Top 10 Academy Award Nominations if the Oscars were Based on Love

By Matthew Dougherty

What if the Oscars were solely based on love? For all of us hopeless romantics out there who drool over prince charmings like Ryan Gosling in the Notebook, this would be our kind of Oscars. We all love living vicariously through these glamourous celebrities and adore when they get swooped off their feet and fall madly in love both in real life and in romantic movies. After all, it gives us hope and encourages a little fantasy in our own lives! If only the Academy Awards were based on love, then our top 10 Oscar nominations would be:

1. Best Romantic Movie: Midnight in Paris

Woody Allen has an uncanny ability to reach staggeringly romantic depth within his films, which is surprising coming from someone with those glasses. His latest, Midnight in Paris reminds us of his mastery over film by depicting the struggle of staying true to your own desires while trying to combine your life with another’s, something every married couple can relate to. Owen Wilson’s journey into 1920s Paris is not only entertaining but it, proves that love can overcome any obstacle when shared with the right person.

Related: Top 10 Most Romantic Movies

2. Best Couple Overall: George Valentin and Peppy Miller in The Artist

Jean Dujardin steals the show as the strong silent type in this old-school, black and white film. Jean and Berenice Bejo allow their affection to scream off of the screen in The Artist. With a film that depicts how important it is to have a partner that stands with you, supports you and sometimes even carries you through life, we’re shown that love is more than words – it’s an action.

3. Best Chemistry: Margaret and Denis Thatcher in The Iron Lady

There was never any question that Meryl Streep would be amazing as Margaret Thatcher, but who knew this biopic would focus much more on her relationship with Thatcher’s devoted husband Denis (Jim Broadbent)? With years of history backing this love story, Streep and Broadbent play off of each other with ease and create one of the most believable couples in cinematic history, which is fitting as their romance is based off of one of the truest romances to date.

4. Most Desirable Male: Billy Beane in Moneyball