Oscar Snubs: 8 Oscar Nods that Didn’t Happen

Snubbed! Tilda Swinton did not receive an Oscar nomination for her role in We Need to Talk About Kevin (REUTERS/Danny Moloshok)

SNUB #1: Charleze Theron, Best Actress - Young Adult

Theron has received high praise for her work in Diablo Cody's latest movie, Young Adult, however the buzz didn't transfer into a nomination for the previous Oscar winner. Her co-star Patton Oswalt joked on Twitter that the two would have an Oscar snubs party with Michael Fassbender, Albert Brooks, Ryan Gosling, Elizabeth Olsen, Kirstin Dunst, Lars von Trier, and Leonardo DiCaprio.

SNUB #2: Tilda Swinton, Best Actress - We Need to Talk About Kevin

This was one of the most obvious snubs of the year. Though she's topped Best Actress lists in Europe and across the globe, Tilda Swinton did not get recognition for her tour-de-force performance in We Need to Talk About Kevin. It's a difficult-to-watch and divisive film without the ad firepower behind it that some of the competition had, but when Swinton started to sweep other awards, many thought she'd have a chance for an Oscar nod. Not so.

SNUB #3: Kirstin Dunst, Best Actress - Melancholia

The best actress winner at Cannes was completely left out of the Oscars for her dark turn in Lars von Trier's end of the world flick Melancholia. In an admittedly strong category (with the likes of Glenn Close, Viola Davis, and Meryl Streep), there were several strong performances that went unrecognized this year - particularly by younger actresses like Dunst and newcomer Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene).

SNUB #4: Uggie the Dog, The Artist - Best Actor?

Ok, it's true that there is no real category for Uggie the Dog from The Artist, but his co-stars regard him as a solid actor and his director believes he is an essential character in the movie. Despite having won the hearts and minds of millions of movie-goers, Uggie, the loyal and silent Jack Russel terrier, was left cold by Oscar organizers on Tuesday. The truth is the Academy drafted rules 80 years ago that specifically exclude animals being nominated for Oscars, all because of the success of another superstar silent era dog, Rin Tin Tin.

SNUB #5: Owen Wilson, Midnight in Paris - Best Actor

Though Midnight in Paris got other nominations, Owen Wilson was left out of the Best Actor category - a notoriously tricky category for comedic actors. While other favorites like Leonardo DiCaprio and Ryan Gosling were also snubbed, many thought this would be the year for Wilson with his whimsical performance under the direction of Woody Allen.

SNUB #6: Shailene Woodley, The Descendants - Supporting Actress

There was just one shocker in the otherwise predictable list of Best Supporting Actresses: Shailene Woodley. The Descendants star went unrecognized for her breakthrough performance as George Clooney's rebellious teen daughter. Woodley did, however, receive a Golden Globe nomination and won a National Board of Review award for the role.

SNUB #7: Project Nim - Best Documentary

The Best Documentary category is notoriously irritating and unpredictable, but who would have thought that Project Nim would go unnoticed - particularly after director James Marsh took home the award just three years ago for the much-praised Man on Wire.

SNUB #8: Bridesmaids - Best Picture

It certainly wasn't the best movie of the year, but if you're going to have nine nominations, it seems like there was some room for the Bridesmaids to squeeze in. If reaction is any indicator, people loved this movie - fans and critics alike. Sure, it's a little crass and raunchy for the stodgy old Academy voters, but it did pick up some other nods like Best Supporting Actress (Melissa McCarthy) and Best Original Screenplay.

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