English: Studio publicity portrait of the American actress Elizabeth Taylor. Français : Portrait publicitaire pris en studio de l’actrice américaine Elizabeth Taylor. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
As always I have an opinion I’m more than happy to share with you all about movies, the good ones and the bad ones. I agree with the comments my nephew, Justin, left for me on Facebook. He was upset about the obvious politics that must go into the choices for Best Picture! So here are 10 more what I call questionable Best Picture Award winning films.
- 1966 – A Man For All Seasons – This was a very good choice and Hollywood loves a good period piece, BUT complex emotional roller coaster of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf?* and the commanding and outstanding performances of both Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton should not have been overlooked!
- 1960 – The Apartment – I love this movie and who doesn’t love Shirley MacLain and Jack Lemon? I’ve watched it many times which attests to its ability to transcend decades…but once again a powerful drama enriched with the likes of Burt Lancaster portraying the lead character, Elmer Gantry* should have propelled this movie to the head of the class!
- 1956 – Around the World In 80 Days – This is a repeat from yesterday because shame on me, I forgot to mention Giant,* one of the very few movies, the amazing James Dean starred in and he alone, not to mention Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson should have brought this picture to win the BP award.
- 1951 – American in Paris – Oh yes Gene Kelly is fabulous in this movie but when Hollywood makes a movie around the star’s talent which is other than acting as it was in this particular film, the movie becomes a vehicle for the dancing. So while others were watching the animation dancing with Gene and believe me I truly admire his choreography and performance, I was watching A Streetcar Named Desire* with Marlon Brando and Vivian Leigh give the world a stellar performances in a movie that over the years continues to rank among the Top Ten Best Movies ever.
- 1961 – West Side Story – A charming, lively, fast-paced adaptation of a very successful Broadway show. The music lives on and although it dealt with race issues early on, it was no Judgement at Nuremberg!*
- 1958 – Gigi – Not my favorite movie just my favorite word as many of my regular readers know this is what my adorable grandchildren call me. How could Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman and Burl Ives NOT have taken Cat On A Hot Tin Roof* to the winner’s circle?
- 1997 – Titanic – Don’t even go there…really?? L.A. Confidential* was a great story with several surprise twists and turns with excellent actors.
- 1964 – My Fair Lady – Again a wonderful movie with fine acting and singing yet again an adaptation of a Broadway play and it beat Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb* – Peter Sellers and George C. Scott hit a home run with this iconic film.
- 1980 – Ordinary People – This was a very good movie and deeply moving as it explored the dysfunction brought on in a family torn apart by the death of a child. However, the plot is not original and it forced the likes of Raging Bull *and The Elephant Man *into the loser’s corner. What a shame!
- 1994 – Forrest Gump – Entertaining to some degree, too long and I swear if Tom Hanks had not starred in it, it would never have gotten this far. Pulp Fiction* was the stroke of genius by Quentin Tarantino with John Travolta and Uma Thurman.
Well that’s it folks, my 10 more worst Best Picture picks. What do you think? Please do leave us your picks! Oooh that reminds me I promised one of my readers to include his erudite comment and observation: ” …1981, where Chariots of Fire beat out Reds, On Golden Pond, Atlantic City and Raiders of the Lost Ark, possibly belongs in that category as well.”
Bill Ding and his band of clowns are the security patrol for this blog site. He is a favorite toy from the 50*s. By the way sometimes a blog is just an ego-maniacal stream of conscience.
Pbenjay's Blog 
TOP 10 Great Movies BUT BOX OFFICE FLOPS!!!
Posted in From My Point of View - Personal commentary on Movies and Books, Thursday's Top Ten, tagged box office failures, Elizabeth Taylor, flops, great movies, Jimmy Stewart, Johnny Depp, Judy Garland, Kevin Costner, Martin Scorcese, movies, Orson Welles, Robert DeNiro, Tim Robins, Toto on November 7, 2014| 3 Comments »
It’s so true…many movies we’ve come to love and make classic were really box office flops in their day! You’re going to be shocked by some of these, I’m sure.
