Poll: The best and worst Best Movie of the last 40 years
posted at 9:12 am on March 15, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
A few weeks back, we had a lot of fun choosing the worst of Hollywood’s major releases in conjunction with their annual orgy of self-congratulations, the Oscars. When I posted that poll, many Hot Air readers criticized the Academy Awards as politically driven in both national politics and industry politics, and that the awards in recent years honor the wrong films for the wrong reasons. To me, that sounds like a great topic for a poll, especially since I’ll be attending the Little Scribe’s baptism and celebrations today.
What was the worst movie to win Best Picture in the last 40 years? The list below contains some real snoozers, movies that have definitely not stood the test of time. Some of them had pretty disappointing competition; after all, picking Platoon from as opposed to The Mission, Hannah and Her Sisters, Children of a Lesser God, and A Room with a View could almost be justified as having been the only nominated movie that kept audiences awake. Others, like Kramer vs Kramer, are practically footnotes to artistic masterpieces it beat like All That Jazz and Apocalypse Now. Who loves the smell of custody hearings in the morning, after all?
I’ve listed a few nominees myself, but unlike our earlier polls, you can add your own suggestions from the list below. Be sure to copy and paste to get the title exact:
To be fair, this list contains masterpieces of its own. The Lord of the Rings is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I know Braveheart is favored by many Hot Air readers. Patton may be the best war movie of all time, and one of the best depictions of the thin line between genius and madness. Unforgiven haunts, as does Schindler’s List, for very different reasons.
Again, you’re not just stuck with my Magnificent Seven. If you like another on the list, add it and it will become part of the poll. Be sure to cut and paste the title from below in order to make sure it gets counted properly.
On Thursday, Betty Jo Tucker of Movie Addict Headquarters and Jazz Shaw will appear on The Ed Morrissey Show to discuss the results of both polls. Have fun!
The Academy Award database lists these as the nominees:
- 1968 – Oliver!
- 1969 – Midnight Cowboy
- 1970 – Patton
- 1971 – The French Connection
- 1972 – The Godfather
- 1973 – The Sting
- 1974 – The Godfather Part II
- 1975 – One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest
- 1976 – Rocky
- 1977 – Annie Hall
- 1978 – The Deer Hunter
- 1979 – Kramer vs. Kramer
- 1980 – Ordinary People
- 1981 – Chariots of Fire
- 1982 – Gandhi
- 1983 – Terms of Endearment
- 1984 – Amadeus
- 1985 – Out of Africa
- 1986 – Platoon
- 1987 – The Last Emperor
- 1988 – Rain Man
- 1989 – Driving Miss Daisy
- 1990 – Dances With Wolves
- 1991 – The Silence of the Lambs
- 1992 – Unforgiven
- 1993 – Schindler’s List
- 1994 – Forrest Gump
- 1995 – Braveheart
- 1996 – The English Patient
- 1997 – Titanic
- 1998 – Shakespeare in Love
- 1999 – American Beauty
- 2000 – Gladiator
- 2001 – A Beautiful Mind
- 2002 – Chicago
- 2003 – The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
- 2004 – Million Dollar Baby
- 2005 – Crash
- 2006 – The Departed
- 2007 – No Country for Old Men
- 2008 – Slumdog Millionaire
Blowback
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Worst: Terms of Endearment
Best: Forrest Gump
Admittedly I haven’t watched half of these movies and will likely not watch the ones in which I have no interest. I only watched “Terms of Endearment” because of curiosity (& Nicholson). Crap. The “Academy” has historically been old and they’re probably half women with a large gay influence.
perroviejo on March 15, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Just like ET–& I prefer family-friendly flicks.
There are a hundred holes in ET‘s plot.
jgapinoy on March 15, 2009 at 11:25 AM
I’d rather watch a marathon of Dude, Where’s My Car? than sit through five minutes of It’s a Wonderful Life.
Favorites: Hud, Cool Hand Luke, and Bridge on the River Kwai.
Percy_Peabody on March 15, 2009 at 11:27 AM
I think I am the only person in the world that absolutely hated “Saving Pvt. Ryan”. Just another lefty war protest movie.
