Oscar hits and near-misses we love

May 01, 2018
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Ah the Academy Awards, it’s the biggest night in Hollywood, filled with glitz, glamour and gushing acceptance speeches. (Yes, it’s been nearly 20 years but we’re still looking at you, Gwyneth Paltrow…)

But whether they took home the statue or not, these top Hollywood movies are all Oscar winners in our eyes.

La La Land – Winner 2017

First it had won best picture, then it hadn’t. Then it all got really awkward on stage…No-one’s likely to forget the biggest blunder in Oscar’s history, but despite missing out on best picture, La La Land still took home a clutch of Academy Awards, including best actress for Emma Stone, as well as best director and best original music score. Drawn together by their love of performing, actress Mia and musician Sebastian negotiate the turbulent world of tinsel town, all set to a soundtrack to rival some of Hollywood’s glittering golden oldies.

La La Land – Winner 2017

Fences – Winner 2017

Based on August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Denzel Washington directs and stars in this intense and deeply-moving Hollywood movie adaptation. A frustrated father struggling to come to terms with his past must also cope with the ambitions of his son in 1950s Pittsburgh. After the movie was nominated for four Oscars, including best picture, Viola Davis went on to win best supporting actress, while Denzel Washington missed out in the best actor category.

Fences – Winner 2017

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – Winner 2017

From the imagination of J. K. Rowling comes the first prequel to the Harry Potter series, set seventy years before the young wizard’s time. In 1926, magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York to take part in a global study of fantastical creatures. Thanks to an escaped niffler, some extremist no-majs and a classic suitcase switch though, chaos ensues. The wonderful period outfits scooped the Oscar for best costume design, but La La Land beat this fantastical film to best production design.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – Winner 2017

Passengers – Nominee 2017

Nominated for best original score and best production design in 2017, this sci-fi movie is deeper than your average space flick. Drifting through space on a 120-year voyage to another planet, a hibernating passenger is inadvertently awoken 90 years too soon. Faced with ethical dilemmas, a malfunctioning spaceship and an android bartender, this isn’t quite the mission he’d imagined.

Passengers – Nominee 2017

Beauty and the Beast – Nominee 2018

Despite its two leads being snubbed at the Oscars, Disney’s magical live action remake was nominated twice in 2018 – for best costume design and best production design. Ultimately, it was pipped to the post in both categories, but we still think it’s a gorgeous movie.

And of course, who could resist singing along to classics like Be Our Guest and Beauty and the Beast?

Beauty and the Beast – Nominee 2018

Search the TV guide to find your favourite Hollywood movies and find out more about the Oscars 2018

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