Alternate Oscars: 1989 (Re-Do)

I seem to remember some chirping from the peanut gallery back in the day for my failure to nominate Batman — first dark comic book movie, influential, etc. — thus, the nominations for best picture and director. But I still say it hasn't aged well, and Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson now look as campy to me as Adam West and Cesar Romero. Feel free to disagree in the comments section below.

And still no nomination for Driving Miss Daisy, the Academy's choice for the year's best picture. It's not the worst movie to win for best picture — but it's close. I'm going with the anti-Miss Daisy, Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing, but you have many other movies to choose from. I hope you find something to your liking.

Best Picture of 1989 (Poll Closed)

• Batman  6.82%  (3 votes)  
   
• ƒ Cinema Paradiso  11.36%  (5 votes)  
   
• Crimes and Misdemeanors  6.82%  (3 votes)  
   
• ★ Do the Right Thing  43.18%  (19 votes)  
   
• Field of Dreams  2.27%  (1 votes)  
   
• Glory  9.09%  (4 votes)  
   
• Henry V  4.55%  (2 votes)  
   
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade  6.82%  (3 votes)  
   
• My Left Foot  2.27%  (1 votes)  
   
• When Harry Met Sally ...  6.82%  (3 votes)  
   

 

Total Votes: 44

 

Best Actor of 1989 (Poll Closed)

• Kenneth Branagh (Henry V)  4.76%  (2 votes)  
   
• Billy Crystal (When Harry Met Sally ...)  7.14%  (3 votes)  
   
• ★ John Cusack (Say Anything)  11.9%  (5 votes)  
   
• ✔ Daniel Day-Lewis (My Left Foot)  66.67%  (28 votes)  
   
• Martin Landau (Crimes and Misdemeanors)  9.52%  (4 votes)  
   

 

Total Votes: 42

 

Best Actress of 1989 (Poll Closed)

• Isabelle Adjani (Camille Claudel)  8.51%  (4 votes)  
   
• Andie MacDowell (sex, lies and videotape)  4.26%  (2 votes)  
   
• Michelle Pfeiffer (The Fabulous Baker Boys)  31.91%  (15 votes)  
   
• ★ Meg Ryan (When Harry Met Sally ...)  31.91%  (15 votes)  
   
• ✔ Jessica Tandy (Driving Miss Daisy)  23.4%  (11 votes)  
   

 

Total Votes: 47

 

Best Director of 1989 (Poll Closed)

• Woody Allen (Crimes and Misdemeanors)  5.88%  (2 votes)  
   
• Kenneth Branagh (Henry V)  11.76%  (4 votes)  
   
• Tim Burton (Batman)  8.82%  (3 votes)  
   
• ★ Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing)  70.59%  (24 votes)  
   
• Giuseppe Tornatore (Cinema Paradiso)  2.94%  (1 votes)  
   

 

Total Votes: 34

 

Best Supporting Actor of 1989 (Poll Closed)

• Danny Aiello (Do the Right Thing)  16.67%  (6 votes)  
   
• Alan Alda (Crimes and Misdemeanors)  2.78%  (1 votes)  
   
• ★ Sean Connery (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)  27.78%  (10 votes)  
   
• James Earl Jones (Field of Dreams)  11.11%  (4 votes)  
   
• ✔ Denzel Washington (Glory)  41.66%  (15 votes)  
   

 

Total Votes: 36

 

Best Supporting Actress of 1989 (Poll Closed)

• Carrie Fisher (When Harry Met Sally ...)  11.63%  (5 votes)  
   
• ✔ Brenda Fricker (My Left Foot)  27.91%  (12 votes)  
   
• ★ Laura San Giacomo (sex, lies and videotape)  34.88%  (15 votes)  
   
• Jennifer Jason Leigh (Last Exit to Brooklyn)  6.98%  (3 votes)  
   
• Dianne Wiest (Parenthood)  18.6%  (8 votes)  
   

 

Total Votes: 43

 

My choices are noted with a ★. A tie is indicated with a ✪. Historical Oscar winners are noted with a ✔. Best foreign-language picture winners are noted with an ƒ. A historical winner who won in a different category is noted with a ✱.