On the night of the 78th Academy Awards in 2006, legendary actor Jack Nicholson (“How Do You Know”) presented the Oscar for Best Picture of 2005. Even before the envelope was open, numerous pundits in the film industry speculated that “Brokeback Mountain,” a Western romantic drama by Taiwanese director Ang Lee (“Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk”), was going to win the coveted gold statue.

The film had not only garnered eight nominations, the most of the night, but it had also scored three wins, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score. Its competition inc “Capote,” a biopic by Bennett Miller (“Foxcatcher”), “Crash,” a drama film by screenwriter turned director Paul Haggis (“Third Person”), “Good Night, and Good Luck,” a historical film by actor George Clooney (“Money Monster”), and “Munich,” the latest film by Steven Spielberg (“The Post”).

It seemed like everything was in “Brokeback Mountain’s” favor to win the most prestigious award in film. Those feelings were abandoned when Nicholson uttered the word “Crash.”

“Crash” is often regarded to as one of the worst Best Picture winners in Oscar history. Articles from all over the internet have all included the feature in their “Worst Films to Win Best Picture” lists, but does “Crash” really deserve all the backlash?

At its core, “Crash” is a film that explores race relations within the United States in post-9/11 Los Angeles. The interweaving narrative boasts an enormous cast, most notably featuring Sandra Bullock (“Our Brand Is Crisis”), Don Cheadle (“Captain America: Civil War”), Terrence Howard (“Cardboard Boxer”) and Brendan Fraser (“The Nut Job”). The cast might sound impressive on paper, but it ultimately buckles under its own weight. At least a third of the sprawling cast wasted. Some of the starring leads feel half-baked. Bullock, despite obtaining top billing, gets probably fewer than 10 minutes of screentime.

The biggest transgression against “Crash” is its handling of racism. Despite Haggis displaying the issue of racism from multiple perspectives, the end result comes off as heavy handed, pretentious and melodramatic. Take the scene where a racist cop (Matt Dillon, “Going in Style”) pulls over Howard and Newton.

The scene depicts police overreach in such a heavy-handed way that viewers cannot help but feel uncomfortable. It makes people wonder how such a despicable person can even become a police officer in the first place.

Despite the film’s many faults, and there are many, “Crash” is not totally unwatchable. Certain actors do give impressive performances, including Michael Peña (“12 Strong”) and Thandie Newton (“Half of a Yellow Sun”), and the overall idea of the film is not a bad one. The problem here is that the execution is lackluster, and the film’s “on the nose” depiction of racism sticks out like a sore thumb even though racism is the film’s central point.

“Brokeback Mountain” is a different story. The film centers around two men who develop a deep sexual and emotional connection while herding sheep in the Wyoming mountains. The film seems like an odd choice for director Ang Lee due to his prior films. “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” is a wuxia martial arts film, and “Hulk” is based on a comic book starring a big green monster.

Even with these expectations, “Brokeback Mountain” is a truly wonderful film. The movie is gorgeously filmed, featuring picturesque shots of valleys and mountains. “Brokeback Mountain” also cements why Heath Ledger (“The Dark Knight”) was such a powerhouse in the acting field. His performance in “Brokeback Mountain” is not only realistic, but heartfelt. Jake Gyllenhaal (“Stronger”) is also great in his role as Ledger’s lover. The chemistry between the two is believable, and viewers feel sympathy and even empathy for the two men.

The supporting cast includes Michelle Williams (“All the Money in the World”) as Ledger’s wife and Anne Hathaway (“Colossal”) as Gyllenhaal’s lover. Hathaway’s performance is good, but Williams knocks it out of the park with her portrayal as a woman who must come to terms with finding out her husband is maintaining a double life.

Negatives of the film include its pacing. “Brokeback Mountain” is a slow burn. The entire first act involves sheep herding and life in the wilderness. The film also focuses heavily on drama with little action on display.

Twelve years later, “Crash” winning Best Picture is perhaps the biggest blemish on the Academy’s resume. “Crash” is a pompous film, but its racial themes seemed to resonate a lot with Academy voters who may have been reluctant to award a film about “gay cowboys in Wyoming.” Nonetheless, “Brokeback Mountain” retains its relevance after all these years.

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