The Oscars are coming up on March 15, which makes me think about films and people who took home Academy Awards in the past or came close.
Looking back, Sylvester Stallone, known for his roles in the “Rocky” franchise, has been nominated three times for Oscars in the past, but has yet to win. One of his movies, “Cliffhanger” in 1993, was in the running for three technical achievement awards, Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing and Best Visual Effects, but lost out in all three categories to “Jurassic Park.”
Stallone’s personal nominations include “Rocky” in 1977 for Best Actor and Best Screenplay and for Best Supporting Actor for “Creed” in 2016.
Ruby Dee, who played the mom in Ridley Scott’s “American Gangster,” was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 2008, but lost to Tilda Swinton in “Michael Clayton.”
The late Gene Hackman took home a golden statuette for his outstanding performance in Clint Eastwood’s Western epic “Unforgiven” in 1992. Hackman turned an unlikable character into a winning performance. It was a distinct counterpoint to his Oscar-winning performance as police detective “Popeye” Doyle in William Friedkin’s classic cop drama “The French Connection” in 1971.
Penélope Cruz has been nominated four times: for her lead role in “Volver” (2007), her supporting role in “Nine” (2010), her supporting role in “Parallel Mothers” (2022) and her supporting role in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (2009). She took home the Oscar for Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”
I really like the acting of Al Pacino when it’s not over-the-top Al Pacino. He’s been nominated nine times for Academy Awards in films “The Godfather,” “The Godfather Part II,” “Glengarry Glen Ross,” “And Justice for All” and others. I loved him in “Serpico” in 1973 as the undercover cop because it was a subdued performance. Ironically, his only Academy Award win came as the over-the-top, showy turn as a sightless former soldier in “Scent of a Woman” in 1993.
The 98th edition of the Academy Awards will be broadcast on ABC-TV beginning at 6 p.m. March 15 from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.
Stay tuned: Ricky will make his traditional Academy Award predictions in the next two editions of the Richland Chronicle.
