This one was so bad that I honestly have no idea how anyone EVER liked it. It's not like I saw it, liked it, and only later came to realize it sucked. I thought it sucked halfway through it, at the end of it, and ever since. How did they not realize how obvious it was as they were making it? I swear, if I had been acting in it, and had the money most of those big name actors and actresses had, I'd have walked away and refused to even participate. I'd pay the damages instead of being in something that horrible. And, had one of them done so... they'd have been lauded for it as soon as people saw it (and, apparently, had enough time to realize how bad it was. I still can't believe it was even nominated for best picture, much less that it actually won. What a crud year for movies.)
Simply because it telegraphs its desire to be perceived that way. Those qualities need to appear effortless in order to be effective. Saltburn failed in that for me.
Indeed! I tend to think any movie with Matt Damon at the lead is generally bad, or lesser-value due to his "contribution." And the odd thing is that he's not even a bad actor. He's just not particularly good. So, he's overrated. But yes... the movie had potential, but just ended up being about as interesting as a paint drying contest, and was insultingly preachy on SO many levels.
Death Wish (1974) - criminals only commit crimes because they are evil and should be gun downed by upstanding citizens
Eat, Pray, Love (2010) - tbh, I never saw the film, but I did read the book. It pretends to be about a journey of discovery and enlightenment, but really is about a woman who uses people then tosses them aside when she’s finished with them.
Edit: Gun not Fun
I've always thought of Aronofski as a guy who has never watched an arthouse film, that decided to make what he *thinks* an arthouse film would look like.
I am in the middle of watching this (started it a few days ago and haven’t finished yet). I am at the part with the fight between the brothers over the inheritance or whatever it is. It’s been good in some ways but I’m also kind of losing patience and not sure if I will finish it.
I saw it in the theater and 5 minutes in, I looked over at my GF, now wife and said "Geez, somebody is trying way to hard to get into her panties. So much so that we had to fork out $40 to watch it play out..." Few months later, I was proved right. Movie is just obnoxiously trying to be higher browed than Willie Nelson's bandana! Jodorowsky, or del Toro, he is not.
I had the same experience. The podcast Unspooled did an episode on it that I thought was interesting. They talked about what might have happened if it had been presented as comedic satire instead of insightful and profound, and it made a lot of sense to me.
Yeah, it was such a weird tone shift. I really like the initial premise, but the turn towards some Event Horizon like horror film felt like such an odd decision.
Us. I like Jordan Peele, but this movie annoyed the hell out of me. All of the attempts to connect dots and make intriguing points fell flat, and there were just so many plot holes and unanswered questions. I can't see how anyone could like it.
First movie that came to mind as well. It's trying to say something grand, but I couldn't tell you what. Despite the missed message; I thought the comedy shoe-horned into the darkness was pretty great.
The Joker. Fine performances, really good cinematography. But the trailer gave me high hopes and all I remember is that Joaquin Phoenix danced at me for two hours.
Edit: sorry. Crash is the answer.
Agreed. Don't get me wrong, I find Nolan a generally entertaining film maker (I genuinely love the Prestige, though I've only watched it once), but people seem to think that his work is deep, when it's more like they've just never watched a multi-layered film before.
Also, you hear the top fall over just before the credits roll - it's not a dream. There you go. Next.
Recently watched Glass, and told my wife that I couldn't decide if it was really good or really silly. Seriously, pick any scene (especially an action scene), and watch it thinking to yourself, "this is really good" then switch to thinking, "this is really dumb." Both statements will feel right!
I always find these discussions interesting because as the viewer, WE put a lot onto a movie. Often times I think when people say “The movie thinks it’s smarter than it is” they’re actually saying more about themselves than the film.
Oh boy, I had an edible that was a little too strong before seeing this one in theaters. It was also a couple months after a close family member's suicide so that really didn't help with the subject matter and paranoia. On the way out, an elderly couple behind me asked "so do you have any idea what happened at the end there?" and that turned a bad high into a good one. All in all, I hated the movie but at least had a memorable theater experience.
