web counter
 

Real Comedies That Could'a Been Oscar Contenders

By Rob Payne | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (45)

pajibabestpicturecomedies.jpg

As I reported yesterday, at a Bridesmaids Q&A, Judd Apatow suggested that the Oscars should add a Best Comedy category to the ceremony, reasoning that comedy is as difficult — if not moreso — than a great drama, given the degree of difficulty in engaging viewers, giving them a story they can connect with, and bring down the house with laughter. But as I previously argued, the Academy doesn’t need to add a new category, what they need to do is broaden their horizons. Stop falling for the Oscar bait and begin to recognize that comedy is not only as difficult — or more — than a great drama, but that they can mean as much, or more, to viewers. Why shouldn’t they be appreciated simply because they don’t tackle meaty issues like the Holocaust, autism, war or, er, women flashing their legs while singing about murdering their husbands. The Academy can continue to be elitist, but would it kill them to have a sense of humor, too?

Looking over the last 20 years or so, I’ve curated a list of comedies that I think should’ve been contenders. I’m not saying that they necessarily should’ve won; I’m saying they should’ve at least gotten some consideration, although in some cases, these comedies have lived on much longer than the Best Picture winners (*cough* A Beautiful Mind (*cough*).


Groundhog Day

1994 Best Picture Winner: Schindler’s List
Possible Nominations Besides Best Picture: Best Screenplay (Danny Rubin, Harold Ramis), Best Actor (Bill Murray)


Monty Python’s The Life of Brian

1980 Best Picture Winner: Kramer vs. Kramer
Possible Nominations Besides Best Picture: Best Screenplay (The Python Troupe), Best Actor (Graham Chapman), Best Supporting Actor (Michael Palin)


Blazing Saddles

1975 Best Picture Winner: The Godfather part II
Possible Nominations Besides Best Picture: Best Director (Mel Brooks), Best Screenplay (Mel Brooks, Richard Pryor, Norman Steinberg, Alan Uger, Andrew Bergman), Best Actor (Cleavon Little), Best Supporting Actor (Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman), Best Supporting Actress (Madeline Kahn)


40 Year Old Virgin

2006 Best Picture Winner: Crash
Possible Nominations Besides Best Picture: Best Screenplay (Judd Apatow, Steve Carell), Best Actor (Steve Carell), Best Actress (Catherine Keener), Best Supporting Actor (Romany Malco)


This Is Spinal Tap

1985 Best Picture Winner: Amadeus
Possible Nominations Besides Best Picture: Best Director (Rob Reiner), Screenplay (Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner)


Barbershop

2003 Best Picture Winner: Chicago
Possible Nominations Besides Best Picture: Best Screenplay (Mark Brown), Best Actor (Cedric The Entertainer), Best Supporting Actor (Michael Ealy, Anthony Anderson)


Wet Hot American Summer

2002 Best Picture Winner: A Beautiful Mind
Possible Nominations Besides Best Picture: Best Director (David Wain), Best Screenplay (Michael Showalter, David Wain), Best Actor (Michael Showalter), Best Supporting Actor (Christoper Meloni, Michael Showalter)


Ghostbusters

1985 Best Picture Winner: Amadeus
Possible Nominations Besides Best Picture: Best Director (Ivan Reitman), Best Screenplay (Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray), Best Actor (Bill Murray), Best Actress (Sigourney Weaver), Best Supporting Actor (Rick Moranis)


Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

1989 Best Picture Winner: Rain Man
Possible Nominations Besides Best Picture: Best Screenplay (Dale Launer, Stanley Shapiro, Paul Henning), Best Actor (Michael Caine), Best Supporting Actor (Steve Martin), Best Supporting Actress (Glenne Headly)


Coming to America

1989 Best Picture Winner: Rain Man
Possible Nominations Besides Best Picture: Best Director (John Landis), Best Screenplay (Eddie Murphy, David Sheffield, Barry Blaustein), Best Actor (Eddie Murphy), Best Supporting Actor (Arsenio Hall)

