Won For: Ghost Should Have Won For: The Color Purple Ghost is one of the most divisive films ever nominated for Best Picture. Some believe that it is an extremely touching film that portrays the death-defying love of two characters, whilst others think it's a cheesy romantic comedy - mildly entertaining but vastly overrated. Count me in the latter camp; it astounds me to this day that Ghost actually won an Oscar for Best Writing. In addition to writing, Whoopi Goldberg won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, but this is one of the Academy's most obvious make-up awards in the history of film. While Whoopi turns in a funny performance as Oda Mae Brown in Ghost, that role is a lightweight compared to her stunning performance as Celie Johnson in The Color Purple. Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Alice Walker's famous novel was a bit controversial, and while it was nominated for a staggering eleven Oscars, it did not go home with a single award. The film depicts the lives and struggles of several young black women in the American south during the 1930s. Goldberg's acting is spectacular and her character's development is poignant and inspiring. The Academy knew pretty much right away that they had messed this one up; it only took five years 'til they gave Whoopi the Oscar she absolutely deserved. Alas, it was for the wrong film.