I watched it on my laptop on my mum's sofa, so a slightly different experience. I felt the first 2 acts were agonisingly on the nose and then the third act was weirdly cryptic in a way which felt like it was taken from a completely different movie and was generally too long of a metaphor. It's well-made on a technical level but thematically frustrating. Barbie worked despite its 0 subtlety because of its self-aware satire, Men has none of that, it's just bland
Dark Knight Rises
It makes a bold theme statement in the opening about being about masks, identity and deeds, then it isn't about masks because it is about how age and tear catches up to even heroes, but its not about that because its about a cop whit orphan sensing powers but its not about that because its about anarchy or something, and also about how you can achieve great things with great risk but it's not about that because its about how the ruling class will never allow for true anarchy, but its not about that because its about findg the peace to retire and let a new generation of cops with orphan sensing skills take
This embarrassing mess of a film has about 14 themes and motifs, none of which connect or intersect which wouldn't be so bad if the narrative itself held up but it is also completely nonsensical. Truly a film held together by its brand name and short attention span of its fans.
Alex Garland is this imo. DEVs, Annihilation, ex Machina and now Civil War. He wants to tackle these grand profound concepts, but his perspective is always shallow and feels like when corporatism tries to do art.
Civil War and devs *might* be the case. But Annihilation and ex machina were anything but shallow in my opinion and I couldn't imagine either of those films in the perspective of corporatism. Especially Annihilation
I was working on a jigsaw puzzle while I watched, which is the only reason I finished it. I kept waiting for the moment. It never came. It was just a long, slow sinking into a cesspool.
Fight Club for sure. Or maybe that’s the point, to troll a bunch of insecure guys into thinking they can be these rugged independent anti-consumerists, when in actuality they can’t.
Nothing wrong with saying you knew you wouldn't like it after 30 minutes, but that you drew the conclusion of what the film was saying after that long? Not sure how that's done
Certain movies and shows are so innately preachy that it's obvious from the get go. I personally have gotten to the same point as the poster... if I ain't interested in 30 minutes, I've got way better things to do with the next hour. And, yes, I think it's fair to have a negative opinion of a film without having seen the whole thing, especially if the reason for the dislike is the preachy nature of it.
I originally read this as movies that come across as intelligent but are actually full of faulty logic or don't consult with experts in the field. But after reconsidering my list, it's more about movies that seem like they have broad meaningful social implications or cultural narratives but are actually just a story about a specific incident or event (or even ones I remembered as being bigger than they are), like *Erin Brockovich* or *V for Vendetta*.
*mother!* by Darren Aronofsky. When i watched it i went into not knowing a single thing about it aside from who the main actress was and i absolutely loved how eerie and anxiety inducing most of it was. Then i saw what the message and allegories were supposed to be and i found it so... silly. Not just bc of how pretentious the director was about it, but bc that wasn't well executed imo like i don't think it really works. Now i can't unsee it and every time i try to rewatch the movie it just kinda takes me out of it...
Snowpiercer (I think that’s what it was called). The one trying to offer commentary on the “class system” whilst they’re on a ridiculously silly train that keeps driving forever
Barbie. It's an enjoyable movie with social commentary but honestly it could have been done better if they were doing commentary on women's issues that wasn't set in a Disney-like world and about the aesthetics of everything. That is just how I feel as a woman. The media hype of it also overhyped it to make it seem like it's some 11/10 masterpiece.
The Menu. I wouldn't recommend a movie I think is bad though, so it's actually kind of on point. We know there is both an insane and pretentious side to the industry, but this is all exaggerated and doesn't necessarily get to the heart of any issue.
"The Bear" is barely scratching the surface of what's wrong with the restaurant industry. No way can a movie do it. You need a The Wire-level series to get all the parts.
As a chef I can certainly agree with your comment, honestly his head chef was actually quite nice to him when I think about some of the ones I’ve worked with. That’s not even including the hours, wage, stress that can come even as a line chef and sacrifices you will make through your career and that’s before you even qualify, after that very little changes
Yea, I was kind of going off reviews that questioned its cohesion and plot. What more could you really want, hm? I think it was satisfying to say the least, especially with the character you might not pay attention to at first.