BetseyRoss on March 15, 2009 at 10:51 AM
You are not the only one. I felt that movie was much too graphic. All the blood and guts didn’t make me appreciate the sacrifice those men made for this country any more. I know war is ugly. Give me a movie like The Best Years of Our Lives (1946). Well worth finding it and watching. It takes you through the lives of three men once they return from WWII. A reality check about the post-war lives of vets, and this was in a time it was always
honorable to be one.
jcheney on March 15, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Worst: The English Patient – After all these years, I STILL want those three hours back. And I don’t think I’ve ever cheered someone’s death by dehydration as much as I did the cheating wife’s.
Best: The Godfather – perfectly depicts the banality of evil, its everyday quality, best captured in one line: Leave the gun, take the cannoli.
Lurking Vet on March 15, 2009 at 11:30 AM
oh, yes, “Witness” was good. I loved when lemonade dribbled all down Harrison Ford’s shirt. very sexy.
kelley in virginia on March 15, 2009 at 11:30 AM
I never got how a Razzie like “A Beautiful Mind” won Best Picture. I guess Hollywood was still doing a lot of coke in 2001.
Crusty on March 15, 2009 at 11:31 AM
I’d put Braveheart at the top of the “Best Movie EVAH!” list.
Tony737 on March 15, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Honorable Mention
Marathon Man
Passion of the Christ
whitetop on March 15, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Also liked The Shining. One of the few movies I’ve ever watched more than once.
jeanie on March 15, 2009 at 11:35 AM
I guess it depends on how old you are or were when you saw Easy Rider, Hawk. I’m an old hippie who went to Woodstock, and that movie was something that “spoke to us” back then. But I agree, if you watch it now, it’s dated and really hokey.
And I agree….Crash, The English Patient and American Beauty……Ugh!
Why is Glory never mentioned in any of these lists? Or Close Encounters? Two of my very favorites.
Knucklehead on March 15, 2009 at 11:36 AM
The Blues Brothers was a great flick, likewise Animal House.
doriangrey on March 15, 2009 at 11:36 AM
I think Kubrick’s instincts were right. I always thought Burgess undermined the whole theme of the book with his last chapter. If Alex is capable of moral growth , it’s ambiguous whether he was ever truly robbed of his free will. It came off as a little contrived, too. The vicious hooligan decides to turn his life around because of a picture of a kid. Meh.
RightOFLeft on March 15, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Best: The Godfather Part II
Worst: Crash
Rusty Shackleford on March 15, 2009 at 11:37 AM
The only reason “Milk” won this year is because the movie is a about a dead homosexual. This “best” movie was usually listed at between 19-21 at the box office. Yep, a real ‘winner’. Had this movie been named “Moscone” would anyone have ever heard of it?
GarandFan on March 15, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Saving Private Ryan is a clear contender for best movie of all time. But it wasn’t PC so Shakespeare in Love won. What a meaningless, boring, useless film! That was, to the academy, what Yassir Arafat winning a Nobel Peace prize was to that academy.
Now we know they are clowns.
Pythagoras on March 15, 2009 at 11:45 AM
You are correct, sir.
I really don’t know how to respond to people that don’t like ACO. That’s a great movie.
Proud Rino on March 15, 2009 at 11:46 AM
You beat me to it. Greatest movie EVAH! Ray Charles should have been given an award just on his shooting ability.
Laura in Maryland on March 15, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Movie ratings? We don’t need no stinking movie ratings! Blazing Saddles although corny was really entertaining.
hip shot on March 15, 2009 at 11:47 AM
I’m not criticising anyone who enjoyed it. I do think though that it was made, consciously or not, like a lot of Hollywood films are nowadays, with a Hollywood audience in mind.
Here is a good blog post on Hollywood’s alienation from middle-class values and the inevitable creative rot that set in:
Hollywood’s Heroism Deficit: Wealth, Drugs and Divorce
aengus on March 15, 2009 at 11:47 AM
For myself. . .
Best of the Best: AMADEUS
Worst of the Best: CRASH
Gottafang on March 15, 2009 at 11:48 AM
It’s interesting that some people here think Saving Private Ryan only lost because of the Leftists, and yet others hate Saving Private Ryan…because of the Leftists.
I always liked it. It’s kind of sad that you can’t just watch a movie without trying to figure out whether it conforms to your ideology. Ideally, a good movie questions you and challenges you. If the only thing you want is a movie that confirms your worldview is correct…well, that’s weird.
Proud Rino on March 15, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Best of the Best Movies:
Unforgiven. “We all got it coming, kid.”
