WI: Academy Award for Best Ensemble 1972-Present

1972-The Godfather Part
1973-American Graffiti
1974-The Godfather Part II
1975-One Flew Over the Cockoo's Nest
1976-All the President's Men
1977-Star Wars
1978-The Buddy Holly Story
1979-Kramer vs. Kramer
1980-Coal Miner's Daughter
1981-Chariots of Fire
1982-An Officer and a Gentlemen
1983-Terms of Endearment
1984-Amadeus
1985-The Color Purple
1986-Platoon
1987-The Untouchables
1988-A Fish Called Wanda
1989-Dead Poets Society
1990-Dances with Wolves
1991-The Prince of Tides
1992-A Few Good Men
1993-Schindler's List
1994-The Shawshank Redemption
1995-Braveheart
1996-The People vs. Larry Flynt
1997-As Good as it Gets
1998-Saving Private Ryan
1999-The Cider House Rules
2000-Gladiator
2001-A Beautiful Mind
2002-Gangs of New York
2003-The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2004-Million Dollar Baby
2005-Munich
2006-Little Miss Sunshine
2007-Juno
2008-Slumdog Millionaire
2009-The Hurt Locker
2010-True Grit
2011-Moneyball
 
What are the possible chances of an animated movie winning? I could see Beauty and the Beast winning in 1991 if they were open to allowing an animated film to win this aware.
 
What are the possible chances of an animated movie winning? I could see Beauty and the Beast winning in 1991 if they were open to allowing an animated film to win this aware.

I thought of having an animated film win at least once, but given the Academy's long snub of Animated works I figured the only time this would be possible would be after 2000. Unfortunately there is just to much heavy competition after that year for an animated film to win.

But I agree that Beauty and the Beast would be the one animated film that could win.
 
2001, I'd give it to Fellowship and 2010, to Kings Speech. Aside from that, great list!

I can't see Fellowship beating out A Beautiful Mind. I am a LoTR fan, but A Beautiful Mind was so well written, casted, and acted out. I think that A Beautiful Mind is just to strong to be overlooked.

I don't see King's Speech as being an ensemble piece, more of a duo actually. Who else really contributed?
 
I can't see Fellowship beating out A Beautiful Mind. I am a LoTR fan, but A Beautiful Mind was so well written, casted, and acted out. I think that A Beautiful Mind is just to strong to be overlooked.

I don't see King's Speech as being an ensemble piece, more of a duo actually. Who else really contributed?

True - but as far as casting all it had was Russel Crowe. Fellowship had a true ENSAMBLE cast.

As for King's Speech, you have Colin Firth, Geoferry Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, and a number of others.
 
True - but as far as casting all it had was Russel Crowe. Fellowship had a true ENSAMBLE cast.

As for King's Speech, you have Colin Firth, Geoferry Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, and a number of others.

A Beautiful Mind also had Paul Bettany, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, and Chris Plummer. Each of their characters enhanced the movie on their own, and contributed equally to its level of success along with Russell Crowe. I don't see A Beautiful Mind a solo star movie, it truly is an ensemble piece.

Helena Bonham Carter, while widely praised for the role, did nothing in her role which contributed to the story. You could do this movie with just Firth and Rush and nothing would be missed out on. I cannot say the same for A Beautiful Mind.
 

CalBear

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I'll only comment on obvious years.

1973 American Graffiti

Huh? Try The Sting or The Exorcist

1976 All the President's Men

Maybe. Network is also very strong.

1977 - Star Wars

No way. Except for Sir Alec Guinness and Harrison Ford the rest of the cast in the movie was weaker than hell.

Figure Annie Hall or Julia as the winner. Even Close Encounters had a stronger cast.

1978-The Buddy Holly Story

Not a chance. The Deer Hunter or Coming Home..

1980-Coal Miner's Daughter

Unlikely when Raging Bull was in the running

1981-Chariots of Fire

Much more likely its Raiders of the Lost Ark or On Golden Pond (sure to be a sentimental favorite)

1986 Platoon

Not a prayer. It didn't receive a single acting nomination. Probably Children of a Lesser God, although Hanna and her Sisters can't be entirely discounted.

1987-The Untouchables

Loved the movie. ZERO chance. Broadcast News.

1988-A Fish Called Wanda

Dangerous Liaisons
(3 Acting nominations)

1989-Dead Poets Society

Driving Miss Daisy (3 Acting nominations)


1992-A Few Good Men

Unforgiven One of the great cast of the 1990s
1993-Schindler's List

In the Name of the Father had a far better cast, but Schindler's had momentum so maybe.

1995-Braveheart

One great performance an ensemble does not make. Try to name three other actors from the movie without looking them up.

Leaving Las Vegas or Sense & Sensibility.

1996-The People vs. Larry Flynt

Almost ANY movie would be a better choice. Jerry McGuire, The English Patient (HATED this movie, but some great performances), Fargo

1997-As Good as it Gets

Maybe. Good Will Hunting was also quite strong.


1999-The Cider House Rules

American Beauty or The Sixth Sense.

2001-A Beautiful Mind

Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Ring

2002-Gangs of New York

Lord of the Rings, the Two Towers


2005-Munich

Brokeback Mountain (3 acting nominations)

2006-Little Miss Sunshine

Dreamgirls, The Departed

2009-The Hurt Locker

Name ONE actor beside Jeremy Renner from Hurt Locker. Try Up in the Air (three acting nominations, two in supporting actress). Personal favorite this year would be Inglorious Basterds which had a great cast and was better as a whole than separately.

2010-True Grit

Inception


2011-Moneyball

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
 
1972-The Godfather Part
1973-American Graffiti
1974-The Godfather Part II
1975-One Flew Over the Cockoo's Nest
1976-All the President's Men
1977-Star Wars
1978-The Buddy Holly Story
1979-Kramer vs. Kramer
1980-Coal Miner's Daughter
1981-Chariots of Fire
1982-An Officer and a Gentlemen
1983-Terms of Endearment
1984-Amadeus
1985-The Color Purple
1986-Platoon
1987-The Untouchables
1988-A Fish Called Wanda
1989-Dead Poets Society
1990-Dances with Wolves
1991-The Prince of Tides
1992-A Few Good Men
1993-Schindler's List
1994-The Shawshank Redemption
1995-Braveheart
1996-The People vs. Larry Flynt
1997-As Good as it Gets
1998-Saving Private Ryan
1999-The Cider House Rules
2000-Gladiator
2001-A Beautiful Mind
2002-Gangs of New York
2003-The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2004-Million Dollar Baby
2005-Munich
2006-Little Miss Sunshine
2007-Juno
2008-Slumdog Millionaire
2009-The Hurt Locker
2010-True Grit
2011-Moneyball
2012-Django Unchained
2013-12 Years a Slave
2014The Grand Budapest Hotel
 
Hard to believe it's been 3 years, let's add to the list.

1972-The Godfather Part
1973-American Graffiti
1974-The Godfather Part II
1975-One Flew Over the Cockoo's Nest
1976-Star Wars
1977-The Buddy Holly Story
1978-Kramer vs. Kramer
1979-Coal Miner's Daughter
1980-Chariots of Fire
1981-An Officer and a Gentlemen
1982-Terms of Endearment
1983-Amadeus
1984-The Color Purple
1985-Platoon
1986-The Untouchables
1987-A Fish Called Wanda
1988-Dead Poets Society
1989-Dances with Wolves
1990-The Prince of Tides
1991-A Few Good Men
1993-Schindler's List
1993-The Shawshank Redemption
1994-Braveheart
1995-The People vs. Larry Flynt
1996-As Good as it Gets
1997-Saving Private Ryan
1998-The Cider House Rules
1999-Gladiator
2000-A Beautiful Mind
2001-Gangs of New York
2002-The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2003-Million Dollar Baby
2004-Munich
2005-Little Miss Sunshine
2006-Juno
2007-Slumdog Millionaire
2008-The Hurt Locker
2009-True Grit
2010-Moneyball
2011-Django Unchained
2012-12 Years a Slave
2013-The Grand Budapest Hotel
2014-The Imitation Game
2015-Steve Jobs
2016-Hidden Figures

If anyone has a working knowledge of film prior to 1972 I would encourage you to add to the list. My knowledge of film is sketchy earlier than 1970.
 
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I thought so at first as well until I got the idea in my head of what would distinguish Best Ensemble from Best Picture and thus started this list.

Best Ensemble is focused entirely on the cast. From the lead actor(s)/actress(es) to the supporting players, right down to the guy/gal who might have 3 or 4 lines. Take a film like Gettysburg for example. That film sees great contributions from a wide variety of people with small parts. The leader of the remaining Maine regiment who refuse to fight comes to mind, or the 3 hold outs from that regiment as well. A great many small parts amplified the whole in that film. Gangs of New York is another film that springs to mind as well. A much more recent example would be the film Lincoln. I guess what I am getting at, but perhaps not have explained well, is that the focus is more on all of the actors in the film (quite possibly even the extras) and their performances.

Best Picture takes everything into consideration. Writing, directing, acting, music, sound, lighting, etc...
 
1960-Ocean's 11
1961-A Raisin in the Sun
1962-The Longest Day
1963-It's A a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
1964-The Night of the Iguana
1965-Shenendoah
1966-Grand Prix
1967-Valley of the Dolls
1968-Rosemary's Baby
1969-Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice
1970-Tora! Tora! Tora!
1971-The Last Picture Show
 
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Thanks for the addition Truman, let's make it official:

1960-Ocean's 11
1961-A Raisin in the Sun
1962-The Longest Day
1963-It's A a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
1964-The Night of the Iguana
1965-Shenendoah
1966-Grand Prix
1967-Valley of the Dolls
1968-Rosemary's Baby
1969-Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice
1970-Tora! Tora! Tora!
1971-The Last Picture Show
1972-The Godfather Part
1973-American Graffiti
1974-The Godfather Part II
1975-One Flew Over the Cockoo's Nest
1976-Star Wars
1977-The Buddy Holly Story
1978-Kramer vs. Kramer
1979-Coal Miner's Daughter
1980-Chariots of Fire
1981-An Officer and a Gentlemen
1982-Terms of Endearment
1983-Amadeus
1984-The Color Purple
1985-Platoon
1986-The Untouchables
1987-A Fish Called Wanda
1988-Dead Poets Society
1989-Dances with Wolves
1990-The Prince of Tides
1991-A Few Good Men
1993-Schindler's List
1993-The Shawshank Redemption
1994-Braveheart
1995-The People vs. Larry Flynt
1996-As Good as it Gets
1997-Saving Private Ryan
1998-The Cider House Rules
1999-Gladiator
2000-A Beautiful Mind
2001-Gangs of New York
2002-The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2003-Million Dollar Baby
2004-Munich
2005-Little Miss Sunshine
2006-Juno
2007-Slumdog Millionaire
2008-The Hurt Locker
2009-True Grit
2010-Moneyball
2011-Django Unchained
2012-12 Years a Slave
2013-The Grand Budapest Hotel
2014-The Imitation Game
2015-Steve Jobs
2016-Hidden Figures

Can't believe I forgot about Tora Tora Tora! Was one of my favorite war films when I was a kid.
 
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