#20: Manchester by the Sea, 89th Academy Awards, 2017
Categories: Winner of 2 Academy Awards, including Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay
Best Actor nominees who lost at the 89th Academy Awards:
- Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
- Ryan Gosling, La La Land
- Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic
- Denzel Washington, Fences
Elevating Casey Affleck into the limelight, Manchester by the Sea was hailed as his breakthrough performance, garnering praise and numerous awards, eventually leading to his Oscar win for Best Actor. However, the euphoria surrounding Affleck’s triumph was short-lived when allegations of sexual harassment on the set of I’m Still Here resurfaced during the 2016-2017 Oscars season.
Affleck’s Oscar win sparked an outcry, with critics decrying it as yet another instance of the industry turning a blind eye to the misdeeds of male abusers. Despite its merits as a poignant drama, its association with Affleck overshadowed its accomplishments. The controversy reached such heights that Affleck opted out of presenting the Oscar for Best Actress at the 90th Academy Awards in response to the backlash.