Here are the five nominees: (Winner in Bold)
Biggest Snub:
My Overall Thoughts:
This was actually a great year at the Oscars because all 5 films are worthy of getting a spot here. I think that United 93 was an even better film than all of them together and at least Greengrass got a director nomination for it, but it easily could have won BP IMHO.
There wasn’t a clear idea of who would win here because during the awards season there was much flipflopping between these films which shows how good of a ‘fight’ it really was down to the wire.
Take a look at this sample:
The Departed won here and at the Boston and Chicago Critics awards
Babel won at the Globes
The Queen won at BAFTA
Little Miss Sunshine won the SAG ensemble and the PGA
Letters From Iwo Jima won at the LA Film Critics Awards
United 93 won at NYFCC
Dreamgirls won at the Globes for Comedy/Musical
My Rankings:
Movies
- 5. – Babel – A very good film that tries to hard to have a message that just doesn’t really pan out in the end. Great ensemble cast helps tho.
- 4. – Little Miss Sunshine – Fun dysfunctional family film that has some great characters and funny (yet realistic) dialogue. Amazing cast helps also.
- 3. – The Queen – Mirren is superb at giving an emotional face to a persona that is seen as cold and unemotional. The story works well also, the question remains tho, how much is really true here.
- 2. – Letters from Iwo Jima – Amazing war film that is one of the best ever made. Eastwood does a superb job with this film and gives a face to an enemy that we all always see as faceless.
- 1. – The Departed – Scorsese was able to win everyone over with this amazing cat and mouse caper that is so much better than the original movie it was a version of. Great cast makes this film so much more interesting.
Do I agree with the Oscar winner? – Yes. Scorsese got his deserved awards with this film which is one of his best films because it takes the cops and robbers theme to a whole new level. The rest of the films were also great choices for BP, but this one was truly the best of the lot!
Let me know what you think about these films and my rankings!
MovieRob 
Agree that United 93 should have definitely won. How was it not even nominated? The Pursuit of Happyness would have also been worthy.
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Totally agree on U93, TPoH was a bit overrated IMHO
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Not a mindblowing year, but I agree with the Oscars here. Departed was the best. I’d probably rank United 93 after it. Like you, I think it was totally snubbed. Meanwhile, I liked Babel more than you, and The Queen wouldn’t make my top 10. Another awesome article, Rob. I really enjoy this series.
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