Borat

2007 Best Picture Winner: The Departed
Possible Nominations Besides Best Picture: Best Director (Larry Charles), Best Screenplay (Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Peter Baynham, Dan Mazer) Best Actor (Sacha Baron Cohen)


The Hangover

2010 Best Picture Winner: The Hurt Locker
Possible Nominations Besides Best Picture: Best Screenplay (John Lucas, Scott Moore), Best Supporting Actor (Zach Galifianakis)


Bridesmaids

2012 Best Picture Winner: TBD
Possible Nominations Besides Best Picture: Best Director (Paul Feig), Best Screenplay (Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo), Best Actress (Kristen Wiig), Best Supporting Actress (Melissa McCarthy) Best Supporting Actor (John Hamm)


Rob Payne writes the indie comic The Unstoppable Force and tweets on the Twitter himself @RobOfWar. As this isn’t an exhaustive list, he’s certain he left some great comedy off here that should be rectified post and haste, and he’s certain you’ll remind him of it below. (Don’t forget to fight cancer here and fight poverty here!)









Each Time You Like, Share, Tweet or Stumble a Pajiba Post, An Angel Does the Paul Rudd Dance

← 9 Cultural Zeitgeists Arguably More Damaging Than Twilight | The Jon Hamm Problem: You Can't Be Handsome And Funny. Pick One. →









Comments

The shout out to WHAS just made my day. Definitely a hell of a lot more enjoyable than A Beautiful Mind.

Posted by: PerpetualIntern at November 23, 2011 12:05 PM

Moonstruck was nominated and should have won. It lost to The Last Emporer.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at November 23, 2011 12:10 PM

My problem with Borat nowadays is that I can't think of that movie without thinking of Sacha Baron Cohen's awful followup, Bruno.

Bruno is probably my least favorite movie ever, and I've sat through Little Man and Epic Movie.

Posted by: Devil Child at November 23, 2011 12:14 PM

This article's hidden subtext: Give a fucking Oscar to Bill Goddamn Murray.


(It was subtext? -RobP)

Posted by: Bert at November 23, 2011 12:20 PM

Snap out of it!

Posted by: mswas at November 23, 2011 12:23 PM

Borat was actually nominated for best screenplay, so it was indeed a possible nomination.

Also, Bill Murray on Barbershop?


(Whoops. That was an editing snafu. I had a feeling I never wrote the words "Cedric the Entertainer" and I obviously meant to. Thanks for the heads up. Fixed! -RobP)

Posted by: rotch at November 23, 2011 12:27 PM

Coming to America FTW!

And I just want to continue my sporadic tirade that Bridesmaids was the worst thing I've seen at the movies all year...and that was watched as double feature that included the Hangover 2 just to be clear that I've seen some bad. It was not funny, it was not smart, it wasn't even a true ensemble movie considering the amount of screentime the rest of the girls got. Melissa McCarthy's best lines were in the trailer and cut from the movie and I didn't think Kristen Wiig could be more unlikable than Gilly, but playing a moping, selfish, asshole who's too bitter about her best friend getting married (don't even get me started on that 2minute friendship) sure comes close. I was really excited about seeing Bridesmaids but they completely squandered a good concept and it pisses me off to no end that no one is willing to admit how crappy it is. Calling this a movie about female friendship is beyond insulting. I'm seriously hoping the drive-in that showed this just had a first draft edition or something...

Posted by: valerie at November 23, 2011 12:29 PM

Wow, Coming to America? And NOT Trading Places?


(It's a fine movie, but I've never really cared for Trading Places. I know, I know. I never really cared for The Jerk, either... Hits too close to home. -RobP)

Posted by: Todd at November 23, 2011 12:31 PM

are we sure about this? because this is only going to give the Academy another category to screw us over when something like Jack & Jill wins.

