The Oscar Quest
Here’s a bunch of information nobody asked for that only the person who wrote it finds really interesting. Welcome to the internet.
I did this Oscar Quest after I graduated college in 2010. Over the next 13 months or so, I watched (nearly) every movie ever nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. This website began as a way of documenting all of this.
I had an article where I tracked my progress, listing what films I’d yet to see. You can see that article here. (Spoiler alert: there are only three films left on it, which only exist in print form in various archives around the country.)
I then wrote up each of the categories over the course of 18 months and compiled everything into a series of articles. Let’s call them The Oscar Quest, Mach 1. They’re very much a reflection of where I was back in 2011/2012. You can go see them en masse here, but I’ll link to the pertinent ones down below.
In 2016/2017, I decided to redo all the Oscar Quest articles. This was done for two reasons: first, I knew those original articles were very dated and that a lot of my opinions had changed and grown, so I didn’t want to be held to what I said back then as my everlasting opinion (especially since I hadn’t updated any of the articles since I wrote them, and honestly don’t even remember anything I wrote in them), and more practically — five years had past. That seemed like a good reason to revisit everything and actually reevaluate my opinions.
These will be the primary articles going forward. I’ll leave the link to the original pages up there, because I did write them, and they do (to an extent) reflect where I was back in 2011/2012. But these are the ones I want to be the primary articles. I don’t so much care about the extra stuff I bothered with last time.
I’m going to try to keep this as updated as I can, and assuming I haven’t died tragically or abandon this site, I’ll keep updating my opinions every five years in a longer form than just lists.
The goal is to eventually have breakdowns of every category. And to go back and write up the My Oscar Nominations articles for real. I could probably do the latter again, but I just don’t have the energy for it now. So maybe one day you’ll see those up here.
The Oscar Quest: A Viewer’s Guide
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The Oscar Quest: Rankings
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Best Picture
The Original Quest (2011/2012) | The Quest Five Years Later (2016/2017) |
1927-1928 | 1927-1928 |
1928-1929 | 1928-1929 |
1929-1930 | 1929-1930 |
1930-1931 | 1930-1931 |
1931-1932 | 1931-1932 |
1932-1933 | 1932-1933 |
1934 | 1934 |
1935 | 1935 |
1936 | 1936 |
1937 | 1937 |
1938 | 1938 |
1939 | 1939 |
1940 | 1940 |
1941 | 1941 |
1942 | 1942 |
1943 | 1943 |
1944 | 1944 |
1945 | 1945 |
1946 | 1946 |
1947 | 1947 |
1948 | 1948 |
1949 | 1949 |
1950 | 1950 |
1951 | 1951 |
1952 | 1952 |
1953 | 1953 |
1954 | 1954 |
1955 | 1955 |
1956 | 1956 |
1957 | 1957 |
1958 | 1958 |
1959 | 1959 |
1960 | 1960 |
1961 | 1961 |
1962 | 1962 |
1963 | 1963 |
1964 | 1964 |
1965 | 1965 |
1966 | 1966 |
1967 | 1967 |
1968 | 1968 |
1969 | 1969 |
1970 | 1970 |
1971 | 1971 |
1972 | 1972 |
1973 | 1973 |
1974 | 1974 |
1975 | 1975 |
1976 | 1976 |
1977 | 1977 |
1978 | 1978 |
1979 | 1979 |
1980 | 1980 |
1981 | 1981 |
1982 | 1982 |
1983 | 1983 |
1984 | 1984 |
1985 | 1985 |
1986 | 1986 |
1987 | 1987 |
1988 | 1988 |
