10 Oscar Winning Performances That Are Actually Terrible
7. John Wayne - True Grit
Though it's easy to think of John Wayne as more of a movie star than an actor, he did nevertheless scoop three Oscar nominations throughout his career, culminating in a win for his iconic turn as boozy U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn in 1969's True Grit.
Widely accepted to be a consolation Oscar for an undeniably stellar career, Wayne's scooped the gold statue for a shamelessly cheeseball, rootin' tootin' performance that seems even worse when compared to Jeff Bridges' effortlessly superior turn in the Coen brothers' remake.
The most depressing thing is, Wayne had numerous Oscar-worthy performances throughout his career, least of all Red River, The Searchers, Rio Bravo and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. His Rooster is all surface and no depth, which is exactly what Oscar-winning performances should never be.