Oscars 2014: 18 Sublime Moments That Define Best Picture Nominees

6. We're Fine, Dad - Nebraska

Once the small town residents realize that Woody's $1 million sweepstake is a scam, they poke fun at his naivety and dementia without repentance, leading to a breaking point for David as he decks one of the elderly bullies with a closed fist. The whole ordeal leads to a meaningful heart-to-heart conversation where David finally breaks through to Woody regarding the importance of collecting $1million; Woody wants to leave something useful behind for his sons as compensation for the fact that he was an alcoholic and adulterer. David touchingly explains that it just isn't necessary, and Woody acknowledges agreeing to forget about the money. Only mere minutes later, he is again pestering David to drive him to Lincoln to claim the sweepstake. The state of Woody's mental health is already fairly depressing to watch - thanks to an impeccable performance by Bruce Dern - but to see him flicker into a sense of reason, only to fade back into dementia is absolutely soul-crushing and believably humanistic in its emotional weight.