For any movie lover, Academy Awards season is a time to revel in your favorite movies of the year and root for them to get the recognition they deserve. In some cases, the films that win are shoo-ins. In others, he gapes when the winner’s name is announced (assuming it’s correct).
Every Oscar-winning film is an expression of cinematic excellence. Some Best Picture winners have been obvious, like Casablanca, Schindler’s Listand The Godfather. But sometimes, voters feel that another movie nominated in a given year deserves more. Because of this, some Oscar-winning films are remembered as highly overrated winners in the Best Picture category.
Accident (2004)
Arguably one of the most polarizing Best Picture winners ever, Crash It was a good movie with powerful messages about racism and prejudice, delivered through several intertwining stories that became chains of coincidences. Was a good movie, but it wasn’t necessarily a excellent one.
The crime drama, which was produced, directed, and co-written by Paul Haggis, had an impressive cast and received decent reviews, with critics praising its realistic handling of both timely and controversial issues. But Crash it was also criticized for being unconvincing. The stories were haphazardly contrived to weave together a cohesive message that felt like it was spoon-delivering a message to viewers. However, what had most people up in arms was that Crash won against other powerful and influential films that were nominated that year, such as Secret in the mountain.
Look Crash on HBO Max.
Rocky (1976)
there is no denying RockyIts place in pop culture and film history – its inclusion on this list is not designed to minimize that. But the movie doesn’t quite fit the typical Oscar-winning type of film. This does not mean a movie like Rocky It shouldn’t be recognized, but the sports drama isn’t in the same league as others that have taken home the statuette in the past (and since). This is especially true when you consider that other films nominated in the category that year included All the president’s men and Taxi driver.
Rocky This is feel-good cinema at its finest, the story of a small-time fighter who realizes his dream of a world heavyweight title shot. It has a wonderful mix of heart and intense action, and the film remains a timeless classic. But while Rocky inspires, there is little depth to the story to justify victory in such a prestigious category.
Look Rocky on Netflix or streaming Rocky on Paramount+.
Dances with Wolves (1990)
Than any film nominated the same year as Good boys would win against that groundbreaking gangster flick immediately suggests it’s overrated. But what makes the epic western movie win Dancing with Wolves Even more confusing is that it also perpetuates the outdated trope of the white savior, who probably would never fly today and shouldn’t even have back then.
The film has since been criticized for its inauthenticity, particularly with regard to the Lakota language, of which only one actor in the film was a native speaker. Dancing with Wolves It was a passion project for Kevin Costner, who starred in, directed and produced. As his directorial debut, the win cemented his position in Hollywood as more than just someone who worked in front of the camera. But considering that not only Good boysbut also awakenings and Ghostthey faced that that year, the win was disappointing.
Look Dancing with Wolves on HBO Max.
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
shakespeare in love It had wonderful costumes and an excellent cast. But in retrospect, it was just a glorified and much less sexualized version of Bridgerton. The plot, at its core, was campy, depicting a fictionalized version of William Shakespeare who falls in love with a woman named Viola while he is writing. Romeo and Juliet.
The Academy loves period pieces, and this might be why shakespeare in love won over other films nominated that year, such as The thin red line and Saving Private Ryan. But it is simply a romantic comedy set in the Elizabethan era with impressive costumes. shakespeare in love it’s a well-acted visual spectacle, but its status as a Best Picture winner is questionable.
Look shakespeare in love on Paramount+ or streaming shakespeare in love on the Roku channel.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
The Academy loves art films, but bird man it takes the concept of being artistic to a whole other level. The black comedy drama is about an actor who gained fame playing a superhero known as Birdman and continues to be haunted by the character. The story follows his attempt to revive a now-shattering career on Broadway. The entire movie is meant to look like it’s all shot in one take.
bird man it has been scrutinized and over-analyzed to interpret the true meaning, hidden themes and satirical criticism, making it one of the most cerebral Oscar-winning films. But while bird man Michael Keaton should have won an Oscar, the Best Picture award should have gone to another movie that year, like The Grand Budapest Hotel, American Sniper, The Theory of Everythingeither selma.
