Head-Scratching Oscar Upsets We're Still Not Over

By Emily Exton

February 21, 2014 / 9:30 AM

Citizen Kane How Gren Was My Valley

Bob Fosse Liza Minelli

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Rocky

Kevin Costner Dances With Wolves Academy Awards

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Marisa Tomei Academy Awards

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Gwyenth Paltrow Academy Awards

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Roberto Benigni Academy Awards

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Shakespeare In Love

Adrien Brody Academy Awards

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Crash Academy Awards

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The Coen brothers' Inside Llewyn Davis and Tom Hanks were two of the most glaring omissions from this year's list of Academy Award nominees. It was shocking not to hear Inside among the list of Best Picture nominees considering the plethora of praise it's received, and disappointing to see Hanks boxed out after he delivered not one but two strong performances (in Captain Phillips and Saving Mr. Banks, respectively). Then again, there are plenty of Hollywood legends who don't have a tiny gold man engraved with their name despite owning box office records or topping critics' lists. When it comes to doling out the coveted Oscar, the Academy doesn't always go with the popular opinion.

We all remember a bubblegum pink, pre-GOOP Gwyenth Paltrow tearfully accepting her statue for her performance in Shakespeare in Love, but do you remember that she beat out the goddess that is Cate Blanchett? Blanchett got her due in 2005 for The Aviator, and is favored to win this year for Blue Jasmine, but that won't erase the fact that Shakespeare beat Saving Private Ryan. Brokeback Mountain fans are likely still mourning Heath and Jake's love story's loss to Crash, and the hundreds of critics who've placed Citizen Kane atop their Best Films of All-Time list likely have trouble explaining how How Green Was My Valley edged out the Orson Welles classic.

Proceed with caution: the above list may result in shaking of the head and/or fists and a disillusionment with the Hollywood machine all together. But don't lose faith! These stars are all winners in our book--we just haven't gotten around to casting our own Big Ang lips in gold quite yet.

[Photo Credit: Getty Images]