Worst of the Best Movies:
The English Patient. “Deserving has got nothing to do with it.”
Limerick on March 15, 2009 at 11:50 AM
1. Milk didn’t win Best Picture – Slumdog Millionaire won
2 Are you seriously arguing that the quality of a movie is based on the number of people who saw it?
Proud Rino on March 15, 2009 at 11:50 AM
I love SPR. But there is some very bad acting in it at times. There are also some very bad special effects. Overall great movie. Not the best that year.
hawkdriver on March 15, 2009 at 11:51 AM
That’s not what I got from it at all. It’s many years since I read the book but I recall Alex only decided to settle down after he saw Petey had settled down with a nice girl. I didn’t think it represented any real moral growth in that sense, just a subtler form of mindless conformity (envying/copying Petey).
aengus on March 15, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Forest Gump was good but Shawshank Redemption should have won. Even though it stars a card carrying liberal ass-hat its one of the best ever.
“Hope is a good thing”
m0nkeyb0y on March 15, 2009 at 11:56 AM
As much as I hate “Titanic” I have to go with “Crash” being the worst best film. It was just so completely unworthy.
And, um, I kind of liked “The English Patient” but I was the only one awake during the last hour. I don’t know how much I liked it or if I just liked it for Kristen Scott Thomas, who I will watch in anything.
Probably my favorite best picture is “Annie Hall” but really, any of the winners pre-1995 were entertaining.
myrenovations on March 15, 2009 at 11:57 AM
These days, it’s hard to separate the theme/premise and political message from hollywood. It’s intentional and if you really don’t see it, then you’re not very observant.
BTW, ACO is just so much pseudointellectual garbage wrapped up in sex and violence and entirely meant to appeal to the biggest demographic by shoving every conceivable draw into it. Okay, here’s the part where you tell me it was obviously “too intelligent” for me and I just didn’t get it.
hawkdriver on March 15, 2009 at 11:58 AM
My votes…
Worst: Titanic
Best: The Godfather
Cylor on March 15, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Ishtar
Dr Evil on March 15, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Gigli
Dr Evil on March 15, 2009 at 12:00 PM
The worst IMHO was Deer Hunter because it started the whole Vietnam Vet meme.
PattyJ on March 15, 2009 at 12:01 PM
One of the Best “O Brother Where Art Thou”
Dr Evil on March 15, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Best of the snubbed: ‘Sin City’
Limerick on March 15, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Okay so you’re telling us you don’t like movies with 2 vowels and 4 consonants in the title?
hawkdriver on March 15, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Best skewering of an Academy Award pick – the Seinfeld “English Patient” episode.
PatMac on March 15, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Like Austin Powers, Shawshank Redemption wasn’t widely popular until it came out on video. At the time it was nominated not that many people had seen it.
aengus on March 15, 2009 at 12:03 PM
My favorite movie of all time will always be “The Great Escape”. Of course, it doesn’t fall in the last 40 year criteria, as it was made in 1963.
I just remember the impact it had on me the first time I watched it as a child. The Steve McQueen motorcycle chase has to be one of the most suspenseful scenes ever filmed.
Just a great film all the way around. Great story. Great drama. Great performances by an all-star cast.
DeathB4Tyranny on March 15, 2009 at 12:03 PM
lol, Never mind. Never count letters before coffee.
hawkdriver on March 15, 2009 at 12:04 PM
I’m not saying I don’t notice it, I’m saying I don’t necessarily hate a movie because I disagree with it politically or because it might make a ham-fisted political point every once in awhile. And for every movie people don’t like here, they always mention how PC or left wing it is. I just think that’s kind of depressing.
I don’t think ACO is a particularly complex movie. You don’t like it, you don’t like it. Fair enough. I’m just surprised, I think it’s a really great, thoughtful movie. Just because there’s sex and violence in a movie doesn’t mean it can’t be great.
Proud Rino on March 15, 2009 at 12:06 PM
I agree there, not that I would call it a favorite, but I did enjoy it.
I need help on a bet with that movie. When the girl is buying the ammo for the pistol the storekeeper just got, she tells the clerk to just give her the red box, which as we know turned out to be blanks. I say she knew all along she was buying blanks, my wife says it was just a fortunate circumstance. Which do you all think?
JamesLee on March 15, 2009 at 12:10 PM
Miller’s Crossing.
