The two macro articles I put up each time I do the Quest are the Viewer’s Guide and the Rankings. The Rankings are self-explanatory. The Viewer’s Guide is more universal. One is specific to the categories and picking winners. The Viewer’s Guide is more about how I feel about the films. If you wanted to find Oscar films to watch, you come here, and I tell you how I feel.
Last time I put out the Viewer’s Guide, it was done with a big color code, with each color used to signify how I felt about a film. Not the best system, especially since I put out hundreds of reviews each year on a star system. So we’re moving to the star system now.
Pretty simple — for each Oscar nominee’s film, I’ll assign a rating the way I’d assign a rating to any film I see each year. I don’t think anything’s gone under 2.5 stars, since I don’t think there are truly bad films nominated. The worst you’ll see is 2.5 stars, which for me means I was indifferent toward it. 3 stars is “pretty good.” 3.5 stars is “solid.” 4 stars is “liked it quite a bit.” 4.5 stars is “loved it.” And 5 stars is 5 stars.
The idea is for the ratings to help you find stuff you might like. Also, for each category I’ll tell you what I voted for, what I think would have held up as a winner from that category and how good a choice I think it was.
Here’s Best Picture:
2016 – Moonlight –– * * * * * (5 stars)
Arrival — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Fences — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Hacksaw Ridge — * * * * (4 stars)
Hell or High Water — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Hidden Figures — * * * * (4 stars)
La La Land — * * * * * (5 stars)
Lion — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Manchester by the Sea — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
My Vote: La La Land
What Would Have Held Up: N/A (yet)
The Choice: A-
2015 – Spotlight — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Big Short — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Bridge of Spies — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Brooklyn — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Mad Max: Fury Road — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Martian — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Revenant — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Room — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
My Vote: The Revenant
What Would Have Held Up: N/A (yet)
The Choice: B+
2014 – Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
American Sniper — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Boyhood — * * * * (4 stars)
The Grand Budapest Hotel — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Imitation Game — * * * * (4 stars)
Selma — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
The Theory of Everything — * * * * (4 stars)
Whiplash — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
My Vote: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
What Would Have Held Up: N/A (yet)
The Choice: B+
2013 – 12 Years a Slave — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
American Hustle — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Captain Phillips — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Dallas Buyers Club — * * * * (4 stars)
Gravity — * * * * * (5 stars)
Her — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Nebraska — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Philomena — * * * * (4 stars)
The Wolf of Wall Street — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
My Vote: Gravity
What Would Have Held Up: N/A (yet)
The Choice: A
2012 – Argo — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Amour — * * * * (4 stars)
Beasts of the Southern Wild — * * * * (4 stars)
Django Unchained — * * * * * (5 stars)
Les Misérables — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Life of Pi — * * * * (4 stars)
Lincoln — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Silver Linings Playbook — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Zero Dark Thirty — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: Django Unchained
What Would Have Held Up: Argo, Lincoln
The Choice: B/B+
2011 – The Artist — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Descendants — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
The Help — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Hugo — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Midnight in Paris — * * * * (4 stars)
Moneyball — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Tree of Life — * * * * (4 stars)
War Horse — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: The Artist
What Would Have Held Up: If any, maybe The Descendants, possibly Hugo, possibly Tree of Life. Jury’s still out on The Artist
The Choice: B
2010 – The King’s Speech — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
127 Hours — * * * * (4 stars)
Black Swan — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Fighter — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Inception — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Kids Are All Right — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
The Social Network — * * * * * (5 stars)
Toy Story 3 — * * * * * (5 stars)
True Grit — * * * * * (5 stars)
