Is there such a thing as a "Career Oscar"? If so, which performances do you think were honored more for a lifetime achievement than the actual performance? Join us for weekly Oscar videos and fun daily polls: ru-vid.com... @oscarman42
Once again, an extremely interesting topic, and you've done your homework well (as usual!). It was mentioned once previously but I strongly second Henry Fonda's win for "On Golden Pond." Not a bad performance, really, but he'd certainly given far more Oscar-worthy performances in the past. But then, he was seriously ill ("OGP" was his last feature-film), so I think we're talking both career win with a generous dose of sentiment added.
I agree with all of them except Geraldine Paige. Her work for “Trip to Bountiful” ranks as one of the best. At that time, I was rooting for Meryl and Whoopi, but when I saw “Trip…” I immediately changed my mind 🥰
Completely agree about Page- I felt the attitude that year was it was great Page was finally going to win, but she fully deserved to win based on her performance. I see a revisionist attitude now by many who state the victory was sentimental in nature and Whoopi should have won, but that really wasn't the prevailing view in 1986 when Page did win.
The one that always bothered me was Ingrid Bergman in Murder on the Orient Express. Forget the fact that she had already won before. It was a nothing performance, certainly nothing that stood out. That should have been Diane Ladd's award.
Yeah a 3rd Oscar for a nothing performance is so wasteful on the academy's part. Diane Ladd... even Madeline Kahn was great and deserving. Haven't seen Day for Night but heard Cortez(?) Was great in it.
I have to wonder if Ginger Rogers' Oscar was for her career --- her films at RKO were profitable and she might have saved the studio from bankruptcy. She defeated Joan Fontaine for REBECCA as well as Katherine Hepburn for THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, Bette Davis for THE LITTLE FOXES and Martha Scott for OUR TOWN Fontaine got her Academy Award for the lesser SUSPICiON. Rogers won for KITTY FOYLE, a not particularly a memorable film. Even Rogers didn't think she was going to win
Great video, i felt sure when peter o toole was nominated for best actor for venus in 07 the academy were going to just give it to him. Seeing that it had been over 20 years since his last nomination and that this would probably be his last, , which it turned out to be.
Thank you! Several of those kinds of nominations seemed like 'no-brainers' for the Academy to just finally award a veteran after numerous nominations. Maybe because O'Toole was a Hollywood outsider compared to John Wayne?
@@oscarman42 perhaps, but the same thing happened a few years later with glenn close, she seemed destined for her first oscar, having won the sag and golden globe only to be left empty handed again.
You made some interesting takes and I agree with some of them. I saw all of the movies last year that were nominated and I saw all of the performances and honestly I really do believe that Jamie Lee Curtis deserved the Oscar. The young lady that was also nominated for best supporting in EEAAO really should have been nominated in the lead actress category. She was just as brilliant as Michelle Yeoh. As for Julienne Moore I think her performance in Still Alice is my absolute favorite performance of hers ever. She nailed having that debilitating disease and she left me gobsmacked with that performance. I absolutely agree with the rest of your list and I really enjoyed this list as well. Thank you so much!
Thank you, as always, for your insightful thoughts. I have tried, but I just don't think JLC did Oscar-worthy work in that film. As for Moore, I was happy she finally won, but she did so in a really weak year for a performance in a film that didn't resonate with me (and I know something about AD).
@@oscarman42 I completely respect and agree somewhat with you. Tbf JLC should have been nominated for a supporting role in True Lies and I believe Moore was superb in Boogie Nights. I really wanted both her and Burt Reynolds to win that year. Looking forward to the next list!
@@kellifranklin9872 I like JLC and think she has done some good work. To be fair, I wasn't a fan of EEAAO, and while she was amusing....an Oscar?? As for next week...HINT: the theme is Best Actress😃
Julianne Moore's biggest competition for Still Alice was Julianne Moore in Maps To The Stars she gave 2 great performances that year which probably helped her campaign after 4 dismissals.
Jamie Lee Curtis was 100% a career win. I bet the voters looked at her name and thought "you've been around a long time, never been nominated, your parents did not win, you're 64 years old, when is this going to happen again?" Her character wasn't bad but it wasn't central to the movie. I would have voted for Stephanie Chu since EEAAO was the only film I saw in that category. She stole the show!
Art Carney in Harry and Tonto, Cliff Robertson in Charly, a film that I bang my head against the wall and get a better psychedelic experience experience than the movie.
Carney probably, but like Burns, more for a career as an entertainer than a film actor. Robertson won because of a heavy ad campaign. My 'head banger' is JLC, but what's done is done.
Brad Pitt's performance in OUATIH is one of the best performances of the last 20 years and he totally deserved it. Paul Newman's was definitely a career award as his performance was nowhere near as good as in The Hustler. Brad Dourif should definitely have won over George Burns. Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight should have tied for Best Actor in 1969. John Wayne should have won for Sands Of Iwo Jima and The Quiet Man, not True Grit. Julienne Moore deserved to win for Boogie Nights.
