Sean B. Fitzgerald It doesn’t go something like this, it goes exactly like this.

More things I have to do…

Usually, when people have their lists of things they want to do in their life, they list things like skydiving, swimming with dolphins, or seeing the Sistine Chapel. Me, on the otherhand have a very simple, very boring list. On that list are things like, eat a certain pizza somewhere or read a WHOLE book. The list  is much bigger, but I won't bore you with that. But I have added one more thing to that list. I now want to watch every film that has won the Best Picture award at the Oscar's.

I was going through my favorite movies in my head and realized that rarely any of them have won Best Picture. Usually, movies that win that award, should be great movies that most people enjoy. And I consider myself MOST people. My favorite movies include Waking Ned Devine, Shawshank Redemption, Airplane! (you know it!), and many many others. And out of all of them, only Gladiator has won Best Picture. So I want to see what I'm missing in these so-called "Best" movies. Let's go through them, shall we?

*I'll start with 1939 because I never even heard of the movies that won prior to that year.

1939-Gone With The Wind: Saw it. Terrible. Just terrible. It's about 4 hours too long. Even the opening credits are longer than movies these days.

1940-Rebecca: Never saw it. Never even heard of it. Apparently it stars Lawrence Olivier. Interesting.

1941-How Green Was My Valley: Never saw it. Once again, never heard of it.

1942-Mrs. Miniver: Never saw it. Third times a charm. Looks like these movies didn't stand the test of time.

1943-Casablanca: Saw it. Ugh, awful. If boredom was in the form of a movie, Casablanca is that movie. A lot of people LOVE this movie. So I kind of feel stupid for not liking it. But even the poster bores me.

1944-Going My Way: Never saw it. I have heard of it though.

1945-The Lost Weekend: Never saw it. And I am assuming the majority of people haven't either. I read the plot though, looks good.

1946-The Best Years of Our Lives: Never saw it. And my sister will probably kill me for saying that. This is her all-time favorite movie. From what she says, it has everything. Comedy, Drama, Tragedy, Love, War, everything. And I actually have it on DVD, so go figure.

1947-Gentleman's Agreement: Never saw it. It stars Gregory Peck though. He must of been the 40's version of Tom Hanks. Constantly it good movies.

1948-Hamlet: Never saw it. But I have seen a million movies with a pretty similar plot. What I do like about Hamlet is that everyone dies. There are no loose ends, no cliff hangers, no wondering if. Everything solves itself in the end and you don't leave confused.

1949-All the King's Men: Never saw it. From what I have learned, this movie dominated the '49 Academy Awards winning Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Writing and Screenplay.

1950-All About Eve: Never saw it. Finally, we're out of the 40's and there are still movies I haven't seen. I did see Father of the Bride though, which wa s nominated in 1950 also. I like the one with Steve Martin better though.

1951-An American in Paris: Never saw it. A Streetcar Named Desire should have won that year. Even though Brando is clearly an overrated actor, he did a great job in that one.

1952-The Greatest Show on Earth: Never saw it. It was directed by Cecil B. DeMille. He was the Steven Speilberg of the 40s and 50s, directing big budget movies.

1953-From Here to Eternity: Never saw it. I'm really hoping most people haven't seen the movies I haven't because this is beginning to get a little disheartening. Do I not know good art? I don't think so. I just think the academy did a shitty job picking good movies.

1954-On the Waterfront: Never saw it. Now this one, I know I should have seen already. I'm constantly hearing good things about it. But it does star Brando, so maybe I had a good reason.

1955-Marty: Never saw it. Never heard of it. 1955 was not the year for movies. All five of the movies nominated, I never heard of.

1956-Around the World in 80 days: Never saw it. Here's a little fun fact of you, there is a cameo by Frank Sinatra playing the Saloon Pianist. Wow, I just bored myself typing that.

1957-The Bridge of the River Kwai: Saw it. Awesome. If you think that Sir Alec Guinness is a one trick pony with his potrayal of Obi Wan Kenobi, pop this little slice of fried gold in the DVD player. You will not regret it. Just awesome.

1958-Gigi: Never saw it. I have seen Gigli though and let me tell you something, not as awful as you might think. I'm just kidding, that was a trainwreck even before the opening credits.

1959-Ben Hur: Saw it. Another DeMille epic. It's okay. My dad loves this movie.

