Once again, I’m doing my current list of the 10 wins I find the most egregious. I do hope to slowly plug the holes in some of the older years and less celebrated performances, but for now, I didn’t pick anything I didn’t have a strong opinion on. So, get ready for ten HOT takes. The way I list, is the year of release of the film, but the Oscars are the next year. So for example, if a movie came out this year, I would list it as 2025, but the ceremony is technically 2026.

##1- Elizabeth Taylor (Butterfly 8)

Should Have Won: Shirley Maclaine (The Apartment)

I much prefer Shirley MacLaine’s performance in The Apartment, the classic Billy Wilder film that won 5 Oscars. Elizabeth Taylor had a health scare, and she won for a performance that really is just OK, in a film that isn’t very good. This one sucked so bad, I had a hard time putting Taylor’s win for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf in my Top 10, because it was her second win instead of an overdue first.

#2- Jessica Lange (Blue Sky)

Should Have Won: ?

Arguably, none of the nominees are extraordinary in a year that brought us Shawshank redemption, Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction, Quiz Show, Four Weddings And A Funeral, The Lion King, Ed Wood, Bullets Over Broadway, and a bunch of others. Considering neither Robin Wright nor Sally field managed to be nominated for an Oscar, and Robin Wright has STILL never been nominated, I’d like to take Lange out of the category all together, and replace her with Robin Wright for Forrest Gump. Either that, or I’m giving it to Susan Sarandon for the client. Lange already won an Oscar for Tootsie. I considered doing the same for Jessica Tandy for driving Mis Daisy, because her competition is also weak, but Tandy has only that one Oscar.

#3- Judy Holiday (Born yesterday)

Should Have Won: Bette Davis (All About Eve) or Gloria Swanson (Sunset Boulevard)

Two of the most lauded and legendary performances of all time lost to a perfectly fine comedic turn.I’m fine with holiday being nominated, but her win here is insane.

#4- Sandra Bullock (The Blind side)

Should Have Won: Gabourey Sidibe (Precious)

Bullock won because her strongest competition was brand new, and she was long overdue. But, she wasn’t necessarily overdue for a win, just a nomination. Had she won for gravity, I would have loved that, even though I adore Cate Blanchett in blue Jasmine. Sidibe is terrific in Precious, and would have paired nicely with that win for Monique. the blind Side isn’t a good film. the fact she got nominated is a small miracle. If I could trade her nomination here with one for speed, While You were Sleeping, or Hope Floats, I would.

#5- 2011 Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)

Should Have Won: Anyone else.

Talk about competition. Streep’s third win beat out incredible performances from Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs), Michelle Williams (My week With Marilyn), Rooney Mara (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) and Viola Davis (The Help). At this point, none of them had won. Close, Williams, and Davis were all previous nominees. Still to this day, three of them haven’t won, with Close, Williams, and mara still chasing Oscar glory. So, yes, anyone else. There are much better wins for Streep’s 3rd Oscar as you’re about to see.

#6- 2002- Nicole Kidman (the Hours)

Should Have Won: Renee Zellweger (Chicago)

Zellweger should NOT have won her first Oscar for cold Mountain. It should have been for Chicago. I think Kidman’s should be for a performance of hers people remember, in a movie people like. that’s just me though. I’d also have taken a win for Julianne Moore in Far From Heaven.

#7- 2020- Frances McDormand (Nomadland)

Should Have Won: carey Mulligan for Promising Young Woman or viola Davis for Ma Rainey’s Black bottom

We gave McDormand a third Oscar over a blazing hot performance from Mulligan, and a smoking hot potentially game changing win for Davis. I put Mulligan first, because this would have technically been Davis’s second, and Mulligan has never won.

#8- 1985- Geraldine Page (The Trip to Bountiful)

Should Have Won: Whoopi Goldberg (The Color Purple)

raise your hand if you remember A Trip To Bountiful. It’s an obvious swap, except Page was like the Glenn Close of the 80’s. She was on her 7th nomination with no wins, and Goldberg was on her first. historically, the swap makes sense. But, it is lower on the list because I get where it came from.

#9- #9- Glenda Jackson (A Touch Of Class)

Should Have Won: Ellen Burstyn (The Exorcist)

Both ladies would have another Oscar either way. But, Burstyn’s performance is still talked about today, while A Touch Of Class really can’t compare to The Exorcist. Probably the best actual performance on this list, but Burstyn was better.

#10- #10- 2006: Helen Mirren (The Queen) or 2008: Kate Winslet (The reader)

Should have Won: Meryl Streep: The devil Wears Prada or Meryl Streep for Doubt

I submit for your approval two titans. One performance so iconic, it would have been a surprise excellent third nomination, and the other just simply was the best in her category that year. the problem is, if I take either away, Mirren and Winslet no longer are Oscar winners, since they both have only one Oscar each. So, I have a counter proposal for you. Let’s go back to my #2 pick, where none of the women should have won, and Lange was on her second win anyway. Put Helen Mirren in lead for the Madness of King George because nothing really matters there anyway, and then swap her win on The Queen with Streep for Prada. Winslet can keep her Oscar, though it would be nice if we could change the film to revolutionary Road.