Tuesday, March 1, 2011
To narrow down the list of Oscar-winning guy movies, we chose films that won an Oscar for Best Picture. Some of these movies have won other Oscars and other film awards as well. Whether you've seen them a hundred times or haven’t even heard of them (which raises the question: Why not?), here are our picks for the top 10 Oscar-winning guy movies.
No.10 The Godfather
The Godfather is one of the most epic, celebrated and quoted movies of modern times. Based on the novel by Mario Puzo, it was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and starred Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. Don Vito Corleone epitomizes the famed Italian mobster from the 1970s. The Godfather is one of the most recognizable Oscar-winning guy movies of all time -- a true classic that never gets old.
The Godfather received Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Writing.
No.9 Braveheart
Mel Gibson’s performance as William Wallace in Braveheart was electrifying, but makes even the hardcore gore fan squeamish. Nothing says “guy movie” like jousting matches with thousands of people on horses using sharp objects, without the convenience of modern medical attention. The blood and guts make this Oscar-winning guy movie one of the best in its genre.
Braveheart was written by Randall Wallace and was a blockbuster success at the box office. It won five Academy Awards, and was nominated for an additional five.
No.8 The Departed
The Departed is a crime thriller, directed by Martin Scorsese. Its famous cast includes Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Mark Wahlberg. The movie takes place in Boston, where Irish mob bosses clash when personalities collide.
Most people don’t know the screenplay is a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong crime thriller Infernal Affairs. This Oscar-winning guy movie took home four Academy Awards including Best Motion Picture of the Year, and was Scorsese’s first Best Achievement in Directing.
No.7 Gladiator
Gladiator stars Russell Crowe, and is directed by Ridley Scott. Crowe portrays Maximus Decimus Meridius of the Roman Empire. He is captured and enslaved, but rises in rank at the gladiator arena to regain his Emperor. One sure test of a "guy movie" is the amount of violence and fighting scenes. Gladiator doesn't disappoint, and does violence and fighting in an epic fashion. Other notable movies directed by Ridley Scott include Black Hawk Down and American Gangster.
Gladiator won five Academy Awards including Best Picture.
No.6 Unforgiven
Unforgiven is a classic Western film, produced and directed by none other than Clint Eastwood. Other notable actors in the Unforgiven roster include Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman. This Western stands apart from others due to its darker, noir type of influence.
What makes this an Oscar-winning guy movie is the harshness of the Old West, where anything goes and you can take justice into your own hands. We no longer live in this era, however, you can still live it through this movie.
Besides Best Picture, Unforgiven won three other Academy Awards.
No.5 Platoon
Platoon is a film about the Vietnam War. It was written and directed by Oliver Stone and stars Charlie Sheen and Johnny Depp, among others. The story of this Oscar-winning guy movie is told from Stone's experiences on the frontline in the Vietnam War. It happens to be the first of Stone's trilogy, followed by Born on the Fourth of July and Heaven & Earth.
Platoon is often mentioned as the greatest war film ever made, along with Full Metal Jacket. As a guy, this is a must-see if you haven’t already had the chance, and its four Academy Awards including Best Picture are testament to that.
No.4 French Connection
French Connection is a Hollywood crime film directed by William Friedkin. The story is loosely based on the actual French Connection trafficking scheme. The story line follows two New York City police officers trying to intercept a drug shipment on its way from France.
This Oscar-winning guy movie happens to be the first R-rated movie to win an Academy Award for Best Picture, and French Connection won five other awards as well. This fact alone gives it a place on the list, but the action scenes aren’t bad either.
No.3 The Bridge On The River Kwai
The Bridge on the River Kwai is a British 1957 World War II flick. It's by David Lean and based on the novel by French writer Pierre Boulle. This Oscar-winning guy movie is fiction, but it uses the construction of the Burma Railway in 1942 as the historical setting.
American Navy Commander Shears, played by William Holden, is a true American hero. His character resembles Humphrey Bogart, James Dean and Steve McQueen all rolled up into one. The Bridge on the River Kwai garnered seven Academy Award wins in total.
No.2 Rocky
Rocky is a boxing film written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. The film is set on the streets of Philadelphia, and it tells the story of Rocky Balboa, a poor debt collector trying to live the American dream.
The appeal to guys is that Rocky is a true underdog story. Often times, people are dealt a bad hand in life, but then later overcome obstacles to achieve greatness. Rocky reminds us of another movie called Rudy, where football is substituted for boxing -- but it's all heart nonetheless.
Rocky won three Oscars including Best Picture.
No.1 Patton
Patton is a biographical war film about United States General George Patton, and takes place during World War II. It was directed by Franklin J. Schaffner from a script written by Francis Ford Coppola and Edmund North. Coppola and North based their screenplay on war biographies by Ladislas Farago and Omar Bradley.
The music alone in this Oscar-winning guy movie, done by Jerry Goldsmith, exemplifies what a guy flick is all about. Patton won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
- Reference/Source: askmen.com by Ryan Ortega
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