Okay, time for some controversial movie takes. We all know those films that get universal praise from critics but when you actually watch them... you just don't get it. Which critically acclaimed movies do you actually hate?
I'll start with my divisive film opinions: I absolutely cannot stand "The English Patient." Won all those Oscars but I found it painfully boring and pretentious. Another one is "Birdman" - the whole single-shot gimmick felt like style over substance to me. And don't even get me started on "La La Land." The hype around that film was insane but I thought it was just okay at best.
What are your unpopular opinions about award-winning movies you dislike?
Oh man, I have so many controversial movie takes about critically acclaimed movies. The Shape of Water" winning Best Picture was baffling to me. It's basically "Beauty and the Beast" but with a fish man, and not in a good way. The romance felt completely unearned and creepy.
"Boyhood" is another one. The 12-year filming gimmick is impressive, but the actual story is boring and the acting (especially from the child actors) is mediocre at best. It feels like a technical achievement rather than a great film.
These are the kinds of divisive film opinions that make film discussion forums interesting though.
I have to agree about Birdman." The whole film feels like it's trying so hard to be Important with a capital I. The continuous shot thing becomes distracting after a while, and the characters are all insufferable narcissists. It's a film about theater people made for film snobs who want to feel superior.
Another one for me is "No Country for Old Men." I know it's considered a masterpiece, but I found it emotionally cold and the ending felt like a cop-out. The Coen brothers have made much better films that actually have satisfying conclusions.
These movie review disagreements are what keep the film criticism community interesting.
The Power of the Dog" is my pick for overrated award-winning movies. I get what Campion was going for with the repressed emotions and toxic masculinity themes, but the pacing is glacial and the payoff doesn't feel worth the slog. Benedict Cumberbatch's performance felt like caricature to me.
Also, "Manchester by the Sea." Yes, the acting is good, but the story is just misery porn. There's no catharsis or growth, just unrelenting sadness. Sometimes films need to offer more than just "life is terrible."
These unpopular opinions about critically acclaimed movies always spark the best cinema debates.