I just wanted to throw that out there. One of my top favorites and it hasn’t been mentioned in any of these threads.
Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.
reaganaut on March 15, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Future Best Picture: “Barry Goes to Washington”
Limerick on March 15, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Fair enough comment.
Some just turn me off from the beginning because they are so in your face obvious. There are times when I swear, the hollywood liberals put scenes in movies early as if to dare a thinking Conservative from sticking it out.
Example. Halle Berre in “Perfect Stranger”. Watching it at the GFs house on DVD. The opening scenes has her doing a morality journalistic sting on a Conservative Politician and it has zero to do with the story. They are little object lessons that are meant to be there.
(BTW, am I the only guy who thought Berre deserved the Best Actress for Monsters Ball?)
hawkdriver on March 15, 2009 at 12:19 PM
I just remember the impact it had on me the first time I watched it as a child. The Steve McQueen motorcycle chase has to be one of the most suspenseful scenes ever filmed.
McQueen insisted they put in that scene show he could show off his motorcycle skills. McQueen rode on several circuits and he was as good as you saw in the film. You can see it when he slides to a stop, shifts his gears, and looks to the horizon for an escape, never paying attention to the details. I agree, it was a great scene.
Great thread Ed! We need ones like this on a Sunday morning.
itsspideyman on March 15, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Thanks for writing this. I know I’m going to be the minority on this, but Silence still remains the best of the best so far. The acting was second to none, no special effects and the movie was just original, not trite or hackneyed like most movies. See e.g., Crash, The Departed, Gladiator, No Country for Old Men etc etc etc.
BTW, for those who wanted Saving Private Ryan, remember that there was another war movie that year that probably split the vote.
IR-MN on March 15, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Sissy Spacek was much better in “In The Bedroom.”
IR-MN on March 15, 2009 at 12:22 PM
OK, *that’s* really irritating. That’s a fair point. The evil politician always seems to be a Republican, aren’t they? That makes political movies really hard to watch sometimes. I actually don’t watch political movies for that reason.
But I mean, if you’re watching, say, The Incredibles and trying to discern whether or not it’s left-wing or right-wing – take a step back from politics for awhile. Take a breather.
Proud Rino on March 15, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Kramer vs Kramer unfortunately has to be understood in the period it was made. Then women were sugar and spice and custody was automatic. (still is for the most part) KvK ripped open the idea that only women could care for kids or that women are naturally altruistic to a fault.
I find it interesting that many mention Gladiator yet none consider A Beautiful Mind. In my view the latter is Crowe’s better work.
Dr. Dog on March 15, 2009 at 12:26 PM
The Godfather is the best movie EVER made…..argument over.
Knuterockne on March 15, 2009 at 12:28 PM
I can very easily watch anything if the morality and message is left to the audience to decide. Monsters Ball I think is a great example. It puts every hot button issue into a contemporary movie feasible but makes no apparent judgment. Even at the end, you sort of get to decide how it turns out. I think it was as simple as asking if you were an optimist or a pessimist.
hawkdriver on March 15, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Like the chase in Bullit. Steve McQueen rocked.
All the action heroes are gone.
Now (last 20 years, really) they have to bring in steroid-happy freaks to balance out the metrosexual sissy-men that dominate Hollywood.
reaganaut on March 15, 2009 at 12:30 PM
I find it interesting that many mention Gladiator yet none consider A Beautiful Mind. In my view the latter is Crowe’s better work.
Dr. Dog on March 15, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Just thought of “Master and Commander”, another excellent Crowe movie.
itsspideyman on March 15, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Just thought of “Master and Commander”, another excellent Crowe movie.
itsspideyman on March 15, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Cinderella Man. Great movie too.
But again, too bad and shame on Ron Howard for taking a great athlete like Max Baer and trying to make him into something of a monster because his movie needed an antagonist that was bigger than life. I honestly think the history subjects that Howard picks are interesting enough in their own right without him rewriting it. He’s notorious for that.
hawkdriver on March 15, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Best in 40 Oscars: THE DEPARTED
Best movie evah: 12 O’CLOCK HIGH
Honorable mention: The Third Man
Dr. Strangelove
Night of the Iguana
Janos Hunyadi on March 15, 2009 at 12:39 PM
I would have to think Shakespeare in Love would make the “worst best” list. How that “meh” film managed to beat out the stunning Saving Private Ryan is beyond me. Probably the worst example of a political win due to campaigning by the studio.
Forrest Gump would be another. It beat Pulp Fiction *and* Shawshank Redemption and Leon and the Lion King and Ed Wood and Three Colors: Red and Clerks and Heavenly Creatures.
Hal_10000 on March 15, 2009 at 12:43 PM
You Duke fans should be ashamed. The War Wagon was clearly his best work. :-)
I’d also be interested in a show of hands for everyone trashing Milk as to how many of you actually saw it? It could easily have won best picture and with good reason. Incredible filmmaking no matter what you think of the “politics” and such. So many people seem to eliminate any film from their viewing list because they want to attach some sort of partisan political tag on it. Sad.
Jazz Shaw on March 15, 2009 at 12:43 PM
With the exception of jcheney (who kinda just covered a lot of bets with the shotgun approach) no one here has mentioned, “The Sting.” Entertaining plot twists, but then again I was only 9 or 10 when I first saw it. Yes, I agree that it is now harder to watch a film if it has a hard-core lib like Redford or Tim Robbins benefiting from my ticket purchase. But that said, “Shawshank Redemption,” holds up well (Robbins and Steven King as the author!).
Since I’ve been raising kids for the past 15 years I haven’t seen many non-animated films in that time. Best = anything I can stomach watching with the kids on video over and over. But if repeated viewability is a new criterion, then “Stripes,” “Caddyshack,” and, “Animal House,” among others we wore out in college.
Tom_OC on March 15, 2009 at 12:45 PM
I see your point, but IIRC Burgess interpreted it differently. Come to think of it, I like your interpretation better. I don’t see how it’s any less nihilistic, though.
RightOFLeft on March 15, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Did you see any of the “Left Behind” Series?
hawkdriver on March 15, 2009 at 12:46 PM
I couldn’t agree more with that statement. Steve McQueen vs say Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt. No contest. Hollywood and political correctness have emasculated our culture and replaced it with righteous moral relativism and as you said, “metrosexual sissy-men”.
DeathB4Tyranny on March 15, 2009 at 12:54 PM
i wouldn’t say it’s the worst, but the most disturbing movie i’ve ever seen is a clockwork orange…the first time i saw it was on a first date and the whole time i was thinking what the f*ck is this???
Equality 7-2521 on March 15, 2009 at 12:55 PM
But again, too bad and shame on Ron Howard for taking a great athlete like Max Baer and trying to make him into something of a monster because his movie needed an antagonist that was bigger than life. I honestly think the history subjects that Howard picks are interesting enough in their own right without him rewriting it. He’s notorious for that.
hawkdriver on March 15, 2009 at 12:36 PM
In total absolute agreement with this hawkdriver. Max Baer was a great fighter and from what I’ve read a friend to everyone. I haven’t seen the movie once I knew what they did to him.
Max Baer Jr. (Jethro) read a letter on Father’s Day from his dad to him when he was born on ESPN, and one line that Max Baer wrote that sticks in my throat even now is “if my death meant now it would ensure you a happy life, I would go happily knowning you, my son, my beautiful boy, would have what I pledge the rest of my life towards”.
itsspideyman on March 15, 2009 at 12:59 PM
I’ve seen three of them and they are pretty awful, so far as acting goes. The stories are good and I would like to see what the movies would turn out like with a real Hollywood budget.
myrenovations on March 15, 2009 at 12:59 PM
Why the hell is Chariots of Fire in the “Worst” list? It’s one of the best movies ever. Sure, the synthesizer soundtrack is somewhat out of place, but this is a movie about standing up for your principles and getting rewarded for it.
mram on March 15, 2009 at 1:01 PM
The Return of the King/Lord of the Ring
Great cinematography and special effects
Good acting
Classic story of good verses evil
Memorable scenes and quotes
So many parallels to the world in which we live
Sure, I would have cut out about 30-40 minutes of poignant staring, but otherwise brilliant.
Disturb the Universe on March 15, 2009 at 1:02 PM
I couldn’t agree more with that statement. Steve McQueen vs say Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt. No contest. Hollywood and political correctness have emasculated our culture and replaced it with righteous moral relativism and as you said, “metrosexual sissy-men”.
DeathB4Tyranny on March 15, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Especially because Steve McQueen didn’t just play bigger-than-life characters, Steve McQueen was bigger-than-life. John Wayne, Ward Bond, Steve McQueen, Spencer Tracy, Lee Marvin, Jimmy Stewart, all Men’s men, and I know I’m leaving out so many other.
itsspideyman on March 15, 2009 at 1:03 PM
I didn’t know that.
