In The Bedroom

(Actual winner: A Beautiful Mind)

"A Beautiful Mind," directed by Ron Howard, is the prototypical Best Picture Oscar winner: a well-crafted historical melodrama about a misunderstood genius who must overcome a barrier — in this case, mental illness – in order to achieve his or her dreams.

The fact that Todd Field's family drama "In the Bedroom" was the most searing and resonant piece of the bunch (unless you count Robert Altman's equally mesmerizing "Gosford Park") is undeniable. Yet, it is unsurprising that the Academy chose Howard's film over blockbuster contenders such as "Moulin Rouge!" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring."

"In the Bedroom," which stars Sissy Spacek, Tom Wilkinson, and Marisa Tomei in Academy Award-nominated performances, is among Todd Field's first and only feature films since 2001 (the other being "Little Children" five years later). It was his directorial debut, and it was well-deservedly nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.

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Year of Release: 2001

Director: Todd Field

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86/100

IMDB Score: 7.4/10