Top 10 Overrated Movies of the Last Decade
by Kurt SchlichterAs we say goodbye to the first decade of the new century – and I don’t wanna hear any revisionist bellyaching about the decade not ending until December 2010 – we also say hello to the mainstream media movie critics’ lists of the best movies since 2000. Like their “hard news” reporting brethren, the MSM’s critics’ consensus view of what’s good constitutes a conventional wisdom that emphasizes the “conventional” while going light on the “wisdom.” And, like the rest of the MSM, they are almost always wrong.
This countdown of movies – all but one of which was nominated for at least a couple of Oscars – is not a list of the worst movies of the last decade. Instead, it counts down ten notable cinematic critical darlings that simply do not hold up over time. They are not necessarily awful films – though some are transcendentally terrible – and many have good performances, memorable scenes or even a classic character or two. But overall, the effect of watching them again today is similar to what you might experience at your high school reunion when you see how that sexy cheerleader you once dated is now a bloated wildebeest with a tat on her meaty hock reading “Hope and Change.” You just shake your head, asking yourself, “Man, what was I thinking?”
10. The Departed (2006): This Martin Scorsese film is not terrible. It’s just not as great as everyone – including the Academy, which named it “Best Picture” and Scorsese “Best Director” – wants to believe. You get the distinct impression that after overlooking Scorsese for real masterpieces like Goodfellas and Taxi Driver, the Academy and the critics made an unspoken pact to see that he finally got recognized for something. Sadly, there’s no disputing that The Departed is at the tail end of the Scorsese pantheon. Its tangled, implausible plot relies completely on characters making consistently poor decisions and being blind to the obvious. Leonardo DiCaprio is too pretty and too whiny as the twitchy protagonist. Jack Nicholson competently chews the scenery but just seems bored with the whole thing. Matt Damon, who is from Boston, is unconvincing as someone from Boston. While Scorsese’s use of a Drop Kick Murphy’s tune deserves props, The Departed is waaaaaaaaay too long, and the “romantic” scenes between DiCaprio and Vera Farmiga bring the action to a flying stop. Rent Casino instead.
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9. Little Miss Sunshine (2006): Yuck. It was hardly the original, groundbreaking comedy that it was made out to be – and hardly a rightful Best Picture nominee. It’s really just an intermittently amusing road movie – very intermittently. We’ve seen a million versions of Alan Arkin’s potty-mouthed grandpa. Whoa, an old guy who swears and engages in debauchery – mind-blowing! Particularly annoying is the character played by Greg Kinnear, the father who is so stupid he actually believes in the American Dream. That drew plenty of guffaws from the hipsters, as did the up-tight, repressed know-nothing characters during the climax who were actually dismayed at the sight of a six-year old doing a modified striptease to “Super Freak.” Yeah, take that fathers who care about their families and people who disapprove of kids acting like little tramps. Unpleasant, smug, and unfunny – these are hardly the qualities of a great comedy.
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8. In the Bedroom (2001): In the Bedroom is a ponderous, slooooooow, glacially paced talkfest that somehow earned five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. It was hailed as uniquely moving, and that was true. In fact, about half-way through it, I moved directly to the exit. I admit that it was probably immature of me to yell to the remaining audience members that, “This sucks – I’m outta here!” On the other hand, perhaps it makes me a fearless truth teller who refuses to allow society’s conventions to silence his patriotic dissent. You be the judge – but whatever you do, don’t squander irreplaceable hours of your life on this train wreck.
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7. Children of Men (2006): No one can argue that this confused, depressing sci-fi flick about a dystopian future without children is not a technical marvel. It is, as its Academy Award nominations recognized. But it is also an intellectually bankrupt, confused mish-mash of hazy leftist tropes, green preachiness and hackneyed Hollywood clichés. Apparently people stopped being able to breed because of capitalism or something – who knows? And while you might think this would be the ultimate fantasy for the climate change scammers and other Earth First/Humans Last types, consistency is hardly Children of Men’s strong suit. All people are bad, except the illegal immigrants flooding England, who are good. And so are the terrorists, sometimes, but no one else is. Here’s my advice: If you have to watch the stupid thing, do it with the sound off and speed through the talky parts to get to the action set pieces. You’ll thank me.
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6. Mystic River (2003): Mystic River is painfully slow and it’s so calculatedly actor-y, with hammy portrayals by Sean Penn and Tim Robbins, that you feel like Jon Lovitz’s Master Thespian should show up to yell “Acting!” You half expect Sean and Tim to break the forth wall to announce “And scene!” Look, their politics are terrible, but their commie preoccupations are nothing compared to these awful performances. Overwrought acting and the grim, melodramatic story together made for one of the decade’s least pleasant film-going experiences. See it with someone you dislike.
