On this episode of ‘The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?’ Bruce and Tex look at the 1986 Oscars for the films of 1985. This year was a battle of two Oscar-bait juggernauts -- the sweeping romance of Out of Africa and the struggle to survive during slavery of The Color Purple. With 22 nominations between them (11 each) this was gearing up to be a battle for the ages. However, while one movie collected award after award, the other was completely shut out. Not only that, its esteemed director was possibly snubbed and wasn't even nominated despite garnering nominations in nearly every other category. But that's not the most interesting part. Another film released that year not only dominated the box office -- it spawned two sequels and has stood the test of time and is still beloved, quoted and talked about by most film fans today -- (unlike either Out of Africa or The Color Purple). So come 'back' to the 1986 Oscars with us to see which movies, performances & achievements won -- and which had the 'Power of Love'... just not from the Academy.

EPISODE 3 (1986 Oscars) - Movies Mentioned

Out of Africa

The Color Purple

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Prizzi’s Honor

Witness

Back to the Future

Rambo: First Blood Pt. 2

Ladyhawke

English Patient

Evita

Butterfly

Trip to Bountiful

Agnes of God

Sweet Dreams

Tootsie

Cocoon

Twice in a Lifetime

Ice Pirates

Murphy’s Romance

Runaway Train

Jagged Edge

Things Change

Trading Places

The Story of Alexander Graham Bell

Cocoon 2

The Way We Were

Absence of Malice

Three Days of the Condor

They Shoot Horses Don’t They?

Ran

C.H.U.D.

C.H.U.D. 2: Bud the C.H.U.D.

The Official Story

Parasite

Mask

The Phantom of the Opera

The Mask

Remo Williams: the Adventure Begins

A Chorus Line

White Nights

Silverado

Young Sherlock Holmes

Return to Oz

The Black Hole

The Sting

Quiz Show

Ordinary People

Save the Tiger

Last Tango in Paris

The Last Detail

Serpico

The Natural

Barefoot in the Park

Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid

The Candidate

Purple Rose of Cairo

Brazil

Rifkin’s Festival

Midnight in Paris

Radio Days

Crimes and Misdemeanors

Bananas

Take the Money and Run

Manhattan

Stardust Memories

12 Years a Slave

Do the Right Thing

Boyz in the Hood

Malcolm X

Glory

Training Day

A Beautiful Mind

Scent of a Woman

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1986 - Back to the Oscars