20 Terrible Oscar Nominations From The Past Ten Years - Corrected

16. If Beale Street Could Talk's Nominations For Best Supporting Actress And Best Adapted Screenplay

Bohemian Rhapsody Oscar
Annapurna Pictures

Although If Beale Street Could Talk being nominated for only three Oscars (Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score) was controversial, it's arguable that this was one of those Oscar 'injustices' that wasn't as unjust as you thought.

It boasts strong acting and directing but it's very flawed indeed. For example, the screenplay is easily the film's weakest element, so it being nominated was a waste of a slot. After all, the dialogue is often cringe-worthy and the film feels like many disconnected scenes instead of an actual story, making it far less powerful than it could've been.

As for Regina King's performance, she was very good but hardly a top-five nominee, let alone Oscar-worthy, so her nomination and win was very surprising.

Corrected:

For Best Adapted Screenplay, Paddington 2. It might be a family film about a talking bear, but it's also a genuinely masterful work of film writing that was about as joyous and well-put-together as a film can be, so frankly not only should it have been nominated, but if it had won it'd have been hard to complain.

As for Best Supporting Actress, Tilda Swinton's insane performance in three different roles (including as an elderly man) in Suspiria would've been a worthier choice.

Contributor

Film Studies graduate, aspiring screenwriter and all-around nerd who, despite being a pretentious cinephile who loves art-house movies, also loves modern blockbusters and would rather watch superhero movies than classic Hollywood films. Once met Tommy Wiseau.