Point well made, Simon.
But...
...you don’t seem to realize that movie critics are MUCH better qualified to identify good movies than the stupid masses...
Seen em all. Most more than once
I take it you are in the movie entertainment business since most of your posts are related to movies it seems. Is that correct?
My favorites...
1954: “On the Waterfront” #14 - “I coulda been SOMEbody...” Brando’s great scene. But I’ve seen it too many times.
1957: “The Bridge on the River Kwai” #1 - beautiful photography and sharp dialogue. However, I don’t like the undercurrent “anti-war”, pre-hippie message.
1959: “Ben-Hur” #1 - Some very touching scenes, one that I still remember from 60 years ago, when Jesus (you only see his shadow) gives Ben Hur something to drink. Very moving and powerful. But I think it’s too long.
I barely remember “The Greatest Show on Earth” so I’ll have to watch it again!
Ping for part two.
My all time favorite movie that ALSO won best picture: “The Best Years of Our Lives” in 1946!
Very little if any politics involved in the 1950’s selections. Lot’s of politics involved in todays selection of the best film of the year.
For pure entertainment value none of those movies make the cut. Movies are about entertainment.
They do not make great films like this.
The Bridge on the River Kwai” #1
BTW Ben Hur was too gay : )
Them Romans..... ick!
I don’t care for On The Waterfront or Marty, so I can understand why they were lower on the list.
No nudity in any of them.
I’ve always been partial to “The Quiet Man” over “The Greatest Show On Earth”.
But then, I’m a big John Ford fan.
And what? What is the “contrast”? What are the top box office films of the last decade we are to compare the 50s with.
You think the 50s list by itself explains (in our heads?) the “contrast”?
I may agree many of the 50s films were better in my opinion (my age may have something to do with it), but I see nothing describing the “contrast”.
The older movies were so much better than the movies that get Oscar nominations these days. I’ve only enjoyed a handful of the best picture nominees from the last several years. The old movies were so much more entertaining.