Irish artist and poet Christy Brown’s autobiography was the foundation for Sheridan’s inspiring directorial debut and Day-Lewis’ splendid portrayal of an irascible creative mind disdaining physical disability earned him his first Best Actor Oscar. (Playing Brown as a boy, Hugh O’Conor astonishes too.) Brenda Fricker also won an Oscar as Brown’s ma, who lets nothing hold back her son—even though his cerebral palsy meant that he could only make use of the titular limb.