Winter’s Bone — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
My Vote: True Grit
What Would Have Held Up: The King’s Speech, The Social Network, maybe Black Swan, maybe True Grit
The Choice: B+
2009 – The Hurt Locker — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Avatar — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Blind Side — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
District 9 — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
An Education — * * * * (4 stars)
Inglourious Basterds — * * * * * (5 stars)
Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
A Serious Man — * * * * (4 stars)
Up — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Up in the Air — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
My Vote: Inglourious Basterds
What Would Have Held Up: The Hurt Locker
The Choice: A-
2008 – Slumdog Millionaire — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Frost/Nixon — * * * * (4 stars)
Milk — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Reader — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: Slumdog Millionaire
What Would Have Held Up: Slumdog Millionaire, probably Benjamin Button, maybe Milk
The Choice: B+
2007 – No Country for Old Men — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Atonement — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Juno — * * * * (4 stars)
Michael Clayton — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
There Will Be Blood — * * * * * (5 stars)
My Vote: There Will Be Blood
What Would Have Held Up: No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood
The Choice: A-
2006 – The Departed — * * * * * (5 stars)
Babel — * * * * (4 stars)
Letters from Iwo Jima — * * * * (4 stars)
Little Miss Sunshine — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Queen — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: The Departed
What Would Have Held Up: The Departed, maybe Letters from Iwo Jima, possibly Babel
The Choice: B+
2005 – Crash — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Brokeback Mountain — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Capote — * * * * (4 stars)
Good Night, and Good Luck — * * * * * (5 stars)
Munich — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: Good Night, and Good Luck
What Would Have Held Up: Brokeback Mountain, Good Night and Good Luck
The Choice: F
2004 – Million Dollar Baby — * * * * (4 stars)
The Aviator — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Finding Neverland — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Ray — * * * * (4 stars)
Sideways — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
My Vote: The Aviator
What Would Have Held Up: If any, maybe The Aviator. Jury’s out on Million Dollar Baby
The Choice: B-
2003– The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King — * * * * * (5 stars)
Lost in Translation — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World — * * * * (4 stars)
Mystic River — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Seabiscuit — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
What Would Have Held Up: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Choice: A
2002 – Chicago — * * * * (4 stars)
Gangs of New York — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Hours — * * * * (4 stars)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Pianist — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
My Vote: Gangs of New York
What Would Have Held Up: The Pianist (maybe Two Towers, maybe Gangs)
The Choice: C
2001 – A Beautiful Mind — * * * * (4 stars)
Gosford Park — * * * * (4 stars)
In the Bedroom — * * * * (4 stars)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring — * * * * * (5 stars)
Moulin Rouge! — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
What Would Have Held Up: Fellowship
The Choice: D
2000 – Gladiator — * * * * * (5 stars)
Chocolat — * * * * (4 stars)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon — * * * * (4 stars)
Erin Brockovich — * * * * (4 stars)
Traffic — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
My Vote: Gladiator
What Would Have Held Up: Gladiator, Traffic
The Choice: B/B+
1999 – American Beauty — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Cider House Rules — * * * * (4 stars)
The Green Mile — * * * * (4 stars)
The Insider — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Sixth Sense — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: American Beauty
What Would Have Held Up: American Beauty
The Choice: B+/B
1998 – Shakespeare in Love — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Elizabeth — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Life Is Beautiful — * * * * (4 stars)
Saving Private Ryan — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Thin Red Line — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: Saving Private Ryan
What Would Have Held Up: Saving Private Ryan, Shakespeare in Love
The Choice: B
1997 – Titanic — * * * * * (5 stars)
As Good as It Gets — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Full Monty — * * * * (4 stars)
Good Will Hunting — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
L.A. Confidential — * * * * * (5 stars)
My Vote: L.A. Confidential
What Would Have Held Up: Titanic
The Choice: A
1996 – The English Patient — * * * * (4 stars)
