All-time greatest Oscar heists

Slide show: From Judy Garland to "Brokeback Mountain," we take another look at the Academy Awards' biggest mistakes

Published January 29, 2011 12:30AM (EST)

We all know the Oscars are a big popularity contest. You could fill several columns with the names of great actors, actresses, writers and directors who should have won an Academy Award but didn't -- or who were never even nominated in the first place. Still, there have been years when the organization had a chance to reward an iconic film or performance and totally blew it.

Here are moments where the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had the chance to redeem itself for a long history of questionable choices, yet somehow failed to do the right thing and instead made choices that would prompt rolled eyes and audible groans for decades to come -- call it: Grand Theft Oscar. 

We've selected our top 10 outrages here. We trust you'll add your own to the Letters section.


By Matt Zoller Seitz

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