Burning Question: Most egregious Weinstein-backed Oscar Nods?
Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 2:37PM Upon seeing Harvey Weinstein in handcuffs yesterday our friend Rob asked a very timely question on Twitter which we though we'd share here for rabid discussion purposes.
In the spirit of the day: Which ridiculous Oscar nomination that Harvey Weinstein facilitated was the most infuriatingly egregious?
My personal vote goes to Chocolat's 5 nominations (including Best Picture!!!) in 2000. The fluffy disposable film was nominated over obviously well-liked films like Billy Elliott, Wonder Boys, and Almost Famous... and great but divisive films like Dancer in the Dark and.
And though Juliette Binoche is one of the all time great screen actors, there was simply no excuse for that Best Actress nod when Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) and Björk (Dancer in the Dark) were both RIGHT THERE, totally inspired, and more than worthy of nominations. Even further outside the race there were still other leading ladies who were running circles around one of Binoche's least impressive performances including Michelle Pfeiffer's genre transcending in What Lies Beneath, Renée Zellweger's comic skill in Nurse Betty, and Gillian Anderson, all tragic and ravishing in The House of Mirth!
But what's your answer to the question? And if you are 2000 focused, please let us know you're ideal Best Picture/Best Actress lineup that year.
Reader Comments (61)
Nathaniel - I agree with you with "The Artist". Not my BP winner, but I still really like and not sorry but Dujardin deserved the Oscar for me (Find me guilty),
Now Edward L. has a point. Weinstein was involved but at the end it was the Academy who nominate the films. So pointing these noms exclusively to Harvey is not only damaging, it's also terrible. Whatever we like it or not, Miramax was a turning point for arthouse cinema - The Crying Game, The Piano, Three Colors trilogy.
I don't remember who said it here first but I agree that Ziyi Zhang deserved a nomination for CTHD. More so then Judi Dench. And if she had gotten nominated for Memoirs of a Geisha we would be complaining about that! Ziyi Zhang is quite talented but can't seem to catch a break with the Oscars.
Chocolat and The Cider House Rules stand out for me as the worst and is OBVIOUS that they got those best pic noms on the strength of Harvey’s agressive campaigns. And it’s frustrating cause the Academy was clearly digging other films those respective years (Being John Malkovich in 1999, Almost Famous, Billy Elliot in 2000).
I will say that I’m thankful to Miramax for bringing one of my fav films from the early ‘00s to the forefront - In the Bedroom. What a haunting, underseen masterpiece that is. Wish it were discussed more.
I do agree Chocolat is a "fluffy disposable" film unworthy (competition wise) of a Best Picture citation. Said this, the cast is absolutely splendid: Alfred Molina is just perfect in a role that is merely a caricature, Lena Olin balances the over the top with the subtlety like a virtuoso, Carrie Ann Moss is absolutely ACES with almost 0 dialogue and well...what can I say about Binoche and Dench? Their sole savoir faire beat any competition that year or ANY year.
PS: Rachel Portman's score is hands down perfect (such and undervalued composer)
The Cider House Rules was the first I thought of, especially as since markgordonuk said, Miramax also had THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY that very same year. CHOCOLAT is trifle and was clearly not a worthy nominee, but I at least like that one. Hallstrom's CIDER, not so much. I'd also go to Morten Tyldum for THE IMITATION GAME, although I'm not sure how much of that was Weinstein fudgery and how much was just bad taste on the Academy's behalf. Likewise Tom Hooper's director win. I'm just not sure what exactly about it screams "Yes, BEST DIRECTING OF THE YEAR, duh!"
I think THE READER is good (and better than THE DARK KNIGHT) likewise THE ARTIST and JL in Silver Linings Playbook.
I will always defend Dujardin's win because my best friend was in LOVE with him and can't stand George Clooney, and I have never been more nervous during an Oscars party during that category. She was far too close to the window.
I have never seen CHOCOLAT! I remember Jimmy Fallon on Weekend Update doing a rant about how bad it choco-sucked.
I love Chocolat and Cider House Rules and I'm now even more determined to continue doing so now that know the toxic environments the filmmakers and actors had to work within. If we're going to bemoan films clogging up the Best Picture lineup for seminal 1999, then I'd say let's start with The Green Mile.
I guess my most ill-regarded Harvey-related coast to an Oscar is that PAINFUL Zellweger win for her horrific turn in Cold Mountain. And I'd really enjoyed her work until that moment.
Haven't seen Chocolate so I'd have to go with The Reader as his worst nod. Not only did it feel like self-congratulatory Oscar bait, it was almost downright offensive. Can't believe that's Winslet's Oscar win (actually, i can totally believe it, but ick).
But I will happily defend Paltrow, SIL and Lawrence. Everyone wants comedies to win until they actually do and then everyone complains about them (exception: Diane Keaton) although Riva would also have been a perfectly good choice. Saving Private Ryan had some wonderful scenes and elements but also some major problems that no one wants to talk about because...I dunno, they'd feel like they were criticizing war heroes or something?
Also bummed to see all the hate on The Artist. Totally fun, unique and incredibly well made. Someone else pointed out that the Oscars did exactly what they should do (and what we want them to do, I assume): found this relatively small movie and recognize it despite its lack of stars or mainstream success. Dujardin was brilliant (and sexy, but let's stick with brilliant) and yes, he doesn't have a Hollywood career but, um, that's because he doesn't live in Hollywood? Or the States? And isn't interested in a Hollywood career? He's French and continued on with his career making movies in France. What's wrong with that? Even if he never went on to make another movie again, that doesn't take away anything from his performance.
Don't much like The Artist, but don't hate it either. Nevertheless, I thought Dujardin was brilliant, and along with the dog, the only reason(s) to sit through it. Life Is Beautiful is a disgrace, one of the very worst pictures ever nominated, or made, for that matter. Aren't we capable of producing enough shit by ourselves in this great land of ours without having to import it?
Late to this but @LadyEdith: omg yes, I still hate that Alicia Vikander won a Best Supporting Actress award for what is *clearly* a lead performance - and in a crappy movie. @3hurtful: yes yes yes, the 2011 BP Oscar nominees were a dismal crop. It was one of those years when a not-bad but not for-the-ages film would inevitably win. I certainly didn't love The Help but its MVP, Viola Davis, was to me the clear Best Actress of the nominees. So of course she lost.
1999 is another year that stands out as being chockfull of remarkable films (Election, Being John Malkovich, House of Mirth, Run Lola Run), but you'd scarcely know it from the overall lackluster BP nominees (Cider House Rules & The Green Mile being the most egregious examples). The Oscars are an often very silly business with injustices galore. Harvey Weinstein is culpable for a lot of them, but ultimately the Academy voters have to bear most of the blame/shame.
I’ll never understand the hate for The Artist. Or Shakespeare in Love. Both incredibly well made, unique, perfect movies.
DJDeeJay is right, everyone wants comedies to win, until they do *shrug emoji*
Alicia Vikander’s win for The Danish Girl irks me most, but I just pretend it was for Ex Machina, and then I feel ok about it.