Fargo — * * * * * (5 stars)
Jerry Maguire — * * * * * (5 stars)
Shine — * * * * (4 stars)
Secrets & Lies — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
My Vote: Fargo
What Would Have Held Up: Fargo, and I guess The English Patient
The Choice: B/B+
1995 – Braveheart — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Apollo 13 — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Babe — * * * * (4 stars)
Il Postino — * * * (3 stars)
Sense and Sensibility — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
My Vote: Apollo 13
What Would Have Held Up: Braveheart, and probably Apollo 13
The Choice: B+
1994 – Forrest Gump — * * * * * (5 stars)
Four Weddings and a Funeral — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Pulp Fiction — * * * * * (5 stars)
Quiz Show — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Shawshank Redemption — * * * * * (5 stars)
My Vote: Forrest Gump
What Would Have Held Up: Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption
The Choice: A
1993 – Schindler’s List — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Fugitive — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
In the Name of the Father — * * * * (4 stars)
The Piano — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
The Remains of the Day — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: Schindler’s List
What Would Have Held Up: Schindler’s List
The Choice: A+
1992 – Unforgiven — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Crying Game — * * * * (4 stars)
A Few Good Men — * * * * * (5 stars)
Howards End — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Scent of a Woman — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
My Vote: Unforgiven
What Would Have Held Up: Unforgiven
The Choice: A
1991 – The Silence of the Lambs — * * * * * (5 stars)
Beauty and the Beast — * * * * * (5 stars)
Bugsy — * * * * (4 stars)
JFK — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Prince of Tides — * * * (3 stars)
My Vote: The Silence of the Lambs
What Would Have Held Up: The Silence of the Lambs
The Choice: A-
1990 – Dances with Wolves — * * * * (4 stars)
Awakenings — * * * * (4 stars)
Ghost — * * * * (4 stars)
The Godfather Part III — * * * * (4 stars)
Goodfellas — * * * * * (5 stars)
My Vote: Goodfellas
What Would Have Held Up: Goodfellas, and Dances with Wolves (for the most part)
The Choice: B-
1989 – Driving Miss Daisy — * * * * (4 stars)
Born on the Fourth of July — * * * * (4 stars)
Dead Poet’s Society — * * * * (4 stars)
Field of Dreams — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
My Left Foot — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
My Vote: Field of Dreams
What Would Have Held Up: That’s the question, isn’t it?
The Choice: C+
1988 – Rain Man — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Accidental Tourist — * * * (3 stars)
Dangerous Liaisons — * * * * (4 stars)
Mississippi Burning — * * * * (4 stars)
Working Girl — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
My Vote: Rain Man
What Would Have Held Up: Rain Man
The Choice: B
1987 – The Last Emperor — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Broadcast News — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Fatal Attraction — * * * * (4 stars)
Hope and Glory — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Moonstruck — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: The Last Emperor
What Would Have Held Up: The Last Emperor, possibly Broadcast News
The Choice: B/B+
1986 – Platoon — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Children of a Lesser God — * * * * (4 stars)
Hannah and Her Sisters — * * * (3 stars)
The Mission — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
A Room With a View — * * * (3 stars)
My Vote: Platoon
What Would Have Held Up: Platoon
The Choice: A-
1985 – Out of Africa — * * * * (4 stars)
The Color Purple — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Kiss of the Spider Woman — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Prizzi’s Honor — * * * * (4 stars)
Witness — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: The Color Purple
What Would Have Held Up: The Color Purple, Out of Africa
The Choice: B-/B
1984 – Amadeus — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Killing Fields — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
A Passage to India — * * * (3 stars)
Places in the Heart — * * * * (4 stars)
A Soldier’s Story — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
My Vote: Amadeus
What Would Have Held Up: Amadeus
The Choice: A
1983 – Terms of Endearment — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Big Chill — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Dresser — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
The Right Stuff — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Tender Mercies — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
My Vote: The Right Stuff
What Would Have Held Up: If any, Terms of Endearment and The Right Stuff
The Choice: B-
1982 – Gandhi — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial — * * * * * (5 stars)
Missing — * * * * (4 stars)
Tootsie — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Verdict — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
My Vote: The Verdict
What Would Have Held Up: Gandhi, E.T.