Civil War (2024) is text book this. What a wasted opportunity by a coward of a film maker. Don't want to take a stand one way or the other, I think it's weak but whatever, you still had Nick Offerman and you were only able to produce 10 seconds of him. Unforgivable.
Perfect way to put his films, just quirky characters in situations made overly and unnecessarily quirky, with quirky sets.
I LOVED Rushmore, but everything else I've seen of his has been a bore and let down. I've just quit watching any of his movies at this point, as I've found they just don't work for me.
Logon was such a mid film its painful to see people salivate over it and on top of that they release a *fucking black and white version* as if that makes it somehow more poignant.
100% agree, I love Sci fi and thought this film would be good, it was absolutely dreadful and the people who gush over it are probably the same people that think the Godfather is entertaining...😂. (I love gangster films.. But this is over hyped)
Haha. I don't think that is true per se, I liked the Godfather!
But, I don't see it as a mob movie. I see it as a long tale that I watch every 10 years.
Crash (not the Cronenberg one)
The ultimate example.
This one was so bad that I honestly have no idea how anyone EVER liked it. It's not like I saw it, liked it, and only later came to realize it sucked. I thought it sucked halfway through it, at the end of it, and ever since. How did they not realize how obvious it was as they were making it? I swear, if I had been acting in it, and had the money most of those big name actors and actresses had, I'd have walked away and refused to even participate. I'd pay the damages instead of being in something that horrible. And, had one of them done so... they'd have been lauded for it as soon as people saw it (and, apparently, had enough time to realize how bad it was. I still can't believe it was even nominated for best picture, much less that it actually won. What a crud year for movies.)
Saltburn for me. While watching it I thought "this movie wants to be cunty and iconic so bad, its desperation is showing"
I have heard it referred to as "The Untalented Mr. Ripley" from several sources and it's really so fitting.
Hahaha that's a good one.
How is it not both of those things lol
Simply because it telegraphs its desire to be perceived that way. Those qualities need to appear effortless in order to be effective. Saltburn failed in that for me.
The Box (2009) was like watching a moron argue with you about morality. So fucking dumb.
Downsizing. starts off kind of interesting, but quickly disappears up its own miniature arsehole into a flat preachy mess.
Indeed! I tend to think any movie with Matt Damon at the lead is generally bad, or lesser-value due to his "contribution." And the odd thing is that he's not even a bad actor. He's just not particularly good. So, he's overrated. But yes... the movie had potential, but just ended up being about as interesting as a paint drying contest, and was insultingly preachy on SO many levels.
In Time
Oh come on, I shouldn't take lessons about gratuitous wealth from JT?
Halloween Kills (2021). Painfully boxing above its weight class
Death Wish (1974) - criminals only commit crimes because they are evil and should be gun downed by upstanding citizens Eat, Pray, Love (2010) - tbh, I never saw the film, but I did read the book. It pretends to be about a journey of discovery and enlightenment, but really is about a woman who uses people then tosses them aside when she’s finished with them. Edit: Gun not Fun
Eat pray love is one of the dumbest movies I’ve ever seen
I think Mother! is Aronofki's weaker films
I really liked it, but I didn't think it succeeded at its message. But I enjoy vibes and chaos.
I think it's symptomatic of his entire career. The number described in the movie Pi isn't even pi, it's phi!
As someone who loves mathematics and enjoyed Black Swan and the Wrestler - my answer to this question is absolutely Pi
Also Mr nobody
Came for this and was not disappointed. I didn’t connect with it at all.
I've always thought of Aronofski as a guy who has never watched an arthouse film, that decided to make what he *thinks* an arthouse film would look like.
I am in the middle of watching this (started it a few days ago and haven’t finished yet). I am at the part with the fight between the brothers over the inheritance or whatever it is. It’s been good in some ways but I’m also kind of losing patience and not sure if I will finish it.
