Films that have won "Best Picture"

[Sparx]

Cameron always acknowledged that he borrowed from the themes in Dances with Wolves. Pocahontas however was released a year AFTER Cameron wrote Avatar.

Don't get me wrong, it's an okay movie, Cameron IS a huge tool with an ego the size of Texas, and there are movies much better.

I'm just saying, once again, I didn't "get" the Best picture winner.

"Pocahontas" was a page in history before James Cameron was a twinkle in his great grandfather's eye, though. And the Disney movie was released many years before he ever began to film, so it might be untrue to say that many of his visualizations weren't Pocahontas fueled, even subconsciously. Even before Pocahontas, the conquests of other nations has been happening for so long that we can't really tell where he pulled this one from. It could be the Inquisition or any other ten thousand conquests in human history. The plot was paper thin, and I don't think anyone will really argue that.

I tend to not agree with critics a lot. I like a lot of movies that never even made it to major theaters, and I like a lot that flopped when they did. The big ticket movies like Avatar usually fall flat with me.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

I just don't get it. DH and I can't always get to the movies to see everything that we'd like to so we always at least try to netflix the things with critical acclaim and the ones that are nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. We just recently got around to watching "The Hurt Locker". I shut it off after 20 minutes. Bored to tears. No discernible plot. Characters that you had no emotional connection to at all. How did this movie beat the likes of Avatar and District 9 or even Up and Inglourious *******s?

It was JUST like when we finally rented No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood. Both critically acclaimed, and both lousy. No Country was almost comically awful.

DH managed to slog his way through the rest of the movie while I was out on Saturday. When I asked him how the rest was he just shrugged and said "I got through it."

I guess we'll just stick with "low brow" entertainment like Iron Man2, The A-Team and Harry Potter. Both of us graduated with film degrees, so it isn't like we don't know what we're talking about when it comes to film-making.

That There Will Be Blood to me was one of the worst movies ever. Literally hated it. Never saw The Hurt Locker, may try it eventually.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Don't get me wrong, it's an okay movie, Cameron IS a huge tool with an ego the size of Texas, and there are movies much better.

I'm just saying, once again, I didn't "get" the Best picture winner.

I think you just answered it. She won because no one wanted him to win.



That's just MY guess, but otherwise, to your Cameron comment.

 

[Jennasis]

"Pocahontas" was a page in history before James Cameron was a twinkle in his great grandfather's eye, though. And the Disney movie was released many years before he ever began to film, so it might be untrue to say that many of his visualizations weren't Pocahontas fueled, even subconsciously. Even before Pocahontas, the conquests of other nations has been happening for so long that we can't really tell where he pulled this one from. It could be the Inquisition or any other ten thousand conquests in human history. The plot was paper thin, and I don't think anyone will really argue that.

I tend to not agree with critics a lot. I like a lot of movies that never even made it to major theaters, and I like a lot that flopped when they did. The big ticket movies like Avatar usually fall flat with me.

Heck yeah. If you want to really have a good laugh, see the Rifftrax version of Avatar. My sides hurt from laughing by the end of the movie. I mean COME ON...the rare mineral is called "unobtanium"?

Still, IMO, it beat The Hurt Locker by a mile.

 

[Sparx]

Heck yeah. If you want to really have a good laugh, see the Rifftrax version of Avatar. My sides hurt from laughing by the end of the movie. I mean COME ON...the rare mineral is called "unobtanium"?

Still, IMO, it beat The Hurt Locker by a mile.

I laughed in the theatre when they said "unobtanium" Really James? Really?

I've not seen the Hurt Locker, but I guess after this thread I know its one I can skip.

 

[JenM]

I laughed in the theatre when they said "unobtanium" Really James? Really?

That's actually a real term - and it means exactly what they used it for in the movie. http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-uno1.htm

I thought it was made up for the movie too, but I found out afterwards that it's an actual term, although they probably could have come up with a better word to use in the movie.

As for The Hurt Locker, I thought it was terrific and I was thrilled that it beat out Avatar for Best picture.

I've never understood how people can discredit a whole movie when they admit they only watched 20 minutes of it.

Neither can I. Especially The Hurt Locker, which was incredibly suspenseful right from its opening scene. I saw The Men Who Stare at Goats last night, and the first 20 minutes seemed a little flat...but I watched it through and it was actually pretty good. I was glad I stuck with it for the rest, since it got much better.

 

[golfgal]

I think most people watch a movie for the storyline not the "cinematography" and "art direction" and all that other junk that the Hollywood types talk about at parties to sound "cultured". As a result, some of the "best" movies are not the most popular movies--at least at our house anyway.

 

[southernbohemian]

I think most people watch a movie for the storyline not the "cinematography" and "art direction" and all that other junk that the Hollywood types talk about at parties to sound "cultured". As a result, some of the "best" movies are not the most popular movies--at least at our house anyway.

