Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
What is it? Divorce drama with acting powerhouses Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman battling it out for custody of their son, as reformed career man Hoffman finally learns to care for his offspring.
Why did it win? We've consulted a Ouija board, read each other's palms and consulted the Tarot, and still can't find an explanation. The tempting answer is that Oscar voters were simply fed up of giving the prize to Coppola films; either that, or they were as horrified at Brando's weird turn in the last act as Captain Willard was.
Did it deserve to win? No - it was up against Apocalypse Now, which clearly should have romped home, even past the cycling-tastic Breaking Away. It was helped by the fact that, once again, many of the year's best films were in the categories that Oscar doesn't watch: sci-fi (Alien), comedy (Life of Brian), edgy (The Warriors) or off-beat (Being There). Never mind, Oscar: not like any good will ever come from those areas.
Worth a look? Naaah, go watch Alien again instead.
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