The Wrong Oscar?

Burns won his prize pretty fairly as there weren't really any supporting performances clearly (if at all) better than his. Matthau in the leading man category, however, didn't have anything on Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon or Nicholson in Cuckoo's Nest (or Nicholson in The Passenger, for that matter) - as well as perhaps Hackman in his terribly underrated performance in French Connection 2.



"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

I don't think anyone deserved an Oscar for this. Matthau has been funnier elsewhere, though yes, he's the one doing the most acting and the most work in this film. George Burns had an easier path to the Oscar, and I can buy him as a supporting player to Matthau's lead, but he definitely didn't deserve a win over Chris Sarandon or Brad Dourif or the not-nominated Robert Shaw or John Cazale. Even Jack Warden in Shampoo was better, I think. A good, understated comic performance, especially next to Matthau's bluster, but not great acting. So an old comic is playing an old comic. Not a big stretch. The poster above me must not have seen any of the other nominees.

And no, I don't think Richard Benjamin deserved anything for this either. I appreciated his realistic reactions to the crazy pair, but it's a thankless role.