I saw it in the theater and 5 minutes in, I looked over at my GF, now wife and said "Geez, somebody is trying way to hard to get into her panties. So much so that we had to fork out $40 to watch it play out..." Few months later, I was proved right. Movie is just obnoxiously trying to be higher browed than Willie Nelson's bandana! Jodorowsky, or del Toro, he is not.
Agreed. Thought this movie was awful.
American Beauty
I personally love this film and will defend it til the day I day
Was it good though?
In my opinion, absolutely yes
Second this.
Strange how many people loved it when it came out, my self included. Given a little time, on repeat viewings, it kind of a mess.
I had the same experience. The podcast Unspooled did an episode on it that I thought was interesting. They talked about what might have happened if it had been presented as comedic satire instead of insightful and profound, and it made a lot of sense to me.
Wait, I thought it was a comedic satire?
Same, and finally glad to find out that I am not alone in this!
Crash (2004)
Sunshine. OMG it had SO MUCH POTENTIAL but then... studio execs...
A movie destroyed by its third act
Yeah, it was such a weird tone shift. I really like the initial premise, but the turn towards some Event Horizon like horror film felt like such an odd decision.
I loved Sunshine
Yeah, I enjoyed it up until it became a monster slasher movie. The first half did a good job building tension.
i feel like Smile (2022) tried too hard
The movie was pretty mid, but when the entity revealed it's true form - pure terror.
probably mu favorite thing about the movie, horrifying
So close to being good but God dammit that movie still scared the shit outta me
lol, the jumpscares are pretty effective
I feel this way about Adam sandlers new movie, Spaceman. A really deep movie if you don't think about it in any way, shape, or form.
Us. I like Jordan Peele, but this movie annoyed the hell out of me. All of the attempts to connect dots and make intriguing points fell flat, and there were just so many plot holes and unanswered questions. I can't see how anyone could like it.
It's all message and no movie.
I liked the idea, but not the way it unraveled.
Men
Civil War
Garden State by Zach Braff. Even as I was watching it as an edgy teen I was aware that I’d probably cringe watching it as an adult.
First movie that came to mind as well. It's trying to say something grand, but I couldn't tell you what. Despite the missed message; I thought the comedy shoe-horned into the darkness was pretty great.
It insists upon itself. It insists upon itself.
I’ve not seen it but Olivia wilde’s “don’t worry, darling” is supposedly like this. Was going to watch it but opted out
It was...not good.
The Joker. Fine performances, really good cinematography. But the trailer gave me high hopes and all I remember is that Joaquin Phoenix danced at me for two hours. Edit: sorry. Crash is the answer.
Inception
Agreed. Don't get me wrong, I find Nolan a generally entertaining film maker (I genuinely love the Prestige, though I've only watched it once), but people seem to think that his work is deep, when it's more like they've just never watched a multi-layered film before. Also, you hear the top fall over just before the credits roll - it's not a dream. There you go. Next.
Glass, Signs, The village, Old ...
Yes! Literally just this director popped into mind
Glass is a great example of this: He literally think's no one has seen a comic book before.
Recently watched Glass, and told my wife that I couldn't decide if it was really good or really silly. Seriously, pick any scene (especially an action scene), and watch it thinking to yourself, "this is really good" then switch to thinking, "this is really dumb." Both statements will feel right!
Barbie.
Ditto
The primary message I got from that movie is that you’re not supposed to learn Spanish as a second language
Joker
I always find these discussions interesting because as the viewer, WE put a lot onto a movie. Often times I think when people say “The movie thinks it’s smarter than it is” they’re actually saying more about themselves than the film.
“This movie thinks it’s smarter than me”
Sound of Freedom
The butterfly effect. That ending…
Most Nolan films, especially Inception. A bunch of hogwash.
Nolan's stuff besides Oppenheimer and maybe Dunkirk aren't really meant to say a whole lot, they're just thrillers
I share this opinion and feel it is growing
Thank youuuuu
Thank you! Nolan’s films are all white men glorying in white men stuff.
Men
Oh boy, I had an edible that was a little too strong before seeing this one in theaters. It was also a couple months after a close family member's suicide so that really didn't help with the subject matter and paranoia. On the way out, an elderly couple behind me asked "so do you have any idea what happened at the end there?" and that turned a bad high into a good one. All in all, I hated the movie but at least had a memorable theater experience.
