#11: Driving Miss Daisy, 62nd Academy Awards, 1990

Categories: Winner of 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay

Best Picture nominees that lost at the 62nd Academy Awards:

• Born on the Fourth of July
• Dead Poets Society
• Field of Dreams
• My Left Foot

Despite its watchable nature, Driving Miss Daisy’s triumph at the Oscars felt painfully out of touch. At its best, the film offered a safe, feel-good narrative filled with comforting platitudes. Yet, at its worst, it seemed to cater exclusively to a narrow audience with a limited perspective on race relations in America.

In comparison to its competitors, Driving Miss Daisy paled in significance. Though snubbed for Best Picture nominations, films like Do the Right Thing and Glory delved deeper into America’s complex racial history and realities. Similarly, Field of Dreams offered a more enchanting and heartwarming viewing experience. Today, the film is often remembered more as a punchline than a cinematic triumph.