MovieChat Forums > Prince of the City (1981) Discussion > HOW THE HELL DID TREAT NOT GET NOMINATED...

HOW THE HELL DID TREAT NOT GET NOMINATED???

posted 14 years ago by lacasa101
9 replies | jump to latest

Treat Williams gives one of the best performances I ever seen on film and I was shocked and devastated to learn that he wasn't nominated for an Oscar. It reminds me of Nick Nolte not being nominated for Q & A. Another overlooked gem by Sidney Lumet. Oscars are *beep* F the Oscars!

[–] Doom 14 years ago

BEST ACTOR NOMINEES - 1981:

Henry Fonda - On Golden Pond
Warren Beatty - Reds
Burt Lancaster - Atlantic City
Dudley Moore - Arthur
Paul Newman - Absence of Malice

(there ya go... and I don't agree with it either...)

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[–] xavier992004 13 years ago

I know this is an old thread, but honestly, I thought his performance was the WORST thing about this movie. Too over the top and ridiculous. It was almost laughable, and I'm pretty sure that's not what they were going for. Had another great actor taken this part, say Harvey Keitel, this movie would have so much more αss.

[–] rrb 11 years ago

@xavier992004 - I've loved this movie since 1981, when it debuted at that little theatre in the Plaza Hotel. But sadly, I agree with you. Williams is an appealing actor, but a heavy dramatic part like Cielo was way over his head. It called for a Keitel or Pacino (though Lumet said he wanted someone as young as Leuci was at the time of the story). A strong central performance by a powerful actor like those mentioned would've made this movie much bigger at the box office and an odds-on Oscar contender.

[–] howardgrantrulz 12 years ago

I always thought the same thing - Treat Williams in this movie is amazing...he should've at least been nominated over Moore or Fonda...

and I never understand the REDS lovers...POTC is 50x better and more interesting

[–] AllyWheels 11 years ago

A very underrated actor. His performance in this was tremendous.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] Doom 11 years ago

Was just taking a look at the Wikipedia page for this and, of course, he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor.

The Globes also nominated Sidney Lumet for Best Director and the film for Best Picture.

So often when I question why a film wasn't acknowledged by the Oscars, I check the Globes and, sure enough, the nominations were there.

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[–] TakeARisk 9 years ago

Williams's performance is the weakest link of this movie.

[–] tabbycat 7 years ago

Agreed, but why stop there?
No nomination for director Lumet?
No Best Picture nod?

Prince of the City was the best film of 1981.
Because of this film, that year goes down as one of Oscar's all-time mightiest disgraces.