5) Road To Perdition
Won for: Best Cinematography.
Also nominated for: Best Supporting Actor, Best Art Direction, Best Original Score, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing.
Here’s another movie you might not have known was based on a comic book. 1998’s Road to Perdition from Paradox Press (an imprint of DC Comics) was initially snapped by Steven Spielberg and his DreamWorks studio before Sam Mendes was chosen to direct. Starring Tom Hanks, the sombre gangster movie was very well received, resulting in it knocking up six Oscar nominations, with one win to boot.
Its nominations included Best Supporting Actor for Hollywood legend Paul Newman, Best Art Direction for Dennis Gassner and Nancy Haigh, Best Original Score for Thomas Newman and Best Sound Mixing for Scott Millan, Bob Beemer and John Pritchett. Finally, Scott Hecker was nominated for Best Sound Editing.
The sole win was a sadly posthumous award for cinematographer Conrad L. Hall. A big name in the business for decades, Hall had previously won the award for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in 1969 and American Beauty in 1999 (also from director Sam Mendes).