There’s a great deal of prestige surrounding the Academy Award for Best Picture, but a few winners haven’t retained their popularity status in the years following their big win. Traditionally saved as the last award of the night, the statuette is awarded to the film deemed the best of the previous year by Academy voters. However, there are a handful of films that have received the significant honor and still fail to cross the minds of the general public or be frequently discussed outside of conversations among passionate movie fans.
- Will There Be A Season 5 of Miss Scarlet And The Duke?
- Where to Find a Kinetic Boomerang in Fortnite? How Do You Use Boomerang Fortnite?
- Steve Jobs Ethnicity, What is Steve Jobs Ethnicity?
- Every My Hero Academia Movie Ranked From Worst To Best, Including You’re Next
- Angelina Jolie’s 10 Best ’90s Movies Ranked
It’s important to note that the loss of relevancy doesn’t always reflect the quality of the movie. There are some years when the competition is tough, such as 1942 when How Green Was My Valley was nominated alongside Citizen Kane, or 1999 when Shakespeare in Love was nominated against Saving Private Ryan — with the latter films of each year being received more positively years later. Regardless of whether they won in the Oscars’ early years or within the last decade, certain Best Picture winners haven’t retained their popularity status.
You are watching: 10 Best Picture Winners That Didn’t Remain Popular After Their Win
10
The Greatest Show On Earth (1952)
Directed by Cecil B. DeMille
The premise of The Greatest Show on Earth sets up audiences with the expectation of a lavish Hollywood production and a fun time. The film gives audiences a behind-the-scenes look at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, centering itself around the intense competition between two trapeze artists played by Cornel Wilde and Betty Hutton. The documentary-style film also features real members of the troupe throughout and provides an in-depth look at the preparation it takes for such a big show.
However, while The Greatest Show on Earth may be the ideal movie for circus fanatics, it’s otherwise been largely forgotten by many. With a runtime of two and half hours, the film doesn’t have much substance to keep audiences’ attention or motivate them to return for a rewatch. The movie is pleasing to look at, as bold colors and a variety of animals fill the screen, but with the standards of audiences today in mind, it’s no wonder why it has fallen out of popularity.
9
Tom Jones (1963)
Directed by Tony Richardson
Henry Fielding was a famous English writer celebrated for his satirical work, with his most famous novel being The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. Fast-forward to 1963, Fielding’s novel was adapted into the Best Picture-winning Tom Jones. Albert Finney portrays the title character in the film, who goes on a series of wild adventures filled with danger and love. The film has earned a positive critical reception throughout the years, with the most praise being given to Finney for his performance.
Tom Jones has strong visuals with the stunning scenery of England supporting all of Tom’s misadventures, and it’s difficult not to be charmed by the protagonist and the humor he carries with him. Still, the dated jokes and specific brand of British humor aren’t enough to uphold the popularity of a movie that doesn’t feel quite as exciting or unrivaled as it once did.
8
American Beauty (1999)
Directed by Sam Mendes
Following its 1999 release, American Beauty was viewed as a forward-thinking film whose Best Picture win was not only deserved but incredibly refreshing when compared to the winners of previous years. The film tells the story of a suburban man, Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey), bored with his middling life, leading to a midlife crisis. Part of Lester’s reinvention is prompted by his growing romantic attraction to his teenage daughter’s best friend.
While praise is still given to the film for its direction and artistry, American Beauty is by no means as popular as it once was. Tragedies like the September 11 attacks and the Great Recession drastically changed how audiences and many critics viewed the themes addressed in the film. Additionally, the public perception of Spacey in more recent years has led many to feel increasingly uneasy with his character’s actions. Combining these factors, there’s no questioning how the film’s popularity has faded.
7
See more : Duke Dennis Height How Tall is Duke Dennis?
Crash (2004)
Directed by Paul Haggis
The remaining popularity of Shakespeare in Love and How Green Was My Valley is a result of winning over movies held in higher regard when it comes to their impact on filmmaking and storytelling. The same can be said for Crash, which won Best Picture instead of what many assumed would be Brokeback Mountain. However, unlike the two previously mentioned Best Picture winners, Paul Haggis’ film has few redeeming qualities in audiences’ eyes, making better sense as to why it’s no longer popular.
Crash interweaves the story of Los Angeles residents dealing with racism and class and gender disparity. Though the film presents these issues with sincerity, nothing new is brought to these heavy conversations, particularly about race, making the film’s messaging feel cheap. The characters’ personal arcs and their connectivity aren’t fully convincing either, and, unfortunately, Crash doesn’t appear interested in exploring its subject matter on a deeper level, which has led many to forget about the film as the years have passed.
