In detective stories, the main storyline explores mysterious incidents in order to clarify their circumstances and solve the mystery. The Academy’s selection can sometimes be worse than any detective story, leaving film lovers around the world to wonder what prompted the Academy to choose a particular film. The “Oscar” selection: The Best Detectives includes the brightest films of this genre, which have been nominated and won the Academy Award over the past 20 years.
Bridge of Spies (2015)
Director – Steven Spielberg
Winner (1): Best Supporting Actor (Mark Rylance)
Nominations (5): Best Film; Best Screenplay; Best sound; Best Music for a Film; Best Art Direction
The story of the exchange of the Soviet spy Abel, arrested in the USA, for the American pilot Powers, shot down in the USSR, told in the surroundings of the GDR of the 60s. The film became a collaboration of the cult screenwriters of the Coen brothers, who brought into the film not only intrigue, but also subtle humor, as well as, if not the best, then certainly the most famous director of our time – Steven Spielberg. In addition, the legendary Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance played in the film.
Inherent Vice (2014)
Director – Paul Thomas Anderson
Nominations (2): Best Adapted Screenplay; Best costumes
Private investigator Larry “Doc” Sportello investigates the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend. But parallel cases are woven into the chain of events. The disappearance of a prominent realtor, whom his wife and her lover decided to imprison in a mental hospital, the alleged death of a saxophonist and FBI informant, and the murder of a neo-Nazi. Many people called Thomas Pynchon’s novel unfilmable due to the abundance of storylines and characters constantly creeping in like a jack-in-the-box. But Paul Thomas Anderson was able to make a decent and stylish noir.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Director – Tomas Alfredson
Nominations (3): Best Actor (Gary Oldman); Best Adapted Screenplay; Best Music for a Film
The detective thriller based on the novel of the same name by John Le Carré has already been filmed as a mini-series. The film takes place in the 1970s. The plot centers on the search for a mole hidden in MI6, carried out by experienced intelligence investigator George Smiley. In addition to top British actors like Gary Oldman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Tom Hardy and John Hurt, Russian stars Konstantin Khabensky and Svetlana Khodchenkova also played in the film.
Michael Clayton (2007)
Director – Tony Gilroy
Winner (1): Best Supporting Actress (Tilda Swinton)
Nominations (6): Best Film; Best Actor (George Clooney); Best Supporting Actor (Tom Wilkinson); Best Director; Best Screenplay; Best Music for a Film
New York lawyer Michael Clayton, working for a large law firm, is engaged in covering up illegal transactions and “cleaning up” the affairs of the firm’s wealthy clients. After Michael’s colleague suddenly breaks down, insisting that everything they do is a lie and covering up for scoundrels, the hero begins to wonder whether he is on the wrong side of the truth. Also the question is: what exactly is this truth? Tony Gilroy’s intelligent and slow-paced legal thriller is a blend of intricately crafted suspense, a fine cast and masterful visuals from Robert Elswit.
The Departed (2006)
Director – Martin Scorsese
Winner (4): Best Film; Best Director; Best Adapted Screenplay; Best Editing
Nominations (1): Best Supporting Actor (Mark Wahlberg)
Based on the popular Hong Kong film, Martin Scorsese’s remake is not at all a step back for the master, as some critics claim, but a strong and dynamic detective story, the center of the plot of which is the confrontation between two bright characters: the good and bad cops. Unlike the original version, the action takes place in Boston.
Mystic River (2003)
Director – Clint Eastwood
Winner (2): Best Actor (Sean Penn); Best Supporting Actor (Tim Robbins)
Nominations (4): Best Film; Best Supporting Actress (Marsha Gay Harden); Best Director; Best Adapted Screenplay
Three teenage friends were playing on the outskirts of Boston until one of them was taken away by unknown people. As it turned out later, the latter were sadistic rapists. After this, the paths of all three diverged. But a new tragic incident brings the grown-up former friends together again. The body of the daughter of one of them was found in the park. This is where the detective-psychological flywheel starts. One is investigating the case, another is a suspect, a third is heartbroken and obsessed with catching the killer and getting revenge. This is a must-have film for any Oscar Best Mystery selection.”
Gosford Park (2001)
Director – Robert Altman
Winner (1): Best Screenplay
Nominations (6): Best Film; Best Supporting Actress (Maggie Smith); Best Supporting Actress (Helen Mirren); Best Director; The best scenery; Best costumes
A company of wealthy British and American guests with their servants gathers at the Gosford Park estate. It would seem that, everything is ready for a pleasant stay for guests. But the owner of the estate is suddenly found dead. According to the classics of the genre, everyone is under suspicion. There is, however, one “but” – this is not an adaptation of Agatha Christie, but a sophisticated satirical slice and a slight mockery of the detective canon. But don’t worry, Robert Altman, who likes to collect countless recognizable faces in his films, and screenwriter Julian Fellowes (creator of Downton Abbey) know their stuff well.
Memento (2000)
Director – Christopher Nolan
Nominations (2): Best Screenplay; Best Editing
The hero of the film is an insurance company investigator, Leonard. He is looking for his wife’s killer. He has a rare disease – anterograde amnesia. So he cannot remember events that last more than 15 minutes. In order not to lose the chain of investigation, Leonard keeps notes with reminders, dossiers and takes Polaroids. He also gets tattoos on his body with notes about important details of his investigation. Christopher Nolan is well known as a director who loves to play with time in his films. “Remember” was no exception. The inverted composition of the picture consists of five-minute segments that follow each other in reverse order.
Traffic (2000)
Director – Steven Soderbergh
Winner (4): Best Supporting Actor (Benicio Del Toro); Best Director; Best Adapted Screenplay; Best Editing
Nominations (1): Best Film
The film is an adaptation of the British television series The Heroin Journey. It explores the process of illegal drug trafficking. Three independent novellas feature the head of the National Drug Enforcement Administration whose daughter is hooked on needles, a Mexican police officer fighting drug trafficking, and the wife of a major drug lord who is forced to take over the business in place of her husband, who is being sued. Without this film, the Oscars: Best Detectives selection would be incomplete.
A Simple Plan (1998)
Director – Sam Raimi
Nominations (2): Best Supporting Actor (Billy Bob Thornton); Best Adapted Screenplay
Hank and Jacob Mitchell and their friend Lou come across a crashed plane during a winter hunt. It contains the corpse of the pilot and a bag with 4 million dollars. They make the fateful decision to keep the money for themselves and not tell anyone. But such a lot of money has an original owner who wants to return it at all costs. In fact, this is a typical Cohen plot. Although the script here is based on the novel by Scott B. Smith, the direction of which was well done by the master of cult horror films Sam Raimi. The film combines both the detective component of the plot and the story of provincial klutzes.