Oscar, gave one decent but not great performance and wins, and then doesn't even bother trying at all afterward. Lame.
DJDeeJay: Though it has been a while since I've seen it, I remember being really impressed with Bassinger's performance in "The Door in the Floor," almost to the point of wanting her to be nominated.
Troy: Interesting. I guess I spoke to soon when I say she 'disappeared.' Should have checked IMDB first. She at least has been working, just in nothing note-worthy for quite some time. I wonder why none of her films in the last decade or so have popped.
Didn't O'Toole announce his retirement last year? Which is not to say that he might not change his mind later, but I don't know if it's fair to say that he's a working actor.
I don't think Amy Adams is going away even when she's older ecause clearly like in a recent PTA's speech about her that directors are lining up to work with here. They see something in her and she'll continue to get good parts at least.
Mr. O'Toole really shouldn't be on this list because he has [sniffle] retired from acting.
Also Albert Finney was snubbed big time for "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" as was Marissa Tomei, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, writer Kelly Masterson, editor Tom Swartwout, and the ever-Oscar-denied Sidney Lumet
Michelle was so great in the Age of innocence. The Academy missed her for this role and she should has won for her fantastic Susie Diamond. And Moore should has won for Far From Heaven. Meryl Streep is a fantastic actress, but what happen with Michelle Williams in 'My week with Marilyn'. She was gorgeous. And how can lose Carey Mulligan against Sandra Bullock???
Michael Fassbender and Ryan Gosling are other stars ignored by the Academy
For what it's worth, Cliff Robertson broke my heart in Charly. One of my first lifelong movie-star crushes. I'd give it to O'Toole for Becket, The Ruling Class, Goodbye Mr. Chips, or My Favorite Year.
Of the actors on this list, I think that Peter O'Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Julianne Moore were robbed at some point. I'm not familiar with Albert Finney's work.
Joan Allen, Ed Harris, Glenn Close, and Johnny Depp have each given excellent performances, but I can't think of a year when I would award any of them.
I don't get the love for Amy Adams or Annette Bening. The former I nominate once (for 'Junebug'), and the latter I nominate once (for 'Valmont'). Adams is a terribly bland actress, while I think that Bening's performances are often uneven and lack depth.
Albert Finney is the greatest actor who ever walked the Earth. He has been snubbed many times: Saturday Night, Sunday Morning; Two For the Road; Shoot the Moon; Big Fish; Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. He should have won Best Actor for Murder On the Orient Express, where he creates such a singularly original screen persona that is at once high comedy, absurd theater, and sneakily poignant revelation of humanity. I had so wanted him to win for Erin Brockovich, but Del Toro was very strong as well, and that choice was just two tough for the Academy. I don't think he'll ever win an Oscar because he won't play the game, God bless him. He's never been to the Oscars, and AMPAS doesn't like that. He still should win. Screw them.
Marsha Mason should have won for Only When I Laugh. I find Hepburn's win in 1981 to be particularly annoying. Sigh.
Pfeiffer in Baker Boys was not better than Adjani in Camille Claudel, at all. She should have won supporting for Dangerous Liaisons (best performance is that movie) and The Age of Innocence in leading.
What about Julianne Moore's nomination snubs? - Vanya 42nd Street, Safe, Magnolia, Blindness, A Single Man.
Also, I think that if Glenn Close was able to get a nomination again after 20 years for something like Albert Nobbs, she still can win (probably in supporting?) with a meaty role in a prestige project. But of course, as mentioned, all those roles go to Meryl Streep, so it's a big question mark. But her new project with Nick Nolte sounds interesting? IF that gets actually made?
Volvagia - Wow, didn't see your comment before. I completely disagree on that characterization - the movie wouldn't work without Driver, and she brought a much-needed touch of humanity to the film. I adore that movie though, so I'm biased. I thought she and Damon were delivering career-high turns there though. Williams was perfectly fine, but he would only have received a nomination from me.
Moore is kind of incredible in everything, but as much as I enjoy her in Boogie Nights, my favorite performances from her are probably Far From Heaven, A Single Man and The Hours, with Boogie Nights following. Some of her moments there were incredible, but... well, the woman is just ridiculously talented. I need all of those performances from her. All of them. :)
I think Glenn Close (Dangerous Liaisons) losing to Jodie Foster (The Accused) is the biggest mistake in Oscar history (yeah, I said it!). I want to say that it is because DL came out December 31, and Glenn is not in the movie enough to be considered the lead. But when you watch the two movies, I don't see how you DON'T award Glenn. Oy. A true travesty of justice.
Winning an Oscar is such a strange and wonderful confluence of events and factors. Look at Christopher Plummer. What a storied career. Yet his first nomination came when he was 80, and he won two years later. Who would ever have seen that coming? And damn that was great.
I agree with you, CharlieG.
Glenn Close in DANGEROUS LIAISONS, Meryl Streep in A CRY IN THE DARK and Sigourney Weaver in GORILLAS IN THE MIST were SO MUCH BETTER than Jodie Foster in THE ACCUSED - i don´t understand why Jodie won the Oscar (she only deserves the second one, for SILENCE OF THE LAMBS).