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5. No Country for Old Men (2007): Yeah, I know most everyone loves it and that it won Best Picture. Yeah, I know Cormac McCarthy, who wrote the novel, is supposed to be America’s greatest literary treasure. Well, I hated the book and the movie and wish I could get back the hours I wasted on them. The plot makes little sense, and it’s propelled forward only by having Josh Brolin’s character do the absolute stupidest thing at each decision point. Brolin and Tommy Lee Jones both portray rural characters not as real human beings but as some sort of weird Hollywood image of what normal people are like. Javier Bardem as the killer is initially interesting, but he suffers from Chronic Indestructibility Syndrome – the fact that he can’t be stopped kept me from caring that he wasn’t. There are also gaping holes in the story where important events happen, but we don’t see them – just like in the book. I suppose that it’s some sort of hip literary statement to tell a story by not telling it. I guess I’m just one of those bourgeoisie knuckledraggers who demands his stories be coherent, interesting and actually told.
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4. Superbad (2007): This tiresome teen comedy got no Oscar nods, but it did earn an 87% fresh rating on Rottentomatoes.com. I don’t know why. Other than the amusing McLovin character, this was a pale imitation of truly subversive teen films like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, yet it was hailed as some sort of cutting edge, revolutionary experiment in pushing boundaries. And it did – of good taste, but without the laughs to justify the crassness. Ridgemont dared to show its emotionally stunted, direction-less heroine seek out an abortion because she had no parental or social influences that provided her other options. It made a powerful comment on the spiritual emptiness of a whole generation of affluent kids. In contrast, the timid Superbad focuses on its lame protagonists’ efforts to buy-up beer and makes tampon jokes. Edgy. Superbad shows that if you expect nothing from your movies, you will get it.
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3. Crash (2004): I have to admit that I did not see this Best Picture winner. When I first saw the trailer, the needle on my Liberal Sanctimony Detector went into the red. No thanks. So, allow me instead to quote a long-time friend’s assessment. Crash is “an abomination.” It belongs not on a list of the Top Ten Overrated Films of the Last Decade but “on the list of the Ten Worst Movies of All Time.” Note that my friend is a proud liberal, so perhaps this provides some hope that those of us on both sides of our polarized American polity can come together once again on common ground, united in a shared contempt for Crash.
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2. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006): A bloody fairy tale set during the Spanish Civil War – how can that go wrong? Where does one start on why this over-praised disaster is so lousy? Well, there’s the child-like innocence of the communist guerrillas who are the heroes of the piece. As anyone who knows anything about the Spanish Civil War knows, the reds spent a lot less time bravely trying to save little girls than butchering one another for insufficient political reliability. How about the story? Well, I still have no clue what it was about. There’s a little girl, a mean fascist, some monsters, and then most everyone dies. Like so many others of these over-praised films, Pan’s Labyrinth is boring, confused and generally unpleasant, and I wish there was a way to unsee it.
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1. Lost In Translation (2003): Sometimes you walk out of a movie and you know that it has, at some level, changed you. Well, my life was measurably changed for the worse because I saw this film. Watching it caused me physical, psychic and spiritual pain. You haven’t been bored until you’ve been Lost In Translation bored. Still, there are three good things about Lost in Translation. First, Bill Murray is funny in one, or maybe two scenes. Second, they use the awesome song “Just Like Honey” by the Jesus and Mary Chain on the soundtrack. Third, it eventually ends. Lost in Translation is just a terrible movie – dull, pretentious, and morally bankrupt. Scarlett Johansson, whose ambition is apparently to prove that Winona Ryder is not the worst actress in human history, plays an immature, narcissistic, spoiled brat who whines her way through a trip to Japan. Naturally, she is our heroine. The problem is that the movie seems to think ScarJo’s character is awesome, and that the real problem is people keeping their commitments, fulfilling their responsibilities and forgoing transitory gratification. Yeah, they sure called our society’s big problem – too many people not acting like selfish twits.
Perhaps you have fond memories of one or more of these films. Perhaps you recall enjoying, even loving the experience of seeing it back when it first came out. Well, don’t take my word for it. Put it on your Netflix queue. Pop it into the DVD player. But just remember – you were warned.
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586 Comments
I have to say proudly that I have not seen any of these films. Well, I think I might have seen part of Lost in Translation but thought it was stupid and it didn't leave much more of an impression.
I thank my children for being my excuse to not go with the in-laws to see a movie all the time. Honestly I just haven't been interested, but no one seems to except that excuse.
I refused to watch Crash. From the trailers and reviews, I knew immediately it was sanctimonious left wing pap.
Great list. Substitute "A.I." for "Children of Men" and it will be perfect.
