Least Deserving Best Picture

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   Michael24posted 14 years ago

   Through out the entire history of the Oscars there has been the question of the least deserving best picture. For me personally it has to be Gladiator.

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      Genna Eastposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I'm not sure about Gladiator, however, I think they gave Russell Crowe the Oscar that year to make up for not giving it to him for "The Insider."

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   Mighty Momposted 14 years ago

   Gotta agree with you, Gladiator was not much better than Troy, which was one of the WORST movies EVAH!
   Looking at the historical list of Oscar "Best Picture" winners there are quite a few that I look at and go "Hunh?"
   The three that really stand out for me (besides the one you mentioned) are
   1. The Departed. 2006. HATED that movie!
   2. The English Patient. 1996. GAG ME!
   3. The Best Years of Our Lives. 1946. COULD THEY POSSIBLE EXPLOIT WWII VETERANS IN A SMARMIER WAY???
   
   Looking at my pix I see they all end in "6" and if you put them together you get "666" but that doesn't mean these movies are Satanic. Just BAD!

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      Kathryn LJposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Brilliant list!  For me there is only one turkey that everyone raved about but should have got an Oscar for the most predictable plot ever -
      
      I give you - 'Titanic'
      
      Personally, I cheered as Leonardo de Caprio finally sank into the icy deep.  Just a shame it took him 90 minutes to reach that point.  The only thing worse was Celyne Dion going on and on and on ....................................

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      china manposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I quite liked the spectacle of Galdiator and love the sound track - as a pseudo historical advetnure yarn I quite liked it - but TROY - wow, it is hard to imagine a worst depiction and misreading of history. This (and Alexander) depicting all the male characters as 'camp' is the worst possible translation of the male male relationship among fighting men that I could imagine.

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      filmchick1987posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Gladiator deserved it. The characterization & dialogue was superb. I have to agree with the rest of your list though. Titanic was only saved by the ship sinking.
      I personally jumped for joy when Avatar didn't win best picture. What an unoriginal sham that was. Only saved by being pretty really.
      Last of the Mohicans should've won the year Forrest Gump did. Not because it was original, but because it wasn't utter trash like FG. What was the academy thinking?

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   Mighty Momposted 14 years ago

   THANK YOU, Thank you, thank you, Kathryn LJ.
   Titanic is a HORRIBLE movie.
   I really admire Leonardo De Caprio as an actor (he has matured a lot over the years). But not in that movie.
   I really admire Kate Winslett as an actress. But not in that movie.
   I do not like James Cameron as a director. At all.
   I do NOT like Celine Dion's singing at all. I thought I was the only person in the world!!!
   MM

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      Kathryn LJposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      So pleased to have found a kindred spirit.  I endured this film, surrounded by people racked with sobs and thought there was something wrong with me.  I am reassured that someone as esteemed as yourself, should find this disaster movie (in every sense) so offensive.  Now all we have to do is have it banned from TV stations, who insist on screening it on Bank holidays.

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         Lisa HWposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Kathryn, MM, can I add my name to that list of Titanic haters?  It was a classic case of "how to dress up a boring storing about people you don't really care about, who don't come across as real anyway, and let's throw in as much shallowness as we can think up."  Was the problem compete and utter lack of chemistry between the two leads, or what?

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            Kathryn LJposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I think so.  Also the laboured point about class distinction, as if they were the only people to ever be aware of it, was particularly annoying.  But mainly, it has been done to death as a story line and no one ever thinks of the poor captain's family, who have to put up with the old chestnut of pilot error time, and time again.  And Kate is an insipid bean pole.

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   johnmike59posted 14 years ago

   This list, in my view, is legion. But just off the top of my head, going back to the 1950s:
   
   A) An American In Paris (I particularly HATE it when the Best Picture Award does not go to the individual who directed it. In this year, 1951, Vincente Minnelli directed the afore-mentioned, while George Stevens won Best Director for "A Place In The Sun" - a masterpiece of American cinema.
   
   B) 1952 - The Greatest Show On Earth - a circus farce, which, as it happened, turned out to be a circus and a farce.
   
   C) 1956 - Around The World In 80 Days" - whose director was not nominated, but George Stevens, again, takes it for "Giant"
   
   D) 1959 - Ben Hur - a most tiresome film, with its 14 nominations and Best Actor wins for Charlton Heston and Hugh Griffith, respectively.
   
   E) 1964 - George Cukor's rendition of the monster 1956 Broadway musical over "Dr. Strangelove" or other far worthier contenders that year - the Julie Andrews - Audrey Hepburn flap still rages on.
   
   I think Hollywood gets it right for the remainder of the '60s and for much of the 1970s. But I will put my baton down here and I welcome discussion, disagreements and open debate. ;-)

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   Mighty Momposted 14 years ago

   Johnmike59 --
   I am so glad you mentioned those travesties of justice!
   Although (thank GOD) musicals are far less popular today than in the '50s and '60s, the prudent choice would have been to have a SEPARATE "Best Musical" category as they have "Best Animated Film" and "Best Documentary."
   I adore The Sound of Music on many levels. Because it also has historical significance that (IMHO) elevates it way about your rank-and-file "musical musical" (e.g., An American In Paris, Gigi).
   
   China Man, Do you believe Gladiator was worthy of a Best Picture Oscar?

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      china manposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I thought it was well made and entertaining.  Not in the class of other films in other genres like A Beautiful Mind and others I am too tired to remeber.   It would depend on what other films were up against it in that year, I am less than impressed with most of the movies of the last coupe of years - so maybe.

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         Michael24posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Personally I also hate Sound of Music. That could easily rank second worse best picture winner.

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   Mighty Momposted 14 years ago

   Michael24,
   You are looking at The Sound of Music "objectively."
   Those of us who saw it when it first came out and have been in love with Christopher Plummer ever since and even considered become a nun (yes, for about five minutes!) cannot see it objectively. For us it is a huge nostalgia thing.
   I'm not defending it winning Best Picture, just why it is so beloved.

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      Kathryn LJposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Did you know that Christopher Plummer refused to carry the youngest Von Trap child so they had to body double him doing it and that he insisted on calling her 'the pig' ?  He also plyed the oldest girl with Champagne.  Naughty old Chris was a bit of a lad apparently.  That's probably what we see in him.

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   michael elyposted 14 years ago

   Some films that i can't believe won best picture were Forrest Gump and Rocky, which was in the same year as Taxi Driver which i much preferred.
   
   As for films like Titanic, the thing that annoys me about them is that they have to add on a love story, as if the original story isn't exciting or interesting enough.

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   Cogersonposted 14 years ago

   I did a hub on this very subject....and the winner was The Hurt Locker as the worst Best Picture in the last 30 years

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   Len Cannonposted 14 years ago

   I dunno, it is a tough call.
   
   Titanic beating LA Confidential was pretty disappointing though.  The Oscar's is mostly a big circle jerk of rich people congratulating themselves for being so important, though, so it is important not to give a flying fig about the outcome.

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