I’m still a little disappointed that Glenn Close never won for her best role in “Fatal Attraction.” She was so brilliant in that film😩

Meryl started the list and ending the list is the most appropriate

Considering I'm Polish I can easily say Meryl Streep was INCREDIBLE in Sophie's Choice and this is my favourite performance in the 80s

I am SO EXCITED you have Spacek recognized...she is one of my all-time favorites. My mom took me to see Coal Miners Daughter in the theater when I was 9 and I thought that was Loretta Lynn... about a year later I found out that was an actress and the same one who played Carrie- and I was a teen before I could watch that as it looked so scary. I have followed her career SO much and I always thought she was right up there with the great actresses of the 20th century- every performance and movie I have seen her in is so perfectly crafted. From Badlands to Marie to Missing to In the Bedroom to Night Sky now- to me she is right there with Meryl, Jessica Lange, etc. She is just a talented chameleon.

Another excellent performance I think is Jodie Foster in “The accused”

I’m so happy you included Sissy Spacek! She’s my favorite actress. I wish that Faye could have won for Chinatown and Sissy could have won for Carrie, and Coal Miners Daughter!

I absolutely love Meryl Streep. And I have been very critical of recent additions to the 3-Oscar club, especially Frances McDormand, who's a terrific actor but one who always does similar characters. Streep is a great actor, a chameleon, it's always a spiritual experience watching her do her magic. And the reason I am so critical of other 3-time winners is that Streep deserves so much more. She could have easily won 5-6 Oscars over the course of her illustrious career. I would have given her wins for A Cry in the Dark, Silkwood (a brilliant performance that had the bad luck of coming a year after Sophie's Choice), Adaptation. She's my close second for The Bridges of Madison County. But she's a brilliant, brilliant actor and an absolute icon.

I am so happy you have Marlee Matlins performance on the list. Honestly she's a brilliant actress and extremely deserving as an actor and it didn't even matter that she was the youngest at 21. She's magnetic

Don't you think she deserved an Oscar for Devil Wears Prada? She was literally ICONIC

Searched whole comment section and still can't find someone talking about why Dustin Hoffman's rain man is not in this list..... Truly one of the best of 80s

Nice to see a shout out for Timothy Hutton. And Ordinary People, actually. I always felt as though it was underappreciated. Much like another of my favorite films, Quiz Show, also directed by Robert Redford. Now is it just me or do his films seem to always be acclaimed at the time of their release, only to be a bit faded from the cinematic minds of people as the years roll on? 🤷‍♀️

My personal favorite was Geraldine Page's Best Actress win for "The Trip To Bountiful".

No one can beat (with all due respect) Katharine Hepburn for On Golden Pond. But another Oscar, which she ever so truly deserved was for, Lion in the Winter, as Eleanor of Acquitane.

A week ago I was wondering why a channel like yours didn't exist, recaping the history of the Oscars in a digestable format that covers whichever contests were more interesting in a given year... And low and behold you ended up on my feed last night! You existed and I had no idea. I'm slowly making my way through your videos and am just loving them! I am looking forward to this video and to more in the future.

As much as I love Olympia Dukakis, I feel her greatest performance is as Anna Madrigal in the the 4 miniseries based in Armistead Maupin’s Tales if the Cities novels. She us Anna Madrigal.

Like you, I'm glad Timothy Hutton landed, inappropriately, in the wrong category, guaranteeing his deserved win. It's shocking that Donald Sutherland was not even nominated for Ordinary People, which I think is his finest performance.

Wonderful video! You really can't argue with those top 2 spots! I mean, Meryl Streep in 'Sophie's Choice' is one of the best acting performances in the history of humankind. While Robert is just electrifying in 'Raging Bull.'

The (non-honored) "A Cry in the Dark" is also way up there for Streep in the 1980's, but your "Choice" will be seconded by many; love your comment regarding the open-mouth moment. I have a tribute video for classic dramatic moments in film, and I felt that shot was the only option to fittingly represent Streep's brilliance; as you mention, no one forgets this scene and moment- bravo, Meryl!

Another 80's performance I found outstanding was Linda Hunt in YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY. She played the supporting role of a male Chinese-Australian dwarf, so well deserving of the 1983 Supporting Actress honor.

My top 10 1. DeNiro. 2. Streep in SC. (These two not only in the 80s but top 2 or 3 of all time). 3. Day Lewis (ditto). 4. Kingsley. 5. MacLaine. 6. Abraham. 7. Spacek. 8. Linda Hunt. 9. Haing Ngor. 10. Dukakis.