The Choice: B+/A-
1981 – Chariots of Fire — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Atlantic City — * * * * (4 stars)
On Golden Pond — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Raiders of the Lost Ark — * * * * * (5 stars)
Reds — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: Raiders of the Lost Ark
What Would Have Held Up: That would spoil all the fun
The Choice: B-/C+
1980 – Ordinary People — * * * * (4 stars)
Coal Miner’s Daughter — * * * * (4 stars)
The Elephant Man — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Raging Bull — * * * * * (5 stars)
Tess — * * ½ (2.5 stars)
My Vote: Raging Bull
What Would Have Held Up: Raging Bull, possibly The Elephant Man, and to an extent Ordinary People
The Choice: B-
1979 – Kramer vs. Kramer — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
All That Jazz — * * * * * (5 stars)
Apocalypse Now — * * * * * (5 stars)
Breaking Away — * * * * (4 stars)
Norma Rae — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: Apocalypse Now
What Would Have Held Up: Apocalypse Now, possibly All That Jazz, somewhat Kramer vs. Kramer
The Choice: B/B+
1978 – The Deer Hunter — * * * * * (5 stars)
Coming Home — * * * * (4 stars)
Heaven Can Wait — * * * * (4 stars)
Midnight Express — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
An Unmarried Woman — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: The Deer Hunter
What Would Have Held Up: The Deer Hunter. Possibly Midnight Express or Coming Home
The Choice: A-
1977 – Annie Hall — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Goodbye Girl — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Julia — * * * * (4 stars)
Star Wars — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Turning Point — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
My Vote: Star Wars
What Would Have Held Up: Annie Hall, Star Wars
The Choice: A-/B+
1976 – Rocky — * * * * * (5 stars)
All the President’s Men — * * * * * (5 stars)
Bound for Glory — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Network — * * * * * (5 stars)
Taxi Driver — * * * * * (5 stars)
My Vote: Rocky
What Would Have Held Up: All the President’s Men, Network, Rocky, and probably even Taxi Driver
The Choice: A-
1975 – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest — * * * * * (5 stars)
Barry Lyndon — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Dog Day Afternoon — * * * * * (5 stars)
Jaws — * * * * * (5 stars)
Nashville — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
My Vote: Dog Day Afternoon
What Would Have Held Up: Probably all of them.
The Choice: A-
1974 – The Godfather Part II — * * * * * (5 stars)
Chinatown — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Conversation — * * * * * (5 stars)
Lenny — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Towering Inferno — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: The Godfather Part II
What Would Have Held Up: The Godfather Part II, Chinatown
The Choice: A+
1973 – The Sting — * * * * * (5 stars)
American Graffiti — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Cries and Whispers — * * * (3 stars)
The Exorcist — * * * * * (5 stars)
A Touch of Class — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
My Vote: The Sting
What Would Have Held Up: The Sting, and possibly The Exorcist or American Graffiti
The Choice: A-
1972 – The Godfather — * * * * * (5 stars)
Cabaret — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Deliverance — * * * * (4 stars)
The Emigrants — * * * (3 stars)
Sounder — * * * (3 stars)
My Vote: The Godfather
What Would Have Held Up: The Godfather and maybe Cabaret
The Choice: A+
1971 – The French Connection — * * * * * (5 stars)
A Clockwork Orange — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Fiddler on the Roof — * * * * (4 stars)
The Last Picture Show — * * * * (4 stars)
Nicholas and Alexandra — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: The French Connection
What Would Have Held Up: The French Connection, maybe The Last Picture Show
The Choice: A-
1970 – Patton — * * * * (4 stars)
Airport — * * * * (4 stars)
Five Easy Pieces — * * * * (4 stars)
Love Story — * * * * * (5 stars)
MASH — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
My Vote: Love Story
What Would Have Held Up: Patton
The Choice: A-
1969 – Midnight Cowboy — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Anne of the Thousand Days — * * * * (4 stars)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid — * * * * * (5 stars)
Hello, Dolly! — * * * (3 stars)
Z — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
My Vote: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
What Would Have Held Up: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Midnight Cowboy
The Choice: B+
1968 – Oliver! — * * * * (4 stars)
Funny Girl — * * * * (4 stars)
The Lion in Winter — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Rachel, Rachel — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Romeo and Juliet — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: The Lion in Winter
What Would Have Held Up: If any, The Lion in Winter. Oliver to an extent, I guess.
