Of the 83 films to win the top honor of Best Picture at the Academy Awards, many have inspired us, educated us and touched our hearts. And then there are the ones that caused us to grimace like we just drank a warm beer. To prepare for the 84th Academy Awards airing Feb. 26 at 7e/4p on ABC, here are five of the worst reviewed Best Picture winners.
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Crash (2005)
I've got to be honest: The first time I watched Crash, I felt that it was an intricately woven examination of the social restrictions we place upon ourselves on this mortal plane. Then I watched it again, and wanted to put used chewing gum in my own hair and twist it up tight. The fact that this massive step backward took the prize over Brokeback Mountain and Munich will not be forgotten anytime soon.
Critical Quote: "A grim, histrionic experiment in vehicular metaphor slaughter." Carina Chocano, Los Angeles Times.
Out of Africa (1985)
Throw Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in any movie and nothing can possibly go wrong, yes? Tell that to the audiences and critics who grew two hours and 41 minutes older while watching this empty, plodding flick. These days, no one seems to mention this among Streep's finest moments.
Critical Quote: "For all that it may come out of Africa, the film's final destination is not many miles from Disneyland." Time Out.
The Broadway Melody (1929)
Oh, how times have changed. Audiences swooned over this by-the-numbers musical when it first hit theaters, but its complete disregard for plot and poorly framed dance sequences do not come across as charming more than 80 years later. By all means, defend the film for laying the groundwork of the modern musical -- as long as I don't have to watch it.
Critical Quote: "A tedious musical comedy embedded in a routine story like a fly in celluloid." TIME Magazine.
Forrest Gump (1994)
The Shawshank Redemption and Pulp Fiction were both Best Picture nominees this year. I'll let that one sink in for a moment... Sure, Forrest Gump had a few clever tricks and some impressive performances, but the end result was simply too saccharine. Tidbit: This film is one of the reasons why the general public hates critics, as nearly everyone considers it a cinematic milestone. Well, I'm sure it worked wonders for the shrimp industry.
Critical Quote: "Exquisitely made, expertly crafted... and a work of purest, blackest evil." Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium.
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
This lavish production is yet another example of the "bigger is better" philosophy that has plagued Hollywood from the beginning, and will most likely hang around for years to come. Trapeze artists fly through the air, trains crash and burn and McCarthyism oozes from every frame. Oh, and there's a love triangle disguised as a plot.
Critical Quote: "It won best-picture Oscar for 1952, but God (De Mille's favorite walk-on, strangely absent here) only knows why." Pat Graham, Chicago Reader.
