The Andrew Klavan Show Andrew Klavan Ranks Best Picture Oscar Winners: Part 2
Mar 12, 2026
A lively countdown of Best Picture winners from 1980–2010. Quick takes on crowd-pleasers, art-house flops, and towering performances. Sharp judgments on iconic scores, standout acting, and films that feel hollow despite huge acclaim. Playful ranking energy with strong opinions about which winners still earn their trophies.
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Schindler's List Praised But Criticized For Its Narrative
- Klavan struggles to judge Schindler's List: he awards A+ for craft but accuses it of presenting a 'softening lie' about heroism in the Holocaust.
- He argues the film centers on exceptional heroism rather than the pervasive complicity that defined the era.
Forrest Gump As An American Everyman
- Klavan adores Forrest Gump as an S film, seeing Forrest as a symbol of America 'stupid but lucky and somehow good.'
- He credits Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks for capturing that national character effectively.
Braveheart As One Of Gibson's Greats
- Klavan ranks Braveheart as an S film and calls it one of Mel Gibson's greats.
- He places it among a handful of directors' standout directorial achievements.