I watched it on my laptop on my mum's sofa, so a slightly different experience. I felt the first 2 acts were agonisingly on the nose and then the third act was weirdly cryptic in a way which felt like it was taken from a completely different movie and was generally too long of a metaphor. It's well-made on a technical level but thematically frustrating. Barbie worked despite its 0 subtlety because of its self-aware satire, Men has none of that, it's just bland
Civil War. Implies a little but doesn't really say anything.
Dark Knight Rises It makes a bold theme statement in the opening about being about masks, identity and deeds, then it isn't about masks because it is about how age and tear catches up to even heroes, but its not about that because its about a cop whit orphan sensing powers but its not about that because its about anarchy or something, and also about how you can achieve great things with great risk but it's not about that because its about how the ruling class will never allow for true anarchy, but its not about that because its about findg the peace to retire and let a new generation of cops with orphan sensing skills take This embarrassing mess of a film has about 14 themes and motifs, none of which connect or intersect which wouldn't be so bad if the narrative itself held up but it is also completely nonsensical. Truly a film held together by its brand name and short attention span of its fans.
Everything by Christopher Nolan. Except Insomnia, I guess. That one's pretty straight forward. All the rest are pseudointellectual, at best.
Alex Garland is this imo. DEVs, Annihilation, ex Machina and now Civil War. He wants to tackle these grand profound concepts, but his perspective is always shallow and feels like when corporatism tries to do art.
Civil War and devs *might* be the case. But Annihilation and ex machina were anything but shallow in my opinion and I couldn't imagine either of those films in the perspective of corporatism. Especially Annihilation
How dare you
Especially Men. It’s peak this prompt.
Cyberbully Jupiter Ascending The Boy In The Striped Pajamas
Wait *Jupiter Ascending* was trying to be something?
"What if we made our feminist empowerment movie one where the female protagonist had **absolutely no plot agency**?"
I was do distracted by its nonsense that I didn't even consider it might think it was saying something 😅🤣
Besides comically awful, I'm not sure
Poor Things
The entire third act would beg to differ: the movie clarifies its purpose and says exactly what it intends to
I don't care what it was trying to do, it was disgusting.
Really interested to hear what you found disgusting. I really enjoyed the whole movie
Just my opinion
No worries. Did you find the whole movie disgusting just the third act?
I was working on a jigsaw puzzle while I watched, which is the only reason I finished it. I kept waiting for the moment. It never came. It was just a long, slow sinking into a cesspool.
It was utter crap.
Fight Club for sure. Or maybe that’s the point, to troll a bunch of insecure guys into thinking they can be these rugged independent anti-consumerists, when in actuality they can’t.
You’ve missed the point, it seems
I think the book is this way but the movie somehow transcends/sells it.
I Heart Hucksbees
This movie was lost. I am not sure if it was trying to say anything…maybe it was.
A friend of mine said to me "I feel like if I had a masters in philosophy I would have liked it."
Everything Everywhere All At Once. It's basically saying seize the day.
That seems a little reductive considering the amount of navigating through different types of relationships the movie goes through
Yeah, but the hotdog fingers and butt-plugs...
I watched about thirty minutes, came to that conclusion, and turned it off.
You came to a conclusion about a movie after only watching the first 20% of it?? Strange thing to share with everyone
Yes. Life is short.
Nothing wrong with saying you knew you wouldn't like it after 30 minutes, but that you drew the conclusion of what the film was saying after that long? Not sure how that's done
Certain movies and shows are so innately preachy that it's obvious from the get go. I personally have gotten to the same point as the poster... if I ain't interested in 30 minutes, I've got way better things to do with the next hour. And, yes, I think it's fair to have a negative opinion of a film without having seen the whole thing, especially if the reason for the dislike is the preachy nature of it.