Look bird man on HBO Max
Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
One of the biggest surprises in Oscar history was when a small film about a wealthy Jewish woman and her travels with her black chauffeur won Best Picture above the moving and inspiring drama. Dead Poets Society. The chemistry between Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy It was wonderful, but the film was too subtle to justify its victory over the much more captivating and exciting Robin Williams classic.
And what is more, Driving Miss Daisy has been criticized for its depiction of racism. Choosing him for the nomination in first place over Do the right thing by Spike Lee, now considered one of the best movies of the ’80s, also caused a stir. outdated stereotypes of Driving Miss Daisy it would likely lead to an even bigger pullback today.
Look Driving Miss Daisy on HBO Max
Gladiator (2000)
Many argue that Gladiator it only won Best Picture in 2000 because it didn’t have a lot of competition to go up against: the other nominees in the category included Chocolate, Erin Brockovich, Trafficand Hidden Dragon Crouching Tiger.
Ridley Scott’s action film, starring Russell Crowe as the Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, is a thrilling epic historical drama. Gladiator it’s a fun summer movie, not necessarily one that should be considered for Oscar contention.
That being said, we can credit movies like Gladiator for reinvigorating the “swords and sandals” genre that touches on ancient history, both fictional and real. Without Gladiatorthe success of , we may have never been honored with shows like game of Thrones and dragon houseno movies like 300, robin hoodand The Lord of the Rings trilogy. But visual spectacles and masculine themes alone don’t justify Oscar glory. Gladiator it might have legitimately been the highest-grossing movie of the year, but it wasn’t necessarily Oscar-worthy.
Look Gladiator on Paramount+.
Green Book (2018)
Inspired by a true story, Green Book follows Don (Mahershala Ali, who won his second Oscar for the role), a black pianist, and his travels with his Italian-American driver and bodyguard, Frank (Viggo Mortensen), during an eight-week concert tour of the Deep South. Before taking the job, Tony is given The Black Motorist’s Green Bookwhich serves as a guide in the Jim Crow South for black travelers to find lodging, gas stations, and restaurants they can frequent.
The movie takes viewers on a journey where the two men get closer and go through various adventures. Knowing that everything is based on a true story and on real people makes Green Book intriguing. But it’s a slow story that some believe didn’t deserve to win over other nominated films like BlackKkKlansman, Roma, and Vice.
Look Green Book on FuboTV.
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
The Cecile B. DeMille Drama The greatest show in the world it was a visual extravaganza about Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. It is an enjoyable film, but many also describe it as melodramatic, lacking in real plot, too long and cliché.
The greatest show in the world It’s a lovely movie, and it caused a sensation when it was released in 1952, becoming a box office success. But going up against much more nuanced movies like Noon, Ivanhoeand The Quiet Manas well as even Moulin Rouge (not the musical version of Nicole Kidman), The greatest show in the world it continues to be named among the worst Best Picture winners in Oscar history. Many believe the win was simply a way to cap off DeMille’s nearly 40-year career at the time. Considered one of the founding fathers of American cinema, it was to be his capstone project and, as a fitting sendoff, marked his first nomination (and win). Interestingly, DeMille ended up coming back four years later with The ten Commandmentsthat it would have been a more suitable film to honor as a tribute to DeMille’s illustrious career.
Look The greatest show in the world on Paramount+ via Amazon.
American Beauty (1999)
By today’s standards, American Beauty it would be considered predatory and downright creepy. The story of a man (Kevin Spacey) dealing with his midlife crisis by obsessing and fantasizing about his teenage daughter’s friend (Mena Suvari) is sometimes painful to watch. The message is supposed to be about an aging man regaining a sense of youth and excitement in his life, but it’s at the expense of looking at a young woman.
It could be said that the artistic angle of the story and the hidden depth is the reason American Beauty was nominated first. Dubbed a black comedy, American Beauty it is supposed to work as a satire on beauty and its perception within the middle class, as well as serving as a redemption story. But with much more entertaining and well-executed movies that year like The sixth Sense and The inside, American Beauty received more attention and praise than it deserved.
Look American Beauty in Hoopla.
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