The Choice: C
1967 – In the Heat of the Night — * * * * (4 stars)
Bonnie and Clyde — * * * * * (5 stars)
Doctor Dolittle — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
The Graduate — * * * * * (5 stars)
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
My Vote: The Graduate
What Would Have Held Up: Bonnie and Clyde, The Graduate, to an extent In the Heat of the Night, possibly Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
The Choice:
1966 – A Man for All Seasons — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Alfie — * * * * (4 stars)
The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming — * * * * (4 stars)
The Sand Pebbles — * * * * (4 stars)
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? — * * * * * (5 stars)
My Vote: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
What Would Have Held Up: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and somewhat A Man for All Seasons
The Choice: B-
1965 – The Sound of Music — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Darling — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Doctor Zhivago — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Ship of Fools — * * * (3 stars)
A Thousand Clowns — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
My Vote: The Sound of Music
What Would Have Held Up: The Sound of Music, Doctor Zhivago
The Choice: A-/A
1964 – My Fair Lady — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Becket — * * * * (4 stars)
Doctor Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb — * * * * * (5 stars)
Mary Poppins — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Zorba the Greek — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: Doctor Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
What Would Have Held Up: My Fair Lady, maybe Mary Poppins and possibly even Dr. Strangelove
The Choice: B+
1963 – Tom Jones — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
America, America — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Cleopatra — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
How the West Was Won — * * * * * (5 stars)
Lilies of the Field — * * * (3 stars)
My Vote: How the West Was Won
What Would Have Held Up: If any, Cleopatra or How the West Was Won
The Choice: D
1962 – Lawrence of Arabia — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Longest Day — * * * * (4 stars)
The Music Man — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Mutiny on the Bounty — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
To Kill a Mockingbird — * * * * * (5 stars)
My Vote: Lawrence of Arabia
What Would Have Held Up: Lawrence of Arabia, To Kill a Mockingbird
The Choice: A+
1961 – West Side Story — * * * * * (5 stars)
Fanny — * * * * (4 stars)
The Guns of Navarone — * * * * (4 stars)
The Hustler — * * * * * (5 stars)
Judgment at Nuremberg — * * * * * (5 stars)
My Vote: West Side Story
What Would Have Held Up: West Side Story. Possibly Judgment at Nuremberg. Potentially The Hustler.
The Choice: A
1960 – The Apartment — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Alamo — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Elmer Gantry — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Sons and Lovers — * * * * (4 stars)
The Sundowners — * * * * * (5 stars)
My Vote: The Apartment
What Would Have Held Up: The Apartment
The Choice: A
1959 – Ben-Hur — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Anatomy of a Murder — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Diary of Anne Frank — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Nun’s Story — * * * * (4 stars)
Room at the Top — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: Anatomy of a Murder
What Would Have Held Up: Ben-Hur, maybe The Diary of Anne Frank, possibly Anatomy of a Murder
The Choice: A
1958 – Gigi — * * * * (4 stars)
Auntie Mame — * * * * (4 stars)
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Defiant Ones — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Separate Tables — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: The Defiant Ones
What Would Have Held Up: If any, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof or The Defiant Ones
The Choice: B-
1957 – The Bridge on the River Kwai — * * * * * (5 stars)
Peyton Place — * * * * (4 stars)
Sayonara — * * * * (4 stars)
12 Angry Men — * * * * * (5 stars)
Witness for the Prosecution — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
My Vote: The Bridge on the River Kwai
What Would Have Held Up: The Bridge on the River Kwai, 12 Angry Men
The Choice: A-
1956 – Around the World in 80 Days — * * * * (4 stars)
Friendly Persuasion — * * * * (4 stars)
Giant — * * * * * (5 stars)
The King and I — * * * * (4 stars)
The Ten Commandments — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: Giant
What Would Have Held Up: Around the World in 80 Days (somewhat), Giant, maybe The Ten Commandments
The Choice: C+
1955 – Marty — * * * * * (5 stars)
Love is a Many-Splendored Thing — * * * (3 stars)
Mister Roberts — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Picnic — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
The Rose Tattoo — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
My Vote: Marty
What Would Have Held Up: Marty, if any
The Choice: B+
1954 – On the Waterfront — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Caine Mutiny — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Country Girl — * * * * (4 stars)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Three Coins in the Fountain — * * * (3 stars)
