Most Overrated Films of All Time?

Rushmore · #1 10-14-2003, 11:19 AM

In an effort to avoid having to change the name of this forum to "Terrorism Today," or "Zionism--Right or Wrong?," I thought something a little more innocuous might be in order. So let's try this:

I was being utterly and absolutely lazy this past Saturday. I had the remote control in my hand, and happened across an Academy Award-Winning Masterpiece on AMC or TCM or wherever. This film is called Marty.

I recalled that John Turturro's character in Quiz Show makes mention of the brilliance of this celluloid gem.

So I says to myself "Self, let us endeavor to investigate the source of these accolades."

I would have preferred to scrape the enamel off of my teeth with freezing cold razor blades.

So, I ask: What other purportedly "great" films are actually from the Emperor's New Clothes School of Cinematic Gorgeousness and Grandeurosity?

You know what I mean.

I put in additional votes for Driving Miss Daisy, Out of Africa, and Life Is Beautiful.

Ray Zee · #2 10-14-2003, 11:29 AM

it seems you may be biased against movies that arent action oriented.
but marty was a great movie but mostly for the performance of ernst bourgnine. which i think he got his only award for.

andyfox · #3 10-14-2003, 11:42 AM

Gone With The Wind and Titannic

nicky g · #4 10-14-2003, 12:06 PM

Blue Velvet

Chris Alger · #5 10-14-2003, 12:18 PM

Gone With The Wind has to win the prize. Titanic's a good choice, but audiences are more sophisticated now. I remember my wife's reaction when we saw it, that it wasn't as awful as we expected, at least until she throws the diamond into the ocean.

My runner-up is Dr. Zhivago. And of course Star Wars and ET.

Rushmore · #6 10-14-2003, 12:23 PM

No, Ray. I love films of all genres.

To wit: The Philadelphia Story, Sling Blade, Dr. Strangelove, Gone With The Wind, It's a Wonderful Life, Eraserhead, Citizen Kane, The Shining, The Fountainhead, The English Patient, The Wizard of Oz, Il Postino, The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover, The Sheltering Sky, The Man Who Would Be King, The Remains of The Day, Jean de Fleurette, The Belly of An Architect, Koyannisquatsi, Salo, My Dinner With Andre, Dr. Zhivago, and, of course, How Stella Got Her Groove Back.

OK, there might be some action in some of these films, but they sure aren't "action films."

Rushmore · #7 10-14-2003, 12:25 PM

Rushmore · #8 10-14-2003, 12:29 PM

Gone With The Wind, although overly-hyped, is still a great film. It is a definitive epic film.

Titanic is quite possibly one of the worst films ever made. Pure rubbish.

But hey--it "taught me how to love again," so I guess it was great.

elwoodblues · #9 10-14-2003, 12:30 PM

Over-rated Award winners: I cast my vote for Gladiator. Entertaining - sure; best movie of 2000 - no way.

Over-rate audience favorite: There's Something About Mary. I swear I only laughed twice during this movie and once was because I felt like I was supposed to, not because of anything genuinely funny.

~elwood

nicky g · #10 10-14-2003, 12:36 PM

Lol. I'm not. It's crap. Wild at Heart is way way worse, but I'm not sure if it qualifies as "rated."

Star Wars is a good choice. Another incredibly overrated film is The Big Lebowski. Haven't we discussed this before, though?

That's not to say the directors are overrated. Mulholland Drive is good. The Hudsucker Proxy, Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink and Fargo are all brilliant (though The Man Who Wasn't There was awful). And... well, I've probably not seen all of Gerogee Lucas's films.