I forgot what magazine had a poll of the best female oscar performance of ALL TIME, and it ranked Meryl #2 and Vivian Leigh for Gone With The Wind as #1. I think Meryl deserved the top spot for that poll.

I think it has to be De Niro for the reason that Raging Bull was probably the best film of the decade and the way he bulked up for that role. Nobody had prepared for a role like that before. He brought a new level of dedication to the art. He became Jake LaMotta.

I’m quite partial to Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda myself. You should make a video for your top ten nominees who didn’t win!

Another awesome video to make life worth living. Thank you B. It's a great selection to this list.

I swear to God I am gonna unsubscribe if I didn't see Meryl Streep at no 1...LOL...She was not only the best in the 80's but she is the best to date ...No one can top Meryl Streep's performance in Sophie's Choice, not even Charlize Theron in Monster or Marion Cottilard in La Vie En Rouge decades later..Not even Meryl's her self... She is simply THE BEST !!!

Glenn Close is as masterful an actress as we will ever find!

Another great one. And you included F Murray Abraham, an actor many people will not know about these days. Amadeus in general was cinematic perfection. Thanks!

Totally agree about Meryl Streep. Her turn in Sophie's choice is the best female performance of all time for me.

Both Meryl Streep and Sally Field won their first Oscars for movies that came out in 1979 (Kramer vs. Kramer and Norma Rae, respectively). The ceremony was broadcast in 1980 but they are definitely films of the 1970's.

Great channel! Just watched a bunch of your vids- very well edited. Of all the robbed Oscars I am still not over to this day, Ellen Burstyn in Requiem for a Dream is number 1

If you are able to put this together Brian, it would be entertaining to see a video in which you cover Oscar winning roles that were turned down by other actors/actresses.

Great video Brian!

Your videos are great! Keep it up

Love Sissy but Mary Tyler Moore was robbed. Her performance in Ordinary People was the best that year and even the best of that decade.

LOVE your videos!

Dude your voice is really good!

This is a good list!

Great list! The only thing I would add is that if ever there should have been another acting winner tie then it should be Space for Coal Miner's Daughter and Mary Tyler Moore for Ordinary People. Thx!

Stunning choices. My favourites as well.

Robert DeNiro - Raging Bull Ben Kingsley - Gandhi Dustin Hoffman - Rain Man F Murray Abaraham - Amadeus Daniel Day Lewis - My Left Foot Meryl Streep - Sophie's Choice Jodie Foster - The Accused Jack Nicholson - Terms Of Endearment

Good job doing Sophies Choice for number 1. The greatest performance in the history of cinema.

10. Diane Wiest as Holly (Hannah and Her Sisters) 9. Sean Conerry as Jimmy Malone (The Untouchables) 8. Cher as Loretta Castorini (Moonstruck) 7. Michael Caine as Elliott Daniels (Hannah and Her Sisters) 6. Olympia Dukakis as Rose Castorini (Moonstruck) 5. Meryl Streep as Joanna Kramer (Kramer vs. Kramer) 4. Meryl Streep as Zofia "Sophie" Zawistowski (Sophie's Choice) 3. Dustin Hoffman as Ted Kramer (Kramer vs. Kramer) 2. Robert De Niro as Jake LaMotta (Raging Bull) 2 HMs (didn't see enough winners from this decade yet): Henry Fonda as Norman Thayer Jr. (On Golden Pond), Katharine Hepburn as Ethel Thayer (On Golden Pond) 1. Dustin Hoffman as Raymond Babbitt (Rain Man) Yet to see Norma Rae, Being There, Coal Miner's Daughter, Ordinary People, Melvyn and Howard, Arthur, Reds, Gandhi, An Officer and a Gentleman, Tootsie, Tender Mercies, Terms of Endearment, The Year of Living Dangerously, Amadeus, Places in the Heart, The Killing Fields, A Passage to India, Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Trip to Bountiful, Cocoon, Prizzi's Honor, The Color of Money, Children of a Lesser God, Wall Street, The Accused, A Fish Called Wanda and The Accidental Tourist.

Sissy is on my favourites. Even though she did so many project throughout the decades, she is still underrated...Some people don't even know who she is. Unpopular opinion : She is as good as Meryl Streep if not better.

Hi Brian! New subscriber here. I'm currently on a binge watching your insightful videos. lol. Keep it up! Love from the Philippines!

Perfect list.

And I was a kid when Amadeus was in theaters so it's just now I see his wonderful acceptance speech giving respect to Tom Hulce, another actor that even more noticeably faded away...