I hated 28 Days Later. I had read so many great reviews that actually sitting through the movie was almost like an out-of-body experience. The story was actually pretty good, but its politics ruined it for me. There's really nothing worse than a good zombie movie with politics.
A deadly zombie virus sweeps England and who do the real bad guys turn out to be? The mad scientists who created the virus? No. The clueless animal rights activists who unleash the virus on the world? No. The real bad guys are 9 British soldiers who go postal because they haven't gotten laid in a month.
After watching it I looked it up on IMDb and discovered that it was filmed after 9/11 and that just added to my disgust for everyone who made the movie. When the military are the bad guys in a zombie movie you know there's not much hope for this world.
I have to agree with you on The Departed, No Country, and Children– but Lost in Translation? Morally Bankrupt? Boring? Maybe it's just due to my time as a Japanese major, but I thought it was hilarious. And as far as morals– what about two lonely people with an attraction to each other deciding to -keep- their marital commitments? Surely there's no better a sentiment than the strength to do what is right in the face of something that would be so much easier and far more appealing.
4. Scarlett Johansson spends much of the film not wearing pants.
Great post Kurt. I only wasted time on two of these overrated films. I was told that Children Of Men was one of the great Sci-Fi flicks of this decade. I wish I had those two hours back. And No Country For Old Men. I'm a Cohen brothers fan, loved Fargo, Raising Arizona, Millers Crossing. Expected the same. Just like many rock bands, I guess their best work is behind them. Thanks for the warning on the rest. I won't be wasting my time on any of them.
I did like the Departed for only two reasons, both Damon and DiCaprio get it right in the head…Sweet!
I didn't see 4 or 7, but I completely agree with all save for one, "Pan's Labyrinth" – it was disturbing but I found it to be original and imaginative, qualities I miss. I just saw "Sherlock Holmes". Qualities I desperately miss.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for this list. I concur completely. I tried to sit through the much vaunted "Mystic River" but my brain kept shutting down.
There seems to be a theme in all these pretentious pieces of dreck. The characters and situations are not based on any realism, but only on what Hollywood perceives as what is realistic. And every case is a hyperbolic and underhanded version of what Hollywood wants life to be, especially out here in the hinterlands. No wonder thinking people can't relate to these films.
You missed "There Will be Blood," a ponderous movie that paints both capitalist oil barons and Christians as lunatics.
OK I'll go along with the rest of your choices – those I've seen – but The Departed is on the top of my best ever list. People DO do inconsistent and stupid things. DiCaprio's portrayal of a "lace curtain" kid who was astronaut smart then tossed into bad things beyond his imaginings was powerful and believable. Damon played a broken child raised by a crook who was obviously searching for a redemption he never found. Their relationships with the psychologist, played out at the same time, gave something desperately needed by all three of them. Sorry Kurt, you missed on this one. The Departed was great movie-making.
Agree completely with #10 (I absolutely despised that movie)…
I gotta really think about whether or not I'd put Children of Men on the list though. (although I liked Owen better in "Shoot "Em Up.. ), as I'm sure there are probably more overrated movies
"Million Dollar Baby" would probably be the one that goes on my list in it's place…
28 Days Later was everything you say!
I, too, enjoyed LIT for those reasons.
I liked the Departed. Everything else… eh… not so much. Superbad was probably the most disappointing out of all the movies listed.
Can you recommend 10 good ones?
It's only peripherally on your list, but I found Casino to be disgusting. The violence was so disturbing that it took me out of the story. It was the moment I began to think, "You know, there's something wrong with this Scorsese guy." Yeah, I know, shouldn't I have gotten a clue after Taxi Driver? Sorry. I'm a slow learner.
Kurt, I always enjoy your posts, and now I can clearly see why. We do not like the same movies! Several of these I just could not bring myself to watch, despite all of the hype. Being a Scorsese fan, I did see The Departed–it was just plain dumb. I like Clive Owen, but thought the story of Children of Men, and the lack of a solid explanation of why mankind lost its ability to reproduce, was tedious and lame. Come on, Hollywood, story does matter!
Well, I agree with most except… I liked No Country.. not ravingly, but better than 95% of Hollywood pap. I enjoyed The Departed as a lab experiment of rats in a cage where the cage walls are moving closer, it was entertainment. As for Pan's Labyrinth, I absolutely loved that film. I didn't believe for one minute that the reds were noble, but the fantasy that girl lived in to escape her life and ending up trying to save her brother.. I was weeping at the end. I can relate in ways I will not explain. I always say it was fantasy and beauty wrapped around a world of horror and sadism. What else would a child do?
I definitely agree with Little Miss Sunshine. Don't get me wrong – I enjoyed the film for what it was but Oscar darling? I don't think so.
