Let’s agree to disagree. I think a better discussion would be about the worst movies to WIN best picture at the oscars.
I nominate anything since Forrest Gump in 1994. If you look at the list beforehand, you can make an argument for most of them.
1995 (68th)
Braveheart Ö
1996 (69th)
The English Patient Ö
1997 (70th)
Titanic (1997) Ö
1998 (71st)
Shakespeare in Love Ö
1999 (72nd)
American Beauty Ö
2000 (73rd)
Gladiator Ö
2001 (74th)
A Beautiful Mind Ö
2002 (75th)
Chicago Ö
2003 (76th)
The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King Ö
2004 (77th)
Million Dollar Baby Ö
2005 (78th)
Crash Ö
2006 (79th)
The Departed Ö
2007 (80th)
No Country for Old Men
Oh I don’t much disagree with you overall, but I do think CK is a good movie, that’s all. You’re right about the worst movies proclaimed the best as a subject of discussion however.
I sure have to agree with you on the most recent winner, “No Country For Old Men.” I was forced to watch this recently, and thought it had about as much redeeming value as “Saw II” .. i.e., none.
On the other hand, I thought “American Gangster” was one of the best films I’ve seen in years.
On the third hand (if I had one), I do have to disagree with the premise of the article. Note how many times the author says things like: “Fanboys rule!” or “This film was voted #2 by The Oswego Men’s Choir!”.... as if the Academy Awards should be ruled by popular opinion, because (by this guy’s definition) the best films can only be those that people like the most. Well... news at 11... that ain’t true.
As for the rest of the list... I can sure see the downward spiral from ‘94 on.
Here’s my humble opinions...
Braveheart - violent, depressing downer of a film.
The English Patient - Chick flick with a budget. Ick.
Titanic - Chick flick with an even bigger budget, but I love it anyway.
Shakespeare In Love - Would have made a mediocre PBS special.
American Beauty - Walked out of it.
Gladiator - Ooh, another violent, depressing downer of a film.
A Beautiful Mind - Very good film. Not great... but very good.
Chicago - What little I saw of it bored me.
The Return Of The King - I liked LOTR, but thought #1 was a better film.
Million Dollar Baby - Didn’t see, since I know the ending.
Crash - Didn’t see, even though I don’t know the end. Yes, I’m giving up.
The Departed - Overlong. Watch “Infernal Affairs” (the original) instead.
No Country For Old Men - Wow! Depressing... and a downer! What skill!
The winners list is a mix bag since 1994. Some are really bad and others a legendary. Chicago?.....I mean really! Come on. I don’t have anything against musicals, but I don’t think I could consider one every to be worthy of the BMP. Gladiator and Braveheart are up there as my most favored.
Good point—I see Titanic on your list of bad films that won Oscars—not only did it win undeservedly, but it beat out one of the best films of the last 20 years, L.A. Confidential, which deserved to win that year.