Year: 2002
Nominees: Andrew Lesnie ("The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"), Bruno Delbonnel ("Amelie"), Slaowmir Idziak ("Black Hawk Down"), Roger Deakins ("The Man Who Wasn't There"), Donald McAlpine ("Moulin Rouge!")
Who won: Andrew Lesnie ("The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring")
Who should have: Bruno Delbonnel ("Amelie"), Slaowmir Idziak ("Black Hawk Down"), Roger Deakins ("The Man Who Wasn't There"), Donald McAlpine ("Moulin Rouge!")
Why:  Listen, there is nothing wrong with Andrew Lesnie's work on "The Fellowship of the Ring."  It was more than deserving of a nomination.  However, is it more remarkable than Deakins ASC winning "Man Who Wasn't There"?  Or Idziak's trend setting work in "Black Hawk"?  Or Delbonnel's fantastical "Amelie"?  And even McAlpine's "Moulin Rouge" work is still being ripped off today.  2002 was an unconventional year with a large number of films getting nominations in different categories. In fact, best picture winner "A Beautiful Mind" wasn't nominated in this category and it's only below the line nods were in makeup and score. "Fellowship," which many rightly argue is a better film than "Mind," was part of the Academy's spreading the wealth voting with found every film except "Amelie" taking home at least one Oscar. Unfortunately, any film historian will tell you they got this category wrong.

- Gregory Ellwood