Ranking the Best Picture Oscar Lineups of the 1980s

Sydney Pollack won 2 Oscars for Out of Africa in the '80s.

Oscar Oddity #21: Directors to Lose 3 Oscars in One Night

Linklater and Anderson are part of a small club.

10 Actors Who Are CinSpec Nominees for Best Picture

Johnny Depp is actually a CinSpec-winning producer.

Ranking the Best Picture Oscar Lineups of the 1990s

Oscar Oddity #20: W.S. Van Dyke

Oscar Oddity #19: Edmund Goulding

Oscar Oddity #18: Jack Conway

Myrna Loy and Jack Conway.

Social Media on the Oscar Race (Guest Post by Spencer Blohm)

Top 10 Best Picture Oscar Nominees That Weren't Nominated for Best Director

Her is in good company.

Will Brad Pitt Finally Win an Oscar?

Pitt at the Academy's Governor Awards on Nov. 16.

Oscar Oddity #15: Best Picture Singles

Singles only, please.

Ranking the Best Picture Oscar Lineups of the 2000s

I've still got over 100 Best Picture nominees to see, but I've seen most from recent decades. Keep in mind, these are my rankings of the Best Picture lineups, and not the winners. (Note: I thought the 2010s were too short to rank at the moment.) Winners are in bold and pictured below.

Double Feature: Battleground (1949) and The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)

Battleground (1949) - ***1/2

This World War II film, like many others, is loosely based on a true story. Trapped in the snow and surrounded by German troops, a squad from the 101st Airborne Division fought to hold their position until reinforcements arrived. The small unit dwindled, but the outfit had several strong characters, such as Holley (Johnson) and Kinnie (Whitmore), to get them through the rough spots. They refused to surrender to the Germans, and were bombarded for several days. A forgotten little war film, this features recognizable characters, yet the interesting story and a few of the performances make it a rousing piece of cinema from the 1940s. Technically speaking, the film also looks and sounds great, with snow-covered landscapes and battle noises being a major part of it. Is it a must-see? Probably not, but it's an enjoyable film nonetheless. It's easy to see why it was honored at the Academy Awards.

Oscar Oddity #11: My Man Godfrey (1936)

This classic screwball comedy received awards recognition upon its original release, and the acclaim has continued to the present. However, it was not nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Out of 10 nominees, it was not recognized. Now, that itself isn't very odd, unless you look at the film's other nominations.

Double Feature: The Guns of Navarone (1961) and The Longest Day (1962)

The Guns of Navarone (1961) - ****

J. Lee Thompson's World War II action/adventure operates on a simple premise: a group of Allied solders is assembled and charged with destroying two massive guns on Navarone Island that are preventing the rescue of 2,000 troops trapped on a nearby island. Arguably a B movie, it features a lot of thrills, much like Von Ryan's Express (1965) and The Great Escape (1963). War films of this kind are always better with a solid cast, and this one doesn't disappoint. Gregory Peck played a strict military officer in Twelve O'Clock High (1949), and he's no less effective as Captain Mallory, the leader of the outfit. Playing his comrades, David Niven as Corporeal Miller and Anthony Quinn as Andrea Stavros are also great as the brains and the brawn. The film might not be the most dramatic war picture ever made, but it has it moments, both in style and in substance. It's no wonder the Academy nominated this enjoyable movie.

Double Feature: Cleopatra (1963) & How the West Was Won (1963)

Cleopatra (1963) - **1/2

Starring Elizabeth Taylor as the iconic queen, this lengthy epic covers the highs and lows of Cleopatra's reign over Egypt and her relationships and alliances with two powerful Roman figures: Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) and Marc Antony (Richard Burton). It is a technical marvel, and the film's set pieces are a spectacular achievement for the period it was produced. Of course, the performances are also worth mentioning, as they carry the weight of the material. Taylor, unfortunately, is overshadowed by her male co-stars, with Harrison and Burton delivering more interesting takes on their characters. But the only performance I'd call more than acceptable would be Roddy McDowall's small role as Octavian, the fierce rival of Marc Antony. Even though the story is interesting, the film is just too long. Epics can be over 4 hours long, but they can also be much better than this. Still, it's easy to see why the film was lavished with so many Oscar nods at the time.

Oscar Oddity #9: Argo's Best Picture Win

"And the stats just keep on comin'."

Double Feature: The Informer (1935) & Ruggles of Red Gap (1935)

The Informer (1935) - ***1/2

John Ford's drama takes place during Irish rebellion and follows Gypo Nolan (Victor McLaglen), a desperate ex-IRA member with no money left. In a moment of hasty decision making, he turns in his rebel friend for a 20 pound reward. He is forced to cover his guilt, but it proves too difficult to bear. As his money dwindles, his IRA friends are close to discovering the truth, and he must answer for what he has done. McLaglen's Oscar-winning performance is equal parts hammy and emotionally resonating, and the film's nod to German Expressionism gives it an appropriately ominous look. Released during the early stages of the Golden Age of Hollywood, it's not surprising that this film struck a chord with Oscar voters at the time.

Ranking the Best Picture Oscar Winners

A few months ago, I revealed my picks for the top 10 Best Picture winners and the top 10 worst ones. But what about the films that fall in between? Check out where they land below. (If Argo manages to lose Sunday, I'll edit the list accordingly.)

Special Best Picture Oscar Posters Released

The Academy has released a collection of creative posters for its 84 Best Picture winners. You can view them at the Oscars site, but here are some of my favorites.