9. Leon: The Professional (1994)
Thanks to more complex work by those involved, great action films such as The Dark Knight and this year's Skyfall, are now given a second look by Academy members as more serious contenders for major awards, instead of just throwing them a few technical award bones (Sound, Visual Effects). In 1994 however that mentality was not the case, and the thrilling and often touching action film Leon: The Professional was vastly overlooked at the Oscars. The story of a reserved lonely hit man (Jean Reno) who gives refuge to a young orphan (Natalie Portman) that witnesses her family murdered by a corrupt DEA agent (Gary Oldman) is not your everyday run of the mill action film plot line, but it was a very well received film with audiences and critics when released. Sadly, action films, thanks to the success of Schwarzenegger and Stallone, were not taken very seriously by Academy members in the 90s, and the commanding performances from Reno, Oldman and Portman (in her film debut) were wrongfully snubbed for consideration. Even Oscar tradition of nominating masterfully crafted action films in the tech categories failed to recognize the editing and sound departments of Leon: The Professional with any nominations. Thankfully Leon: The Professional has stood the test of time and is a trailblazing film in the action genre, which the Academy will now give a second look at.