He got even better after the 1980s. You're crazy.

I'm a huge fan of Nicholson's work up until the mid-1980's; he basically became a bad caricature of himself at that point and started hamming it up way too much in one movie after another.
You've seen Guy Standeven in something because the man was in everything.

I did not know Michael won the Oscar for that movie let alone beat out Jack Nicholson. Jack's a powerhouse. Did you feel bad for Jack Palance like I did in Batman? Nicolson just dwarfed him and Palance is no slouch either…
I thought Leo deserved the Oscar for WOWS but they say the Academy didn't want to glorify his portrayal of Jordan Belfort - a Gordon Gekko wannabe.
Tell you what…When I send my ex-wife her money…you can lick the stamps.

I found after the 70's, his personality shtick started to wear a bit thin.
He was at his best in
Ironweed - '87
, in the 80's, in which he gave a subtle, subdued and sublime performance. He ran rings around his co-star Streep.
I love
Wall Street - '87
and don't begrudge Michael Douglas his Oscar and he was a popular choice, but Nicholson was more deserving.
Norman! What did you put in my tea?