30 Oscar losers that should have been Oscar winners

Leonardo DiCaprio losing to Tommy Lee Jones – Best Supporting Actor (1994)

The Winner

Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive. He plays Deputy U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard. Not that his name matters, because his character could just as easily be named Rando Cop Guy. He chases Harrison Ford. That’s pretty much it.

The Loser

Tiny baby Leo DiCaprio in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. He played Johnny Depp’s little brother Arnie, who suffers from mental impairment. His morbidly obese mom dies on his birthday. It’s heartbreaking.

Why It Was Wrong

Yes, this category included Ralph Fiennes in Schindler’s List. Yes, he was the favorite to win this award. Should he have? Maybe. But anybody can argue that Ralph Fiennes in Schindler’s List was better than Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive. I am going to argue that, not only that but tiny teenage Leo DiCaprio also deserved this award more than Jones. Let me break it down for you.

Leonardo DiCaprio just last year won his first Oscar. But this was his first nomination. In fact, it was his first major role. Many people thought that he, as an unknown actor, was mentally handicapped in real life. That’s nuts. And, of course, there’s a whole ethical and representational argument to be had about able-bodied actors playing characters with disabilities, whether mental or physical. I’m not going to get into it, because it deserves its own discussion. All I’m saying is that DiCaprio’s performance at nineteen years old was so transformative that he was assumed to have had that handicap.

That on its own might not be enough to constitute an Oscar win, of course. But it definitely constitutes a win over Tommy Lee Jones as Gerard. Because, in addition to embodying the handicap his character lived with, DiCaprio’s character Arnie actually had an emotional arc. The most emotional and memorable moment of the movie – the moment Arnie, slowly realizing his mother has died, is encouraging her to get up and join his party – is thanks to him.

Here’s what Tommy Lee Jones does in The Fugitive: chases Harrison Ford. Tries to figure out a mystery. Chases Harrison Ford. Discovers Harrison Ford is innocent. Catches up with Harrison Ford. Lets Harrison Ford go.

I mean, really. Ruling in favor of DiCaprio. Duh.