Oscar Winners

1980 Ordinary People       Drama R, 124 Minutes
Director: Robert Redford  
Starring: Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton, M. Emmet Walsh, Elizabeth McGovern, Dinah Manoff, James Sikking, Fredric Lehne, Basil Hoffman

 This is the story of the Jarrett family trying to come to grips with the accidental death of one of their sons. The younger son, Conrad (Timothy Hutton), makes an unsuccessful suicide attempt, the father, Calvin (Donald Sutherland), offers little emotional support, and the mother, Beth (Mary Tyler Moore), seems stuck in the moment and cannot rise beyond the crisis. The film won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Hutton), and Screenplay. Mary Tyler Moore was nominated for Best Actress and Judd Hirsch as Dr. Berger was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

1980 Ordinary People       Drama R, 124 Minutes
Director: Robert Redford  
Starring: Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton, M. Emmet Walsh, Elizabeth McGovern, Dinah Manoff, James Sikking, Fredric Lehne, Basil Hoffman

 This is the story of the Jarrett family trying to come to grips with the accidental death of one of their sons. The younger son, Conrad (Timothy Hutton), makes an unsuccessful suicide attempt, the father, Calvin (Donald Sutherland), offers little emotional support, and the mother, Beth (Mary Tyler Moore), seems stuck in the moment and cannot rise beyond the crisis. The film won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Hutton), and Screenplay. Mary Tyler Moore was nominated for Best Actress and Judd Hirsch as Dr. Berger was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

1980 Raging Bull       Drama R, 130 Minutes
Director: Martin Scorsese  
Starring: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent, Nicholas Colasanto, Martin Scorsese, Geraldine Smith, Theresa Saldana, Frank Adonis, Mario Gallo

 Robert De Niro won the Academy Award for his performance as Jake La Motta, boxing's middleweight champion. Jake's brother Joey (Joe Pesci) has helped him gain the right to fight for the title against Sugar Ray Robinson. Then, jealousy raises its ugly head over Jake's wife Vickie (Cathy Moriarty), and the self-destructive Jake takes out his rage in the ring. A downward spiral is inevitable, and Jake not only loses his title but also destroys his marriage to Vickie and his relationship with Joey as well. The boxing scenes are works of art in this well-presented film. Other Oscar nominations included Best Picture, Supporting Actor (Joe Pesci), Supporting Actress (Cathy Moriarty), and Director (Martin Scorsese).

1980 Coal Miner's Daughter       Musical PG, 125 Minutes
Director: Michael Apted  
Starring: Sissy Spacek, Tommy Lee Jones, Beverly D'Angelo, Levon Helm, Phyllis Boyens, William Sanderson, Robert Elkins, Bob Hannah, Frank Mitchell, Bob Hannah

 Loretta Lynn's rise from the hills of Kentucky to the stage of the Grand Old Opry is the subject of this film in which Sissy Spacek gives a superb performance in the title role and received an Oscar for Best Actress.

1980 Ordinary People       Drama R, 124 Minutes
Director: Robert Redford  
Starring: Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton, M. Emmet Walsh, Elizabeth McGovern, Dinah Manoff, James Sikking, Fredric Lehne, Basil Hoffman

 This is the story of the Jarrett family trying to come to grips with the accidental death of one of their sons. The younger son, Conrad (Timothy Hutton), makes an unsuccessful suicide attempt, the father, Calvin (Donald Sutherland), offers little emotional support, and the mother, Beth (Mary Tyler Moore), seems stuck in the moment and cannot rise beyond the crisis. The film won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Hutton), and Screenplay. Mary Tyler Moore was nominated for Best Actress and Judd Hirsch as Dr. Berger was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

1980 Melvin and Howard       Comedy R, 95 Minutes
Director: Jonathan Demme  
Starring: Paul Le Mat, Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, Jack Kehoe, Pamela Reed, Dabney Coleman, Michael J. Pollard, Gloria Grahame, Charles Napier, John Glover

 Did he or didn't he? Melvin (Paul Le Mat) says he met Howard Hughes (Jason Robards), but he is the only witness to his bizarre tale. Melvin's wife (Mary Steenburgen) wins $10,000 in a talent contest and leaves him to his life as beneficiary of a disputed $156 million in Howard Hughes' will. Mary Steenburgen won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress and Robards was nominated for Supporting Actor.

1981 Chariots of Fire       Drama PG, 120 Minutes
Director: Hugh Hudson  
Starring: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Ian Holm, Patrick Magee, Alice Krige, Nigel Davenport, Nigel Havers, John Gielgud, Lindsay Anderson, Peter Egan

 This is an inspiring story based on the 1924 Olympic games. Two British runners Harold Abrahams and Sam Mussabini (Ben Cross and Ian Holm) practice their sport while working out personal concerns with anti-Semitism and Christian missionary work, respectively. The film won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Writing, Costume Design, and Musical Score. Nominations were received for Best Supporting Actor (Holm) and Director.

