Oscars 2014: 17 Unfair Snubs The Academy Got Completely Wrong

8, 7 & 6. Saving Mr. Banks €“ Best Actress (Emma Thompson), Best Costume Design & Best Production Design

Saving Mr. Banks is the definition of a solidly entertaining Hollywood family film. It's not especially remarkable, but it's great fun to watch and superbly produced, to the point that it wouldn't have been surprising to see it earn a Best Picture nomination. However, save for a nomination for Thomas Newman's score, the film was shut out entirely, particularly distressing in the case of Emma Thompson for Best Actress, who was pipped to the punch by Meryl "they'll nominate me in anything" Streep. Amy Adams getting nominated for American Hustle inevitably pushed someone else out of the group, and though that clearly should have been Streep, Thompson took the tumble because she's not as popular and Academy-friendly as Streep, who by all accounts gives an OK performance in a merely average film. Then there's the below-the-line aspects of the production, namely the splendid Costume Design and Production Design, which were likely beaten out of slot five by The Grandmaster (a genuine surprise) and Her respectively.