#31: Argo, 85th Academy Awards, 2013

Categories: Winner of 3 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay

Best Picture nominees that lost at the 85th Academy Awards:

• Amour
• Beasts of the Southern Wild
• Django Unchained
• Les Misérables
• Life of Pi
• Lincoln
• Silver Linings Playbook
• Zero Dark Thirty

Argo took the gripping tale of the 1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis and transformed it into a flashy popcorn flick, diluting its historical significance. The crisis became fodder for a formulaic blend of heist and escape, lacking depth and originality.

Looking back, the fervor surrounding Argo’s Oscar campaign and victories raises eyebrows. In a field boasting cinematic giants, its nomination seemed perplexing. Some speculate the Academy awarded Argo as a belated nod to director/star Ben Affleck, previously snubbed. It’s a curious case of Hollywood politics overshadowing artistic merit.