I don't think I can suffer through another Saving Private Ryan like loss.

Posted by: haplo at November 23, 2011 12:37 PM

I'm pretty sure Madeline Kahn did get a Supporting Actress nod for Blazing Saddles. Hedy Lamarr, however, was shut out.
On a side note -- valerie, I love you.

Posted by: Jim Doggie at November 23, 2011 12:40 PM

Some of these choices are a little lightweight -- especially given the absence of All of Me, the film that pretty much defines this category -- but no one can fault the premise. Comedy is the bastard stepchild of the Academy Awards: they'll hire comedians to host the show, but God forbid they salute a comedian's contribution to film.

Posted by: Van68 at November 23, 2011 12:44 PM

Look at the nominees in 2002 and tell me with a straight face that The Royal Tenenbaums doesn't deserve to unseat 4 of the 5.

Same goes for 1999... give me The Big Lebowski in place of 3 of the 5 nominees (SPR and TTRL deserved the nomination). Not to mention a best actor nom for Bridges and Best supporting actor for just about everyone else in the film, but most especially Goodman.

Posted by: MarkShek at November 23, 2011 12:55 PM

Malkovich. Malkovich? Malkovich!

Posted by: Greedy at November 23, 2011 12:59 PM

Posted by: Van68 at November 23, 2011 12:44 PM


I'll echo the All of Me love!

Posted by: Greedy at November 23, 2011 1:02 PM

I thought the Academy HAD a category for musicals and comedies, but then dropped it because musicals kind of went by the wayside. Or am I just imagining that?

Posted by: BWeaves at November 23, 2011 1:05 PM

What, no A Fish Called Wanda? No Lost in America (which in my opinion makes utter mincemeat out of the entertaining but vastly overrated Ghostbusters)?

Posted by: Jeff in Middletucky at November 23, 2011 1:10 PM

Shit, no Waiting for Guffman? Whatzupwitu, Payne?

Posted by: Jeff in Middletucky at November 23, 2011 1:12 PM

This list is pretty weak. Borat was a one shot movie. Funny the first time, but the 2nd go through was significantly less hilarious. I agree with Ghostbusters on the list, but it's more of an action/adventure than it is a straight comedy. But "The Hangover", "Barbershop", and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"? I'd be more inclined to go with "Planes, Trains, & Automobiles", "Friday" and "A Fish Called Wanda".

More than most other genres (except possibly horror) comedy is much more subjective when it comes to "good" and "bad." That's one reason I think that having a Best Comedy category would make for some incredibly devisive choices.

Posted by: TylerDFC at November 23, 2011 1:13 PM

What, no A Fish Called Wanda?

Yeah, that. Another excellent contender.

Posted by: MM at November 23, 2011 1:24 PM

I hate,hate,hate Borat. Worst movie ever.

Posted by: hippyherb at November 23, 2011 1:48 PM

Corky! We love you Corky!

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at November 23, 2011 1:49 PM

You had me until Ghostbusters. It's fun, it's funny and I love it, but as a film it is a mess.

Posted by: The Mutt at November 23, 2011 1:57 PM

Good gods, I hated Borat. I still don't know which part of that was supposed to be funny. At best, it was offensive. At worst, it was boring.

Posted by: Joker at November 23, 2011 2:06 PM

I'll take The Hurt Locker over The Hangover. The Hangover was ridiculously overrated.

Posted by: Matt at November 23, 2011 2:18 PM

A Fish Called Wanda

Posted by: jthomas666 at November 23, 2011 2:34 PM

Bridesmaids wasn't funny. Get the fuck over it.

Posted by: Mr. Plinkett at November 23, 2011 2:34 PM

Oh, okay.

Sorry, Mr. Plinkett.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at November 23, 2011 2:40 PM

Let the Academy pick a comedy? Not on your life; not when two major studios are just finishing production on films depicting a female veteran of the Iraqi war (who has great legs) coming to terms with her autisic, Holocast-survivor-grandmother as together they fearlessly crusade against Global Warming through song.