My Vote: On the Waterfront
What Would Have Held Up: On the Waterfront
The Choice: A
1953 – From Here to Eternity — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Julius Caesar — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
The Robe — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Roman Holiday — * * * * * (5 stars)
Shane — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: Roman Holiday
What Would Have Held Up: From Here to Eternity, Roman Holiday
The Choice: B+/A-
1952 – The Greatest Show on Earth — * * * * (4 stars)
High Noon — * * * * * (5 stars)
Ivanhoe — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Moulin Rouge — * * * * (4 stars)
The Quiet Man — * * * * * (5 stars)
My Vote: The Quiet Man
What Would Have Held Up: High Noon, The Quiet Man
The Choice: C
1951 – An American in Paris — * * * * (4 stars)
Decision Before Dawn — * * * * (4 stars)
A Place in the Sun — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Quo Vadis — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
A Streetcar Named Desire — * * * * * (5 stars)
My Vote: A Streetcar Named Desire
What Would Have Held Up: A Place in the Sun, A Streetcar Named Desire
The Choice: D
1950 – All About Eve — * * * * * (5 stars)
Born Yesterday — * * * * (4 stars)
Father of the Bride — * * * * (4 stars)
King Solomon’s Mines — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Sunset Boulevard — * * * * * (5 stars)
My Vote: Sunset Boulevard
What Would Have Held Up: All About Eve, Sunset Boulevard
The Choice: A
1949 – All the King’s Men — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Battleground — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Heiress — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
A Letter to Three Wives — * * * * (4 stars)
Twelve O’Clock High — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: Battleground
What Would Have Held Up: All the King’s Men, if any. Possibly The Heiress
The Choice: B
1948 – Hamlet — * * * * (4 stars)
Johnny Belinda — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Red Shoes — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Snake Pit — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre — * * * * * (5 stars)
My Vote: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
What Would Have Held Up: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, maybe The Red Shoes, Hamlet to an extent
The Choice: D
1947 – Gentleman’s Agreement — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Bishop’s Wife — * * * * (4 stars)
Crossfire — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Great Expectations — * * * * (4 stars)
Miracle on 34th Street — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: Gentleman’s Agreement
What Would Have Held Up: Gentleman’s Agreement, if any
The Choice: B+
1946 – The Best Years of Our Lives — * * * * * (5 stars)
Henry V — * * * * (4 stars)
It’s a Wonderful Life — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Razor’s Edge — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
The Yearling — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: It’s a Wonderful Life
What Would Have Held Up: The Best Years of Our Lives, It’s a Wonderful Life
The Choice: A
1945 – The Lost Weekend — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Anchors Aweigh — * * * * (4 stars)
The Bells of St. Mary’s — * * * * (4 stars)
Mildred Pierce — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Spellbound — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
My Vote: The Lost Weekend
What Would Have Held Up: The Lost Weekend
The Choice: A-
1944 – Going My Way — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Double Indemnity — * * * * * (5 stars)
Gaslight — * * * * (4 stars)
Since You Went Away — * * * * (4 stars)
Wilson — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
My Vote: Double Indemnity
What Would Have Held Up: Double Indemnity, Going My Way
The Choice: B
1943 – Casablanca — * * * * * (5 stars)
For Whom the Bell Tolls — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Heaven Can Wait — * * * * (4 stars)
The Human Comedy — * * * * (4 stars)
In Which We Serve — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Madame Curie — * * * (3 stars)
The More the Merrier — * * * * (4 stars)
The Ox-Bow Incident — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Song of Bernadette — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Watch on the Rhine — * * * (3 stars)
My Vote: Casablanca
What Would Have Held Up: Casablanca. Potentially For Whom the Bell Tolls
The Choice: A+
1942 – Mrs. Miniver — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
49th Parallel — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Kings Row — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
The Magnificent Ambersons — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Pied Piper — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
The Pride of the Yankees — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Random Harvest — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Talk of the Town — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Wake Island — * * * * (4 stars)
Yankee Doodle Dandy — * * * * * (5 stars)
My Vote: Random Harvest
What Would Have Held Up: Mrs. Miniver, maybe Yankee Doodle Dandy, Magnificent Ambersons, Random Harvest. Possibly Pride of the Yankees.
