Top 10 Worst Oscar Winners

They award the best of cinema, but everyone's bound to trip up a couple times, right? Here are some of the Oscar's worst offenses, starting with #10:

10. Art Carney winning Best Actor for "Harry and Tonto" (1974)

You might ask yourself, "Who is Art Carney" and what is "Harry and Tonto?" Perhaps you remember him from the classic TV show 'The Honeymooners.' The year was 1974. The film: a light-hearted road trip movie about a man and his cat. Perhaps Art's victory wouldn't be so upsetting had he not defeated some of the best acting performances of all time (Al Pacino in "The Godfather, Pt II" and Jack Nicholson in "Chinatown"). 

9. "Rocky" winning Best Picture & Best Director (1976)

Yes, it's one of the greatest sports films of all time. It's inspiring, it's well-made, and it's definitely a crowd-favorite. When comparing it to the other nominees, though, (particularly "Network," the network news satire that is all-too relevant even today), it fails to pack as big of a punch. 

8. "Avatar" wins Best Cinematography (2009)

When you think of 'cinematography,' you think of cameras, lights, etc. For being almost entirely a computer-generated film (could it have qualified for Best Animated Feature?), Columbia College-graduate Mauro Fiore better count his blessings. Defeating more traditionally-shot films like "The White Ribbon" and "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," this head-scratcher raises more questions than anything else. 

7. Tommy Lee Jones wins Best Supporting Actor for "The Fugitive" (1993)

Mr. Jones was.... fine as a US Marshall in this action flick, but Oscar-worthy? Especially when you consider his competitors: Leonardo DiCaprio in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" and Ralph Fiennes in "Schindler's List." What on earth happened?

6. Sandra Bullock wins Best Actress for "The Blind Side"

2009 was a good year for movies, and the first year for the expanded 10 Best Picture nominees. One of them was the box-office hit "The Blind Side." It seems like the Academy simply had to reward this film for something. Unfortunately it ended up being for Bullock's bland performance as a privileged southern mother. Even more upsetting considering her competitors: Gabourey Sidibe in "Precious," Helen Mirren in "The Last Station," and Meryl Streep in "Julie & Julia."

5. "Babel" wins Best Original Score (2006)

It was a strong year for original scores ("The Queen," "Notes on a Scandal," etc). Why then the Academy chose to award Argentinian composer Gustavo Santaolalla for the second year in a row (fresh off a win for "Brokeback Mountain") is utterly bizarre. The score itself consists of little more than guitar pluckings, as well as some recycled tunes from "The Insider," a previous project of Santaolalla's. (The final musical cue, perhaps the most memorable of the whole film, wasn't even written by the composer. Right...)

4. "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" wins Best Original Song (2005)

Just think, there was a time when Three 6 Mafia had more Oscars than Martin Scorsese. Both "Crash" and "Transamerica" nominated songs that were both incredible tunes. Instead, the Academy thought a song containing such insightful lyrics as "... done seen people killed, done seen people deal, done seen people live in poverty with no meals" would be the best choice as 'Best Song' of 2005. 

3. Judy Holliday wins Best Actress for "Born Yesterday" (1950)

For those who have seen "Born Yesterday," you know it is a funny film, and Judy Holliday indeed makes a memorable character. Funny voice aside, though, her surprising defeat of Better Davis in "All About Eve" and Gloria Swanson in "Sunset Blvd" is all the more painful knowing those two have become some of cinema's most memorable female characters. Perhaps it was too close and Holliday slipped through. How it happened, we will never know...

2. Jennifer Hudson wins Best Supporting Actress for "Dreamgirls" (2006)

What? How can this be one of the worst?? Yes, despite the critical praise Hudson received for her breakout performance, her acting in between show-stopping tunes was sub-par to say the least. The ability to sing a song well does not entitle you to an Oscar, especially considering the amazing supporting actresses that year (the supporting women from "Babel," Abigail Breslin in "Little Miss Sunshine," and Cate Blanchett in "Notes on a Scandal." Robbery I tell you.). With a film career spanning the likes of "Sex and the City" and "Black Nativity," it's clear to see that Jennifer Hudson was just a flash in the pan. 

1. "Crash" wins Best Picture (2005)

Crash winning the top prize is generally considered one of the worst Oscar-winners for a reason. The film's absurd plot lines, laughably-ridiculous dialogue, and over-the-top commentary on race in America today blinded Oscar voters into choosing it as the best of the year. In a year full of political and heart-breaking movies, the choice to award "Crash" felt like a bad taste in everyone's mouth even as Jack Nicholson famously dropped the bomb of it's win. Any of the other nominees "Brokeback Mountain," "Capote," "Munich," and "Good Night and Good Luck" would have been standout choices. 

Well, what do you think? Anything we missed?