1981 Reds       Drama / Romance PG, 200 Minutes
Director: Warren Beatty  
Starring: Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Gene Hackman, Edward Herrmann, Maureen Stapleton, Jerzy Kosinski, Paul Sorvino, M. Emmet Walsh, Ian Wolfe

 This movie tells the story of the Russian Revolution and mixes in the love story of John and Louise (Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton) who are swept up in the momentum of change. Academy Awards were received by Warren Beatty for his directing and Maureen Stapleton for Best Supporting Actress. Nominations included Best Picture, Actor (Beatty), Actress (Keaton), and Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson).

1981 On Golden Pond       Drama / Comedy PG, 109 Minutes
Director: Mark Rydell  
Starring: Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, Jane Fonda, Doug McKeon, Dabney Coleman, William Lanteau, Christopher Rydell, Troy Garity

 This story is about growing up and growing old as seen through a man and his daughter who has a rocky past. Henry Fonda plays Norman Theyer, an old man with a feisty attitude, and Jane Fonda stars as his insecure daughter Chelsea. There is plenty of humor with touching moments in this excellent film. Katharine Hepburn as Ethel, Norman's understanding wife, received an Oscar for Best Actress. Henry Fonda also won an Oscar for Best Actor. In addition to one other Oscar for Screenplay, there were seven nominations, including Best Picture, Supporting Actress (Jane Fonda), and Director.

1981 On Golden Pond       Drama / Comedy PG, 109 Minutes
Director: Mark Rydell  
Starring: Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, Jane Fonda, Doug McKeon, Dabney Coleman, William Lanteau, Christopher Rydell, Troy Garity

 This story is about growing up and growing old as seen through a man and his daughter who has a rocky past. Henry Fonda plays Norman Theyer, an old man with a feisty attitude, and Jane Fonda stars as his insecure daughter Chelsea. There is plenty of humor with touching moments in this excellent film. Katharine Hepburn as Ethel, Norman's understanding wife, received an Oscar for Best Actress. Henry Fonda also won an Oscar for Best Actor. In addition to one other Oscar for Screenplay, there were seven nominations, including Best Picture, Supporting Actress (Jane Fonda), and Director.

1981 Arthur       Comedy PG, 97 Minutes
Director: Steve Gordon  
Starring: Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli, Stephen Elliott, John Gielgud, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Jill Eikenberry, Ted Ross, Barney Martin, Paul Gleason, Anne DeSalvo

 A billionaire alcoholic (Dudley Moore) falls in love with a poor waitress (Liza Minnelli) with a heart of gold and stands to lose a fortune for not marrying the girl his family has planned for him. The best part of this film, however, is John Gielgud's Oscar-winning performance as Arthur's long-suffering valet. An Oscar was also awarded for Best Song: "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)." Dudley Moore was nominated for Best Actor.

1981 Reds       Drama / Romance PG, 200 Minutes
Director: Warren Beatty  
Starring: Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Gene Hackman, Edward Herrmann, Maureen Stapleton, Jerzy Kosinski, Paul Sorvino, M. Emmet Walsh, Ian Wolfe

 This movie tells the story of the Russian Revolution and mixes in the love story of John and Louise (Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton) who are swept up in the momentum of change. Academy Awards were received by Warren Beatty for his directing and Maureen Stapleton for Best Supporting Actress. Nominations included Best Picture, Actor (Beatty), Actress (Keaton), and Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson).

1982 Gandhi       Drama PG, 188 Minutes
Director: Richard Attenborough  
Starring: Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, Edward Fox, John Gielgud, Martin Sheen, Trevor Howard, John Mills, Ian Charleson, Saeed Jaffrey, Nigel Hawthorne

 This film was a highlight of the Academy Awards, winning Best Picture, Director, and Actor (Ben Kingsley). The power and passion of Gandhi (Kingsley), who preached nonviolent resistance to British rule, is the focus as the story follows Gandhi's life from a young South African lawyer to leader of an independent India. In all, the film collected nine Oscars and was nominated for three others.

1982 Gandhi       Drama PG, 188 Minutes
Director: Richard Attenborough  
Starring: Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, Edward Fox, John Gielgud, Martin Sheen, Trevor Howard, John Mills, Ian Charleson, Saeed Jaffrey, Nigel Hawthorne

 This film was a highlight of the Academy Awards, winning Best Picture, Director, and Actor (Ben Kingsley). The power and passion of Gandhi (Kingsley), who preached nonviolent resistance to British rule, is the focus as the story follows Gandhi's life from a young South African lawyer to leader of an independent India. In all, the film collected nine Oscars and was nominated for three others.

