Oscar Fraudulent Activity: Wrong Category Nominations

If you ask me, both Brando and Pacino are the real heavyweights in The Godfather.

hollowsailor19 said:Peter Finch on the Network is definitely just a supporting role. I mean, that opening scene... his legendary performance right at the start... it's everything... I'm mad as Hell! It just serves to keep the plot moving. You know, the whole movie is really about viewership and how much that actually matters in the grand scheme of things... For me, Faye Dunaway and William Holden totally steal the show as the leads.

Honestly, if you ask me, he’s the main guy too. Sure, he's technically the subject through whom we see all that media manipulation unfolding under those specific circumstances... but his role is totally central to the movie. He's at the heart of it all!

Of course, that was actually the first Oscar ever given out posthumously, so that definitely plays a part in things... but it really serves to flesh out all the other characters too. Even that tiny little cameo from Ned Beatty—he actually snagged an Oscar nomination himself just for that one speech, you know? That line where he goes, "You have meddled with the primal forces of nature, Mr. Beale"... so intense!

Oh, and just one more thing for my buddy regarding Django Unchained... Foxx and Waltz are actually co-leads. They both share the heavy lifting in those main roles. We're really looking at the story through two equal perspectives...

I'm with you there. But would an Oscar even be considered a "fair" win if the lead role was basically destined for Daniel Day-Lewis anyway...? 🙂

It’s been a while since I watched Monster's Ball, but my takeaway remains the same—it felt like they pushed her into the leading category primarily because of her skin color... as if the Academy decided two Black actors had to take the lead roles that year, and that was that. Her screen time was minimal, and she felt more like a background character to me—the focus was clearly on Billy Bob. Maybe it’s just my impression, but I vividly remember the magazines and film shows back then debating whether she actually even deserved a leading role or not.

Marlon Brando carries the first half of the movie because everything revolves around him. It isn't just about screen time; it's how he played it. There hasn't been a more dominant alpha presence in acting history than Brando in this role. He’s just massive here. Al Pacino starts to rise in the second half and takes over, but he can't touch Brando's charisma or that legendary method acting. I don't really feel anything from Pacino until the sequel, and even then, it doesn't reach Brando's level. Nothing against Pacino, though.

Al Pacino’s role in The Godfather was actually pretty controversial at first. People were questioning if he was even the right fit, especially since there were so many other established actors out there. Back then, Pacino was just this young, relatively unknown guy, and the production crew was totally against it initially... But what’s really cool—and Pacino himself has talked about this—is how he develops the character's intensity throughout the movie. It starts off subtle, almost unnoticeable, but as the story unfolds and he has to step up into his father's shoes, he transforms into that iconic version of Michael we all know and love.

In the sequel, though, we see the whole thing flipped: we get this parallel look at Vito’s early days alongside Michael, who's already the big boss. And we all know De Niro snagged an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in that one. Honestly, there's zero debate there.

But if you connect those two dots—that weird little switch in perspective—it makes you wonder if Michael in the first film was actually more of a supporting player than the lead.

Ena Begović actually turned down an award back in 1989 for the movie "Glembajev" because she was convinced she was the lead, not just some supporting actress.

Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Master. In my opinion, he belongs right up there in the lead role alongside Phoenix.

Absolutely.

Louise Fletcher One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest winning Best Actress... honestly, that remains one of life's greatest mysteries to me.

Al Pacino is definitely the central figure in The Godfather; the entire movie seems to revolve around him. While Brando is pushed as the main face, when you actually watch it, Pacino has more screen time and the real focus is on his character's journey and evolution.

Viola Davis in The Help (2011). It’s just a pure ensemble cast where nobody actually holds the title of lead.

hollowsailor19 said:Nicole Kidman in The Hours. Honestly, I'm pretty split on it; it felt a bit too slow for my taste.

A whole mix of things. Definitely a leading role.

Watch out! Spoilers ahead! If you haven't seen the movie yet, consider this your warning.

So, we're following this mother dealing with her two kids, just trying to take care of them, right? But then things get really weird toward the end when it turns out she and her children are actually ghosts—it turns out she killed them all. It’s definitely a starring vehicle because the whole story centers on her experience as a mother and how she grapples with everything that happened.

cosmiclynx57 said:Makes sense. Definitely a lead role.

Watch out! Spoilers ahead! If you haven't seen the movie yet, consider yourself warned.

So we follow this mother with her two kids—she's looking after them, and then things get really weird toward the end when it turns out she and the kids are actually ghosts... turns out she killed them, too. But yeah, it’s definitely a lead role since the whole thing centers on her experience as a mother and how she deals with everything...

That's The Others, not The Hours

I agree about Wall Street, but Michael Douglas carries the movie.

Years after that, back when we were working in investment banking, all we ever quoted was Douglas's lines from the film. Nobody even remembers what Charlie Sheen said, despite him being the lead. That's just how it is.

briskhound2 said:It's The Others, not The Hours

Man, how did I even mix those movies up? 😲🤣😵

I seriously didn't get nearly enough sleep last night—only managed about three hours.

Quvenzhané Wallis? No way. There was zero reason for her to be nominated. They completely robbed Marion Cotillard in Rust and Bone.

Passion Fish shouldn't have even been in the running for Best Original Screenplay. Light Sleeper would've been a much better call.

The Boss Baby? Instead of a nod for Best Animated Feature, that thing should've just taken home a Golden Raspberry. 🤣 🤣

James Cromwell deserved a Leading Nomination for Babe, not just a supporting one. He earned it.

hollowsailor19 said:I get it. It’s all rigged from the jump. A total setup. But honestly, it’s so obvious it’s actually kind of pathetic.🙄

Look, honestly, even that award doesn't carry half the weight or prestige it used to. It’s just not what it was.

Haha, just look at what people are stressing over...

cosmiccobra2 said:Quvenzhané Wallis didn't even deserve the nod—Marion Cotillard was robbed for her work in Rust and Bone.

Passion Fish shouldn't have even been up for Best Original Screenplay—Light Sleeper would've been a way better pick.

As for The Boss Baby, instead of an Animated Feature nomination, it should've just taken home a Golden Raspberry. 🤣 🤣

And James Cromwell? He deserved a Leading Actor nomination for Babe, not Supporting..

Well, Cromwell is a supporting character here. It's not like they're going to nominate a pig. 🙏🙏🙏