This week on Episode 364 of the InSession Film Podcast, inspired by the 92nd Academy Awards, we thought it would be fun to talk about films that should have won Best Picture at the Oscars. However, this was a tricky exercise. Much of it came down to our respective criteria’s and what we were looking for in terms of movies that should have won Best Picture. Whether it be legacy, quality or some sort of combination of the two, there was a lot to consider, especially as some Best Picture losers are now considered to be among the best films of all time. Even over the films they lost to at the Oscars. So, this was really fun trying to narrow down what we wanted out of our lists. That said, here are our lists:
(Note: Please keep in mind that we each had different criteria for our selections)
JD
1) Goodfellas
2) The Great Dictator
3) Roman Holiday
Brendan
1) Network
2) The Quiet Man
3) Lost in Translation
Kate
1) The Wizard of Oz
2) Apollo 13
3) Saving Private Ryan
Honorable Mentions (Combined)
Citizen Kane, The Tree of Life, Pulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption, Taxi Driver, Dr. Strangelove, Chinatown, The Conversation, Fargo, Apocalypse Now, Double Indemnity, High Noon, Bicycle Thieves, Twelve O’Clock High, 12 Angry Men, Bonnie & Clyde, The Graduate, The Exorcist, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The 10 Commandments, The Hustler, American Graffiti, Cries & Whispers, Barry Lyndon, Jaws, Dog Day Afternoon, The Right Stuff, E.T., Born on the Fourth of July, Dead Poets Society, Brokeback Mountain, Capote, Field of Dreams, Letters from Iwo Jima, Gangs of New York, The Pianist, Beauty and the Beast, The Social Network, Mad Max: Fury Road
Hopefully you guys enjoyed our lists and if you agree or disagree with us, let us know in the comment section below. As is the case with a topic like this, depending on your tastes and criteria, your list could end up being very different than what we talked about. That being said, what would be your Top 3? Leave a comment in the comment section or email us at [email protected].
For the entire podcast, click here or listen below.
For more lists done by the InSession Film crew and other guests, be sure see our Top 3 Movie Lists page.