Oscars Opposition Research: The (Sometimes Silly) Case Against Every Best-Picture Nominee

Remember Zero Dark Thirty? Kathryn Bigelow’s follow-up to The Hurt Locker was nominated for a healthy five Oscars, including best picture, actress, and original screenplay. But Bigelow’s film walked away from the 2013 ceremony with just one win—for best sound editing, and even that was a rare tie.

Perhaps the movie was bested by Argo because voters simply preferred that film. It probably didn’t hurt, though, that even as it was drawing rave reviews and bushels of awards nominations,…