Quality is a difficult thing to work out when it comes to art. Everyone has their definition of “good.” Many people view the Academy Awards as the end-all, be-all for quality in Hollywood, but judging films by that metric alone will leave out some excellent stuff along the way.
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Many remarkable people have won Oscars, and the ceremony remains an avenue through which we honor some of the most outstanding performances every year. Still, there have also been icons of cinema who have never won an Oscar. Indeed, some of the most legendary performances have come and gone with nary a nod from the Academy.
Oscar Isaac -Inside Llewyn Davis(2013)
Oscar Isaacis one of the most reliable actors working today.He can turn out rolesranging from commercial action blockbuster work, likeStar Wars,or small indie dramas, likeEx Machina. Though he only just broke out as an actor in the 2010s, it’s arguable his lack of Oscar attention is a snub.
Inside Llewyn Davisfollows Isaac as Llewyn Davis, a struggling folk singer working his way through the 1960s Greenwich Village music scene after the death of the other half of his music duo. Isaac’s performance is a tour de force of tragedy and pathos. Llewyn is not an especially great guy, and the longer the movie goes on, the more unlikely it seems he will ever find the success he wants so badly. And yet, no matter what he does, you’re able to’t help but want to watch him. It’s an incredible performance that deserved an Academy Award, but it also helped kick off a career where his nomination is inevitable.
Meg Ryan -When Harry Met Sally(1989)
Meg Ryanis a genuine movie star, having starred in several films that will go down in history as must-see classics, especially in the romantic comedy genre. The rom-com isone of the most beloved genresof American cinema, and in the 1990s you couldn’t talk about the genre without talking about Ryan. Though the public may adore her, the Academy has yet to recognize her talent with an Oscar nomination.
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While she may be best remembered for her trio of 1990s rom-coms withTom Hanks, one of her best performances was inWhen Harry Met Sally.DirectorRob Reinercrafted a gorgeous look at how love grows over time between two people, led by Ryan andBilly Crystal. Crystal is exceptional as a charming wise guy, but Ryan grounds the romance. You buy into the love because of the subtlety she builds into her performance. While Crystal is playing somewhat larger than life, Meg Ryan is playing it real. She has moments of charm where she matches Crystal and moments where you can feel her emotions bursting out. It is seven years after her last feature, and it will be a real shame if the Academy never recognizes one of Hollywood’s greatest movie stars.
Jeff Daniels -The Squid And The Whale(2005)
Jeff Danielshas proven himself to be an incredible dramatic actor on the small screen, winning two Emmys for his work onThe NewsroomandGodless. However, he has yet to receive the same recognition for the big screen. Many of his feature works have been in comedies, likeDumb and Dumber, a genre that seldom wins awards.
In theNoah Baumbachfilm,The Squid and the Whale, Jeff Daniels plays Bernard Berkman, a college professor who views himself as a high-minded intellectual. When he and his wife decide to split, their children are caught in the middle. The movie feels very visceral and realistic, much like Baumbach’s other divorce movie,Marriage Story. Jeff Daniels plays a character who could quickly come off as unlikeable, and so it’s a real feat that he makes Bernard feel like a three-dimensional human being.
Pam Grier -Jackie Brown(1997)
After ruling the silver screen in the 1970s as blaxploitation iconsFoxy BrownandCoffy,Pam Grier’scareer was in a downturn by the 1990s. She primarily served as a reliable guest actor in TV shows likeThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Meanwhile,Quentin Tarantinohad built something of a reputation for revitalizing the careers of actors who were in a slump career-wise, most famously withJohn TravoltainPulp Fiction.As such, it shouldn’t be surprising that when Pam Grier starred in Tarantino’s follow-up, she delivered the best performance of her career.
Grier plays the title character, a flight attendant who runs drugs for a dealer until she turns informant for the FBI. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Jackie has to find a way out. While Jackie Brown is an homage to the blaxploitation films Grier is known for, her work in those films was all about being over-the-top, but her role as Jackie Brown showcases her subtlety. You believe in her drive and determination. Giving her an Oscar nomination for this performance would have been a perfect way to honor her legendary career.
Jim Carrey -Man On The Moon(1999)
Jim Carreyis undeniably one of the funniest actors to grace the silver screen. His uniquely energetic performances in films likeThe Mask,Dumb and Dumber, andAce Ventura: Pet Detectivewill go down in film history as masterclasses in comedy acting. However, as people have discovered over the past few years, there’s so much more to Carrey than meets the eye.
This complex dichotomy of comedy and tragedy helped him truly channel the late, greatAndy KaufmaninMilos Forman’sbiopic of the famed comedian,Man on the Moon.As seen in the behind-the-scenes documentary,Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond,Carrey utilized the art of method acting to, in a way, become Andy Kaufman while making this movie. Carrey as Andy Kaufman is the kind of performance the Oscars usually eat up, but this one passed them by.