1960-The Apartment: Never saw it. Which is suprising because it's a comedy and I usually know my comedy. It's also suprising that a comedy won an Oscar for Best Picture. Most of the time, the Academy likes to give that award to a depressing, drama filled, unrealistic biographical, epic mess of a movie. I guess they were a little giddy in 1960.

1961-West Side Story: Saw it. Well, I guess you can't say that I saw it per se. I tried to. It was on, I was watching, then I got mad, then angry, then annoyed, then hungry, then angry again, then I turned off the television. Too goofy for me.

1962-Lawrence of Arabia: Never saw it. It stars Peter O'Toole. Who is very very old now. But I don't care how good he is in this movie, nothing will compare to his voice over work in Ratatouille.

1963-Tom Jones: Never saw it. I'm guessing this isn't a biopic about the singer Tom Jones. Although the movie poster would beg to differ.  Read the synopsis, it isn't.

1964-My Fair Lady: Never saw it. Stars Audrey Hepburn. Who was hot back in the day, so it's not like I'll be forcing myself through it when I do see it.

1965-The Sound of Music: Saw it. I guess everyone thinks it's good because of the songs. But I on the other hand resisted the urge to burn my DVD player everytime Julie Andrews opened her mouth.

1966-A Man for All Seasons: Never saw it. It actually stars Orson Welles, who I thought did nothing other than Citizen Kane. You learn something new everyday.

1967-In the Heat of the Night: Never saw it. This is the movie where Sidney Poitier says "They call me Mr. Tibbs!" And according to YouTube, Mr. Poitier predicted the election of Barack Obama in In The Heat of the Night. Watch the video...he doesn't.

1968-Oliver!: Never saw it! I read the plot! It doesn't sound interesting!

1969-Midnight Cowboy: Never saw it. This is the movie where Dustin Hoffman says "Hey! I'm walking here!" Which has thus spawned a few generations of people copying that very line except replacing the word "walking" with the activity they are doing. Next time someone does that, ask them what movie that is from. When they don't have the answer, call them an "asshole".

1970-Patton: Never saw it. Which is weird because I bought this movie for my dad a few Christmases ago. I didn't actually know if he liked the movie, or wanted it, I just knew he liked war movies. When I was a kid, I gave awful Christmas presents. I think Patton still has the plastic security tape on it.

1971-The French Connection: Saw it. Fantastic. If you like car chases, and gun fights, buy, rent, or steal this movie. It's from when Gene Hackman had lateral movement in his legs.

1972-The Godfather: Saw it. I am not going to get all cliche here, but this is an unbelievable movie. It's so good, that Francis Ford Coppola's daughter, Sophia Coppola, is considered a good director. That's how good it is. There was enough good in this movie that some of that good went to Lost in Translation when that movie clearly had no good in it.

1973-The Sting: Never saw it. Stars Robert Redford and Paul Newman, so it's got to be awesome. Newman could make a bad movie watchable. See: The Color of Money.

1974-The Godfather Part II: Saw it. Probably one of the few sequels that actually rivals the first one. Other's include: The Empire Strikes Back and Toy Story 2.

1975-One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest: Saw it. In my opinion, Jack Nicholson's best performance. I think that because he has turned into that character later in life.

1976-Rocky: Saw it. Obviously. If you're an American, or a man, or a person for that matter and you haven't seen this movie, go down to your local Blockbuster or library, break in, take it, and watch it. Then return it. Maybe.

1977-Annie Hall: Saw it. It's okay. It's just that it was different for the time. Woody Allen does his usual Woody Allen things and says his usual Woody Allen words. Not a DVD purchase in my book.

1978-The Deer Hunter: Never saw it. I read the plot, seems uber-intense. I like serious films. But not films that will strangle my brain and punch my soul.

1979-Kramer vs. Kramer: Never saw it. This plot seems utterly boring. Two parents, there is a custody battle, court gives kid to one parent, the end. That's not a movie. That's not anything. That's Mrs. Doubtfire without Robin Williams and all the hilarious hijinks that ensue.

1980-Ordinary People: Never saw it. God, unless you want to be depressed, don't read the plot. What is with the Academy and depressing films. Movies are meant to be an escape, not a replacement of different troubles from your own.

