Five Favorite Oscar Winners

Not really a list of what consider the greatest Oscar winners, but a small listing of a few of my favorites listed chronologically.

On the Waterfront (1954)

Featuring Marlon Brando's greatest performance and the won for which he won his first Oscar, On the Waterfront is highly deserving of the many accolades it has received in the last 55 years. Brando's embodiment of Terry Malloy fuels this great drama of a dockworker taking a stand against the mob control of the docks. Also featuring an award winning performance from Eva Marie Saint and a terrific supporting cast, On the Waterfront is required viewing.

Patton (1970)

Patton's success hinges on George C. Scott's towering portrayal of World War II's infamous general. From the opening monologue Scott and director Franklin Schaffner hook the audience into Patton's world. Scott nails down the dominant figure of Patton, while never forgetting that he was still just a man. Patton remains one of the greatest biopics, but also works effectively well as a war film.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

One of the few Best Picture winners known just as well for its source material, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a shining example of 70's cinema. Jack Nicholson's winning performance helped to mold as the crazy persona for which he is now famous for. Louise Fletcher is also terrific as the oppressive nurse, emasculating the men she treats. The theme of male identity is fully fleshed out by the supporting cast of patients. Ken Kesey never liked this adaptation, which skipped over several key themes of his novel. Regardless of Kesey's opinion, the movie succeeds through its terrific performances, a great script and assured direction.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Like the Cuckoo's Nest, Silence of the Lambs dominated the Oscars in its respective year, by winning both lead acting categories, Best Director and Screenplay to sweep the five major awards. Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster both fit comfortably in their roles and have terrific chemistry despite being separated by glass and bars. Hopkins manages to frighten us, but at the same time appreciate Lecter's intellect, while Foster stands strong as a woman standing out in a world dominated by men. The movie never fully receives its proper due for exploring themes of gender identity and personal identity, but Ted Tally's writing fleshes out this context for Thomas Harris' novel. Lastly Jonathon Demme's direction prevents the film from becoming a simple procedural drama.

American Beauty (1999)
Some have claimed this movie hasn't aged as well over the past decade, and admittedly 1999 had better movies that could have taken the Oscar. However, after intially being on the fence with it, American Beauty has grown into a favorite movie of mine. Kevin Spacey leads a terrific cast of people trapped in conventions of surbibia. What has led them down this path is not important, what is important is how they respond when they realize that happiness has eluded them for years. The movie isn't as anti-family as it might appear, but rather demonstrates how easily we can get trapped by those conventions. Aside from the cheesiness of the dancing bag, American Beauty reminds us not get too caught up in commercialism or success at the expense of our soul.

Other Favorites: It Happened One Night (1934), Rebecca (1940), The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Marty (1955), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), The Apartment (1960), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The French Connection (1971), The Godfather I,II (1972,74), Annie Hall (1977), The Deer Hunter (1978), Amadeus (1984), The Last Emperor (1987), Unforgiven (1992), Braveheart (1995), Return of the King (2003), The Departed (2006), No Country For Old Men (2007)