9 Films Designed To Win Oscars That Failed Miserably

9. Phenomenon

By 1996, word was out: John Travolta, who had been toiling away in failures like Urban Cowboy since 1983, was back. Quentin Tarantino single-handedly re-invigorated his career in 1994 thanks to his 1970's nostalgia with Pulp Fiction. Even his hammier roles, like Face/Off, were being seen as triumphs. Twenty years of auditing and ridding himself of thetans were paying off, and it might even lead to Oscar glory.

So what dramatic role would finally grant Travolta the chance to make people forget Perfect, Two of a Kind and Staying Alive? It would have to be something phenomenal.

Enter Phenomenon, Jon Turtletaub's fantasy drama about a working-class mechanic suddenly gifted with telepathic ability and astounding intelligence. He can move things with his mind, checkmate you in three moves and even decode shortwave radio. The general public is somewhat fearful of his abilities, the scientists are baffled and amazed. Of course, all of this could have been over in ten minutes if Travolta had bothered to get a CAT scan.

Turns out it's just a deadly brain tumour, granting access to those oh-so-elusive parts of our brain we don't use. The twist is saccharine and silly, probably squashing any chance during award season. What could have been a fairly interesting examination into inexplicable events quickly took a sharp turn into bad soap opera