Oscar day is tomorrow and I didn’t quite get around to showcasing all the worthy films on my list that were neglected by the Academy. So I will throw them all out in my last blog on this topic and open it up to your suggestions as well.

 Diva

“Cool” is the only word I can think of to describe “Diva”.  This was probably the first foreign film I saw that really made me want to watch more foreign films.  It was so different from the usual Hollywood movie.  It was so flashy, so colorful.  The unique cast of characters included a young, bootlegging postman who lives in an auto garage; an African American opera singer; a Vietnamese, roller-skating, pink-plastic-raincoat clad shoplifter; and her older boyfriend?/guru who likes to cook wearing a snorkel mask. This movie even made me actually want to listen to opera. What more can I say but to give kudos to a movie that was ahead of its time in showing diverse and anti-stereotypical characters.

Should Have Been Nominated Categories:

Best Foreign Language Film
Best Director – Jean-Jacques Beineix
Best Adapted Screenplay –  Jean-Jacques Beineix, Jean Van Hamme

Shallow Grave

This was a film of firsts. It was the first feature film that Danny Boyle directed and we all know how Boyle catapulted to stardom with his many fine films that followed, including “Trainspotting,” “28 Days Later” and “Slumdog Millionaire”. 

It was also the first film that Ewan McGregor had a starring role in.  Before “Star Wars,” “Moulin Rouge” or “Trainspotting,” I saw this movie and was instantly smitten with Ewan and even though it’s his first, I think it’s one of his best roles.  Somehow, he was able to carry off being simultaneously unlikable and yet charismatic at the same time.

This was also the first film written by John Hodge who managed to pull off a very Hitchockian story with an immersive look at how the friendship of 3-flatmates deteriorates over a suitcase full of money.  None of the characters are very likable, and yet, the story really draws you in, as you wonder how it will all turn out.

Should Have Been Nominated Categories:

Best Director – Danny Boyle
Best Actor – Ewan McGregor
Best Original Screenplay – John Hodge

The Others

It’s unfortunate that this movie came out shortly after another excellent movie, “The Sixth Sense”.  If there weren’t so many similar elements (i.e. a ghost story with a twist), I think it would have gotten more recognition by the Academy.

I believe this is one of the best ghost stories ever made.  There is no blood or gore to rely on for the scare factor, and yet, it still manages to be edge-of-the-seat frightening.  Plus, having characters in the story who are afflicted with xeroderma pigmentosum (or photosensitivity) is just fascinating!

Talk about multi-talented, Alejandro Amenabar not only wrote and directed the film, but composed the score as well.  I think Nicole Kidman also really showed her acting chops in this one.

Should Have Been Nominated Categories:

Best Picture
Best Director – Alejandro Amenabar
Best Original Screenplay – Alejandro Amenabar
Best Actress – Nicole Kidman

The Legend of 1900

There are certain “movie moments” that you can watch over and over and they are guaranteed to uplift your spirits.  Gene Kelly’s number in “Singing in the Rain,” for instance, or that scene in “Shawshank Redemption” when Tim Robbins’ character blasts a Mozart opera over the prison loudspeaker. Add to that list for me, “the Magic Waltz” from “The Legend of 1900”.  For that scene alone, I would like to nominate this movie.

Although the story is not perfect, there are so many great qualities to this film that make it worth highlighting.  Directed by the great Giuseppe Tornatore and scored by the incomparable Ennio Morricone (who had previously collaborated on “Cinema Paradiso”), “The Legend of 1900”  follows the story of  “1900,” a man named after the year he was born and abandoned on a luxury ocean liner.  The story is told from the point of view of Max Tooney (Pruitt Taylor Vince) who plays saxophone for the ship’s band.  Tim Roth plays the sad-faced 1900.  Quirky, innocent and tragic, he has lived his whole life never having set foot off the ship he was born on. 

As I mentioned in a previous blog, any movie scored by Ennio Morricone deserves a nomination for its music and never more so than on this film, where music takes center stage.

Here is a clip of the afore-mentioned Magic Waltz scene in which “1900” has an unusual cure for Max’s seasickness.  It begins after he tells Max to take the brakes off the piano legs.

Should Have Been Nominated Categories:

Best Director: Giussepe Tornatore
Best Original Score: Ennio Morricone
Best Cinematography: Lajos Kolta
Best Art Direction: Francesco Frigeri 

Run Lola Run

Fast-paced and pumped full of adrenalin, this movie made me tired just watching all the running.  

The premise involves a young woman in shocking red hair who has twenty minutes to find and bring 100,000 Deutschmarks to her boyfriend before he robs a supermarket.

Though its nonlinear structure is similar to “Sliding Doors,” this movie was somehow more memorable for me.  Its edgy style  and originality deserve recognition.

Should Have Been Nominated Categories:

Best Foreign Language Film
Best Director: Tom Tykwer
Best Actress: Franka Potente

Better Luck Tomorrow

Now I suppose I am being particularly biased on this one, but assuming that the readership for this blog is largely comprised of BLT fans, I am sure I will be forgiven for extolling the virtues of this film.

I believe this film will be seen in cinematic history for being important as a breakthrough film for Asian Americans.  The characters were three dimensional, against type and well portrayed.  At the same time, the story was engaging and non-formulaic.  This was a film where all the parts came together to pull off a brilliant film.  Especially impressive is the miniscule budget this was accomplished on.  I won’t list categories here as I cannot possibly be objective. (Not that any of these movie picks are actually objective…)

So there you have it:  Recapping my 12 picks for “Should Have been Nominated” in no particular order:

The Shining
Ikiru
The Road Home
The Fall
The Good the Bad and the Ugly
Jean De Florette
Diva
The Others
Shallow Grave
The Legend of 1900
Run Lola Run
Better Luck Tomorrow 

So what are some of your favorite movies that were Oscar-worthy, but not nominated for anything?  (To find out whether your movie was nominated, just do a check on IMDB.com).