Robin Wright -Forrest Gump(1994)
Robin Wrighthas been an exceptional actor in Hollywood ever since she broke onto the scene in the late 1980s on the long-running TV soap opera,Santa Barbara,and the beloved fantasy classic,The Princess Bride.She has gone on to have quite a successful career earning six Emmy nominations for her role as Claire Underwood on the highly acclaimed Netflix political drama,House Of Cards.Though she has garnered awards attention for several break-out roles, the Academy has yet to recognize her work.
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InRobert Zemeckis' Americana epic,Forrest Gump,Wright gave a truly spectacular performance. The film won six Oscars, including Best Picture, and was nominated for an additional seven, none of which were for her role as Forrest’s childhood sweetheart, Jenny. She gives an incredible performance full of nuance that makes the audience unsure of how to feel about her relationship with the sweet Forrest. After completing her feature directorial debut with the 2021 filmLand,here’s hoping the Academy starts paying some long-overdue attention to Robin Wright.
Ewan McGregor -Trainspotting(1996)
Ewan McGregorhas got to be in the running for the most charming person ever. Something about him draws an audience’s attention and doesn’t let go. Whether it’s in theStar Warsprequel trilogy orMoulin Rouge!,you can’t help but want to watch him. As such, it’s surprising that after a career spanning more than two decades and several Emmy nominations, including a win, he’s never been recognized by the Academy.
Even though he has given many great performances, one of his earliest is arguably still his best. As Renton inDanny Boyle’ssubversive drug addiction masterpiece,Trainspotting, McGregor brings a sense of life and humanity to a character who could easily be written off as a tragic figure. You have to listen to him beautifully recite the iconic “choose life” monologue to know that he was snubbed of recognition for his performance.
Jamie Lee Curtis -True Lies(1994)
Jamie Lee Curtisis a true icon. Born to Hollywood royaltyJanet LeighandTony Curtis, she carved her path in the industry by becoming a bonafide scream queen. Everyone knows and loves her from something, whether it’sHalloween,A Fish Called Wanda,Freaky Friday,orKnives Out.Given her success, you may be surprised to learn that she has never been nominated for an Academy Award.
One performance that is perhaps her most vital is her role as Helen inJames Cameron’sunderrated spy thriller,True Lies. The part allows her to showcase her incredible range by giving her plenty of opportunities to be funny, sexy, innocent, dangerous, and charming. She is one of the most compelling actors in Hollywood because she can be both relatable and larger than life at the same time. Though anArnold Schwarzeneggeraction movie isn’t the typical type of film you see at the Oscars, her performance deserved to be recognized.
Michelle Yeoh -Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon(2000)
Michelle Yeohis undeniably one of the greatest actors working today. Every time she shows up in a movie, its quality immediately increases. After making a name for herself in the Hong Kong action film scene, she broke out internationally inTomorrow Never Dies.Ever since, she has been a consistent face in Hollywood, though rarely getting the spotlight she deserves. This year, she is leading a Hollywood movie for the first time withEverything Everywhere All At Once.
Though she has turned in many great performances, including her role as Eleanor Young inCrazy Rich Asians,it’s arguable that her best work is her starring role inAng Lee’smartial arts epic,Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. As Yu Shu Lien, Yeoh weaves a tale of romance and adventure as a fearless warrior who gets caught up with a thief with a mysterious past. The movie was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won four. However, Michelle Yeoh’s performance was not among them, which is baffling considering how many iconic sequences rely on her stellar turn as Yu Shu Lien.
John Goodman -Barton Fink,The Big Lebowski, and10 Cloverfield Lane
John Goodmanhas had such a long career as one of the most well-known character actors in Hollywood that it only makes sense that he has to have been recognized for his accomplishments. Yet, time after time, Goodman has given an incredible performance only to be snubbed by the Academy. There have been at least three John Goodman performances that not only deserved Oscar nominations but will go down in film history as three of the best supporting performances of all time.
As Charlie Meadows in theCoen Brothers' Palme d’Or winning film,Barton Fink, Goodman successfully walked the line between charming and menacing to make you believe he is evil incarnate. As Walter in theCoen Brothers’neo-noir comedy masterpiece,The Big Lebowski,Goodman maintains such a strong screen presence throughout the film that you can’t help but love his incredibly loud and aggressive character. Finally, as Howard inDan Trachtenberg’s10 Cloverfield Lane,Goodman is so intimidating that, even though there’s not a monster in this Cloverfield movie, it is the scariest of the entire franchise.
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