The Choice: B+/B
1941 – How Green Was My Valley — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Blossoms in the Dust — * * * * (4 stars)
Citizen Kane — * * * * * (5 stars)
Here Comes Mr. Jordan — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Hold Back the Dawn — * * * (3 stars)
The Little Foxes — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
The Maltese Falcon — * * * * * (5 stars)
One Foot in Heaven — * * ½ (2.5 stars)
Sergeant York — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Suspicion — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
My Vote: Citizen Kane
What Would Have Held Up: Citizen Kane, somewhat How Green Was My Valley, maybe The Maltese Falcon, possibly Sergeant York
The Choice: B+ (Citizen Kane not winning is an F. How Green Was My Valley winning is a B+)
1940 – Rebecca — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
All This, and Heaven Too — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Foreign Correspondent — * * * * (4 stars)
The Grapes of Wrath — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Great Dictator — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Kitty Foyle — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
The Letter — * * * (3 stars)
The Long Voyage Home — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Our Town — * * * * (4 stars)
The Philadelphia Story — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
My Vote: The Grapes of Wrath
What Would Have Held Up: The Grapes of Wrath, maybe The Great Dictator, somewhat Rebecca
The Choice: B
1939 – Gone With the Wind — * * * * * (5 stars)
Dark Victory — * * * * (4 stars)
Goodbye, Mr. Chips — * * * * (4 stars)
Love Affair — * * * * (4 stars)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington — * * * * * (5 stars)
Ninotchka — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Of Mice and Men — * * * * (4 stars)
Stagecoach — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Wizard of Oz — * * * * * (5 stars)
Wuthering Heights — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: Gone With the Wind
What Would Have Held Up: Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
The Choice: A+
1938 – You Can’t Take It With You — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Adventures of Robin Hood — * * * * * (5 stars)
Alexander’s Ragtime Band — * * * (3 stars)
Boys Town — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
The Citadel — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Four Daughters — * * * (3 stars)
Grand Illusion — * * * * * (5 stars)
Jezebel — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Pygmalion — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Test Pilot — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
My Vote: Grand Illusion
What Would Have Held Up: The Adventures of Robin Hood, probably. Grand Illusion, I hope. And You Can’t Take It With You, somewhat.
The Choice: B/B+
1937 – The Life of Emile Zola — * * * * (4 stars)
The Awful Truth — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Captains Courageous — * * * * (4 stars)
Dead End — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
The Good Earth — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
In Old Chicago — * * * (3 stars)
Lost Horizon — * * * * (4 stars)
One Hundred Men and a Girl — * * * (3 stars)
Stage Door — * * * * (4 stars)
A Star is Born — * * * * * (5 stars)
My Vote: A Star Is Born
What Would Have Held Up: A Star Is Born, and possibly Captains Courageous, The Awful Truth, The Good Earth and Lost Horizon. Don’t think Zola’s particularly held up at all.
