These Oscar Snubs Still Rile Up Readers
Some things will always stick in your craw. When I asked readers, ahead of the Academy Awards on Sunday, if they were still mad about an Oscar snub, boy, did I get an earful.
Technically a snub involves a film or an artist (or a song or any other possible contender) that was overlooked altogether at the awards. But a nominee losing to an unworthy rival was also fair game, and readers took both slights to heart.
I received hundreds of responses. Readers felt strongly about the lack of nominations for “Paddington 2,” Danny Elfman’s score for the 1989 “Batman,” Will Ferrell in “Elf” and Abby Ryder Fortson in “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” But these weren’t the most notable omissions and oversights. Here are the lightly edited responses:
‘Saving Private Ryan’
Steven Spielberg’s World War II drama lost best picture to the period romance “Shakespeare in Love” in 1999.
“Saving Private Ryan” is unforgettable. The opening beach scene was jaw-dropping. “Shakespeare in Love” is entirely forgettable. Harvey Weinstein campaigned to get that Oscar. Shame on the academy. MATT DENTON, Old Bridge, N.J.
Probably the best war movie of all time versus a lightweight rom-com about Shakespeare’s love life. Need I say more? SCOTT PARKIN, Reston, Va.
Who has ever watched “Shakespeare in Love” more than once? BART DEWING, Mount Vernon, N.Y.
Fernanda Montenegro in ‘Central Station’
More “Shakespeare in Love” ire: Gwyneth Paltrow won for best actress in that film over the star of the Brazilian road trip tale.