Frequently, the Academy Awards tend to choose an unexpected winner for the Best Picture category, sparking widespread debate and bitterness among viewers. One specific film’s win can turn it into a pariah for eternity due to overshadowing other films believed to be more deserving of the prize. Over time, numerous movies have acquired this infamous status, such as Crash, Shakespeare in Love, Around the World in 80 Days, and countless others. An award intended to elevate a film’s reputation can instead bring ruin upon it in various ways. However, one Best Picture upset stands out as the most shocking and bizarre that has ever taken place.
For years and years, this film has been known as the epitome of Best Picture Oscar winners, yet it’s often more celebrated for what it defeated rather than its artistic qualities. The title of being overly popular due to controversy belongs to “Driving Miss Daisy,” a film that stirred up significant turmoil during the 62nd Academy Awards when it won the Best Picture Oscar.
Why Did Driving Miss Daisy Garner Oscars Controversy?
1989 saw Driving Miss Daisy lead with an impressive nine Academy Award nominations, more than any other film that year, closely followed by Born on the Fourth of July with eight. However, Driving Miss Daisy faced stiff competition for the Best Picture Oscar, as it squared off against Born on the Fourth of July, Dead Poets Society, My Left Foot, and Field of Dreams. There was a possibility that Daisy might lose the Best Picture Oscar to one of these four contenders, given that it lacked a Best Director nomination.
Reflecting on the past, it had been a staggering 57 years since a Best Picture Oscar winner (“Grand Hotel”) didn’t receive a Best Director nomination. This was an encouraging sign for “July”, “Society”, and “Foot”, all three of which were graced with Best Director nominations. In retrospect, it appears that “Daisy” would ultimately lose to these four films. Phrases from “Society” and “Dreams” continue to be woven into everyday conversations. Approach a stranger and say “seize the day” or “if you build it, they will come”, and you’ll instantly remind them of specific movies. John Mulaney hilariously referenced “Field of Dreams” during his unforgettable performance at the 96th Academy Awards. “Born on the Fourth of July” still boasts a dedicated fanbase, while “My Left Foot” is often recognized as the launching point for Daniel Day-Lewis’ remarkable leading man career.
Speaking more casually, the movie “Driving Miss Daisy” didn’t exactly break new ground, thematically or visually. When it first came out, it faced criticism for its portrayal of race and Black characters. Some even argued that it should have been “Do the Right Thing” that was nominated for Best Picture instead, a film which has remained relevant ever since. Winning the award for Best Picture was perceived as inappropriate by many, making “Daisy” a running joke following the Oscars.
For numerous viewers, the film “Driving Miss Daisy” symbolized a superficial, sentimental style of American cinema that was routinely recognized by the Oscars. Over time, its reputation hasn’t significantly improved, and it often appears near the bottom of rankings of Best Picture winners. Critics of the movie would have existed regardless, but winning the most shocking upset in history for Best Picture amplified their concerns. The film’s shortcomings were particularly unforgivable given that it defeated masterpieces like “Society” and “Dreams.
Green Book Echoed the Driving Miss Daisy Win Decades Later
The lasting fame of “Driving Miss Daisy” has persisted, even following the controversy surrounding recent Best Picture Oscar upsets that some compare to the 62nd Academy Awards’ tragedy. Notably, “Green Book,” at the 91st Academy Awards, won the Best Picture Oscar with another heartwarming tale about the friendship between Black and white Americans in a historical setting. Similar to “Daisy,” “Green Book” faced criticism for its superficial treatment of race. Similarly, like “Daisy,” “Green Book” secured the Best Picture Oscar without receiving a nomination for Best Director.
In a striking resemblance to historical precedents, as in the case of the 2019 Best Picture Oscar, Green Book triumphed over a Spike Lee film, albeit Lee’s 2018 movie, BlacKkKlansman , was recognized for Best Picture that year. Interestingly, Green Book outshone not just BlacKkKlansman but also other highly-praised Best Picture nominees like Black Panther, Roma, and The Favourite. Additionally, notable 2018 films that weren’t even nominated for Best Picture such as Shoplifters, If Beale Street Could Talk, Leave No Trace, Burning, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, among others, were also overlooked. This time around, the Oscars opted for a safer, more conventional choice over groundbreaking, critically acclaimed films that could potentially endure the test of time.
Despite the recent popularity of “Green Book,” it’s undeniable that the biggest and most unexpected Best Picture win occurred with “Driving Miss Daisy” in 1990, compared to “Green Book” in 2019. This was less shocking because a film winning Best Picture without a Best Director nomination wasn’t as unusual in 2019 (as “Argo” achieved this feat six years prior to “Green Book”). However, the key reason lies in the fact that, looking back, “Driving Miss Daisy” appears to be the blueprint for the Oscars strategy that was emulated by “Green Book.” It encapsulates problematic trends seen in many Oscar-winning films.
Moreover, the film “Green Book” had been garnering significant recognition for several months prior, such as the Grolsch People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, which set the stage for its eventual Oscars win. On the other hand, “Driving Miss Daisy” earned numerous Oscar precursor awards, but its victory was somewhat unexpected, particularly considering it had been a long time since a Best Picture Oscar recipient hadn’t also received a Best Director nomination. Unless there’s an unprecedented win by Emilia Perez, it seems unlikely that any winner of the 97th Academy Awards for Best Picture will come close to challenging “Driving Miss Daisy” for the title of the most surprising Best Picture Oscar winner ever.
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2025-03-01 21:10