Cryptically Acclaimed Oscar Winners Quiz

Answer: Finding Nemo

locating = Finding
omen (look back) = Nemo

'Finding Nemo' tells the story of an overprotective father clownfish (Marlin) searching for his lost son (Nemo). Along the journey he is assisted by a blue tang (Dory, who has a short memory span, and learns the use of moderation in protecting his child from the outside world.
Aside from winning many awards, including a Golden Globe and the Saturn Award, this amazing little film was partly responsible for an increase in tourism numbers to Australia during the summer and autumn months of 2003.

Answer: The French Connection

Men from Gaul = French
A friend in high places = Connection

'The French Connection', which became the first 'R' rated movie to the Academy Award for 'Best Picture', is based on real life events. It tells the story of two New York detectives, Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle and Buddy 'Cloudy' Russo, and their efforts to uncover a shipment of heroin being smuggled from France. The film went on to win five Academy Awards.

Answer: Monsters Inc

Ghouls = Monsters
Company = Inc (Incorporated)

This is an animated feature that follows two monsters, Sully and Mike, as they endeavour to return a human girl, Boo, to her own world, after she has strayed into Monstropolis.
Randy Newman is the man behind the Oscar winning song "If I Didn't Have You".

According to Arabian folk-lore, a 'ghoul' is a monster that generally lives in burial grounds (shiver).

Answer: The Piano

'Keys' to 'Piano' (musical instrument)

This is the story of a mute, but strong-willed, Scottish woman (Hunter) and her daughter (Paquin) sent to a New Zealand backwater to fulfill a contract of arranged marriage. The story is set in the mid 19th century.
Anna Paquin, an eleven year old Canadian girl, earned herself an Oscar for 'Best Actress in a Supporting Role'. At the time it made her the second youngest person to win an Academy Award. Tatum O'Neal for her performance in 'Paper Moon' in 1971 was the youngest.

Answer: L.A. Confidential

Largest Californian City is Los Angeles: Initially = L.A.
Secret = Confidential

The movie was based on a novel by James Ellroy, which shadows Hollywood stardom meeting the L.A. police force during the 1950s. The story revolves around three LAPD officers who find themselves in the midst of a web of police corruption, organised crime, murder, pornography, tabloid journalism and political corruption.

The novel itself was the third in a quartet known as the 'L.A. Quartet'. The other novels in the series are 'The Black Dahlia', 'The Big Nowhere' and 'White Jazz'.

Answer: Ed Wood

Ed = part of 'Eden'
Wood = part of 'Driftwood'

The movie is a bio-pic of cult movie maker Edward D Wood Jr. It primarily revolves around his relationship with Bela Lugosi, at the time he made his most well known films.
The movie won two Oscars. As mentioned in the hint, the first went to Martin Landau, the second went to Rick Baker for 'Best Make-up'. Rick is a six time Oscar winner (wow), his other successes coming from 'An American Werewolf in London', 'Henry and the Hendersons', 'The Nutty Professor', 'Men in Black' and 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas'.

Answer: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

'PET' loses the 'P' = ET

Elliott (Henry Thomas) locates and befriends an alien who is left stranded on Earth, when his spaceship leaves without him. It becomes a race against time as Elliott and his friends try to get ET home, before he is caught by Government agencies.

The Oscar for the Best Film that year (1981) went to 'Ghandi', whose Director, Richard Attenborough, praised 'E.T.' for being "inventive, powerful and wonderful".

Answer: Goodfellas

First part of Doogie Howser MD = Doogie
A portion of it = Doog (then, 'goes back' = Good)
His mates = fellas
The clue directs you to put 'Good' ahead of 'Fellas'.

'Goodfellas' tells the story of the rise of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) within the ranks of the Lucchese gangster family.
In 2006 'Film' magazine rated this movie their Number One choice in their list of 'The 100 Greatest Films of All Time'.

Answer: Patton

Design = Pattern = Patton

In 1971, this biographical film, that documents the story of General George S Patton during World War II, became the first 'PG' Rated movie to win the Academy Award for 'Best Picture'. In all it won seven Oscars including one for its Director, Franklin J Schaffer.

Answer: The Deer Hunter

Reed (returns) = Deer
Stalker = Hunter

'The Deer Hunter' centres on three mates who are steel workers, their experiences during and after the Vietnam War and the effects this has on a closely knit community.
It is an amazing movie that garnered five Academy Awards in 1978 including 'Best Picture' and 'Best Supporting Actor' (Christopher Walken).
John Cazale who played Stanley (aka Stosh) had the final stages of bone cancer during the shoot. The studio sought to remove him from the film, but this was aborted when Meryl Streep, John's fiancee at the time, threatened to walk out if they did. To get around this, the scenes that involved John were shot first. He passed away shortly after the film was 'wrapped'.

Hope you have enjoyed this quiz.