1982 Gandhi       Drama PG, 188 Minutes
Director: Richard Attenborough  
Starring: Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, Edward Fox, John Gielgud, Martin Sheen, Trevor Howard, John Mills, Ian Charleson, Saeed Jaffrey, Nigel Hawthorne

 This film was a highlight of the Academy Awards, winning Best Picture, Director, and Actor (Ben Kingsley). The power and passion of Gandhi (Kingsley), who preached nonviolent resistance to British rule, is the focus as the story follows Gandhi's life from a young South African lawyer to leader of an independent India. In all, the film collected nine Oscars and was nominated for three others.

1981 On Golden Pond       Drama / Comedy PG, 109 Minutes
Director: Mark Rydell  
Starring: Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn, Jane Fonda, Doug McKeon, Dabney Coleman, William Lanteau, Christopher Rydell, Troy Garity

 This story is about growing up and growing old as seen through a man and his daughter who has a rocky past. Henry Fonda plays Norman Theyer, an old man with a feisty attitude, and Jane Fonda stars as his insecure daughter Chelsea. There is plenty of humor with touching moments in this excellent film. Katharine Hepburn as Ethel, Norman's understanding wife, received an Oscar for Best Actress. Henry Fonda also won an Oscar for Best Actor. In addition to one other Oscar for Screenplay, there were seven nominations, including Best Picture, Supporting Actress (Jane Fonda), and Director.

1982 An Officer and a Gentleman           Drama / Romance R, 125 Minutes
Director: Taylor Hackford  
Starring: Richard Gere, Debra Winger, Louis Gossett Jr., David Keith, Robert Loggia, Lisa Blount, Lisa Eilbacher, Tony Plana, Harold Sylvester, David Caruso

 This story of the 13 weeks an officer candidate must endure while in training for his career is entertaining. Richard Gere plays the officer candidate who strives to attain his goal of flying jets. Louis Gossett Jr. takes on the role of the drill sergeant who turns boys into men, and Debra Winger plays Gere's love interest, the town girl with her own dreams of improving her station in life. An Oscar was presented to Gossett for his supporting role, and the song "Up Where We Belong" also won. Debra Winger received a nomination as Best Actress.

1982 Tootsie           Comedy / Drama / Romance PG, 116 Minutes
Director: Sydney Pollack  
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, Bill Murray, Dabney Coleman, Charles Durning, Geena Davis, Sydney Pollack, George Gaynes, Lynne Thigpen

 An out-of-work actor Michael Dorsey's (Dustin Hoffman) agent George Fields (Sydney Pollack) cannot find work for his client. Then, Michael disguises himself as a woman named "Miss Dorothy Michaels," and he is able to land an acting job on a soap opera. The show that Michael works on becomes a hit, and he reaches celebrity status in the guise of a woman. But, complications ensue when Michael's relationship with his girlfriend Sandy (Teri Garr) fails, and Michael falls for his co-star Julie (Jessica Lange) who believes that Michael/Dorothy is a woman and, in turn, tries to fix Michael up with her widowed father, Les (Charles Durning). An Oscar for Best Supporting Actress went to Jessica Lange. The film also received nine Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Actor (Hoffman), Supporting Actress (Garr), and Director.

1983 Terms of Endearment       Drama / Comedy / Romance PG, 132 Minutes
Director: James L. Brooks  
Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson, Jeff Daniels, John Lithgow, Danny DeVito, Betty King, Huckleberry Fox, David Wohl, Lisa Hart Carroll

 This excellent comedy/drama covers three decades in the relationship of Aurora Greenaway (Shirley MacLaine) and her daughter Emma (Debra Winger). Aurora has overly protected Emma during her childhood until Emma finally escapes to marry college professor Flap (Jeff Daniels). But that marriage is doomed when Flap begins an affair with a college student, and Emma turns to a married man (John Lithgow) for solace. Meanwhile, Aurora deals with being a grandmother while finding her own consolation in her next-door neighbor, astronaut Garrett Breedlove (Jack Nicholson). Academy Awards were received for Best Picture, Actress (MacLaine), Supporting Actor (Nicholson), Director, and Writing. There were also six nominations, including Best Actress (Winger) and Supporting Actor (Lithgow).