Posted by: Spudboy at November 23, 2011 2:46 PM

I know. I never really cared for The Jerk, either... Hits too close to home. -RobP

You'll find your special purpose someday, RobP.

--and/or--

You were born a small black child?

Posted by: superasente at November 23, 2011 2:47 PM

Perhaps he invented the optigrab.

Posted by: PerpetualIntern at November 23, 2011 3:06 PM

I assumed The Hangover was put in there to make sure we were paying attention.

Posted by: Socraz6 at November 23, 2011 3:17 PM

Jim Doggie: That’s Hedley.

Posted by: Harvey Korman at November 23, 2011 4:21 PM

The Producers. Blazing Saddles. Young Frankenstein. These movies undisputedly should have gotten nominations. The Producers even won Best Adapted Screenplay. Mel Brooks should own this list.

Posted by: Three-nineteen at November 23, 2011 4:32 PM

Someone elsewhere made the suggestion of giving a nod to Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice. I've seen it, I can't unsee it.

Posted by: csb at November 23, 2011 5:48 PM

I second MarkShek. Lebowski all the way. So much about that movie is Oscar worthy.

Posted by: Mel C. at November 23, 2011 5:52 PM

No comment

Posted by: Protoguy at November 23, 2011 5:58 PM

Those are some really good choices and I see nothing wrong with them adding a comedic Oscar. I've always thought about that. Too bad Horror is such garbage nowadays because there could be one for that too, but I guess they'd worry too much about losing prestige.

Like the Grammys worried when they refused to honor rap or reggae which was really wrong

Posted by: Candy at November 24, 2011 1:43 AM


the concept is good. comedies deserve serious recognition. the
list, however, is weak.
kudos to valerie for nailing " bridesmaids " which would be a
shoo-in for an oscar if they had a category for the most overrated
film of the year.

and bill murray??? the only award he qualifies for is the nobel prize............ for curing insomnia. what a bore !!!

Posted by: snake at November 25, 2011 12:15 AM

Bridesmaids was funny for people with a sense of humor

It's hard to be happy for someone when your life is in the toilet and their marriage will take away the one good thing you have going. I believe that's what Kristin Wiig was trying to say, only hilariously and with poop.

Posted by: kirbyjay at November 26, 2011 6:45 AM

Definitely Coming To America FTW.

I just don't think they ever will acknowledge those kinds of films because then the blowhards who use prosthetics and dying children to make movies would lose their purpose in life.

The "Academy" could also broaden it's horizons to include more fantasy and sci-fi and to nominate them for more than just makeup and special effects. But they have notoriously bad taste. To this day I still can't get through more than 20 minutes of The English Patient before my brain shuts down and goes on strike. Because it is SO BORING!!!

Posted by: jayem at November 26, 2011 5:24 PM

I'm extremely impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this one nowadays..

Posted by: boutique Abercrombie at December 4, 2011 9:57 AM

Hi, i think that i saw you visited my weblog thus i came to “return the favor”.I'm attempting to find things to improve my website!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!

Posted by: boutique nike france at December 5, 2011 2:47 AM

When I initially commented I clicked the "Notify me when new comments are added" checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Cheers!

Posted by: Sierra B. Gonzales at January 11, 2012 2:01 PM

I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you design this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz respond as I'm looking to create my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. cheers

Posted by: Guide to yahoo answers at January 18, 2012 4:08 AM

Fantastic goods from you, man. Real Comedies That Could'a Been Oscar Contenders I have understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely magnificent. I really like what you've acquired here, certainly like what you're stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it wise. I can not wait to read far more from you. This is actually a terrific Real Comedies That Could'a Been Oscar Contenders informations.

Posted by: liberty reserve at January 22, 2012 2:16 PM