1989 | 1989 |
1990 | 1990 |
1991 | 1991 |
1992 | 1992 |
1993 | 1993 |
1994 | 1994 |
1995 | 1995 |
1996 | 1996 |
1997 | 1997 |
1998 | 1998 |
1999 | 1999 |
2000 | 2000 |
2001 | 2001 |
2002 | 2002 |
2003 | 2003 |
2004 | 2004 |
2005 | 2005 |
2006 | 2006 |
2007 | 2007 |
2008 | 2008 |
2009 | 2009 |
2010 | |
2011 | |
2012 | |
2013 | |
2014 |
Best Director
The Original Quest (2011/2012) | The Quest Reconsidered: Five Years Later (2016/2017) |
1927-1928 | 1927-1928 |
1928-1929 | 1928-1929 |
1929-1930 | 1929-1930 |
1930-1931 | 1930-1931 |
1931-1932 | 1931-1932 |
1932-1933 | 1932-1933 |
1934 | 1934 |
1935 | 1935 |
1936 | 1936 |
1937 | 1937 |
1938 | 1938 |
1939 | 1939 |
1940 | 1940 |
1941 | 1941 |
1942 | 1942 |
1943 | 1943 |
1944 | 1944 |
1945 | 1945 |
1946 | 1946 |
1947 | 1947 |
1948 | 1948 |
1949 | 1949 |
1950 | 1950 |
1951 | 1951 |
1952 | 1952 |
1953 | 1953 |
1954 | 1954 |
1955 | 1955 |
1956 | 1956 |
1957 | 1957 |
1958 | 1958 |
1959 | 1959 |
1960 | 1960 |
1961 | 1961 |
1962 | 1962 |
1963 | 1963 |
1964 | 1964 |
1965 | 1965 |
1966 | 1966 |
1967 | 1967 |
1968 | 1968 |
1969 | 1969 |
1970 | 1970 |
1971 | 1971 |
1972 | 1972 |
1973 | 1973 |
1974 | 1974 |
1975 | 1975 |
1976 | 1976 |
1977 | 1977 |
1978 | 1978 |
1979 | 1979 |
1980 | 1980 |
1981 | 1981 |
1982 | 1982 |
1983 | 1983 |
1984 | 1984 |
1985 | 1985 |
1986 | 1986 |
1987 | 1987 |
1988 | 1988 |
1989 | 1989 |
1990 | 1990 |
1991 | 1991 |
1992 | 1992 |
1993 | 1993 |
1994 | 1994 |
1995 | 1995 |
1996 | 1996 |
1997 | 1997 |
1998 | 1998 |
1999 | 1999 |
2000 | 2000 |
2001 | 2001 |
2002 | 2002 |
2003 | 2003 |
2004 | 2004 |
2005 | 2005 |
2006 | 2006 |
2007 | 2007 |
2008 | 2008 |
2009 | 2009 |
2010 | |
2011 | |
2012 | |
2013 | |
2014 |
Best Actor
The Original Quest (2011/2012) | The Quest Reconsidered: Five Years Later (2016/2017) |
1927-1928 | 1927-1928 |
1928-1929 | 1928-1929 |
1929-1930 | 1929-1930 |
1930-1931 | 1930-1931 |
1931-1932 | 1931-1932 |
1932-1933 | 1932-1933 |
1934 | 1934 |
1935 | 1935 |
1936 | 1936 |
1937 | 1937 |
1938 | 1938 |
1939 | 1939 |
1940 | 1940 |
1941 | 1941 |
1942 | 1942 |
1943 | 1943 |
1944 | 1944 |
1945 | 1945 |
1946 | 1946 |
1947 | 1947 |
1948 | 1948 |
1949 | 1949 |
1950 | 1950 |
1951 | 1951 |
1952 | 1952 |
1953 | 1953 |
1954 | 1954 |
1955 | 1955 |
1956 | 1956 |
1957 | 1957 |
1958 | 1958 |
1959 | 1959 |
1960 | 1960 |
1961 | 1961 |
1962 | 1962 |
1963 | 1963 |
1964 | 1964 |
1965 | 1965 |
1966 | 1966 |
1967 | 1967 |
1968 | 1968 |
1969 | 1969 |
1970 | 1970 |
1971 | 1971 |
1972 | 1972 |
1973 | 1973 |
1974 | 1974 |
1975 | 1975 |
1976 | 1976 |
1977 | 1977 |
1978 | 1978 |
1979 | 1979 |
1980 | 1980 |
1981 | 1981 |
1982 | 1982 |
1983 | 1983 |
1984 | 1984 |
1985 | 1985 |
1986 | 1986 |
1987 | 1987 |
1988 | 1988 |
1989 | 1989 |
1990 | 1990 |
1991 | 1991 |
1992 | 1992 |
1993 | 1993 |
1994 | 1994 |
1995 | 1995 |
1996 | 1996 |
1997 | 1997 |
1998 | 1998 |
1999 | 1999 |
2000 | 2000 |
2001 | 2001 |
2002 | 2002 |
2003 | 2003 |
2004 | 2004 |
2005 | 2005 |
2006 | 2006 |
2007 | 2007 |
2008 | 2008 |
2009 | 2009 |
2010 | |
2011 | |
2012 | |
2013 | |
2014 |
Best Actress
The Original Quest (2011/2012) | The Quest Reconsidered: Five Years Later (2016/2017) |
1927-1928 | 1927-1928 |
1928-1929 | 1928-1929 |
1929-1930 | 1929-1930 |
1930-1931 | 1930-1931 |
1931-1932 | 1931-1932 |
1932-1933 | 1932-1933 |
1934 | 1934 |
1935 | 1935 |
1936 | 1936 |
1937 | 1937 |
1938 | 1938 |
1939 | 1939 |
1940 | 1940 |
1941 | 1941 |
1942 | 1942 |