:)
I don’t just mean Kubrick’s plot change but the filmic language – the swell of music, Alex’s wide-eyed grin in close-up, the satisfaction in his voice at his fantasies – seems designed to strike a triumphant note of violent pleasure to close the film on.
aengus on March 15, 2009 at 1:03 PM
The deer hunter was a fn fanrasic movie.
Titanic sucked so almost as bad as The lord of the rings.
Trash!
TheSitRep on March 15, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Best: The Godfather – Not only the best Best Picture winner of the last 40 years, but arguably the finest motion picture ever made. Seriously, aside from Sonny’s awful whiffed punch, is there anything wrong with this movie? It’s got a perfect cast, perfect direction, perfect writing, perfect editing(aforementioned punch notwithstanding), perfect music, and a perfect story arc. Nothing comes close, except for the last 45 minutes of The Godfather Part II which manages to surpass the first movie.
Worst: Crash – There have been plenty of mediocre-to-bad movies that won Best Picture. Hell, the Academy has been on a roll with them lately. But Crash is one of the most offensive, insulting, and condescending wastes of celluloid I’ve ever had the experience of sitting through. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a sucker punch or a kick to the nads. There’s nothing of substance in this movie. Most of the performances are over-the-top and annoying. The plot(what little there is) is absurd. And after beating you over the head for an hour and a half with how ugly and racist the world is, Paul Haggis tries to wrap everything up by shoving a happy ending in your face.
On a side note regarding A Clockwork Orange, for those who don’t like it, give it another look. I hated it the first time I saw it. I had no idea what the Russian lingo meant or what the point of the movie was. But Kubrick can be an acquired taste. After my second viewing, it made a lot more sense and now it’s one of my all-time favorite films. Malcolm McDowell’s Alex is one of the most amazing performances I’ve ever seen. And to think, he wasn’t even nominated for Best Actor that year.
Doughboy on March 15, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Mine was “Flying Leathernecks” if only for the quote “I don’t think he started this war and if he did I don’t think that he did it on purpose.”
Johan Klaus on March 15, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Don’t totally disagree with your opinion. I was just wondering it Jazz Shaw would go to one knowing what the theme of the movie was.
I wouldn’t go to Milk because it doesn’t matter to me one way or the other about old Harvey or Frisco politics. I would go support a series of movies that I even knew wouldn’t be quite on par with the rest of hollywood productions in hopes that the production company behind it would be able to try more and do better films.
Jazz, the point is we mostly go to see what interests us.
hawkdriver on March 15, 2009 at 1:10 PM
Worse than Apocalypse Now? Sure. Worst of the last 40 years? I don’t see how. It was a moving story that tackled a then-controversial topic in a very human way.
RightOFLeft on March 15, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Kramer vs. Kramer beats out Apocalypse Now?!?! Are you kidding me?
Ted Kramer, you should have been a pair of ragged claws, scuttling along floors of silent seas, man… worst Best Picture ever.
Best Best Picture, Schindler’s List. Spielberb at his finest. Liam Neeson… you was robbed.
JohnGalt23 on March 15, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Saving Private Ryan broke important ground. Its portrayal of war was refreshingly sickening.
Gotta admit that Band of Brothers beats ‘em all — though not a movie. It was required viewing in USMC officer training (and may still be — I don’t know.)
Pythagoras on March 15, 2009 at 1:20 PM
so alot of us love John Wayne, right? What an American!
kelley in virginia on March 15, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Also, one of my favorites is William Holden.
I always like the comparisons of movie stars heading to his safari club in Kenya for some R&R and the display of unapolegetic capitalism to today’s stars who flock to Africa to collect babies.
I think it has something to do with a generation that served in a war compared to a generation that dodged a war.
Holden also had the best acceptance speech ever…
reaganaut on March 15, 2009 at 1:25 PM
Hawk, that’s fine and dandy as long as you’re not one of the ones trashing it. I don’t go see many movies on subjects or in genres that don’t interest me. And now, I’ve heard of them, but I don’t recall ever seeing a “Left Behind” movie in the theater here. If one comes around I’d give it a shot, though. I liked Will Smith’s treatment of being “the last man on Earth” and while you might find it amazing, I’m not an atheist.
