The Academy Awards, or Oscars as they are better known, are supposed to honor the very best that Hollywood has to offer, selecting the paramount of artistry and performance in the world of cinema.

Upon review of this year’s nominees, however, I noticed more than a few obvious omissions. Granted, “A Beautiful Mind” was a terrific film and very deserving of its Best Picture award (although “Lord of the Rings” was better), but movies that really touch the heart? Why did “Monster’s Ball” make it when “Orange County” touched audiences on so many more levels?

Jim Broadbent of “Iris” gets the Best Supporting Actor award while Owen Wilson of “The Royal Tenenbaums” fails to make the list? Most people have never even seen “In the Bedroom”; everyone saw “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” at least twice. The point is that most people hate the movies that get nominated for Oscars. That is why I have compiled a nominee form of the movies, actors, and actresses that have been overlooked by the academy in the past.

Best Picture:

High Fidelity (2000): Movie based on the book of the same name by Nick Hornby provides laughter along with valuable lessons for life. Dialogue in the record store will leave you in tears and a damp pair of pants.

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (1999): One of the best scripts of all time. Although there are about two hundred characters to keep track of, each has his or her own personality to add to the film.

The Cable Guy (1996): Many people hate this movie. Many people are stupid. This is Jim Carrey’s best performance as Chip Douglas, the deranged cable repairman.

Bull Durham (1986): Best baseball movie ever. Crash Davis’ (Kevin Costner) speech about what he believes in rivals the Gettysburg Address.

Young Frankenstein (1974): Black and white gem is the best spoof movie ever made. Igor (Marty Feldman) and Dr. Frankenstein’s fiancé (Madeline Kahn) play the best roles of the movie.

Best Actor:

Jason Schwartzman in Rushmore (1999): The way he calmly delivers some of the funniest dialogue in the past decade is brilliant… and he was only in high school.

Jason Lee in Mallrats (1995): Extremely funny, extremely witty, and the best facial expressions out of any character in Kevin Smith’s movies.

Bruce Campbell in Army of Darkness (1993): Hey, he had to be serious in a movie that included animatronic skeletons. You try to do better.

Chevy Chase in Fletch (1985): The king of one-liners. Try not laughing during the scene at the doctor’s office. “You using the whole fist, Doc?”

Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964): He plays three major characters and delivers the famous and hilarious line: “Gentlemen! There is no fighting in the war room!”

Best Actress:

Gwyneth Paltrow in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001): She wears one expression in a movie wrought with hilarity. Her best role yet.

Bette Midler in Drowning Mona (2000): Normally I only make fun of her, but she dies about two minutes into the movie. Sheer genius.

Reese Witherspoon in Election (1999): Dark comedy about high school student body elections shows why Witherspoon is one of today’s up and coming stars.

Cameron Diaz in There’s Something About Mary (1998): She likes beer, ESPN, and meat on a stick. The perfect girl for any movie.

Claire Danes in Romeo and Juliet (1996): In this updated version of Shakespeare’s classic that falls short, Danes’ performance is the lone bright spot.

Best Supporting Actor:

Jack Black in High Fidelity (2000): Complete jerk to the customers, completely hilarious to the viewers. The best role model for anyone wanting to get beat up by a total stranger.

Steve Buscemi in The Big Lebowski (1998): Role as the ever-berated “Donny” will make you laugh every time. John Goodman, who plays “Walter” in the same movie, just missed the cut.

Bill Murray in Caddyshack (1980): One of the funniest performances of all times as the green’s keeper at the golf course… which is nice.

Best Supporting Actress:

Cartman’s Mom in South Park: The Movie (1999): She only has a small part, but really ties the movie together. So wholesome and caring… how can you not love her?

Bo Derek in Tommy Boy (1995): Former model of the 70’s, she plays Tommy’s new mother-in-law.

Madeline Kahn in Young Frankenstein (1974): Funniest scene where she is brushing her hair and humming the “Battle Hymn of the Republic”.