Top 15 Worst Oscar Performances

Won: actress in a leading role - Cher

The horrid outfit Cher wore to the Oscars is more memorable than her performance. Or this movie, for that matter.

Won: actor in a leading role - Roberto Begnini
Should have won: Edward Norton from American History X

A bad comedian tries to make "an artistic" film about the horrors of the holocaust. And it ends up looking like a mockery of the tragic events.
The Academy was smokin' some serious crack in '97.

Won: actress in a leading role - Judy Holliday
Should have won: Bette Davis from All About Eve

A basic one-note-romantic-comedy-performance over one of Bette Davis' best roles?

Won: actress in a leading role - Gwyneth Paltrow
Should have won: Cate Blanchett from Elizabeth

Won: actor in a leading role - Russell Crowe
Should have won: Ed Harris from Pollock

Talk about subtle delivery.
"Are you not entertained? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?!"

Won: actress in a leading role - Julia Roberts
Should have won: Ellen Burstyn from Requiem for a Dream

America's sweetheart proves that she can actually smile and frown. And all in one movie!
So naturally she is awarded instead of Ellen Burstyn's tour-de-force perfonmance.

Won: actor in a leading role - Al Pacino
Should have won: Denzel Washington from Malcom X

Look mom, it's a condolence Oscar! Ironically Denzel got his years later from the one note screaming-from-the-top-of-his-lungs performance in Training Day.

Won: actor in a supporting role - Joel Grey
Should have won: Al Pacino or James Caan from The Godfather

In case you haven't seen Cabaret - Joel Grey has about two lines in the movie. He plays the "Master of Ceremonies". That's right, no-one over bothered to name his sorry ass character.

Won: actor in a leading role - Rex Harrison
Should have won: Peter Sellers from Dr. Strangelove

While Peter Sellers played three characters in one of the best films ever made, Rex Harrison starred in a musical. AND DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO SING.

Won: actress in a leading role - Helen Hunt

So, she basically portrays the same character as in Mad About You. Which also sucks.

Won: actress in a supporting role - Jennifer Hudson
Should have won: Rinko Kikuchi from Babel

Won: actor in a supporting role - Tommy Lee Jones
Should have won: Ralph Fiennes from Schindler's List

Won: actress in a supporting role - Renée Zellweger

Something about Zellweger just pisses me off.

Won: actor in a leading role - Charlton Heston

I love you Charlton, but you have the emotional range of a brick wall.

Won: actor in a leading role - Sean Penn
Should have won: Mickey Rourke from The Wrestler

Sean Penn is not a bad actor, but he has a tendency to overact. He's like a tasty, but an overly sweet dessert - best when served in small portions. But a leading role in a boring Hollywood drama?
I'll pass.