But the original question was, how many of the people talking about what a piece of crap Milk was actually watched it? Or did you hear that it was a “lefty” film and just decide to trash it and declare that it lacked the cinematic muscle to be in the best film category?
Jazz Shaw on March 15, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Best:
Godfather I & II
Patton
Best John Wayne film- The Searchers ( I still get chills from his line- “Waddya want me to do, draw you a picture?”)
Honorable mention- the first Cape Fear- Robert Mitchum was terrifying.
jjshaka on March 15, 2009 at 1:27 PM
That’s who Alex is – perverse and vulgar. The audience has to know how deeply his treatment failed, and Kubrick leaves no doubt.
RightOFLeft on March 15, 2009 at 1:29 PM
While far from the best movie the one that shocked me the most was the opening scene from ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’.
Henry Fonda gunning down a prairie family was about as far from my safe little world as it got.
Limerick on March 15, 2009 at 1:31 PM
I enjoyed A Clockwork Orange, more so when I was a college kid than I do now.
I have a sister-in-law who has Alex’s eyes (or Malcom McDowell’s eyes, I guess) and I am just waiting for the family party where she slaughters us all with phallic art.
myrenovations on March 15, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Holden also had the best acceptance speech ever…
reaganaut on March 15, 2009 at 1:25 PM
OMG, How could I forget William Holden!?!? Stalag 17, The Bridge on the River Kwai? What at man! Thanks for the reminder!
itsspideyman on March 15, 2009 at 1:34 PM
I rented Chariots of Fire after it came out on laser disk. During the entire movie I kept wondering why it won best picture. It was awful.
roux on March 15, 2009 at 1:35 PM
When I first saw this movie, I thought that there is no way that the U.S. would ever reach that point, but the LA riots, OJ, gangsta rap………..
Johan Klaus on March 15, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Okay, Fair enough. You really can’t beat up a movie unless you’ve seen it.
Can I still make fun of Sean Penns accent from Casualties of War? That in itself should have keep him out of Best Actor award consideration permanently.
hawkdriver on March 15, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Best John Wayne film- The Searchers ( I still get chills from his line- “Waddya want me to do, draw you a picture?”)
Agreed, jjshaka. You felt during the picture that Ethan was always on the edge of losing it. A man like that who had seen so much, then to see is niece… A great movie and IMO, the Duke’s best.
itsspideyman on March 15, 2009 at 1:38 PM
Are we allowed to beat up a movie based on the clips that we have seen?
Because it was Penn’s “Milk” that reminded me of Penn’s “I Am Sam” that really turned me off from going to see it.
myrenovations on March 15, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Heh – and Reagan’s best man.
reaganaut on March 15, 2009 at 1:39 PM
do we want to move on to favorite TV shows now? Naturally, i’m a huge Gunsmoke fan.
kelley in virginia on March 15, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Chicago is known for its palpable hatred of men…’nuf said.
Picking the best of the best is a tough one. I went with my heart: Amadeus.
The Wild Duck on March 15, 2009 at 1:40 PM
If you guys are going on about the best movie ever?
“The Best Years of Our Lives”
I could watch it again and again.
hawkdriver on March 15, 2009 at 1:40 PM
i tried to watch “milk”. needless to say, I couldn’t take it.
kelley in virginia on March 15, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Blues Brothers? Are you guys kidding me? I’ve never seen such a coked out flick.
Blake on March 15, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Hm, I guess so.
aengus on March 15, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Why is “Rocky” in the poll for worst movie and not best? What is wrong with youse guys??
das411 on March 15, 2009 at 1:42 PM
How about the Best Movie witht the worst ending.
Road to Perdition.
I swear to sweet Jesus a different guy directed the last two scenes. It was like taking a ride in an old car with a sweet kid telling you this great story but then got tired of telling it at the end.
PS Then he kicks your ass out before you can even say thanks for the ride.
hawkdriver on March 15, 2009 at 1:46 PM
At the risk of getting laughed at, am I the only one who loved Avalon?
Knucklehead on March 15, 2009 at 1:49 PM
i loved “No Country for Old Men” but so dissapointed with the ending. i voted for “Forrest Gump” as best picture but i have no quarrel with the current leader “The Godfather” although i thought “Godfather II” was slightly better.
stormin1961 on March 15, 2009 at 1:50 PM
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