I thought he did not get that many nominations, I thought it was two only. But he did great in On Golden Pond so I would not consider it as a total career award.
Fonda should have had more nominations and while I think it was partly because he was so ill and the Academy wanted to honor him he deserved it . I maintain you never catch him acting.
I loved her performance in that movie but I still think Whoopi was robbed - actually the entire movie The Color Purple was robbed unfortunately. Just my opinion though.
Art Carney for HARRY AND TONTO The candidates for president should campaign as hard as Jamie3 Lee Curtis did this year. It didn't hurt that her parents were Hollywood stars. Sometimes the Oscar nomination is in recognition of career work; ie, Burt Reynolds for BOOGIE NIGHTS; he made a lot of money for the movies in the 70s and 80s
Now had Reynolds won, that definitely could have been considered a "Career Oscar!" Yes on JLC's efforts - she really worked those rooms. I would equate Carney's win with Burns', as neither was really a film actor. Carney has been mentioned all over this channel, and I've learned that his win wasn't so popular among a lot of Oscarphiles.
1976 was the perfect oppurtunity to give it to long time character actor Burgess Meredith,he was worthy again in 1978's Magic. Page was way overdue but Whoopi should have prevailed. Newman should have won in 1961 for The Hustler and again in 82 for The Verdict as should overdue James Mason for the same film. Pitt and Curtis are classic examples of Hollywood rewarding Hollywood for being Hollywood,both a great in their roles esp Curtis and from the weak line up she more than deserved it,Pitt basically played an alternate version of himself with extreme charm and star power. Julianne Moore deserved it,she's very strong in Still Alice and she has been consistently great for 30 years,I think peoples perception come from the fact that it's a small movie more suited to TV probably.
I thought the exact same thing about Moore's film and thought she was definitely worthy of an Emmy, while her work in stronger films was more Oscar-Worthy.
Thank you. 1. I think you should list the year when the film was released, not the ceremony's year. 2. Julianna's competition was weak. 3. How about Al Pacino in 1993.
Happy Saturday, fellow cinema-holes! Loretta Young, n1947. She started in silents. She defeated her good friend Rosalind Russell, who was nominated for the not too liked film, MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA. Russell had been the favorite of bookies and she would have to settle for the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. I would rather see the Academy give Hononary Oscars to deserving actors and actresses (ie, Deborah Kerr) than give a competitive Oscar for career work
I don't think anyone - to this day - can understand how Young won, especially given that she was considered FIFTH in the lineup to win. Any theories on this shocking win?
@@oscarman42 Joan Crawford won two years earlier for MILDRED PIERCE. Russell gave a good performance but MOURNING BECOME ELECTRA wasn't a popular film. Susan Hayward's performance for SMASH-UP: THE STORY OF A WOMAN was an atto-girl for an up-and-coming actress; a lot of actresses turned down the film it was believed to be based on the Bing Crosby/Dixie Lee marriage. Dorothy McGuire was nominated for GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT; she did much better work in A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN; to be honest, I think GENTLEMEN"S AGREEMENT is too dated and a bit overrated (except for Gregory Peck's performance). As I said, Loretta Young started in silent films and was 20th Century-Fox leading lady in the 1930s
@@ConanTheLibrarian-n5q Based on that assessment, her win definitely was a "Career Oscar." I could have included it in this video...but I guess I can't get past it being such a huge upset at the time.
@@oscarman42 It was a huge upset. Freddie Brisson, Russell's husband, had planned a huge victory party at their house. FYI: Russell and Young were members of the Church of the Good Shepherd, the Roman Catholic parish in Beverley Hills
I'm yet shocked when I see the people talking about Jamie Lee Curtis like not-deserver and career oscar winner. Her character is a blend of many faces of an acting worker. She sails by drama and comedy in a variance sea. She sails in a intimate drama and in the comedy, she goes through of a measured humor, but also ironic humor, embarassment humor and slapstick comedy too. And balances everything with a undeniable mastery. A work,, if it was another actress, will never exit so well. A brilliant performance. Someday, everyone will be recognize this.
Juliane Moore, for me, is a real deserver. She develops three fases of her character with great dramatic control. Rosamund Pike was wonderful in Gone Girl, but I look Juliane like a real deserver
I may be one of the few that is happy with Jamie Lee Curtis win but I have to admit it feels like she won for EEAAO and for ending the Halloween saga. and if it had gone to Stepahnie Hsu, I would've also been so delighted.
Awesome video, loved the John Wayne feature, career, sentiment, undeserving! Dustin Hoffman should've won but Jon Voight may have cost him some valuable votes.
Art Carney and Helen Hayes. Oy. Somehow the "overdue narrative" didn't work for Glenn Close. I sometimes wonder why I am so invested in the Oscars. They often do not get it right.
Al Pacino's win for Scent of a Woman was a career-win. Burns didn't deserve an Oscar. Moore was excellent in Still Alice, but even better in Boogie Nights. Curtis's win was both a career-win and a deserved-win. Arguably, it was also a sentimental-win for both Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis.
Lee Grant's win for Shampoo was both a deserved win and a career win...She survived the blacklist and thrived...and thrives still. John Wayne? oy....no comment.
Yes all career wins, you left off AL Pacino Scent of a Woman, Henry Fonda On Golden Pond, Denzel Washington Training Day and Nicole Kidman the year she won, can't even remember the movie
Pacino's "Consolation Oscar" perhaps. Washington already won an Oscar before Training Day, and Kidman's may have been a "makeup" Oscar but it was still early in her career.
@@oscarman42 and Training Day was not his best work. If Julia Robert's hadn't been complaining about his lack of best actor win, he wouldn't have that one. Scent of a Woman is not a good film. 😕
I break them down in different ways .I think Jamie Lee Curtis and Brad Pitt were sort of career wins but very much deserved .I thought they added something to the films they were in that wouldn't have worked as well if others played them. I had no problem with their wins.I suspected Jamie Lee would get the Oscar after SAG Geradine Page and Paul Newman were not bad at all in what they won for but it was a career thing they gave more iconic or memorable performances in other films . George Burns was a career or sentimental win he shoud have had an Honaray Oscar of won in a weak year which he didn't .Others were better that year..I am not opposed the career Oscar but it needs better context than this one. John Wayne -well maybe for something like The Searchers . I would have gone with Dustin Hoffman that year for Midnight Cowboy Julianne Moore is one of my favorite best actress winners I thought she gave an amazing performance in Still Alice. I know many haven't seen or watched it more than once but I have watched it four times.
I must have missed something in JLC and Pitts' performances, as I didn't see anything Oscar-worthy (though I like them both). You are being too kind about Wayne LOL. I just can't accept that win. Moore is always excellent, but I wish she would have won for a better film in a stronger year. But at least she has an Oscar!
@@oscarman42 yeah I am too kind about JW!l lol I really not a big viewer of his movies but I am thinking if he had won what might have made more sense I would say ok even though I don't think of him as an Oscar kind of actor I know for many he is iconic so I am sure for the it's good. Jamie Lee had a perfect storm situation to win She was in the most popular movie ,she had a decades long career and championed the film nad her co stars to the point I would want her on my side in anything! She also benefitted in no one being an overwhelming favorite.I think she also played against her own image which is far more upbeat and energetic than the character.Olivia Colman does that she's the most delightful person but plays a lot of difficult or not happy characters. I would have loved if Brad had won for 12 Monkey's but I think he played what could have been a total jerk in OUATIH .He kind of joked that he didn't think the role demanded much of him but I like that a lot of actors wouldn't say it .
Don’t forget Jodie Foster! There are times the could have nominated Glenn and didn’t and some of the later work wasn’t as strong against her co nominees.
When I read "should of won for....." I try to remember (or look up) who won that particular year and put all that year's performances up against each other to see if the Academy got it "right or wrong"....and then I get confused. Many actors give very strong Oscar worthy performances and then don't get nominated. Yes, I think your choices depicted in this video could (and in most cases should) be called "Career Oscar's" (Brad's Oscar being an exception). But what about all the other nominees who didn't win that career Oscar? Perfect example is Glenn Close. What about Fred Astaire in The Towering Inferno? Lauren Bacall in The Mirror has Two Faces? Can one infer anything about those that do win and those who don't win? And then, what about the Honorary Oscar? Newman was granted one the year before he won! Angela didn't win last year and she's being given an Honorary Oscar this winter? You really need to start asking yes or no questions! LOL
Astaire and Bacall were both expected to win in their respective years, and their losses were considered upsets, as each would have been a "Career/Sentimental Oscar." Close's loss was, of course, a shock to everyone, and hopefully she will win her Oscar in competition rather than receive an Honorary statue. As predictable as the Oscars can be each year, there undoubtedly surprises and head-scratching choices, which make them fun to discuss and debate!
They were doubtless all Oscars for their careers and/or previous films. Some were deserved and some weren't. On the far ends, John Wayne's was not and Geraldine Page's was. Every nominee was better than Wayne, and none was better than Page. It should have been her third Oscar!!!
@@oscarman42 What a great video ! I really enjoyed your commentary especially. I recently rewatched Midnight Cowboy and felt the bitter sting of Wayne's victory, as Hoffman and Voight are so excellent. Fortunately it won Best Picture and Director for the great John Schlesinger. Who also directed Darling and Sunday, Bloody Sunday, two other master works. Amazing....