Orson Welles in Citizen Kane
1. CITIZEN KANE: Most often listed as the Number 1 top movie on many lists and the must-see handbook for aspiring film-makers and actors, this movie didn’t do much for Orson Welles career at the time. Initial reviews were favorable but much of the American public was shielded from them because Randolph Hearst, the newspaper mogul, blocked any mention of the movie, believing the character was based on him.
2. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: There wouldn’t be a holiday season if there weren’t a broadcast of this now-loved classic Christmas story. It’s hard to imagine a film watched so often by so many could have failed miserably in the theaters, but it did. The movie cost $3.18M to make and only grossed $3.3M.
3. BLADE RUNNER: With an opening weekend revenue of only $6M, things looked dim for this movie that cost $28M to make. It received mixed reviews, while viewers were awed by the imagery, they were alienated by the narrative. It probably would have been better if the studio had left Ridley Scott alone and kept his original vision instead of meddling with the final cut. The film resurfaced with a Director’s Cut in 1992 prompting critical reevaluation and huge home video sales.
4. RAGING BULL: A favorite of mine as I am in still in awe of Robert DeNiro who totally transformed his body to play the thuggish Jake LaMotta. It was nominated for 8 Oscars but tanked at the box office. It lacked the feel-good factor of ROCKY and alienated the viewers first by being shot in black and white which was exactly how it should have been done artistically and then there was the prevalent violence for 2 hours – most people go to the movies to relax and enjoy some form of escapism.
5. THE WIZARD OF OZ: Can you believe this movie actually lost money? It cost $2.7M to make and garnered $3M in its opening run. Viewers did not flock to see Judy Garland, a cute dog and a tornado in technicolor. However, over the years and many re-releases, the viewing of The Wizard of Oz has become an annual event in many of America’s households.
Shawshank Redemption
6. SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION: Tell the truth now, do you switch the channel when you see Shawshank Redemption playing? The film finally found its audience on TV. In 1994 when it was released, it was overwhelmed by PULP FICTION AND FORREST GUMP. It cost $25M to make and grossed $28M.
7. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW:$ Budget-$1.4M. This one requires some explanation. Despite making next to nothing ($22,000) its opening weekend, the late night flick is actually the longest running movie in continuous theatrical release, attracting a cult of folks who dress up and shout along to the campy comedy with kick-ass songs. With ticket sales, and home movie availability, it has reportedly made over $365 million! Just like the movie itself, it’s financial success is in a category of its own.
8.THE FIGHT CLUB: Budgeted at $63M it grossed $37M. Maybe the first rule of Fight Club shouldn’t have been “Don’t talk about Fight Club.” David Fincher’s adaptation of the Chuck Palahniuk novel was the victim of a botched marketing campaign (or at least that’s what the studios are saying). It lived on through home video sales.
9. THE BIG LEBOWSKI: Happy to admit I’m part of the cult club that will watch The Big Lebowski whenever it is on TV. Not many box office bombs can claim such a cult following, an annual fan festival and religion! Released in 1998 during the immensely successful box office run of “Titanic,” the film starring Jeff Bridges, which cost $15 million to make, debuted to $5.5 million opening weekend. The film recieved mixed reviews with Variety calling it “hollow and without resonance” while others like Roger Ebert found it “weirdly engaging” like the Dude himself. The film eventually pulled in $17 million at theaters, but it wasn’t until years later fans used the internet and social media to re-evaluate the film and turn it into a cult sensation.
10. I’m leaving number 10 blank and giving you all some suggestions. What do you think was a great film but one didn’t make any money? Here are a few; The Fountain, Water World, Assination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, Ed Wood, Cleopatra, Heathers, Vertigo, Willie Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, The Postman, The Hudsucker Proxy, Tron-The Legacy, Donny Darko, Once Upon A Time In America
OK guys it’s your hands, let’ s vote for number 10 – one of the above or one of your own.
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