As for Children of Men, I agree that it's a technical marvel (shout-out to DP Emanuel Lubezki)… I went to see it with two friends: one loved it, the other hated it. I've never read the book so I don't know the cause of infertility.
A film school friend of mine saw No Country… and hated it. I'm in no rush.
Some film school friends saw Mystic River and couldn't stop quoting "IS MY DAUGHTER IN THERE?!"
Superbad – I'm not entirely sure it was advertised as "cutting-edge" and the trailer did what most full-length comedies can't do for me today: it made me laugh out loud. So the plot is simplistic… isn't that a welcome change of pace from most movies?
Crash – I admit it. I actually enjoyed this film very much when I first saw it but I have no interest in watching it again and only time will tell whether or not it's remembered.
Lost in Translation – Scarlett is great to look at and Bill Murray is always great but… meh.
So what were the most underrated movies of the last decade?
WHERE'S JUNO ?
For the past many years we have used critical raves as the signal NOT to see a movie, so we've avoided this entire list except for LIT, which was OK. Looks like we've got a pretty accurate indicator.
Satis, I saw Departed and Children of Men. I thought that maybe Children of Men was making a point that the human race was punished with sterility after aborting so many babies, but then I realized it was a leftist screed and it certainly couldn't be saying that! I only went because I like Clive Owen but he sure picks some crappy films. Did you see The International? Well, don't. I usually don't like Scorcese films but liked Departed. I didn't see any of the others because I also have a Liberal Preachiness meter. Crash? HAHAHAHAHA. I don't think so.
GREAT list. I disagree on No Country for Old Men, but this is the first time I've seen anyone say anything about how awful Pan's Labyrinth was. Every time I bring up how one-dimensional the characters were and how that one-dimensional idiocy was used to make a hackneyed political point about history that had obvious but inappropriate ties to Iraq, they say, "Well, it's just a fairy tale. It's a fantasy, so it's not about that." The fantasy elements, which take up about 1/5 of the film's running time, are just flimsy coverings for Guillermo del Toro's posterior since he can't make a coherent political statement.
Glad I skipped on Children of Men, too.
I disagree with picks #10 and #5, but the rest are spot on. Funny stuff!
I would've put "Revolutionary Road" in there somewhere. As I watched it, I wondered whether I had seen a bleaker film that trashed American values and ideals and then in the credits, saw that it was directed by Sam Mendes… director of "American Beauty". Wretched.
No, because Plainview and Sunday were portrayed as anything BUT the norm for capitalism. Plainview's scenes with other businessmen made it very, very clear that he was nothing like them. He wasn't in oil for business's sake or for the sake of getting ahead in life; he was in oil because of his deep, consuming pride and avarice.
In the same way, Sunday is not really portrayed as a typical Christian but as a weaker version of Plainview. In the scene where he "exorcises" a woman's arthritis, he never once mentions Jesus but only talks about himself driving out the demon with his own power. He only wants the same thing as Plainview, and Daniel knows this. That's why, when Eli asks for money, Daniel presses him down into the mud– saying that if he wants the same money as Plainview, Eli will have to get down in the dirt, do some work, and get his hands dirty, rather than hiding behind a facade of piety. Then, in the next scene, Eli strangles his own father just to feel the same kind of power over other people that Plainview has.
It's called subtext, people. There Will Be Blood was about greed itself, not about any system of belief.
This list proves without a doubt how little taste or knowledge of actual film you need to have in order to be a 'film critic'. I'm not suggesting that everything on Kurt Shitcliker's list is a masterpiece but to single these movies out as work that is to be chastised proves that anyone with a blog (or a 12,000 dollar a year 'salary') can have an opinion. It's always baffling to those of us who can't 'understand' film in the way people like Kurt can how, in a world of so many bad films, he can find the time to knock the few that are at least strong efforts.
Agreed on "Departed." My take in one easy line of dialogue:
ACADAMY: Sorry we F*d up on giving it to you for Casino or Goodfellas or Taxi Driver, Marty, so take the "Lifetime Achievement" Best Picture instead. Sorry Bud, our Bad!
Loved "No Country" but agree that "The Departed" is vastly overrated. I don't think it's terrible, just relentlessly average. "Pan's Labyrinth" is all style and no substance. "Million Dollar Baby" is simply crap, with its cartoonish hick characters, inattention to detail and lack of a coherent viewpoint outside of "nothing really matters" – it belongs in there somewhere.
I agree with everything except Superbad. I really like that movie. Instead of Superbad I would put Juno on the list. It's one of the worst movies I've ever seen. None of the characters are believable or sympathetic. The dialouge is atrocious and Ellen Page's awkward delivery doesn't help- "Silencio, old man!" Um, what? I could go on but I'll just leave it and say I really hated this one.