Unfortunately I think the majority of people watch movies to see special effects. It would be lovely if people went for a good story, but that is hardly the case. Check the box office receipts.

 

[Jennasis]

Unfortunately I think the majority of people watch movies to see special effects. It would be lovely if people went for a good story, but that is hardly the case. Check the box office receipts.

I LOVE big special effects. I am unapologetic about that. The bigger the boom, the bigger my smile. However, I also love a good story. My favorite film of all time...12 Angry Men. The whole things takes place in one room and has some of the best character development and story telling EVER.

I DO go for a good story. The two things don't have to be mutually exclusive.

However, I believe that many people go to the movies to escape. So films that are a departure from reality, or allow you to suspend disbelief in a big way are often the most popular.

 

[mill4023]

Personally, I think they get it right more than half the time.

IMO, all of these deserved to win:
The Departed
Return of the King
Chicago
A Beautiful Mind
Gladiator
American Beauty
Shakespeare in Love
Titanic
Braveheart
Forrest Gump
Schindler's List
Silence of the Lambs
Driving Miss Daisy
Rain Man
Platoon
Amadeus

While these did not
Hurt Locker - I enjoyed this, but the story could have been better
No Country for Old Men - I'm a big fan of the Coen brothers, but couldn't get into this one
Crash - blah
The English Patient - This is without a doubt, one of the worst movies I've ever seen.
Dances with Wolves - blah

 

[cteddiesgirl]

There are some films that only a critic could love! There Will Be Blood is, with any luck, the last one I will be suckered into seeing. Really nothing redeeming about that movie that I could tell. Total waste of almost 3 hours.

I have noticed over the years that the critics hate, hate, hate family movies, movies for kids and most light romantic movies. If I need a political statement, I'll save my money and just spend time with the family. For the most part, movies are escapism for me. I still haven't seen Deer Hunter, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Passion of the Christ, the list goes on and on. Not that all the movies I see are light hearted. I loved Gran Torino and Brothers. Both were very well acted with a strong message.

Critics and the Oscars tend to hate anything that isn't a drama. How many true comedies have you seen win an Oscar for best picture? How many musicals (that aren't also a drama)?

I think most people watch a movie for the storyline not the "cinematography" and "art direction" and all that other junk that the Hollywood types talk about at parties to sound "cultured". As a result, some of the "best" movies are not the most popular movies--at least at our house anyway.

Unfortunately I think the majority of people watch movies to see special effects. It would be lovely if people went for a good story, but that is hardly the case. Check the box office receipts.

I think that generally, those that go for the storyline don't care about anything else. Those that go for the special effects don't care about storyline.


Personally, there are a lot of movies that I love that would have never won any real critical acclaim or awards.
I watch a movie to enjoy it. If I don't enjoy it (whether it's comedy, drama, musical, Disney or whatever), then I won't like it.
I will admit to loving some "bad" movies and hating some of the "best".

It's all a thing called personal taste.

I LOVE big special effects. I am unapologetic about that. The bigger the boom, the bigger my smile. However, I also love a good story. My favorite film of all time...12 Angry Men. The whole things takes place in one room and has some of the best character development and story telling EVER.

I DO go for a good story. The two things don't have to be mutually exclusive.

However, I believe that many people go to the movies to escape. So films that are a departure from reality, or allow you to suspend disbelief in a big way are often the most popular.

If that were really true, then musicals would still be popular. That's a real escape from reality.

 

[Jennasis]

If that were really true, then musicals would still be popular. That's a real escape from reality.

I thought musicals were making a comeback? Chicago, Moulin Rouge, Mama Mia, Nine... Not that they are my cup o' tea.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

After Forrest Gump beat Shawshank Redemption, I pretty much lost faith in the voting process. I did, however, pull for Crash and I loved Platoon and American Beauty, which did win. Titanic should have never won best pic.. The screenwriting was embarassing. "Teach me how to spit like a man" Probably the worst line in any movie, ever. Kate Winslet is so much better than that character.

ETA: LOVED No Country For Old Men. And I'm not a huge Cohen brothers fan, except for Fargo.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

It's so weird of the perception of what one feels is a good movie, a bad movie, or anything in between.

I, for one, if given the choice to watch LOTR again and pay someone $1000, I would pay someone $1000 to not have to watch what I feel is garbage, again.

Then there are movies that I loved, and won... stuff:
Little Miss Sunshine, American Beauty, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind and As Good As It Gets

And... I loved Titanic. I think I saw it in the theater about 10 times. But what can I say, I was 10 and Leo was in it... all of the girls loved Leo.

 

[Carl Fredricksen]

Wow, I must be in the serious minority here. No Country for Old Men may have been the best film in the last decade IMO. As well There Will Be Blood, Crash, American Beauty, Gran Torino, The Hurt Locker, District 9, are all fantastic movie for me.

