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
– – – – – – – – – –
The Oscar Quest: Rankings
– – – – – – – – – –
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 |
– – – – – – – – – –
