The Oscar Quest: Best Director – 1980
1980 will always go down as one of the worst Oscar years of all time. One of the worst years of all time.
I will sum it up by saying this. Have you heard of Ordinary People? If you have, would you consider that an amazing film? Or is it just a good film that’s pretty plain? Now know that the film it beat for Best Picture was Raging Bull. That’s it.
Best Actor went to Robert De Niro for Raging Bull. That is one of those decisions that’s impossible to fuck up. Best Actress went to Sissy Spacek for Coal Miner’s Daughter. Probably a good decision, I haven’t fully made up my mind on that one. (I’m not not voting for her, I just may think I prefer someone else. Still, good decision.) Best Supporting Actor went to Timothy Hutton for Ordinary People, which isn’t so much a bad decision as much as it is, he’s the lead of the movie. And the category ends up being so weak that just by being the lead and being pretty good he ends up dominating the category. Which is kind of annoying. And Best Supporting Actress went to Mary Steenburgen for Melvin and Howard. Weak category. Really weak category.
BEST DIRECTOR – 1980
And the nominees were…
David Lynch, The Elephant Man
Richard Rush, The Stunt Man
Roman Polanski, Tess
Robert Redford, Ordinary People
Martin Scorsese, Raging Bull (more…)
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