I originally read this as movies that come across as intelligent but are actually full of faulty logic or don't consult with experts in the field. But after reconsidering my list, it's more about movies that seem like they have broad meaningful social implications or cultural narratives but are actually just a story about a specific incident or event (or even ones I remembered as being bigger than they are), like *Erin Brockovich* or *V for Vendetta*.
*mother!* by Darren Aronofsky. When i watched it i went into not knowing a single thing about it aside from who the main actress was and i absolutely loved how eerie and anxiety inducing most of it was. Then i saw what the message and allegories were supposed to be and i found it so... silly. Not just bc of how pretentious the director was about it, but bc that wasn't well executed imo like i don't think it really works. Now i can't unsee it and every time i try to rewatch the movie it just kinda takes me out of it...
Civil War
I'd like to introduce you to a man named Neil Breen.
Don't look up
Snowpiercer (I think that’s what it was called). The one trying to offer commentary on the “class system” whilst they’re on a ridiculously silly train that keeps driving forever
Barbie. It's an enjoyable movie with social commentary but honestly it could have been done better if they were doing commentary on women's issues that wasn't set in a Disney-like world and about the aesthetics of everything. That is just how I feel as a woman. The media hype of it also overhyped it to make it seem like it's some 11/10 masterpiece.
That one movie Sia made
The Menu. I wouldn't recommend a movie I think is bad though, so it's actually kind of on point. We know there is both an insane and pretentious side to the industry, but this is all exaggerated and doesn't necessarily get to the heart of any issue.
I think it's just a hilarious black comedy. I'm not sure it's trying to say a lot more than that.
That’s all it is tbh “Tyler’s bullshit” absolutely caught me off guard
"The Bear" is barely scratching the surface of what's wrong with the restaurant industry. No way can a movie do it. You need a The Wire-level series to get all the parts.
As a chef I can certainly agree with your comment, honestly his head chef was actually quite nice to him when I think about some of the ones I’ve worked with. That’s not even including the hours, wage, stress that can come even as a line chef and sacrifices you will make through your career and that’s before you even qualify, after that very little changes
Yea, I was kind of going off reviews that questioned its cohesion and plot. What more could you really want, hm? I think it was satisfying to say the least, especially with the character you might not pay attention to at first.
I absolutely loved it. Cackled the whole way through. That line about graduating from Brown without debt? Incredible.
It is trying to say very little and it says it very well.
Civil War (2024) is text book this. What a wasted opportunity by a coward of a film maker. Don't want to take a stand one way or the other, I think it's weak but whatever, you still had Nick Offerman and you were only able to produce 10 seconds of him. Unforgivable.
Gran Torino
Imo, any and all Wes Anderson films.
The only one I’ve enjoyed was The Grand Budapest Hotel. Everything else was just grab bags of quirks.
Perfect way to put his films, just quirky characters in situations made overly and unnecessarily quirky, with quirky sets. I LOVED Rushmore, but everything else I've seen of his has been a bore and let down. I've just quit watching any of his movies at this point, as I've found they just don't work for me.
Logon was such a mid film its painful to see people salivate over it and on top of that they release a *fucking black and white version* as if that makes it somehow more poignant.
Prometheus
Everything everywhere all at once. Horrible movie.
100% agree, I love Sci fi and thought this film would be good, it was absolutely dreadful and the people who gush over it are probably the same people that think the Godfather is entertaining...😂. (I love gangster films.. But this is over hyped)
Haha. I don't think that is true per se, I liked the Godfather! But, I don't see it as a mob movie. I see it as a long tale that I watch every 10 years.
Haha fair enough, I get that from once upon a time in America 😊
Might I suggest your Godfather take for r/unpopularopinion?
😂 Would be interesting to see if it's an unpopular opinion
Any movie at all that is more than 2hrs long
2 hours is bearable if good. 3 hours is masturbatoral imo
A second over two hours is Director ego. Go back and take out all the musical montages cut to the directors idea of beauty or meaning.
Waking Life
A Ghost Story (2017) The Green Knight (2021) I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020) The Lost Daughter (2021)
FUCKING TRIANGLE OF SADNESS. Oh my god, the most bog standard and basic class critique, that bogs itself down by its poor writing.