My list: 1. Meryl Streep in "Sophie's Choice" 1. Katharine Hepburn in "On Golden Pond" 3. Ben Kingsley in "Gandhi" 4. Marlee Matlin in "Children of a Lesser God" 5. Henry Fonda in "On Golden Pond" 6. Haing S. Ngor in "The Killing Fields" 7. Meryl Streep in "Kramer vs. Kramer" 8. Sean Connery in "The Untouchables" 9. Cher in "Moonstruck" 10. Geena Davis in "The Accidental Tourist" HM. Dustin Hoffman in "Kramer vs. Kramer" HM. Linda Hunt in "The Year of Living Dangerously" HM. Robert De Niro in "Raging Bull" HM. Anjelica Huston in "Prizzi's Honor" HM. Dustin Hoffman in "Rain Man"

I love these videos. Again, very good list. :) This time, before watching your video, I quickly googled the winners from that decade and came up with this list to compare with yours. Ha! I do count Kramer vs Kramer and Norma Rae for the 1970s, so... I also have to say that I have not seen most of these performances in YEARS, thus this list is taken from my (vague) memory. :) 1. Streep, 2. Dustin, Rainman, 3. Linda Hunt, 4 DeNiro, 5. F Murray, 6. Ghandi, 7. Dianne Wiest, 8. Daniel Day Lewis, 9. Geraldine's trip to Bountiful, 10. Kevin Kline's fish Wanda. R/ups Shirley, Angelica, William, Peggy and Haing. :)

Meryl Streep ( Kramer vs. Kramer) and Sally Field ( Norma Rae) won their Oscars in 1980, but the films they were in were in the year 1979. They are winners in the the 1970’s .

I LOVED Coal Miner's Daughter and that Oscar was well deserved. Ive seen that movie at least five times...smile

Amadeus is one of my top 50 films of all time - I think it should have been a tie between F. Murray and Tom - it's happened twice before if I remember correctly - so should have happened this time. In fact Tom had a HARDER role to play having to learn that piano gizmo! Haha AND upsidedown too!

Eric Roberts was ROBBED of not just a nomination but robbed of the Best Actor Oscar itself for 1983's "Star 80". EASILY one of the most powerful and most haunting performances to EVER be committed to film. SERIOUSLY

I would easily add Haing S. Ngor in the Killing Fields. A devasting performance.

Boo hiss. Her performance in dangerous liaisons easily tops fatal attraction

For me,I love Jessica Lange's riveting performance in Francis more than Meryl's performance in Sophie's Choice. Jessica is electric. As someone who's had to deal with the mental health industry, Jessica's desperation hits me in a way that is so poignant and real. Just breathtaking.

One of my favorite performances of all time was Dr. Haing S. Ngor for THE KILLING FIELDS. What a great performance, especially that final scene. He deserved his Oscar.

My Top Ten Acting Winners of the 1980's from 1980-1989 1. Robert De Niro (Raging Bull) 2. Meryl Streep (Sophie's Choice) 3. Ben Kingsley (Gandhi) 4. Henry Fonda (On Golden Pond) 5. Sissy Spacek (Coal Miner's Daughter) 6. Denzel Washington (Glory) 7. Shirley MacLaine (Terms Of Endearment) 8. F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus) 9. Daniel Day-Lewis (My Left Foot) 10. Geraldine Page (The Trip To Bountiful) My Top Five Honorable Mentions 1. Marlee Matlin (Children Of A Lesser God) 2. Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People) 3. Haing S. Ngor (The Killing Fields) 4. Linda Hunt (The Year Of Living Dangerously) 5. John Gielgud (Arthur)

I want to voice my appreciation for Kevin Kline's win for Otto in A Fish Called Wanda. He was that movie. Truly a villain you love to hate.

Good work here but my quibble is that you are including the awards ceremonies that took place in the 1980s, therefore including 1979 and excluding 1989. My favorite wins from the 1980s are: Shirley MacLaine, "Terms of Endearment" Jack Nicholson, "Terms of Endearment" Kevin Kline, "A Fish Called Wanda" Dianne Wiest, "Hannah and Her Sisters" Michael Caine, "Hannah and Her Sisters" Cher, "Moonstruck" Olympia Dukakis, "Moonstruck" John Gielgud, "Arthur" Geena Davis, "The Accidental Tourist" Paul Newman, "The Color of Money"

Isnt Kramer vs Kramer released in 1979? And the Oscars Ceremony was held in April 1980? Great vid btw ❤️

A quality list and you're correct in that the academy has a problem with nominating two performers in the best actor or actress category for the same film and has a pattern of compensating in odd ways. A great example was The Hours, with Streep, Kidman and Moore in equally leading roles, however Kidman got the best actress nod, Moore was nominated for best supporting, but was nominated as best actress the same year for Far From Home, and Streep wasn't nominated for the film, but was given best supporting for Adaptation, when she basically had a lead in the film. Only critique here is both Norma Rae and Kramer vs. Kramer would really belong in a Top wins of the 1970's, for they were both 1979 films.

I just watched this and LOVE that you also think Sissy should have won for “In The Bedroom” (sorry, Halle Berry). The performance is stunning from her very first scene, but it’s her very last scene that absolutely knocks you on your ass and shows you that she is forever a force to be reckoned with. Thank you for recognizing that! 😊

Brian I love your videos here! But Meryl's Joanna Kramer at #10?? To me that is my #3.. #2 Robert DeNiro Raging Bull #1 Meryl Streep Sophie's Choice.. Still You are The Best Brian! 😊😊

08:00 Sally's 1980 hair is unreal, it's as powerful as her performance in "Norma Rae". As I've noted on one of your other videos, Tim Hutton for me is one of the all-timer wins in Oscar history, though of course it was category fraud. But that is how it was, even Tatum O'Neal was clearly a lead actress for her worthy "Paper Moon" win.

Kramer vs. Kramer and Norma Rae both came out in 1979. Justin Henry was born on May 25, 1971 therefore he was 8 years old when he was nominated.

My favorite Oscar Win was F Murray Abraham for Amadeus In school and not only was his performance amazing but unforgettable.

Couldn’t agree more with your top two, obviously. They nailed it! Was surprised to see Michael Douglas only as an honorable mention, but to each his own lol Here’s mine: 1. Meryl Streep-Sophie’s Choice 2. Robert De Niro-Raging Bull 3. Daniel Day-Lewis-My Left Foot 4. Ben Kingsley-Gandhi 5. Dustin Hoffman-Rain Man 6. Michael Douglas-Wall Street 7. Katharine Hepburn-On Golden Pond 8. Henry Fonda-On Golden Pond 9. Denzel Washington-Glory 10. John Gielgud-Arthur HM: Sean Connery-The Untouchables, F. Murray Abraham-Amadeus, Michael Caine-Hannah and Her Sisters, Cher-Moonstruck, Shirley MacLaine-Terms of Endearment

I agree with all picks

I love this list. Personally, I've always loved Sally Fields' performance in "Places in the Heart." Long overshadowed by her akward acceptance speech. Lol. Also, sidenote, I would have loved to see Matin nominated again for CODA. She only had one really good scene there, though.

I don’t necessarily rank these particular performances by Steep and De Niro as my favorites of theirs but still hard to compare them with most of the others . It’s like that with Daniel Day Lewis and My Left Foot But all three have to make the list F. Murray Abraham ( Amadeus) Henry Fonda ( On Golden Pond ) Marlee Matlin ( Children of A Lesser God ) Sean Connery ( The Untouchable) Jodie Foster ( The Accused) Timothy Hutton Ordinary People) Haing S Noor ( The Killing Fields) Linda Hunt ( The Year of Living Dangerously Cher ( Moonstruck) Olympia Dukakis ( Moonstruck) Denzel Washington ( Glory ) Mary Steenburgen ( Melvin and Howard) Ben Kingsley ( Gandhi) Brenda Fricker ( My Left Foot)

Meryl's great, her Polish though - horrendous. Sounds like a completely different language. I wouldn't understand a word without subtitles.

I used to like to use this isn't Sophie's Choice when someone would take a long time to make a decision. But alot of people never heard of the movie that I have come by recently.

Linda Hunt for The Year of Living Dangerously should be included here..at least a runner up

Merrill is so pretty, though.

Timothy Hutton was amazing in Ordinary People! I thought he was going to be one of those mutiple Oscar nominated actors. What happened? Talk about a role of a lifetime for Hutton!

My list: 1. Robert De Niro (Raging Bull) 2. Daniel Day Lewis (My Left Foot) 3. Shirley MacClaine (Terms Of Endearment) 4. Meryl Streep (Sophie’s Choice, brilliant performance but the movie is too meh and the character could have been better) 5. Geraldine Page (A Trip To Bountiful, even though I would have given it to Whoopi) 6. Sissy Spacek (A Coal Minor’s Daughter 7. Diane Wiest (Hannah and Her Sisters) 8. Kevin Kline (A Fish Called Wanda) 9. Sally Field (Norma Rae) 10. Denzel Washington (Glory)

Norma Rae and Kramer vs Kramer are 1979 movies, though. You should do these based on the year the film was released not when the ceremony took place.

I love Amadeus and I think FM Abraham’s win so well deserved, but was it assured? Could they have given it to the equally good Hulce? Sam Waterston was pretty awesome too. All three of them playing real people. And the supporting actor nominees that year were very interesting and varied - Miyagi was nominated and a non-professional won for playing a real person. That year was interesting (also in the female categories - there was a record then).

I completely agree with your number one I think Meryl Streep and Sophie's choice is one of the best if not best acting performances I've ever seen in my 50 years of life. The fact that she's an American playing a Polish woman who speaks broken English Polish and German. If you were to watch that movie and not know who Meryl Streep was you would not know that actress was American. She's also never looked so beautiful and so disheveled at the same time. When she starts talking about her past on the porch and she's looking through the screen I'm speechless. And I think you are right She set the bar so high that people became accustomed to her greatness. I think she easily should have won for a Doubt which is one of her best performances over Sandra Bullock in The blind side which is ridiculous. Watch the scene in Doubt where she confronts Philip Seymour Hoffman and then watch any part of the Blind side and tell me if it's better. You'll come up with a resounding hardly.

AHA! I FINALLY FOUND ONE OF YOUR VIDEOS WHERE i completely disagree with one if your choices, The rare thing is I generally agree with your views and commentaries, and rationales.. And from such a subjective category as the Academy Awards that is no easy thing to do. But I was no fan of Sissy Spacek but thought Mary Tyler Moore's performance in Ordinary People was revelatory in comparison. True this video was about those that won in the 80's, I feel some recognition of MTM's performance was overlooked when listing Sissy Spacek's. Overall I find your videos very entertaining and thoughtful. You make great content with a subject so many tackle.

Well, it's your list, so your preferences speak for themselves. I love Cher in Moonstruck, Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple (I know, nominee, not winner that decade), Daniel Day-Lewis and Brenda Fricker in My Left Foot, and Jessica Lange in Tootsie.

Word, Brian Rowe, word. Agree with all your choices, but, while Her Merylity is always the Eleanor Roosevelt of acting -- thank you, Mr. Hoffman -- Sophie is her paramount achievement and one of the greatest performances in the history of the medium, period. Hoorah, huzzah, hopla.

I really wanted to know your opinion here for those who saw Frances, which one was the best perfomance? Lange or Streep?

I love Hepburn in The Lion in Winter.

Henry Fonda was also amazing in "The Grapes of Wrath" and "12 Angry Men"......I think those flims are couple of the best American films ever made....

I adore Sissy Spacek, though I am forever sad that Mary Tyler Moore did not win Best Actress for Ordinary People. It's one of my favorite films of all time and she is incredible in it

I totally agree with your opinion that Meryl Streep should have won the Best Actress Oscar for "The Bridges of Madison County". To this day, her performance breaks my heart. She made the audience feel her pain and sense of loss by giving up the man she knew briefly and loved deeply. It was a beautiful film.

Amadaus is one of my favorites movies.

Marlee Matin wasnt the youngest oscar winner. What about Patty Duke and Tatum O'neal?

As much as those performances from Meryl Streep for Sophie's Choice and Robert De Niro for Raging Bull are neck to neck, but I probably would've ranked De Niro's performance a little higher over Streep's performance.

Such solid choices on this list, but I can't believe you completely left off Cher for Moonstruck!

Including 1979 released films on a best of the 80's list while excluding 1989 released films just doesn't make sense to me. I know the awards are given the next year (1980) & the title says 'Oscar Wins' but including Kramer vs. Kramer & Norma Rae is gonna make people think they came out in 1980. It seems strange to have a 70's film like K vs K on here multiple times & 1989's performances left out. Makes me afraid to watch the 90's video and find Daniel Day Lewis' 1989 performance from My Left Foot lol.

Great list but I’d still add Linda Hunt somewhere.

I like Geraldine page in trip to bountiful ❤

What's wrong with Sally field in that clip? 😂

This must have been a titanic list to rank but I don't disagree with any of your choices or rankings. Side note: when it comes to category fraud, I think it comes down to whether or not you'd rather see an amazing performance go Oscar-less when there's a chance to award, even if its "political". For certain performances, I don't mind. In this case, I'm grateful he was submitted in supporting because he hasn't done anything that comes close to Ordinary People and his work gets a chance to be immortalized because of this decision.

I love Sissy Spacek too.

Haing Ngor deserves his own video. Won the Oscar with no prior acting experience. Gotta know how that happened.

Robert Duvall: Tender Mercies

Mary Tyler Moore for Ordinary People.