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August 24, 2005
20 "Overrated" Movies - Part II
Circling back to Premiere magazine's 20 most overrated films, here's my take on their #15-#11 selections.
15. Monster's Ball. I always found it ironic that in Halle Berry's acceptance speech, she talked about how her Oscar win would open doors to actresses of color -- and then proceeded to name about a dozen highly respected and accomplished actresses of color who were already working and doing outstanding work. Kind of hard to open the door for someone who's already in the room, ain't it Halle? Anyway, while Halle's performance is stellar, I didn't think this movie was anything special. Besides, how can a film that co-stars Diddy Combs ask to be taken seriously? But overall, I don't know that you can put this movie in a top overrated films of all time list.
14. Jules and Jim. I don't watch French movies. Period. This has nothing to do with "freedom fries" and whiny jingoism, and everything to do with the pretentious snobbery of the American "cinema" types that dig French film. You know them -- the folks voted "Most Likely To Talk Down At You While Still On The Receiving End Of A Wedgie From You At Age 45" back in high school. They're the kind that almost make me feel that stuff like "Armageddon" is okay after all. I wouldn't have the slightest clue whether Jules and Jim is overrated or not. Nor will I ever.
13. Good Will Hunting. Don't be messing with Boston movies, Premiere. Despite the fact that Ben Affleck's career since this film just screams "overrated," this was a great film. And the fact that the piece of melodramatic garbage about the sinking ship won Best Picture in 1997 over Good Will Hunting ranks as the biggest hose job in Oscar history. Damon and Affleck overrated? Oh yeah. Good Will Hunting overrated? Not by a mile.
12. Gone With The Wind. I generally don't do well with Harlequin romances put to film. That may explain why I've never been able to sit through this movie to its completion. (Either that, or because every time I hear Bob Barr or Saxby Chambliss speak, I start wishing for General Sherman to be reincarnated and to re-enact his march.) This movie, made today, would be a "Lifetime Original Picture" starring Valerie Bertenelli. Yeah, it's overrated. And if you disagree... frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.
11. Forrest Gump. Yes, yes, YES! Easily in my top five of all time. I hate what this movie represents -- a sad and pathetic attempt at self-absolution and cleansing by the baby boom generation. "Here's a list of all the f'ed up things that our generation did... oh look, here comes the slow-witted but big-hearted personification of our entire generation, dragged along by the current of history as an unwitting yet lovable spectator to the events that defined our lives -- spewing platitudes about chocolate and stupidity, and being entirely blameless for the (waste product) that goes on around him! See? We're not so bad after all -- we're all Forrest Gump! We were blameless savants who were inadvertently responsible for every good thing that came from our lifetimes, but wholly innocent of all the nasty stuff! Don't you feel better about being a baby boomer now? I know I do! Absolution and salvation are ours!"
Gah! This movie makes me want to yack. Revisionist history is only fun if it means I end up with the girl. And while there were some strong performances in it, if only one Oscar was given to an actor in Forrest Gump, it should have gone to Gary Sinise. The fact that this schlocky piece of sentiment won Best Picture over the genuinely innovative and far better written Pulp Fiction -- not to mention the sublime and far more inspiring "The Shawshank Redemption" -- also ranks among Oscar's top ten screw jobs. Way overrated.
The only redeeming quality about Forrest Gump is that the little girl who played "Jenny" as a little girl (Hanna Hall) grew up to become absolutely smokin'. Under the right circumstances, she could get me to watch that movie for 24 hours straight.
Coming tomorrow... my take on #10-#6.
Comments
I'd agree with you about Forrest Gump -- that Message and all -- if it weren't such a damn entertaining, excellently acted, sometimes very sweet movie.
Posted by: JewsForDamon at August 24, 2005 09:57 AM
Oh god, I hate Forrest Gump...However, I will speak up for Diddy by saying he also co-starred in 'Made' and he was pretty damn funny in that.
Posted by: Corey at August 24, 2005 10:10 AM
She is smokin' that lil Jenny.
Posted by: Mileah at August 24, 2005 04:09 PM
Mileah, between li'l Jenny and Mary Louise Parker, you and I seem to have the same taste in women. Next time I'm in Austin, we gotta go out on the prowl together! ;-)
Posted by: Curmudgeon at August 24, 2005 04:58 PM
I hate FG as well. You very often have to look at who won the screenplay Oscars instead of "best film" to know what was the actual best movie(s) in a year. GWH is another good example. I love it.
Posted by: eden at August 24, 2005 08:15 PM
I thought Monster's Ball was pretty damn good, but Halle Barry was miscast. She would never be mistaken for a poor southern woman. She didn't deserve the oscar. Her speech made me sick. Angela Bassett would have been perfect for that role!
Posted by: Campbell at August 25, 2005 05:59 PM