I'm also going to mention 2002's Chicago. It's not a bad movie. I just don't understand all the praise it got. It was just ok. Queen Latifah was not good and shouldn't have been nominated for an Oscar. There are much better movie musicals out there.
Nutty, you took the words right out of my keyboard.
I'm also glad to say I haven't seen any of the above and when the Oscar list is announced, I won't be surprised to learn I haven't seen any of those either (unless the Julia Child film is on the list) — we saw that before we learned it wasn't about a woman carving out a career for herself with her unique cooking style, but a diatribe about McCarthy, a whitewash of homosexuals in the State Department and excruciatingly-uncomfortable-to-sit-through sex scenes between Streep and the little creep who plays her "husband" in the film.
We didn't get any of that from the reviews, but now that we have this website, we'll be well informed about a film before we waste our time and money only be offended by the content.
You want to have a list of good ones? I'll lead off. Being a Trek fan for 40 years, I expected Star Trek 2009 to be horrible but knew I was doomed to go see it. Well, I was thrilled to find that it was a rollicking good film and the way it bowed to the sayings and quirks that we've grown to love about the main characters was done tongue in cheek. Watch it, you'll love it. The people in the theater where I saw it did.
Defiance was a good movie. And "Bond" was good in it.
Taken was a good kick ass movie even though I don't like Liam Neeson.
I like Fast and Furious 4 because I like Vin Diesel. I also liked Crank 2 because I like Jason Stratham.
I love Ricky Gervais but didn't get to see The Invention of Lying. Did anyone see it? Was it good?
I like Robert Downey Jr. and I want to see Sherlock Holmes.
Otherwise, there was little in film that convinced me to leave the house and go to a theater.
I love our new Bond and will continue to see the Bond flicks.
When I saw the trailers for the curious case of Benjamin Button I nearly threw up. And why is it that any movie Brad Pitt makes these days is presumed to be "relevant" or "worth seeing"? I don't go to movies with Pitt, Clooney, Sean Penn, or Alec Baldwin in them.
I agree about The Departed. DiCaprio's character was back in the force – all Damon's character had to do was press the "enter" button. Instead, DiCaprio runs away, tells Damon to meet him on a roof, and demands his identity back – the same one Damon was ready to give him the previous day -minus the drama. WTF? He deserved to get shot.
As for Nicholson, it would have been appropriate for him to ask for a Ham Sandwich in every one of his scenes.
Wow! You guys are all such insightful critics, somehow able to see past all the hype, critical praise and millions of people entertained or inspired by these films and really identify the secret suckiness. By the way, that thing you really enjoy and really speaks to you, I think it sucks too.
Things I wished I had said…."the needle on my liberal sanctimony detector went red"
I will be using it, and occasionally giving you credit for it .
I keep hearing that you have to read the book to understand why the human race has become sterile. Isn't that a helluva note? Kind of a key piece to leave out of the movie. Clive Owen needs some help picking scripts–haven't seen The International–thanks for the warning.
The same could, and should be said for trolls that post on sites they do not like.
Respectfully disagree with you on The Departed. Loved it. Mark Wahlberg was pretty damn good in that movie.
Agree with you on No Country For Old Men. The first 100 minutes of the movie was great…then the story just becomes real nihilistic and random. The best Coen Brother this decade was O Brother, Where Art Thou?
I thought Moulin Rouge! and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon were overrated. The former I had to watch in a film class with gritted teeth, the latter because kung-fu movies are supposed to be exciting.
So glad I don't go to movies. When I finally see something on pay per view or DVD or cable I always say "That was it? That is what all the fuss was about?".
I don't understand why people waste their time and money on movies. It's just one of those things I don't "get".
The decade doesn't end for another year. You don't start counting with 0. Nothing revisionist about it.
Just a quick question? What did you think of "Sherlock"? My mom is wanting to see it and wants me to go along, but I don't want to waste our money if its just another "blech".
I think we can all agree that Scorcese got the Oscar because he was overlooked for Goodfellas.
So glad to see "Superbad" on here. If Apatow doesn't believe a film is funny enough, he just adds four hours to it.
Thanks Kurt I think I saw half of these, and now I will be able to save the other ten hours doing something more entertaining like vacuuming (I know it sucks but its the only thing I could come up with). This had to be the worst decade of film making of all time. At a time when a nation was, traumatized Hollywood just could not bring itself to entertain us with mild escapism. It seemed everything had to have a message. The message was humanity sucks we are just too stupid to know it. Over and over again, the best answer by the elitist protagonist seemed to be an acceptance of nihilism. However, I think you under rated Mystic River. It was a true piece, I left that movie remembering the message I had learned long ago watching Shanghais Surprise, (Never watch a Sean Penn movie.) I seem to vaguely remember being water boarded but perhaps I was trying to drown myself by shoving the straws from my Diet coke up my nose and inhaling deeply.