1981-Chariots of Fire: Never saw it. This is a movie I am almost required to see being that it is a sports film. Even if it's about running.

1982-Gandhi: Saw it. Got to love it. Gandhi. India. Oppression. Ben Kingsley. Good stuff.

1983-Terms of Endearment: Never saw it. It was directed and written by James L. Brooks who produced many a Simpson episode. So it's got to be good.

1984-Amadeus: Never saw it. And I have this movie! On DVD! And I enjoy Mozart's music! What's wrong with me?

1985-Out of Africa: Never saw it. Another Redford movie. The man has the Midas touch.

1986-Platoon: Never saw it. And I am ashamed of it. As a matter of fact, I am going out right now to buy it.

1987-The Last Emperor: Never saw it. Ah, the year of my birth. Surely there is a fantastic film to commemorate it. Nope. Even the other nominated films suck. Fatal Attraction, Broadcast News, Hope and Glory, Moonstruck, ugh.

1988-Rain Man: Saw it. Everyone has seen this film. Tom Cruise when he wasn't bat shit crazy, and Dustin Hoffman when he wasn't doing every movie that was offered to him. I'm pretty sure Last Chance Harvey won't be in my DVD player anytime soon.

1989-Driving Miss Daisy: Never saw it. Just an awful year for films.

1990-Dances with Wolves: Never saw it. I think the reason is, is because Kevin Costner directed it. And when you want to watch a Costner film, you have to block out a whole weekend because it's so long.

1991-Silence of the Lambs: Saw it. I'd give it a strong F+. I did enjoy Beauty of the Beast, which was nominated that year also.

1992-Unforgiven: Saw it. Any Clint Eastwood is worth at least one look. Which reminds me, I have to go see Gran Torino. I have heard nothing but good things. Well, I've heard nothing but good things about every movie out right now. Even Paul Blart: Mall Cop.

1993-Schindler's List: Saw it. I'm on a nice little run of "Saw It's" here. It's a depressing film, but that should be expected when you're talking about the Holocaust.

1994-Forrest Gump: Saw it. It's a good movie. But it's all because of Tom Hanks. I would definitely argue that Shawshank Redemption should have won. That movie changed me as a person.

1995-Braveheart: Saw it. Oh yeah. This is one of those movies I will watch everytime it is on television. Even if I am doing something important, I will stop everything, I watch until it is over.

1996-The English Patient: Never saw it. And I'm glad I haven't. Because from what Seinfeld has told me, I'm not missing anything. A couple people are in the desert. They do it in a bath tub. The End.

1997-Titanic: Saw it. Maybe if I was a girl, or a Titanic survivor, I would have enjoyed it more. But since I knew what was going to happen, wasn't interested.

1998-Shakespeare in Love: Saw it. Not a bad movie. Not a great movie. Ben Affleck's in it. Which is weird.

1999-American Beauty: Saw it. Probably the most overrated movie in film history. I hated it from beginning all the way to the end. And in between. I hate every actor in that movie even more just for being in it. Terrible.

2000-Gladiator: Saw it. Perfect movie. On par with Waking Ned Devine for me personally.

2001-A Beautiful Mind: Never saw it. And I clearly should have. Based on a true story. Russell Crowe. Jennifer Connelly (Slammin'!), and Schizophrenia. That's a win-win-win-win combination.

2002-Chicago: Never saw it. I'm not a big musical guy. I've never like Broadway plays and I am kind of proud of that.

2003-The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Saw it. I've got two problems with this. First, it's 3 hours too long. And seconds, they gave the award to the wrong Lord of the Rings movie. The second one deserves an award just for the battle at Helms Deep.

2004-Million Dollar Baby: Never saw it. There are three sports related films that have won Best Picture, and I haven't seen two of them. Not good.

2005-Crash: Never saw it. A Best Picture film with Brendan Fraser? I'm pretty sure that guy hit his acting apex in George of the Jungle.

2006-The Departed: Never saw it. From what I hear it's the modern day Hamlet. Everyone dies. So I guess I can expect no loose ends.

2007-No Country for Old Men: Never saw it. One of my friends has been telling me that I have to see this. Well John, just bring it over and I'll watch it.

So that's it. That was by far the longest post I have ever written. Looks like I have a lot of movie watching to do. If there are any ladies out there who would like to join me in watching movies, come on over. And bring the movies.