1943 | 1943 |
1944 | 1944 |
1945 | 1945 |
1946 | 1946 |
1947 | 1947 |
1948 | 1948 |
1949 | 1949 |
1950 | 1950 |
1951 | 1951 |
1952 | 1952 |
1953 | 1953 |
1954 | 1954 |
1955 | 1955 |
1956 | 1956 |
1957 | 1957 |
1958 | 1958 |
1959 | 1959 |
1960 | 1960 |
1961 | 1961 |
1962 | 1962 |
1963 | 1963 |
1964 | 1964 |
1965 | 1965 |
1966 | 1966 |
1967 | 1967 |
1968 | 1968 |
1969 | 1969 |
1970 | 1970 |
1971 | 1971 |
1972 | 1972 |
1973 | 1973 |
1974 | 1974 |
1975 | 1975 |
1976 | 1976 |
1977 | 1977 |
1978 | 1978 |
1979 | 1979 |
1980 | 1980 |
1981 | 1981 |
1982 | 1982 |
1983 | 1983 |
1984 | 1984 |
1985 | 1985 |
1986 | 1986 |
1987 | 1987 |
1988 | 1988 |
1989 | 1989 |
1990 | 1990 |
1991 | 1991 |
1992 | 1992 |
1993 | 1993 |
1994 | 1994 |
1995 | 1995 |
1996 | 1996 |
1997 | 1997 |
1998 | 1998 |
1999 | 1999 |
2000 | 2000 |
2001 | 2001 |
2002 | 2002 |
2003 | 2003 |
2004 | 2004 |
2005 | 2005 |
2006 | 2006 |
2007 | 2007 |
2008 | 2008 |
2009 | 2009 |
2010 | |
2011 | |
2012 | |
2013 | |
2014 |
Best Supporting Actor
The Original Quest (2011/2012) | The Quest Reconsidered: Five Years Later (2016/2017) |
1936 | 1936 |
1937 | 1937 |
1938 | 1938 |
1939 | 1939 |
1940 | 1940 |
1941 | 1941 |
1942 | 1942 |
1943 | 1943 |
1944 | 1944 |
1945 | 1945 |
1946 | 1946 |
1947 | 1947 |
1948 | 1948 |
1949 | 1949 |
1950 | 1950 |
1951 | 1951 |
1952 | 1952 |
1953 | 1953 |
1954 | 1954 |
1955 | 1955 |
1956 | 1956 |
1957 | 1957 |
1958 | 1958 |
1959 | 1959 |
1960 | 1960 |
1961 | 1961 |
1962 | 1962 |
1963 | 1963 |
1964 | 1964 |
1965 | 1965 |
1966 | 1966 |
1967 | 1967 |
1968 | 1968 |
1969 | 1969 |
1970 | 1970 |
1971 | 1971 |
1972 | 1972 |
1973 | 1973 |
1974 | 1974 |
1975 | 1975 |
1976 | 1976 |
1977 | 1977 |
1978 | 1978 |
1979 | 1979 |
1980 | 1980 |
1981 | 1981 |
1982 | 1982 |
1983 | 1983 |
1984 | 1984 |
1985 | 1985 |
1986 | 1986 |
1987 | 1987 |
1988 | 1988 |
1989 | 1989 |
1990 | 1990 |
1991 | 1991 |
1992 | 1992 |
1993 | 1993 |
1994 | 1994 |
1995 | 1995 |
1996 | 1996 |
1997 | 1997 |
1998 | 1998 |
1999 | 1999 |
2000 | 2000 |
2001 | 2001 |
2002 | 2002 |
2003 | 2003 |
2004 | 2004 |
2005 | 2005 |
2006 | 2006 |
2007 | 2007 |
2008 | 2008 |
2009 | 2009 |
2010 | |
2011 | |
2012 | |
2013 | |
2014 |
Best Supporting Actress
The Original Quest (2011/2012) | The Quest Reconsidered: Five Years Later (2016/2017) |
1936 | 1936 |
1937 | 1937 |
1938 | 1938 |
1939 | 1939 |
1940 | 1940 |
1941 | 1941 |
1942 | 1942 |
1943 | 1943 |
1944 | 1944 |
1945 | 1945 |
1946 | 1946 |
1947 | 1947 |
1948 | 1948 |
1949 | 1949 |
1950 | 1950 |
1951 | 1951 |
1952 | 1952 |
1953 | 1953 |
1954 | 1954 |
1955 | 1955 |
1956 | 1956 |
1957 | 1957 |
1958 | 1958 |
1959 | 1959 |
1960 | 1960 |
1961 | 1961 |
1962 | 1962 |
1963 | 1963 |
1964 | 1964 |
1965 | 1965 |
1966 | 1966 |
1967 | 1967 |
1968 | 1968 |
1969 | 1969 |
1970 | 1970 |
1971 | 1971 |
1972 | 1972 |
1973 | 1973 |
1974 | 1974 |
1975 | 1975 |
1976 | 1976 |
1977 | 1977 |
1978 | 1978 |
1979 | 1979 |
1980 | 1980 |
1981 | 1981 |
1982 | 1982 |
1983 | 1983 |
1984 | 1984 |
1985 | 1985 |
1986 | 1986 |
1987 | 1987 |
1988 | 1988 |
1989 | 1989 |
1990 | 1990 |
1991 | 1991 |
1992 | 1992 |
1993 | 1993 |
1994 | 1994 |
1995 | 1995 |
1996 | 1996 |
1997 | 1997 |
1998 | 1998 |
1999 | 1999 |
2000 | 2000 |
2001 | 2001 |
2002 | 2002 |
2003 | 2003 |
2004 | 2004 |
2005 | 2005 |
2006 | 2006 |
2007 | 2007 |
2008 | 2008 |
2009 | 2009 |
2010 | |
2011 | |
2012 | |
2013 | |
2014 |
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