Best performance not to win an Oscar?

That scene in True Romance should have gotten Christopher Walken or dennis Hopper one.....

Originally posted by Bounty Hunter
Kevin Spacey for The Usual Suspects

eh...he did win the oscar for that.

Denzel Washington should have gotten one for The Hurricane.

Richard Harris should have won for the "Field" - instead it went to Kevin Costner.

Originally posted by de5p0i1er
It was the guy who played the lawer "Kobyashi", I think I miss spelled his name there.

Eh no it was kevin spacey who got it for the usual suspects playing verbal kint.

Originally posted by Pigman II
Vincent Gallo - Buffalo 66.

chr*st I hate that movie ..... arrggh!

Ellen Burstyn - Requiem for a Dream
She got a nomination, no statue for an outstanding performance.


And maybe:
Guy Pearce - Memento

Originally posted by Dempsey
R. Lee Ermey for his performance as Gunnery SGT Hartman in Full Metal Jacket. It was brilliant.

IMDB:

Former US Marines Drill Instructor R. Lee Ermey was hired as a consultant on how to drill USMC style. He performed a demonstration on videotape in which he yelled obscene insults and abuse for fifteen minutes without stopping, repeating himself, or even flinching - despite being continuously pelted with tennis balls and oranges. Director Stanley Kubrick was so impressed that he cast Ermey as Gunnery Sergeant Hartmann.

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Are you quitting on me?! Well, are you?! Then quit, you slimy ****ing walrus-looking piece of ****! Get the **** off of my obstacle! Get the **** down off of my obstacle! Now! Move it! I'm going to rip your balls off, so you cannot contaminate the rest of the world! I will motivate you, Private Pyle, if it short-dicks every cannibal on the Congo!

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Hell I like you, you can come over to my house and **** my sister.

Originally posted by Frugu
Eh no it was kevin spacey who got it for the usual suspects playing verbal kint.

Indeed it was. The movie had two nominations (Best supporting actor and best screenplay) & won both. No other nominations.


I thought Peter O'Toole deserved one for Lawrence of Arabia. That year was the year Gregory Peck won for To Kill A Mockingbird though so the better performance won (same position as Tom Hulce with Amadeus, though I'd say Hulce was a little better than F Murray Abraham)). Actually O'Toole has been pretty unlucky with 7 best actor nominations and no wins. Paul Newman and Al Pacino finally got one after waiting the same length (neither for their best performances either). O'Toole's always lost out to a performance that just about deserved it more*.

Anne Ramsey deserved one for Throw Momma from The Train. Olympia Dukakis (Moonstruck) shouldn't have got it over her.

William Hurt should have had the nod with Children of a Lesser God. Paul Newman won for Color of Money that year for some strange "haven't given him one yet" reason. James Woods could have taken it for Salvador the same year and I wouldn't complain about it.

I've ignored the 90s as I don't want to start laughing. Might have a go later.


*Few exceptions. 1969: John Wayne won for True Grit while O'Toole lost out with Goodbye Mr Chips. Winner should have been Jon Voight for Midnight Cowboy in any case (vote was probably split as Hoffman was nominated for the same movie)
1964: Rex Harrison won for My Fair Lady. I like My Fair Lady but O'Toole should actually have won this year for Becket. Vote split with Richard Burton also nominated for the same movie. Could also make the case that Peter Sellers should have walked home with Dr Strangelove, even just for the von Neumann character.
1968: Cliff Robertson won for Charley. Probably shouldn't have. Ron Moody should probably have won for Oliver anyway imho.