10 People Who Deserve To Have Won Oscars
10. Gordon Willis
Nomination and Year:
Best Cinematography for: Zelig (1984) Best Cinematography for: The Godfather: Part III (1991) Gordon Willis is one of the great cinematographers of the 20th century. He has an innate knowledge of how to manipulate light and shadows that he has used to compose some of cinemas most iconic settings. His technical prowess is evident in The Godfather trilogy, particularly in Don Corleones office on the day of his daughters wedding. Though it is easy to be distracted by the cuteness of Don Corleone playing with his cat, take a look at how lighting is used to intensify the sinister ambience. Even Michelangelo would blush at Willis gorgeous cinematography. Willis frequently collaborated with Woody Allen, being his director of photography from Annie Hall (1977) through to The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985). Despite receiving only a mere two Oscar nominations, the film industry admired his penchant for murky lighting, leading him to acquire one of the coolest nicknames around, The Prince of Darkness. However, better late than never his achievements were finally acknowledged by The Academy, when in 2009 he won an honorary award for unsurpassed mastery of light, shadow, colour and motion.