@@williamreed2558 As always, thank you so much for your support! Wayne's win was just ridiculous, and that's why I felt the need to illustrate it by showing who he WON against! Btw...Darling was on TCM the other night, starring one of my all-time crushes (not Dirk Bogarde).
Jeff Bridges probably is even though I think he played it more natually than most actors would .He should have won for True Grit .But I adore him so much I think I have less issue with his win. Don Ameche had to be a career win. Question though if Glenn Close wins in the future is it a career win even if it's the best thing she's ever done?
I thought about Bridges for this video, as he remains very popular in the industry. Ameche - Career and Sentimental! As for Close - however she wins one, I'm good!!
Me too . I think she would be deserving. I don’t think anything will be worse than Hillbilly Elegy so it good all the way around. I would have given it to her for The World According to Garp . I think she also could have been nominated and possibly won for roles the passed over if she hadn’t missed even a nomination.
Another one which I strongly feel should be added to the list: Helen Hayes' win in 1971 for "Airport" (1970), a combination of career win plus a generous dose of sentiment. Unto itself, an enjoyable performance, but Oscar-worthy? Fellow co-star and nominee Maureen Stapleton was a better bet, as were Karen Black ("Five easy pieces"), Lee Grant ("The landlord"), and Sally Kellerman ("MASH"). (Were it solely up to me, it would have gone to Karen Black.)
Ah, Helen Hayes....Sentimental and Undeserved in my book. The film's producer, Ross Hunter, staged a big campaign for her (Hayes herself could have cared less about winning, I believe). And if one had to choose from that film, without question, Stapleton. We agree on all counts!
@@oscarman42 You're right, I don't think winning or losing was a life-defining moment for Miss Hayes (she was not at the ceremony that evening; Rosalind Russell accepted on her behalf). All things being equal, given the caliber of the performances in "Airport," coupled with Ross Hunter's campaigning, it surprising that Van Heflin wasn't nominated in the "Supporting actor" category.
Helen Hayes already had a best actress Oscar from much earlier in her career, so she didn't need a consolation one for a less-than-stellar performance.
@@stephenreinke828 I'm with you completely in your assessment of Helen Hayes' performance in "Airport" as being less-than-stellar. She was cute and cuddly and fun to watch, but Oscar-worthy? Nope. But one factor needs to be stressed here: the age of the voting Academy members at that time (1971). They were older and more conservative; seen in that light Hayes was a "safe" choice. (As one critic put it, you had voting members of the Academy who hadn't even seen - much less made - in years.)
Don't agree with the Jamie Lee Curtis and Brad Pitt wins. Those were great roles. For JLC how are you not gonna think about this role being worthy when she was like a parallel character to Yeoh.
Julianne Moore and Brad Pitt were nowhere bear the age for sentimental Oscars. Whether they deserved it or not is open for debate, but it isn't the samr as finally g in Bing it to Geraldine Page.
I do feel strongly that Geraldine Page’s Oscar win was a career Oscar, plus can you blame them after 7 prior loses and Page dying just a year later? Whoopi Goldberg should’ve won though for “The Color Purple”. Jamie Lee Curtis I do agree that was a surprise win and I think Angela Basset should’ve gotten it instead or Curtis’s costar who was nominated in the same category. A couple others that I would’ve included would be…. Al Pacino - Scent of a Woman Susan Hayward - I Want to Live Jack Palace - City Slickers
I was happy Page finally got one...and deserved it! Sadly, it was just in time. Pacino and Palace, yes. Hayward? True, it was her 5th try, but she was a powerhouse in "I Want to Live!" and won against some really stiff competition.
Rose, if you have to ask... The Oscars are no longer AS sentimental, I'm thinking James Coburn as the last?, but yassss. Seriously, Al Pacino for Scent of a HURRAH? The career Oscar serves a purpose, perhaps Annette Bening will be next?
Abs-a-fucking loutely. Worst performance in the category. I feel like Brad legitimately deserved his It’s my BD, are you personally trying to piss me off with 1986?? By the way, GP’s win is my favorite of all time. Soooo much electricity in the air. Ok, mister. You’re really treading on it with Julianne. Who was better than she was in her admittedly weak category that year though. George Burns and John Wayne, absolutely. Newman, yes, sadly.
Whoa....first of all, Happy Bday!!!! 1986...I didn't say Page didn't deserve the win! And I also would have voted for Moore that year...but that doesn't say much. At least she finally won!
@@oscarman42 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. It was all bc of that hug I gave her, I’m telling ya!! I’m glad to hear you’d have voted for her. I was afraid you were gonna go with Gone Girl, which I found absurd. And it’s super hard to call it between Geri and Whoopi, but those 7 previous nominations just tipped it. And thank you for the BD wishes!! 💋
