I actually liked the Oscar picks. Lots of movies got some award love, including many truly great films that I feared would not get anything. I certainly was happier about this year’s nominees than I was about the nominees in the last couple of years.

However, there is always some worthy films and performances that get less than they deserve. So, here is my list of what the Oscars missed:

Dreamgirls

I don’t think this was one of the best five movies of the year. But it was better than some of the films that did get nominated. Also, it was considered such a sure thing that I’d be remiss not to mention it. Don’t know what happened here.

United 93

As I said before, I’m actually not the film’s biggest fan. And the director, Paul Greengrass, did score a nomination. But a lot of people did love it, especially critics. As a matter of fact, it managed to nab the number one spot in this huge list of critics’ top tens. But that wasn’t enough to get it among the five best pictures.

Borat

“What? Borat for best movie? Are you crazy?”

Well, yeah, but that has nothing to do with it. Borat managed to be the year’s best comedy, a breakout hit at the box office, a true cultural phenom and a critics darling (number 6 in that list I mentioned). And in my book that is enough to deserve a best picture nomination.

And I’ll tell you more. Sacha Baron Cohen deserved a best actor nomination for his impressive work, and Ken Davitian (you probably remember his balls) deserved to get best supporting actor. Feel free to call me a Borat fanboy now.

Pan’s Labyrinth

I’m actually surprised this small Mexican film got as much love as it did. Six nominations, including best foreign movie and best original screenplay. And yet, it deserved more.

Volver

I know that Almodóvar got an Oscar a couple of years ago. I also know that Volver is a step down from his last three great films. But still, no foreign film and no screenplay nomination? Really?
Alfonso Cuarón

Many people thought Children Of Men deserved to be in the best picture race. I am not one of these people, mostly because I thought the screenplay wasn’t very strong. But Alfonso Cuarón’s direction elevated what could have been a very average movie into a piece of must see cinema.

Amusingly, the screenplay did get a nomination.

The Boys From The Departed

I am very happy for Mark Wahlberg. Very deserved nomination. But in a movie that was filled with brilliant acting, from the leads up to people that were only in a few scenes, like Alec Baldwin, one nomination is not enough. And Leonardo DiCaprio receives a nomination for Blood Diamond instead of a nomination for The Departed ? Again, really?
Michael Sheen

Michael Sheen gave The Queen’s other great performance as Tony Blair. But despite all the nominations going for his movie there wasn’t a spot for him.
Shareeka Epps

I should just shut-up and be glad that someone from this little indie flick got a nomination, right? However, she did deserve it.

Daniel Craig

I had no idea that using as Bond an actor that could actually, you know, act could make the movie so much better. Daniel Craig surprised pretty much everybody with a strong performance that added nuance and emotional resonance to an old and very beloved character, something very hard to pull. The only reason he was never considered is that Casino Royale was “just a Bond movie”. It’s too bad.

The Prestige Screenplay

I know that this one is a little controversial. But what can I say, I thought the screenplay was brilliant and the film in general was very solid.

And Christopher Nolan has yet to make a bad movie. I would pretty much watch anything he was involved with right now. I’m sure that before long he too will be unfairly ignored by the Oscars.