Great essay, great list of movies! I've managed to avoid almost all of these and I plan to keep avoiding films like these in the future. Thanks to Big Hollywood, I can figure out the dogs long before I'm sitting in the theatre doing a facepalm and wishing I could get my money back.
Here's my movie most-to-be-avoided in 2010: Shutter Island, from a book by Dennis Lehane, starring Leo DiCaprio. I threw away the novel after I read it. The movie is bound to be even worse.
Please Mr Stay Puft we are all just trying to get this over with have a heart.
"Lost in Translation" was terrible. The smug elitest ScarJo character feels superior to everyone, including her husband, who is too busy actually working and earning a living to pay her the attention she believes she deserves. The Bill Murray character has taken a gig shooting a liquor ad and feels so superior and condescending to the work he is being paid to do. His poor wife at home just wants a little input from him about the decorating choices she is making in an effort to make their home more comfortable and we are invited to look down from a great height at her petty bourgeois preoccupations. You see, Scarlett and Bill are towering artists, so superior to their respective spouses, to their jobs (I guess ScarJo doesn't have a job), and really to everyone and everything around them. And these are the charaters we are supposed to sympathize with. A film made by an elitist for an elite audience. My liberal friends loved it. And did I mention it was slow as molasses?
Great call on No Country. When it ended, I couldn't believe I had lost 2 hours of my life on such utter crap. I expected a protracted battle between the city-raised hit man and country hunter/Vet. Instead I got a random woman hitting on him, then jump to after he's dead. Absolutely the stupidest twist in a movie I've ever seen.
You could ad Life Aquatic to this list. It was like watching Buckaroo Banzai again, except without the quality acting. {sigh}
I have observed that most movies with Tom Hanks or Meryl Streep fit this profile. Two over-rated thespians, not so much for their skills, but for their physcial presence which, we are constantly told, make for a "must see" film…no matter how lousy that film may turn out to be.
Man on Fire
The Rock
Braveheart
True Romance
Hard Candy
Spy Game
The Road
The Dark Knight
The Prestige
Gran Torino
Huh?
I watched the Departed too and had to wonder what all the fuss was about. I thought it was awful.
"A film school friend of mine saw No Country… and hated it. I'm in no rush. Though re: your criticism of the plot, there is something to be said for films that make an impact by virtue of what they leave out."
Oh no. Once you see it, you'll be left screaming WTF??? at the television. The first hour was riveting, heart racing tension. Everything else was ridiculous on a Halloween XXXVII level.
Agreed. Funny about Leo DiCaprio. He may play a character in his forties, but I have trouble suspending my disbelief with the guy. He's either Arnie from Gilbert Grape or Jack in the BIGBOAT movie no matter what role he plays. With one exception: he was pretty good in The Aviator. I give him props for that. However, something tells me when he is 60 years old, he will still look like he hasn't started shaving yet.
Many non-trolls here don't agree with Kurt's list in toto. So what's your point? Why are you here? Oh yeah, to voice your opinion. And your blog salary is how much?
You besmirch the noble name of George Bailey.
Benjamin Button? I opted not to see it when I couldn't find a mention of F. Scott Fitzgerald ANYWHERE in the marketing (you know how movies just write themselves!).
I agree with at least 10, 8, and 5. I would add the Lord of the Rings films. It pains me to say it because I love Tolkien, and there is a lot about the movies that I love. However, somehow the anticipation and epic quality of endeavor convinced the populace and the critics that these were "great" films. In fact, the most important aspect of their quality comes from Tolkien, not the filmmakers. The second most important aspect of their quality is Jackson's visual sense. But consider that these movies were traditional studio money makers in the sense that their scripts were made to appeal to all and contain the cliches common to most "blockbuster" action films. The often inexplicable and forced comic relief and the frequently painful dialogue really bring down the films. There is a reason that no academy awards were given for the acting in the films, which speaks to the weakness of the scripts; these are excellent actors who aren't given much to work with. The Return of the King represent the first time in history that a film won the Best Film Oscar, but did not even have any nominations for the actors. 12 Oscars Return of the King won, and none of them for acting–quite an achievement. The movies are very good as blockbusters but aren't "great" films, just bigger and broader in execution. The most overrated of them is The Two Towers which was the one most lauded by critics.
You're looking for the Michael Jackson thread.
That's OK. We'll put out some Troll-no-more.
seen em all. your wrong about The Departed, Superbad, Children of Men
We're in the minority.
You hit it on the head. This was my worst film of the nineties, by far. I only saw a few of the others – "The Departed" , "Mystic River", and "Pan's Labyrinth". Didn't hate any of them, but really hated LIT. It's a boring, pretentious, muddled piece of tripe.