Not to get too highbrow, but I used to manage a video store and a movie theater over my career paths, and was a film student for 2 years in college (before I changed majors when I realized you can't make any money in that field), and estimate that I have easily seen over 5000 movies over my life. Everything from silent classics to special effect extravaganzas. So I am always looking for something "off the beaten path" that shows some originality and guts to make, instead of the standard Hollywood fare that seems to just be repeats of other movies that were already made.

And as much as I enjoy a good Iron Man or Avatar, I just don't usually go back to watch them again, as they don't have any long lasting impact. I like a movie that challenges social subject matter, has a great story, and seems like the director really had a labor of love with the production. CGI effects while entertaining for the day, have short lived entertainment value. It's pretty rare IMO that heavy special effects and a great film come together, but I think The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Beowulf are probably two good examples of recent efforts that succeeded on both levels.

You may want to also avoid The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Revolutionary Road, Jarhead, A Simple Man, Burn After Reading, The Road and Inglorius Basterds for recent films that are similar to the above mentioned titles.

Not intending to sound like I am looking down on anyone else's tastes. We all have different opinions, that's what makes this world a great one to live in.

 

[Jennasis]

Wow, I must be in the serious minority here. No Country for Old Men may have been the best film in the last decade IMO. As well There Will Be Blood, Crash, American Beauty, Gran Torino, The Hurt Locker, District 9, are all fantastic movie for me.

Not to get too highbrow, but I used to manage a video store and a movie theater over my career paths, and was a film student for 2 years in college (before I changed majors when I realized you can't make any money in that field), and estimate that I have easily seen over 5000 movies over my life. Everything from silent classics to special effect extravaganzas. So I am always looking for something "off the beaten path" that shows some originality and guts to make, instead of the standard Hollywood fare that seems to just be repeats of other movies that were already made.

And as much as I enjoy a good Iron Man or Avatar, I just don't usually go back to watch them again, as they don't have any long lasting impact. I like a movie that challenges social subject matter, has a great story, and seems like the director really had a labor of love with the production. CGI effects while entertaining for the day, have short lived entertainment value. It's pretty rare IMO that heavy special effects and a great film come together, but I think The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Beowulf are probably two good examples of recent efforts that succeeded on both levels.

You may want to also avoid The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Revolutionary Road, Jarhead, A Simple Man, Burn After Reading, The Road and Inglorius Basterds for recent films that are similar to the above mentioned titles.

Not intending to sound like I am looking down on anyone else's tastes. We all have different opinions, that's what makes this world a great one to live in.

Both DH and I were film majors in college. Spent quite a bit of our own money and took out many loans to write, produce and direct our thesis films (which were well received). We currently own a library of films that would shame most video stores (I believe at last count, there was somewhere in the neighborhood of 6000 titles). We are very much film buffs, like yourself. We'll give any movie a try because we have been surprised very often to find things we loved that we never thought we would. Tried The Hurt Locker. hated it. Suffered through No Country for Old Men. hated ourselves for not bailing earlier.

I LOVED Inglourious Basterds (Christoph Waltz was fantastic), Burn After Reading, The Road and A Simple Man. Didn't see the other ones you mentioned yet.

I once got into an argument with one of my film professors because I didn't think Citizen Kane was "all that". He wanted me tried for heresy! We had a heated debate over it.

I like the Money Pit. That is my answer to that.

 

[Sparx]

I thought musicals were making a comeback? Chicago, Moulin Rouge, Mama Mia, Nine... Not that they are my cup o' tea.

There's a musical television show that's amazingly popular.

 

[klacey1]

I think it's just a matter of taste. That's the same way I feel about people who are foodie's, too. People just prefer different things. I think Avatar is a crappy version of Pocahontas that got buzz for no reason-- don't know why it was nominated for anything beyond the visual.
You call No Country for Old Men comically awful--which is a bit harsh, like you're saying people who do like it are too stupid to know that it's bad-- I call it one of the best movies in years. Loved every second of that movie. It does a phenomenal job representing the novel. Have you read the book? You might feel differently-- it's amazing and the movie totally does it justice.

 

[Jennasis]

There's a musical television show that's amazingly popular.

***hangs head***

I um...I actually like that show. BUT, the musical numbers are my least favorite part. I think they're getting out of hand now.

 

[Jennasis]

I think it's just a matter of taste. That's the same way I feel about people who are foodie's, too. People just prefer different things. I think Avatar is a crappy version of Pocahontas that got buzz for no reason-- don't know why it was nominated for anything beyond the visual.
You call No Country for Old Men comically awful--which is a bit harsh, like you're saying people who do like it are too stupid to know that it's bad-- I call it one of the best movies in years. Loved every second of that movie. It does a phenomenal job representing the novel. Have you read the book? You might feel differently-- it's amazing and the movie totally does it justice.

Haven't read the novel. And probably won't.

The reason Avatar got buzz was for the technical stuff and the amount of money Cameron sank into it.

I never called anyone stupid (though i did call James Cameron a huge tool...). I'm insulted that you would attempt to spin my words that way.