The 97th Academy Awards are almost here, andAnorais the only comedy-adjacent film nominated for Best Picture.
In fact,Spinal Tapdidn’t even receiveanynominations (despite critical acclaim).
How is this possible?
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Because it’s the Oscars, and snubs are liable to happen practically every single year.
So what separates a solid comedy from a comedy that wins an Oscar?
Well, it probably needs to have some more weight to it than the common rom-com.
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That doesn’t mean that every comedy-drama nominated for an Oscar is good, though.
AMel Brookscomedy from 1967, which is strange to think about.
Most would say the writer-director peaked in the 70s and 80s, as he’s been extremely inconsistent since.
LikeIt Happened One Night,The Apartmentshows that the best romantic comedies often play more like romantic dramadies.
He then goes into flashbacks of his childhood, which are amusing (yet maybe haven’tallaged so well).
As a whole, the film is still extremely witty and stylistically bold.
Allen was nominated for Best Actor, but understandably lost toRichard DreyfussinThe Goodbye Girl.
The two build a connection that never becomes an affair and yet feels like one anyway.
Johansson could have been nominated too, but that’s oh well.
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This black comedy-drama is intense, unorthodox, and a non-stop roller-coaster about a troubled artist and the craft.
Overall, this political and socialsatire is perfect from start to finish.
This black comedy was so lauded that they even madeaFargotelevision pilot directed byKathy Batessoon after the film’s release.
NEXT:‘10 Best Acting Oscar Winners of the Last 25 Years’
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