Very true about Eli's character. When 'his' new church is being built, he paces that stage and practices pointing his finger at 'his' followers.
Man, forgot about Moulin Rouge. I'm still trying to find my sanity after watch that slop. It should easily be ahead of others on the list.
I just watched this again last night, for the third time. Exceptionally well-crafted film, the first hour is excellent, but as my wife said when it was over — after seeing it for the first time: "What was the point?"
I couldn't answer her. It's a dark character study, and a nihilistic one. A lot to admire, but little take away from.
Critical praise = peer reviewed studies.
Avatar is the new way over rated movie….to me it just went on and on–I couldn't wait for it to be over…
I was formulating rebuttals to a few of these movies, and your problems with them, until I got to Crash.
Anyone who puts a list like this together, and actually includes a film THEY DIDN'T SEE (based on a friend's imagined and politically-fueled opinions), isn't worthy of argument. I'm surprised your editors let you get away with that stunt, or that you'd be bold enough to admit it. Shame.
I'd place Juno and Bob Roberts up there myself.
This is such a great list, so great that at least 8 of these would've made my top ten, but I would've included the new "Star Trek" and listed "Crash" twice.
SUPERBAD was super bad. Not clever, not funny, with a very forced reach for warmth at the end. CHILDREN OF MEN reeked of self-importance, MYSTIC RIVER was so overwrought I could barely finish it (See GONE BABY GONE instead), PAN'S LABYRINTH sucked to high heaven, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE was a 22 minute sitcom stretched to 2 bloated hours, THE DEPARTED was one of the worst movies of the year, and LOST IN TRANSLATION is simply boring.
Disagree strongly about NO COUNTRY and IN THE BEDROOM. Superb films, both, the best of the decade in my opinion…
The Departed? I could have written this.
"I saw a Rat. Did you see a Rat?"
"Are you a rat?"
"We are gonna get that rat!"
"Rat Bastard"
"Rats!!!"
"Gosh golly! The Rat!"
Huh? Is that anything like Duh?
Oh Brother…
You mean you like Diablo Cody's "Juno"? Won Oscars for screenwriteing and actress of the year ?
Had to watch "Crash" in a class I took. I might have enjoyed it a bit more but my female professor despised white males (they were the cause of all the evil in America, she somehow tied them into every bad thing that has happened in this country) so I knew where we were headed with it.
"So what were the most underrated movies of the last decade? "
I'm guessing Towelhead won't make the list. Good thing for Eckhart he did Thank You For Smoking which I would put on the list.
Cookie's Fortune was an enjoyable lazy-day flick.
Thank you. I hate Juno which depicted the most unrealistic teenager I've seen in recent memory. Also, I rather see a comedy that's actually, oh I don't know, funny.
George, why can't moonbats like you discuss a topic without vulgar ad hominen attacks. Don't like the list, post one of your own or give coherent reasons why you disagree.
Bob, did you mean "you're" wrong?
Wow… Just, wow… Yes, please shut up if you have an opinion on film that doesn't conform to the rest of us — you know nothings!
Helluva handle you have there. You do know George Bailey wasn't an elistist snob, right?
Right?
Totally agree with Kurt– I stopped watching after the first 1/3 — totally wondering how anyone could sit through this pretentious drivel. The creators are so arrogant to think we would enjoy this– they probably think they are so clever and anyone who doesn't get it is so stupid.
I've got to agree with you on Revolutionary Road. Wow, a movie that slams life in the suburbs. How stunningly original.
Do you know what's really odd about this movie? It seems to say that children are like dead weight that keep their parents from living fulfilled lives, yet in the credits Sam Mendes dedicates the movie to his own kids. Gee, thanks Dad.
Crash is so overrated…but you didn't see it!?!? It was an excellent movie because it showed that everyone is a racist beyond white people.
'Children of Men' and 'Pans Labyrinth' were technical achievements. 'No Country' was thrilling.
Based on this list, you probably have some bad taste in film. I'm afraid to ask, but what are your under rated movies of the decade?
I can't watch more than two minutes of Moulin Rouge without triggering a migraine.
Can I give an honorable mention to Slumdog Millionaire? Sorry, I just couldn't get through that one.
I actually really enjoyed Pan's Labyrinth. Of course there's more to the revolutionaries than was shown, and I have to close my eyes when the one guy is bashing in the face of the other guy, but aside from that, I thought it was a beautifully made film. I agree with you about Lost in Translation and Mystic River, which are the only other two movies on this list that I've seen, but will have to agree to disagree with PL.
I agree for the most part, but I LOVED Crash. You should watch it, if you haven't. The fact the your left-wing friend hated it should tell you something. I thought is did a great job of showing things from every side. It bashed ALL races – showed you the good, bad and ridiculous of everyone, and why people feel the way they do sometimes. I thought is was fair in that regard.