1983 Terms of Endearment       Drama / Comedy / Romance PG, 132 Minutes
Director: James L. Brooks  
Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson, Jeff Daniels, John Lithgow, Danny DeVito, Betty King, Huckleberry Fox, David Wohl, Lisa Hart Carroll

 This excellent comedy/drama covers three decades in the relationship of Aurora Greenaway (Shirley MacLaine) and her daughter Emma (Debra Winger). Aurora has overly protected Emma during her childhood until Emma finally escapes to marry college professor Flap (Jeff Daniels). But that marriage is doomed when Flap begins an affair with a college student, and Emma turns to a married man (John Lithgow) for solace. Meanwhile, Aurora deals with being a grandmother while finding her own consolation in her next-door neighbor, astronaut Garrett Breedlove (Jack Nicholson). Academy Awards were received for Best Picture, Actress (MacLaine), Supporting Actor (Nicholson), Director, and Writing. There were also six nominations, including Best Actress (Winger) and Supporting Actor (Lithgow).

1983 Tender Mercies       Drama PG, 89 Minutes
Director: Bruce Beresford  
Starring: Robert Duvall, Tess Harper, Betty Buckley, Wilford Brimley, Ellen Barkin, Lenny von Dohlen, Paul Gleason, Norman Bennett, Allan Hubbard, Michael Crabtree

 Robert Duvall won the Oscar for his portrayal of Mac Sledge, a has-been country singer, who hits bottom in a drunken stupor in a Texas motel. To earn payment for the room, he agrees to work for the motel manager Rosa Lee (Tess Harper). Mac and Rosa fall in love and marry, and Mac becomes a father to Rosa's young son, Sonny (Allan Hubbard). When the opportunity appears for Mac to make a comeback as a singer, he must decide between family and career. Academy Award nominations were received for Best Picture and Director.

1983 Terms of Endearment       Drama / Comedy / Romance PG, 132 Minutes
Director: James L. Brooks  
Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson, Jeff Daniels, John Lithgow, Danny DeVito, Betty King, Huckleberry Fox, David Wohl, Lisa Hart Carroll

 This excellent comedy/drama covers three decades in the relationship of Aurora Greenaway (Shirley MacLaine) and her daughter Emma (Debra Winger). Aurora has overly protected Emma during her childhood until Emma finally escapes to marry college professor Flap (Jeff Daniels). But that marriage is doomed when Flap begins an affair with a college student, and Emma turns to a married man (John Lithgow) for solace. Meanwhile, Aurora deals with being a grandmother while finding her own consolation in her next-door neighbor, astronaut Garrett Breedlove (Jack Nicholson). Academy Awards were received for Best Picture, Actress (MacLaine), Supporting Actor (Nicholson), Director, and Writing. There were also six nominations, including Best Actress (Winger) and Supporting Actor (Lithgow).

1983 Terms of Endearment       Drama / Comedy / Romance PG, 132 Minutes
Director: James L. Brooks  
Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson, Jeff Daniels, John Lithgow, Danny DeVito, Betty King, Huckleberry Fox, David Wohl, Lisa Hart Carroll

 This excellent comedy/drama covers three decades in the relationship of Aurora Greenaway (Shirley MacLaine) and her daughter Emma (Debra Winger). Aurora has overly protected Emma during her childhood until Emma finally escapes to marry college professor Flap (Jeff Daniels). But that marriage is doomed when Flap begins an affair with a college student, and Emma turns to a married man (John Lithgow) for solace. Meanwhile, Aurora deals with being a grandmother while finding her own consolation in her next-door neighbor, astronaut Garrett Breedlove (Jack Nicholson). Academy Awards were received for Best Picture, Actress (MacLaine), Supporting Actor (Nicholson), Director, and Writing. There were also six nominations, including Best Actress (Winger) and Supporting Actor (Lithgow).

1982 The Year of Living Dangerously       Adventure PG, 115 Minutes
Director: Peter Weir  
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Mel Gibson, Linda Hunt, Michael Murphy, Bembol Roco, Bill Kerr, Domingo Landicho, Hermano De Guzman, Noel Ferrier, Paul Sonkkila

 Personal lives and politics combine when journalist Guy Hamilton (Mel Gibson) goes to Indonesia in 1965 to cover the last days of President Sukarno's reign. Linda Hunt received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

1984 Amadeus       Drama / Musical PG, 158 Minutes
Director: Milos Forman  
Starring: Tom Hulce, F. Murray Abraham, Elizabeth Berridge, Simon Callow, Roy Dotrice, Christine Ebersole, Jeffrey Jones, Cynthia Nixon, Kenny(2) Baker, Vincent Schiavelli

 This Oscar-winning Best Picture tells the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce) from the voice of Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), a fellow composer who is awed by Mozart's effortless genius but who is also jealous of it. Meanwhile, the madcap Mozart remains forever the child who delights in his wonderful gift. Oscars also went to Abraham (Best Actor) and Director Milos Forman; Hulce was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar.