MovieChat Forums > Julia (1978) Discussion > Jason Robards + Oscar

Jason Robards + Oscar


As with his win the previous year for All The President's Men, i fail to see why Jason Robards won an Oscar for this. Anybody agree/disagree??

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Yeah, I don't understand why he won either, there's such a thing as a subtle performance but this wasn't the case, he simply didn't do enough, same with Redgrave but I agree that between the two of them, she was the best. I really think Jane Fonda should have taken home the prize that year because she was just brilliant and she developed her character in an amazing and believable way, I can't believe Diane Keaton won for her annoying portrayal of Annie Hall!!!

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"I can't believe Diane Keaton won for her annoying portrayal of Annie Hall!!!"

One of my most frustrating Oscar moments - I nearly kicked in the TV screen. I mean, the woman seemed to be looking off-camera at cue-cards. I finally re-visited ANNIE HALL a couple of years ago, and while I didn't hate it, I still had no great love for it. My affection for JULIA remains virtually undimmed.

I thought in 1977 that Jane Fonda would have the kind of career (and career-longevity) that Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn had - she's pretty much had the longevity, but career-wise she made other choices along the way. Who'd have thought that the young actress playing one scene in her film debut as Anne-Marie would come out of left field to fulfill that prophecy?

"In my case, self-absorption is completely justified."

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This is what makes discussing the Oscars so fascinating. We all see the nominees and winners in different lights. I personally love Jason Robards in nearly everything he did, including All the President's Men. I found him subtle, low-key and yet utterly fascinating in that as the seemingly cool, suave Ben Bradlee and have always considered his Oscar win for that richly deserved. But having seen about 90% of all the supporting actor Oscar winning performances since Walter Brennan in 1937 and probably about 60% percent of all the nominees in that category, I have to say that Robards supporting actor win in 1978 for Julia is EASILY the most undeserved win in the history of the Academy Awards that I have ever seen. As others have pointed out, skating superstar Mikhail Baryshnikov was also inexplicably nominated the very same year in the same category as Robards for The Turning Point, an equally baffling nomination that rivals the enigma of Robard's accolades for Julia. No other Oscar winner even comes close to deserving an Oscar less than Robards did for this IMO. I saw Julia two or three times before I ever even realized he had been nominated for it, much less won. When I found out he did, I immediately revisited Julia and studied the entire film from beginning to end, looking for a relevatory moment that I had missed that would give me some reason as to why he was even nominated, and I must say I still have no clue. Every performance I've ever seen Robards give, no matter how small or poorly written, was far more memorable than his astonishingly uneventful and extremely brief role here. I'll say it again: Least memorable Oscar winning performance in the history of the awards, in any category. Any of the other nominees besides Baryshnikov would have been MUCH more deserving, with my personal vote going to Golden Globe winner Peter Firth in Equus. Now there's a brilliant and truly memorable character portrayal!

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One of those typical Oscar mysteries; I suppose he did well enough what little he was given to work with, but an award for that short´ish appearence in such an undemanding, underwritten role... complete nonsense.



"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

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I agree with those who said it was weak competition that gave him the win, plus he was in voters minds because of winning the year before, and had been knocking around for a while and worked with an awful lot of voters. Firth was too much of an unknown, Guinness was in a sci-fi film, Schell had won before and didn't do much in his brief scenes (same with Robards), and Baryshnikov's nomination was purely because of coat-tailing. Watching Julia last week, I was astonished how little Robards was in it and what little impression he made, especially when you compare his performance to Redgrave's. Truly the least memorable performance I've seen that's won in the supporting actor category.

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sirjeremy posted,

...Guinness was in a sci-fi film..


"Star Wars" fans would faint if they heard you calling "Star Wars" "a sci-fi film!" LOL

They prefer to call it a Space Opera! 

I once called "Star Wars" a sci-fi film & I had a group of "Star Wars" fanatics have a fit because I too called "Star Wars" a sci-fi film as opposed to calling it a SPACE OPERA! LOL

"It's a good thing!"--Martha Stewart

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I agree. Yes Jason was good as Dash(he's always good in whatever he's appearing in)but it's certainly not an Oscar worthy performance nor is his performance in All The President's Men.

I think he should have won for Long Day's Journey Into Night, he's electrifying in that. He should also have got something for Once Upon A Time In The West.

He probably got them as apology awards for not having received an award for a better performance.



It is my business to protect your majesty.... against all things.

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[deleted]

scott james g,

I agree with you!

His performance wasn't good in this movie.

He hardly did anything and certainly NOT worthy of an Oscar.

Although, I think he did a good job in the few scenes he was in, but I didn't them to be Oscar-worthy because he didn't say enough to warrant an Oscar.


"It's a good thing!"--Martha Stewart

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Jason Robards was an acting legend. He was very well respected by his peers.

I think his win for "All the Presidents Men" was great, but even though he makes it look effortless in Julia it was a weak year in that category and like I say Robards was very well liked.

I don't think it's an Oscar winning role, or movie for that matter. Proven to be fraudulent.

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At this point the veracity of the story seems like a secondary concern relative to the quality of the movie.

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