MovieChat Forums > Missing (1982) Discussion > Why Lemmon didnt win the Oscar

Why Lemmon didnt win the Oscar

posted 17 years ago by Mickey77
17 replies | jump to latest

People often wonder how Jack Lemmon missed out on his third Oscar for this movie. Some say it was because the movie was too controversial in a climate of ultra-conservatism in the early 80's.

However just look at Mr. Lemmon's competition for that year;

Ben Kingsley - GANDHI (winner)
Dustin Hoffman - TOOTSIE
Paul Newman - THE VERDICT
Peter O'Toole - MY FAVORITE YEAR

Incredible performances all.

Every one could have been an Oscar winner in any other year.

"Don't laugh! This ain't reality TV!

[–] Weir80 17 years ago

Ben Kingsley won it fairly. As you said, all were exceptional, but if I had to vote for it that year, I'd ultimately vote Kingsley.

[–] varrick5775 17 years ago

Poor Peter O'Toole has never won anything. I think he plays the same character over and over in his movies, hence the reason he never wins. Paul Newman was great in this movie but I felt he played the type of character he did in Cool Hand Luke only a lawyer this time. Hoffman, ive never liked and Kingsley was superb. But in my opinion Lemmon's role was wide ranging and I thought he should have won. He went from skeptic to true believer in his sons actions. God bless Jack Lemmon in heaven right now doing more acting.

[–] darryl-tahirali 9 years ago

I think he plays the same character over and over in his movies, hence the reason he never wins. - varrick5775

Yeah . . . T.E. Lawrence, Henry II, Jack Gurney, Eli Cross, Alan Swann--I can never tell them apart . . .

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"Death is an old joke but it's new to everyone." - Ivan Turgenev

[–] Maya55555 8 years ago

darryl tahirali

Agree. Remember "The Night of the Generals"? and "The Ruling Class"?

"A stitch in time, saves your embarrassment." (RIP Ms. Penny LoBello)

[–] hoov-4 8 years ago

And he still hasn't won!

[–] ragreen259 15 years ago

"People often wonder how Jack Lemmon missed out on his third Oscar for this movie"

They do?

[–] kag2-1 15 years ago

Lemmon was superb in this movie, but so were Ben Kingsley and Paul Newman.

The competition was tops that year, and of the three I'd rate Kingsley (as Mahatma Gandhi) as the best, in a truly stunning performance.

[–] Gus-69 15 years ago

People often wonder how Jack Lemmon missed out on his third Oscar for this movie.

Because Ben Kingsley was the clear and absolute favorite, and fairly so...?

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[–] rudeboy_murray 15 years ago

They're all very good performances but Lemmon would be my choice hands-down. He's incredible in this film - his best dramatic performance, along with Days of Wine and Roses.

O'Toole would be my second choice, and in hindsight it seems likely that this was his last real chance of winning (he was never going to win for Venus, whatever anyone said). Poor O'Toole... if My Favorite Year had come out in any of several other years during the 80s I think he'd have had a good shot at it.

[–] A_Fistful_of_Pennies 14 years ago

Ben Kingsley was the obvious choice IMO.

He was unbelievable as Gandhi. One of the best performances ever.

[–] thepartydjz 10 years ago

I also believe that Kingsley deserved the Oscar, and Gandhi was not only the best picture that year but also one of the best films ever.

However, I recall seeing Tootsie in the theater when it first came out, the first scene where Dustin Hoffman is dressed as and performing as the woman was a knock out, one of the only times I've seen an audience so amazed that they not only clapped after that scene but many stood up and clapped as well. It was a real achievement for Dusty, and an amazing performance.

It's kind of a shame all 5 of those came out in the same year, any single performance could be oscar worthy.

[–] Aunt-Peg 10 years ago

1. Lemmon
2. O'Toole
3. Hoffman
4. Kingsley
5. Newman

Interesting notes.

Paul Newman was offered Missing but never got back to Costa-Gavras so they then went to Jack Lemmon.

Turns out that Jack Lemmon considered Missing the best film he ever made.

Apparently, after seeing Missing Paul Newman wanted to work with Costa-Gavras.

[–] Maya55555 8 years ago

So Hoffman was in drag. When you have seen a few drag shows, your opinion of Mr. Hoffman's performance will be placed in a different perspective.

"A stitch in time, saves your embarrassment." (RIP Ms. Penny LoBello)

[–] notofdisdimention 8 years ago

Sir Ben Kingsley would have won with his performance over anyone. It was one of the best performances to get an oscar.

[–] jaynekranc 8 years ago

At the time I was rooting for any of them except Tootsie. I really didn't think Dustin Hoffman's performance was the best one. I love My Favorite Year as much as Missing, though, and watch them both at least once a year.

1. Lemmon
2. O'Toole
3. Kingsley
4. Newman
5. Hoffman
was how I ranked them.

[–] RonDirect73 8 years ago

Yeah, Kingsley deserved to win. But WOW!!! What a group that was.

[–] safenoe 8 years ago

Ben Kingsley (who was amazing in Sneakers in the 90s with Robert Redford) was a worthy winner, and I can't imagine he would have handed his Oscar to Mr Lemmon, in the same way Ving Rhames handed his Golden Globe to him in 1998.