1981 – Raging Bull loses to Robert Redford’s Ordinary People. 1989 – The Last Temptation of Christ loses to Barry Levinson’s Rain Man. 1991 Goodfellas loses to Kevin Costner’s Dances With Wolves. 2003 – Gangs of New York loses to Roman Polanski’s The Pianist. 2005 – The Aviator loses to Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby. 2007 – Yay. He gets the statue for The Departed. 2012 – Hugo loses to Michel Hazanavicius’ The Artist.
Martin Scorsese, having been recognized for his achievements in directing by the Academy Awards has been nominated 7 times, yet he has only been awarded one Oscar. While there is no doubt the man deserves his statue, the question amongst Scorsese admirers continue, which of his other nominated films should he have also won a statue for? Click on the jump or see the side bar to cast your vote
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I’m sad to say that none of his movies were obviously better than those that won. The Departed was the right choice that year, but he’s been up against some great movies. He’s still one of my favorite directors though.
I disagree. Dances with Wolves beating Goodfellas?!??!?!!
I have to agree with Tom on the absurdity of Dances with Wolves beating Goodfellas.
The only other time I thought Scorsese should have won was for Raging Bull over Ordinary People. I also would have chosen The Last Temptation of Christ over Rain Man, but can’t fault that film for winning. It is an excellent film.
I also believe that his 1985 criminally underrated film “After Hours” is better than all the films nominated that year; Blue Velvet, The Mission, A Room With A View, Hannah and Her Sisters and Platoon, the latter of the bunch winning that year.
I disagree there, Adam. Hannah and Her Sisters is my favorite Woody Allen film, which puts it high on my list of films in general.
If we’re going out of nominated movies I would see a reason some people are upset. Otherwise I think Raging Bull is the only clear steal.
These are the films I consider better than Scorsese’s:
1980: He should have won for Raging Bull
1988: The Vanishing, Die Hard, Bull Durham all better than Last Temptation
1990: Miller’s Crossing edges out Goodfellas which I think is great but not amazing
2002: City of God, The Pianist… could go on forever. DDL is the only reason to watch Gangs of NY
2004: Aviator is pretty and I love me some Leo but this should not even be brought up in a year with Downfall, Eternal Sunshine, Million Dollar Baby, Kill Bill 2, and 2046.
2011: Didn’t see Hugo but based on my hatred of “family films” I’m going to say every film on filmbalaya’s top 15 is better than Hugo.
That being said, in 2006 I would have gone with Pan’s Labyrinth, The Lives of Others, and Children of Men over The Departed, which was a direct remake Infernal Affairs.
So I feel after all that fussing he only should have won one time anyway… I’m calling it fair.