Mystic River has warnings for the future of over-rated movies as well. The author of the book, Dennis Lehane, wrote a series of absolutely fantastic P.I. novels – one of which made it to screen as the very good Gone Baby Gone. At some point he decided he was too good to be a mere "crime novelist" and turned artsy-f**tsy with a capital f**t. The result was the novel "Mystic River" which is pretentious, hyper-purple, overwrought and boring all at the same time. If anything, the book is worse than the movie because at least the movie doesn't subject you to endless pages of self-consciously purple prose.
I bring this up because Lehane now has an even worse book in the movie pipeline – "Shutter Island" – with all the annoying purple prose and none of the coherent plot of "Mystic River". And to top it off, the adaptation will star everyone's second favorite man-child, Leonardo DiCaprio. Look for this one on the list of most over-rated of the 10's.
Do you mean?
"I 'effin saw an 'effin Rat. 'Eff, did you 'effin see an 'effin Rat?"
"Are you an 'effin Rat, mother'effer?"
"We are 'effin gonna 'effin get that 'effin rat 'effer!"
Etc.
When I went to see No Country in the theater, practically the entire audience had the same reaction. Well-acted, but that's about it.
You hit the nail on the head with every other film on you list. I have to STRONGLY disagree with you on Departed, Children of Men, Superbad, and Pan's Labyrinth however. Why do so many people bring baggage with them when they see movies? People with logic tend to research movies before deciding to watch them. Why bother seeing them if you dislike the plot and the people who made it? Think of the thousands of dollars and hours of intellect you can save over a life time. When i choose to spend money on entertainment, i actually check up on it first and 95% of the time i am not dissappointed.
Thank you! Thank you!
No country for Old Men was awful! It seemed edited by high school kids doing their first movie.
It made NO sense in so many places. My wife and I looked at each other and said "what are we missing?"
I say this to some of my friends and they say I don't appreciate art and the style.
Horrible!!!
Wow, I may be the only person who's seen every movie on this list. I agree with this article but I feel that the Worst ones on the list are Crash, Little Miss Sunshine and No Country for Old Men. I agree completely that Crash is one of the worst movies ever made. It's a poorly written cheesefest, contrived from beginning to end. I actually thought "No country" was ok but the end killed it. I guess they were trying to be all artsy and by putting one of those dumb sudden endings that come completely out of left field. I went to see it with a large group of friends and they all hated it. Movies that should have been on the list are American Beauty and Brokeback Mountain.
What about "The Pianist"? I did not watch it until this past summer, and kept waiting and waiting for it to show why so many critics raved about it. The brilliance and value of the movie never revealed itself to me. I found the main character to be lame and weak and selfish. When given an opportunity to help a fellow human being, he never took it, and instead simply waited for the next person to help him out of the horrifying condition he found himself. I could care less if the nazis found him and killed him, in fact I secretly hoped that's how it would end. Dreadful and hugely over-rated movie. Polanski. Go figure.
I think Jack Nicholson is probably THE most overrated actor of our time. Complete ham. I was watching The Shining on TV last night and it just reminded me of how he just goes over the top (especially when he's chasing the kid in the maze at the end and moaning the kid's name).
While I am not a Holmsian scholar, I am a pretty dedicated Sherlockian and the film failed in every respect to live up to Conan Doyle's character. I seemed to me that someone had gone to Wiki-something-or-other and cadged a few axioms and anecdotes, but hadn't grasped the character. The plot was poorly constructed, IMHO and reminiscent of many action/adventure films, including "Young Sherlock Holmes". I thought the opening sequence was very well done, the final sequence less so. One of my companions remarked, "Robert Downey seemed to be having a good time, but I never forget it was Robert Downey." I think she was on target. Someone said that "if you like that sort of thing, it's the sort of thing you'll like" – but if you go expecting a Canonical Holmes, you will be very let down.
Think that's about right on. I love every minute of it, but came out the first time disappointed for just that reason.
No country for old men sucked. There will be blood sucked. I called it there will be boredom. I know it is not on the list but should be. Also should Inglorious Bastards. Watched it the other night. What the hell was it about? Tarrantini has to be the MOST overrated director in history. I knew he directed it and I thought twice about renting it. I should have thought three times LOL. There are so many more newer movies that suck I could go on and on. I am bacl to the Classics isle at the video store.
STUPID LIBTARDS……….YOU DIDN'T GET ANY OF MY MONEY WITH THIS TRASH.
Great list. Please add, "Cold Mountain," "Gangs of New York" and "Julie and Julia."
sean penn and my peasant javier bardem are really hateful
Meryl Streep was great in "The Devil Wears Prada", the only chick flick I've seen that I've ever liked.
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