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Sins Of Omission: Eight Past Performances The Academy Should Have Nominated

Jennifer Aniston, David Oyelowo, Amy Adams

The only thing as thrilling as watching bleary-eyed and possibly hungover stars announce the Oscar nominations each year (and this year, Chris Pine survived Dick Poop while still looking hot) is the inevitable outrage that comes from the snubs.

This year, most of the snub attention in the acting categories were the omissions of Jennifer Aniston, Amy Adams,, and especially David Oyelowo, who were expected to receive the morning wake-up call.

If it's any consolation (and obviously it's not), they're in good company. Three years ago we presented Sins Of Omission, with thirteen past performances that were overlooked by the Academy, and because there's no shortage of deserving nominees, let's add eight more to the roster.

These choices may be unexpected, but all of these performances are worthy of more recognition that they originally received (and if nothing else, should go on your Netflix queue!) And just like the first time, in order to make room, we’ll kick out one of the real nominees!

Terry O'Quinn in The Stepfather

The 1987 nominees for Best Actor were:

Michael Douglas in Wall Street (winner)

William Hurt in Broadcast News

Marcello Mastroianni in Dark Eyes

Jack Nicholson in Ironweed

Robin Williams in Good Morning, Vietnam

Horror is a tricky acting genre, and it's easy to go over-the-top, which is why Terry O'Quinn's performance in 1987's The Stepfather is so memorable. There are numerous chances for him to chew the scenery, but he holds back, and watching him implode inside while his dreams of a perfect family dissolve is chilling. His "Who am I here?" moment is unforgettable.

With Terry in, which real nominee should get the boot? The only thing I know about Marcello in Dark Eyes is that everyone was worried Marlee Matlin wouldn't be able to pronounce his name when she announced the category. She did fine. But we'll leave him off.

Jean Smart in Guinevere

The 1999 nominees for Best Supporting Actress:

Angelina Jolie in Girl Interrupted (winner)

Toni Collette in The Sixth Sense

Catherine Keener in Being John Malkovich

Samantha Morton in Sweet and Lowdown

Chloe Sevigny in Boy's Don't Cry

When Jean Smart left Designing Women at the peak of its success, it seemed like a ... bad career move. Happily, that was not the case, as she went on to win back-to-back Emmys for her guest shots on Frasier in 2000-2001, and another Emmy for Samantha Who in 2008, plus a Tony nomination in 2000 for The Man Who Came To Dinner. But before those accolades was her supporting turn in 1999's Guinivere, in which she played the mother of Sarah Polley, who was being romanced by a much older man played by Stephen Rea.

This was one of the great "Mother" roles, and Jean was biting, bitter, sarcastic, and stole every scene she was in. Her speech to Stephen Rea, in which she looks him up and down and instantly pegs him as a user, is unforgettable.

With Jean in, which real nominee should get the boot? This is tough, because all of these performances are fine, but let's go with Toni and her fretful mother.

Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The 1975 nominees for Best Actor were:

Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (winner)

Walter Matthau in The Sunshine Boys

Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon

Maximillian Schell in The Man In The Glass Booth

James Whitmore in Give 'Em Hell Harry

It's easy to look back in hindsight and question why iconic performances weren't recognized by the Academy. It's fun, too! Of course, no one knew when RHPS came and went in theaters that it would become the greatest cult film of all time, thanks in large part to Tim Curry's bravura turn as Frank. It's a singular achievement in film history.

With Tim in, let's take out Walter's been there done that grumpy old man.

Jeffrey Wright in Basquiat

The 1996 nominees for Best Actor were:

Geoffrey Rush in Shine (winner)

Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire

Ralph Fiennes in The English Patient

Woody Harrelson in The People Vs. Larry Flynt

Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade

Jeffrey Wright is one of our most underrated and underused actors, and has proven his versatility time and time again (with an Emmy and Tony for Angels in America, a couple of Bond and Hunger Games films, and much more), but one of his greatest performances was his first leading film role, playing artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. He was in the big leagues, alongside Gary Oldman and David Bowie in a Warhol fright wig, but he was up to the challenge.

So who should move aside? Sorry Tom, but you put "You complete me" into the lexicon. You're gone.

Farrah Fawcett in The Apostle

The 1997 nominees for Best Supporting Actress were:

Kim Basinger in L.A. Confidential (winner)

Joan Cusack in In & Out

Minnie Driver in Good Will Hunting

Julianne Moore in Boogie Nights

Gloria Stuart in Titanic

Charlie's Angels was both a blessing and a curse for Farrah Fawcett. It shot her to superstardom, but it also branded her career. She didn't help matters with nothing roles in the turkeys Saturn 3 and Cannonball Run, and it wasn't until her Emmy-nominated performance in 1984's The Burning Bed that she was taken seriously as a dramatic actress. She followed that with another Emmy-nominated turn in Small Sacrifices and the Golden Globe nominated Extremities (which she had performed Off-Broadway).

But perhaps her most underrated role was in Robert Duvall's The Apostle. She took what could have been a thankless role, as a preacher's wife, and matched Duvall's Oscar-nominated performance with her own fire and strength.

With Farrah in, who should be shown the door? Minne "Is It A Dwarf" Driver.

Madeline Kahn in Clue

The 1985 nominees for Best Supporting Actress were:

Anjelica Huston in Prizzi's Honor (winner)

Margaret Avery in The Color Purple

Amy Madigan in Twice In A Lifetime

Meg Tilly in Agnes Of God

Oprah Winfrey in The Color Purple

1985's Clue was a theatrical flop, but would become one of the most beloved comedies of the decade when it was released on video. Of course, the amazing cast had everything to do with that, including three of cinema's all-time greatest comic actresses, Eileen Brennan, Lesly Ann-Warren, and Madeline Kahn. They all experienced being robbed of Oscar gold (Eileen for Private Benjamin, Lesley for Victor/Victoria, and Madeline for Blazing Saddles), but Madeline should have been rewarded for her inspired work as Mrs. White.

Let's say goodbye to Meg Tilly's zonked out nun in Agnes Of God.

How does it make me feel that Madeline didn't get the respect she deserved? This should explain it ...

Margaret Hamilton in The Wizard Of Oz

The 1939 nominees for Best Supporting Actress were:

Hattie McDaniel in Gone With The Wind (winner)

Olivia De Havilland in Gone With The Wind

Geraldine Fitzgerald in Wuthering Heights

Edna May Oliver in Drums Along The Mohawk

Maria Ouspenskaya in Love Affair

How the HELL did this happen?

From everything I've read, Margaret Hamilton was a terrific lady, kind and funny as hell, so the fact that she gave us one of the greatest evil characters of all time proves her dedication and talent.

Who should be left off? None of these performances, save for Hattie, is in the same league.

Mink Stole in Desperate Living

The 1977 nominees for Best Supporting Actress were:

Vanessa Redgrave in Julia (winner)

Leslie Browne in The Turning Point

Quinn Cummings in The Goodbye Girl

Melinda Dillon in Close Encounters Of The Third Kind

Tuesday Weld in Looking For Mr. Goodbar

The nominees for Supporting Actress in 1977 were a bizarre mixed bag. But really, if we got a precocious kid performance, and a nomination for a dancer pretending to be an actress, then why not recognize someone out of the mainstream? Mink Stole was fabulous as John Waters' put-upon housewife heroine.

Leslie Browne would make only two more films (both dancing), so she can ... sashay away.

I so wanted to make this my voicemail message.

Okay, your turn! Who are some of your favorite Oscar omissions?

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