Charly, based on the really extraordinary novel Flowers for Algernon, was raised by a great lead performance. Looking at it now, it is almost unwatchable in how stylistically dated it is. It really should have been O'Toole's award.
Harris should have won for Pollock. I hope he still gets his chance someday.
WHICH PERFORMANCE DO YOU THINKS IS BETTER THAN JODIE FOSTER IN THE ACCUSED? STREEP IN A CRY IN THE DARK OR CLOSE IN DANGEROUS LIASONS? SINCE I THINK STREEP IS THE EARLY FRONTRUNNER AND SHE WON CANNES BEST ACTRESS FOR THAT PERFORMANCE
brookesboy -- you can say that again.
lucy -- from my recollection the Oscar race was entirely between Close & Foster ...with the usual sideshow of Streep Maniacs declaring that she should win her 3rd. god that sideshow went on forever!... now it'll be the same but for her fourth ;)
as i recall it now (and admittedly memory is a tricky thing, Streep won great reviews but a lot of people HATED the character and considered it a technical acting achievement first and foremost... but you asked who i thought was better than Foster and my answer is: everyone nominated that year. I don't get the win for tThe Accused at all, other than the "it girl" hollywood princess thing -- child star making good when she became a 20something beauty.
Your extreme, irrational hatred for Leo DiCaprio really knows no bounds.
sc --- ??? i have no hatred for DiCaprio. just boredom lately. I think he's great in THIS BOYS LIFE & CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, THE DEPARTED, & maybe TITANIC (which i love but more for the movie as a whole than for any individual part). Think he's superb and Oscar nom worthy in GILBERT GRAPE, ROMEO + JULIET, THE AVIATOR . Ta da. That's not irrational hatred. That's called spotty appreciation for a somewhat uneven movie star :)
OK THANKS NAT I HAVE TO WATCH DANGEROUS LAIASONS I THOUGHT STREEP WAS REALLY GOOD IN THAT BUT I AGREE WITH IT'S TOO TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE I LOVE STREEP MORE WHEN SHE IS AT HER MOST RAW NATURAL PERFORMANCE LIKE BRIDGES, ADAPTATION AND ITS COMPLICATED
I recall exactly the same thing about Meryl, but I really think Weaver was a strong contender. After all, she was playing a real character and interacted with gorillas and all that PR chitchat.
I apologize, then, Nat. I've been reading your site for about 10 years, so I should have known that. It just seems like you never have anything kind to say about him anymore. But I can understand the boredom complaint. I disagree, but would love to see him in a comedy someday.
sc -- yeah i know lately i've been disinterested in him is all. The Departed is the only time recently and that was 6 years ago! For the collaborations with Scorsese overall were the interest-killer. I just don't think they're particularly interesting as collaborators (Gangs of New York might be his worst performance post super-stardom. )
Glenn Close should have been nominated supporting for Reversal of Fortune (with Hamlet also in her pocket that year to secure the ROF nomination). She was also stellar in House of the Spirits despite the film tanking. The five minute monologue of her confession to the priest is worth the price of admission alone. That's acting at its finest. She should've won for either Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, Reversal of Fortune, or House of the Spirits. She made the viewer sympathize with all of those characters. I'm not a Streep hater, but she doesn't seem to go as deep as Close into her performances, with the exception of Sophie's Choice. She seems rather 'safe' in her portrayals. Close, Bening, and Weaver all seem to dig deeper, especially Close. She's intense...
I've always been heartbroken that Michelle Pfeiffer and Glen Close were often sorely overlooked. Michelle was a phenomeon in "Fabulous Baker Boys" and clearly did it all. What a coup for her with no tangible reward. Glen Close should have won hands down for "Fatal Attraction", a role that she brought unparalleled depth and untold disturbance to. I also adore Annette Benning and Julianne Moore and find the forementioned actresses a lot more intelligent than many of those who have won the coveted oscar.
I'm a fan of both Close and Streep but I have to agree with Andy's comment. Close does seem to dig deeper than Meryl into the emotions of the characters she plays. If you want to see technical brilliance and subtleties, watch Meryl. If you want raw emotional intensity, watch Glenn. That's what makes her acting so powerful, not to mention enjoyable. I know the competition in 1987 was strong in the Best Actress category, but I would've given Glenn the Oscar that year for Fatal Attraction. She was jaw-droppingly great in that movie, especially in the last scene. She also had enough screen time to really "feel" like the lead actress. I think the likeability factor of her character may have been what lost her votes by Academy members, not the strength of her performance. In 1988 she was also fantastic in Dangerous Liaisons but she had less screen time than the other nominees. John Malkovich and Michelle Pfeiffer also had more time in the film itself. Besides I saw The Accused a few months ago. I can't honestly say that Jodie Foster didn't deserve her Oscar that year. She was VERY good in The Accused.