9 Golden Globe Winners Who Should Have Won Oscars

David Fincher's "Facebook movie" was all but written off by skeptics until blowing the minds of audiences across the country with a calculated, procedural style. Jesse Eisenberg's star turn, Fincher's perfect camera placement, and the mesmerizing score of Trent Reznor were a trifecta of cinema, helping the movie land top honors at the 2009 Golden Globes. But the movie was no match for 'The King's Speech,' which stole the Oscar a month later. [CREDIT: Columbia Pictures]

Even Sean Penn looked a little disappointed when accepting the Best Actor Oscar for his work in 2008's 'Milk'… or maybe the cutaway to Mickey Rourke's irked face made us think that. Rourke nabbed the Best Actor statue at the Globes, but didn't pull in enough votes as a broken down piece of meat to steal Penn's thunder. Sadly, the ceremony didn't end with Rourke putting Penn in a headlock. [CREDIT: Fox Searchlight]

Relative unknown Sally Hawkins picked up a "Best Actress in a Comedy" Globe for her cheery, introspective, not-quite-a-comedy performance in Mike Leigh's 'Happy-Go-Lucky.' Proof that serious drama is prioritized over anything remotely funny, Hawkins was completely omitted from the Best Actress category come Oscar time. Guess voters couldn't deny Meryl Streep her 16th nomination. [CREDIT: Miramax]

Is singing a surefire way to winning an Oscar? Felicity Huffman deglamorized herself for a role as a transsexual woman who ventures on a road trip with her son in 2005's 'Transamerica.' Few Hollywood actresses would dare to take the role. And in the end, the Academy honored Reese Witherspoon for her vocal stylings as June Carter in 'Walk the Line.' When it comes to awards, there is a line for "too risky." [CREDIT: IFC]

The always suave, always high-status Jack Nicholson finally allowed himself to be taken down a notch in 2002 when he played the central character of 'About Schmidt.' Acting (and owning) his age permitted the actor to reinvent himself — and awards voters took notice. The Golden Globes handed him the "Best Actor in a Drama" award, an honor he lost to relative newcomer Adrien Brody for 'The Pianist' in the Oscar cage match. Brody was spectacular in his own right, but Nicholson's performance revealed an actor that, unlike his contemporaries, was still delivering decades into his career. [CREDIT: New Line Cinema]

The Golden Globes are Jim Carrey's best friend. As an actor who began in broad comedy and evolved into a performer capable of tackling any material, the Globes have bestowed nominations to Carrey in both Drama and Comedy territories six times. He won twice: for 1998's 'The Truman Show' and 1999's 'Man on the Moon.' Amazingly, Carrey has never been nominated for an Oscar — and his 'Moon' performance, inhabiting the chaotic existence of Andy Kaufman, may be the most offensive oversight. He lost a nomination to Kevin Spacey ('American Beauty'), Matt Damon ('The Talented Mr. Ripley'), Richard Farnsworth ('The Straight Story'), Russell Crowe ('The Insider'), and Denzel Washington ('The Hurricane'). [CREDIT: Universal Pictures]

The period drama: an awards trump card. It's no surprise that two Elizabethan era productions helped A-list actresses earn Golden Globe awards in 1998 — Gwyneth Paltrow for 'Shakespeare in Love' (in Comedy) and Cate Blanchett for 'Elizabeth' (in Drama) — but only one could walk away with the final trophy. In the end, fluff triumphed over Blanchett's subtler delivery (yes, even when Elizabeth is at her angriest, Blanchett is laying it out elegantly), and the Oscar-friendly 'Shakespeare' walked away with the Academy Award. Fie, fie! [CREDIT: Gramercy Pictures]

'Beauty and the Beast' is the one and only traditionally animated film ever to be nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award — but 'Lion King' almost got there. Picking up the Golden Globe for "Best Comedy or Musical," Disney's 1994 Africa-set 'Hamlet' couldn't break past the live-action contenders when it came to the Oscars. Blame it on the Academy's misunderstanding of the medium (which is why they created the "Best Animated Film" category) — 'Lion King' continues to resonate with generations young and old, an exquisite work of tender drama that, at the very least, hooks the same emotions as Best Picture contenders 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' and 'Forrest Gump.' [CREDIT: Walt Disney Pictures]