The Choice: D
1936 – The Great Ziegfeld — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Anthony Adverse — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Dodsworth — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Libeled Lady — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Romeo and Juliet — * * * (3 stars)
San Francisco — * * * * (4 stars)
The Story of Louis Pasteur — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
A Tale of Two Cities — * * ½ (2.5 stars)
Three Smart Girls — * * * (3 stars)
My Vote: Dodsworth
What Would Have Held Up: The Great Ziegfeld, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, and I hope Dodsworth
The Choice: A-/B+
1935 – Mutiny on the Bounty — * * * * * (5 stars)
Alice Adams — * * * * (4 stars)
The Broadway Melody of 1936 — * * * (3 stars)
Captain Blood — * * * * (4 stars)
David Copperfield — * * ½ (2.5 stars)
The Informer — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Lives of a Bengal Lancer — * * * (3 stars)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream — * * * * (4 stars)
Les Misérables — * * * * (4 stars)
Naughty Marietta — * * * (3 stars)
Ruggles of Red Gap — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Top Hat — * * * * * (5 stars)
My Vote: Top Hat
What Would Have Held Up: Mutiny on the Bounty, maybe The Informer, possibly Top Hat
The Choice: A-
1934 – It Happened One Night — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Barretts of Wimpole Street — * * * * (4 stars)
Cleopatra — * * * * (4 stars)
Flirtation Walk — * * * (3 stars)
The Gay Divorcée — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Here Comes the Navy — * * * (3 stars)
The House of Rothschild — * * * (3 stars)
Imitation of Life — * * * * (4 stars)
One Night of Love — * * ½ (2.5 stars)
The Thin Man — * * * * * (5 stars)
Viva Villa! — * * ½ (2.5 stars)
The White Parade — * * * (3 stars)
My Vote: The Thin Man
What Would Have Held Up: It Happened One Night, and I’d like to think The Thin Man
The Choice: A
1932-1933 – Cavalcade — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
42nd Street — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
A Farewell to Arms — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Lady for a Day — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Little Women — * * * * (4 stars)
The Private Life of Henry VIII — * * * (3 stars)
She Done Him Wrong — * * * (3 stars)
Smilin’ Through — * * * (3 stars)
State Fair — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
My Vote: I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
What Would Have Held Up: 42nd Street, probably I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, maybe A Farewell to ARms
The Choice: C-
1931-1932 – Grand Hotel — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Arrowsmith — * * * (3 stars)
Bad Girl — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
The Champ — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Five Star Final — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
One Hour with You — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Shanghai Express — * * * (3 stars)
The Smiling Lieutenant — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: Bad Girl
What Would Have Held Up: Grand Hotel, The Champ
The Choice: B+/A-
1930-1931 – Cimarron — * * * * (4 stars)
East Lynne — * * ½ (2.5 stars)
The Front Page — * * * * (4 stars)
Skippy — * * * * ½ (4.5 stars)
Trader Horn — * * ½ (2.5 stars)
My Vote: Skippy
What Would Have Held Up: If any, Cimarron, The Front Page
The Choice: Cimarron
1929-1930 – All Quiet on the Western Front — * * * * * (5 stars)
The Big House — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
Disraeli — * * * (3 stars)
The Divorcée — * * * ½ (3.5 stars)
The Love Parade — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: All Quiet on the Western Front
What Would Have Held Up: All Quiet on the Western Front
The Choice: A+
1928-1929 – The Broadway Melody — * * * (3 stars)
Alibi — * * * (3 stars)
The Hollywood Revue of 1929 — * * * (3 stars)
In Old Arizona — * * * (3 stars)
The Patriot — N/A (LOST)
My Vote: The Broadway Melody
What Would Have Held Up: Not sure it matters
The Choice: C
1927-1928 (Outstanding Picture, Production) – Wings — * * * * (4 stars)
The Racket — * * * (3 stars)
Seventh Heaven — * * * * * (5 stars)
My Vote: Seventh Heaven
What Would Have Held Up: Wings, Seventh Heaven
The Choice: A
1927-1928 (Unique or Artistic Production) – Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans — * * * * * (5 stars)
Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness — * * * (3 stars)
The Crowd — * * * * (4 stars)
My Vote: Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
What Would Have Held Up: Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, The Crowd
The Choice: A
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