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Why do the Oscars hate comedy?
Harry Connick Jr.s soundtrack.
The irresistible love story.
Its theLord of the Ringsof romantic comedies, and Meg Ryan is its Frodo.
But still no Oscar nomination.
Hey, at least the Golden Globes recognized Ryan.
Culkin gets it exactly right.
Perhaps most impressively, Culkin carries large chunks of the movie solo.
Tom Hanks and James Franco got recognized for their one-man showsCast Awayand127 Hours,respectively.
But really the lack of a nomination speaks to an underestimation of child actors.
The Addams Familyis still the best of the bunch, however.
Also, people got Oscar nominations for church-set movies back then.
But, for his work as Wood, Johnny Depp got nothing.
His restraint and self-control is remarkable and extremely funny.
1997: Minnie Driver,Grosse Pointe Blank
Best Supporting Actress nominees:Kim Basinger (winner,L.A.
(Another real-deal comic nominee in a similar vein: Melissa McCarthy inBridesmaids.)
Minnie Drivers work inGrosse Pointe Blankwas simply too subtle and strange for the Academy to handle.
Like Cusacks Emily inIn & Out, Drivers Debi Newberry must face the fallout of the male protagonists journey.
You hated Tracy Flick.
You admired Tracy Flick.
The kind of familiar, frightening, and laughable goody two-shoes whos justsooooperfect that even the teachers resent her.
Witherspoons work as Tracy Flick is a career-making performance.
2000: George Clooney,O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Hes a Dapper Dan man, man.
Buddy traveled through the Candy Cane Forest to wind up on this list and he loves you.
Also, Ferrell understands the humanity-conveying possibilities of comedy.
McAdams relishes the part, bringing depth and darkness to what could easily have been a one-note character.
Nonsexual nudity and a musical number?Thats an Oscar movie.
2009: Matt Damon,The Informant!
He murders Marjorie, but then covers it up quite poorly, which is when the comedy comes in.
Travers, who was adamantly opposed to the making of the film.
Jemaine Clement ofFlight of the Conchordsis the films most famous face, and scene-stealer as 862-year-old Vladislav.
But its Waititi who anchors the movie as sweet, smiley, lovelorn Viago.
Its an astonishing feat.
(Its probably time the Academy Awards established a voice-acting category, too.)