6
Green Book (2018)
Directed by Peter Farrelly
Nominated alongside BlacKkKlansman, The Favourite, and Roma, Green Book was not the Best Picture winner many critics or audiences were hoping for. The film is inspired by a true story that sees pianist Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) forming an unlikely bond with his driver and bodyguard, Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen). With a story comparable to that of fellow Best Picture winner Driving Miss Daisy, Green Book‘s win was disappointing to many.
The overall critical response to the film was positive, with many reviews expressing admiration towards Ali and Mortensen’s performances. Still, the film’s portrayal of Shirley and the overarching depiction of race was met with criticism. Many have felt as though Green Book, and its Best Picture win, signifies Hollywood’s inability to move past stories that portray Black characters as being solely beneficial to their white counterparts. Though its win is still relatively fresh, Green Book is not a film that audiences appear to be eager to return to.
5
The Last Emperor (1987)
Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci
Along with Gigi and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Last Emperor is one of the only films to earn a clean sweep with a considerable number of Oscar nominations (nine). One of these wins was, of course, for Best Picture, which was quite rare for a film produced outside the United States and led by a range of international actors. The film is a grand-scale biographical drama about the last emperor of China, Puyi (portrayed by John Lone when he is an adult).
Taking the throne just before the age of three, Puyi witnessed a great cultural shift and a plethora of political turmoil during his time as emperor, which makes for an extraordinary story to put to film. The detailed and imposing production design in the film aligns with the scale of Puyi’s story. However, despite its critical acclaim and appreciation among cinephiles, most audiences today aren’t seeking out The Last Emperor.
4
The Artist (2011)
Directed by Michel Hazanavicius
Starring Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo, The Artist is a tribute to silent films and earned widespread acclaim following its 2011 release. The movie sees the popularity of sound in film increase, which allows for rising star Peppy Miller (Bejo) to flourish as established silent film actor George Valentin (Dujardin) finds his job opportunities are becoming scarce. There is a clear appreciation for silent cinema, and thanks to the actors’ performances and the film’s attention to detail, The Artist feels authentic.
By critics and audiences alike, the film continues to be celebrated for its innovation and technical achievements. However, the novelty of its artistry has faded in recent years. Modern audiences aren’t likely to seek out the film as they may find certain elements to be too dated. Getting past its visual style, the simple story in The Artist isn’t enough to prolong the popularity of the film.
3
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Directed by Ron Howard
John Nash was an American mathematician particularly lauded for his contributions to game theory. Nash is the subject of the biographical drama A Beautiful Mind, which won Best Picture in 2002 against films like The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and In the Bedroom. Russell Crowe portrays Nash in the film, which follows him through his time at Princeton University, when working as a cryptographer, and his strained relationship with his wife, Alicia (Jennifer Connelly).
Nash’s schizophrenia diagnosis is a large part of his inspirational story and A Beautiful Mind itself. Though Ron Howard’s film takes creative liberties, exaggerating or completely omitting certain events, it’s still incredibly well-made and holds up. Regardless of the film’s moving story or Crowe’s performance, A Beautiful Mind is still relatively standard for a biographical drama, and it’s because of this that the film hasn’t remained as popular over the years.
2
How Green Was My Valley (1941)
Directed by John Ford
Every few years, there is a film nominated for Best Picture that audiences are almost certain is going to win, and when it doesn’t, the reputation surrounding the film that did win turns sour. At the 14th Academy Awards in 1942, that film was How Green Was My Valley, up against movies like The Maltese Falcon, Suspicion, and Citizen Kane, and John Ford’s film won. The movie is set within the South Wales coalfields, where that style of life is on the decline.
Told from the perspective of a young child (Roddy McDowall) witnessing the negative effects such a change has on his family, How Green Was My Valley is undoubtedly one of Ford’s best films. There’s no questioning Ford’s ability as a director, and the film has been praised for being moving without overdoing it and forcing those emotions onto audiences. Still, general audiences have a better time recalling the director’s other films, like The Grapes of Wrath, The Quiet Man, and The Searchers.
1
Shakespeare In Love (1998)
Directed by John Madden
Unlike most of the other movies mentioned, there’s a strong argument to be made about the popularity of Shakespeare in Love. The film tells a fictional story about the love between William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) and Viola de Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow) during the time the famous playwright was working on Romeo and Juliet. It’s not an easy task to create a fictional tale about a famous figure, especially someone so influential as Shakespeare, but writers Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard pull it off.
Additionally, the film has a striking production design, and there’s an appreciated balance of comedy and drama. While the film’s quality and unique approach to Shakespeare’s life merits a rewatch every now and then, much of the attention given to the film is for the wrong reasons. Since its Best Picture win at the 71st Academy Awards, Shakespeare in Love has been detested by those who felt Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan was more deserving of the win.
Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment