I've noticed something interesting about myself lately. The more awards a movie wins, the less likely I am to enjoy it. Take The Shape of Water for example. Best Picture winner, critical darling, and... I thought it was borderline ridiculous. A woman falls in love with a fish man? Really?
Or what about Birdman? Another award-winning movie that left me cold. The single-shot gimmick felt showy without adding much to the story, and the characters were so unlikable I couldn't connect with any of them.
These critically acclaimed shows and movies get so much praise, but sometimes I wonder if people are just afraid to admit they don't like something that's supposed to be "important" or "artistic."
What award-winning movies have you disliked despite their critical praise? I'm talking about those movies with high ratings that you just can't appreciate no matter how hard you try.
Oh my god, The Shape of Water. Thank you for saying that. I felt like I was taking crazy pills when it won Best Picture. A romantic fantasy about a woman and a fish man? And not just any fish man - one that's clearly inspired by the Creature from the Black Lagoon? It felt like del Toro was just remaking his favorite monster movies but adding... interspecies romance?
What bothers me about some award-winning movies is that they often feel like they're checking boxes for what critics consider important" or "artistic." Gritty subject matter, beautiful cinematography, social commentary - but sometimes the actual storytelling gets lost.
Another one for me: Moonlight. Beautifully shot, beautifully acted... and I was bored to tears. The pacing was glacial, and while I appreciated what it was trying to do, I didn't actually enjoy watching it.
Parasite. I know, I know - it made history as the first foreign language film to win Best Picture. And yes, it's well-made. But the social commentary felt heavy-handed to me, and the tonal shifts from comedy to thriller to horror were jarring rather than innovative.
Sometimes I wonder if the hype machine around these critically praised movies creates unrealistic expectations. When something is built up as the best movie of the year" or "a masterpiece," anything less than a life-changing experience feels like a disappointment.
Also, The Artist. Remember that one? Silent black-and-white movie that won Best Picture a few years back. It was cute, but Best Picture? Really? It felt like the Academy was patting itself on the back for appreciating something old-fashioned rather than rewarding actual storytelling innovation.
La La Land. I'm a musical theater fan, so I was excited for this one. But it left me cold. The songs weren't memorable, the chemistry between the leads felt forced, and the ending that everyone found so poignant just felt contrived to me.
What's interesting about award-winning shows and movies is how they often represent what critics think people should like rather than what they actually enjoy. There's this unspoken hierarchy where certain types of art are considered more worthy of praise.
Another one: The English Patient. Won a bunch of Oscars, and... it's so boring. Beautifully shot, yes. Well-acted, yes. But at nearly three hours long, it feels like an endurance test. The romance is supposed to be epic and tragic, but I just didn't care about these characters.
The Revenant. Leo finally wins his Oscar, and it's for... grunting and crawling through the snow for two and a half hours? The cinematography is stunning, I'll give it that. But as a movie-going experience, it was punishing rather than enjoyable.
Sometimes I think these movies with high ratings get praised for their technical achievements rather than their entertainment value. Yes, it's impressive that they shot in natural light and Leo actually ate raw bison liver. But is it a good movie? That's a different question.
Also, Birdman - you mentioned it, and I completely agree. The single-shot gimmick was impressive from a technical standpoint, but it felt like style over substance. The characters were all narcissistic artists complaining about how hard it is to be famous, which made it difficult to sympathize with anyone.
I actually liked Parasite, but I completely understand where you're coming with some of these. For me, it's The King's Speech. Won Best Picture, and... it's fine. It's a perfectly competent period drama with good performances. But Best Picture? Really?
Sometimes I think the Oscars reward certain types of movies - historical dramas, biopics, socially conscious films - while overlooking others that might be more innovative or entertaining.
Another one: Crash. Won Best Picture over Brokeback Mountain, which is still controversial. And watching it now, it feels like a heavy-handed after-school special about racism. The characters are stereotypes, the dialogue is preachy, and the interconnected stories feel contrived rather than profound.