Films that tried too hard to win an Oscar

The problem is when Hollywood tries to get preachy. I am Sam is a good example. They try and come up with 'Worthy' causes, things which they can use to take the moral highground. It is contrived. There wasn't a story about a handicapped person that was waiting to be told, they just hoped that if they used a handicapped character for the film it would appear 'Worthy'. It's like in Tropic Thunder where they are debating about why tug didn't get an Oscar for simple Jack. He 'expected' to because the story was about a mentally handicapped person, and that should win right? Because you HAVE to feel sorry for the handicapped.....

And what happened to Cowboys and Aliens ? Oscar snobbery.

Judging by the comments, I think that most people realise that just because something has won an Oscar doesn't mean it's a great film, and that just because something failed to get nominated doesn't mean it's a bad film.

I watched The Blind Side a few weeks ago- it was an enjoyable film and Sandra Bullock was good in it, but I thought that for her to get an Oscar suggested that it was a pretty 'lean' year for female roles. However, that's just my opinion- I can't remember who else was nominated.

When talking about I am sam.....they spoke about other actors performing with disabilities but missed out the best. How could you not mention daniel day lewis in my left foot?

The Oscars have gotten things wrong many times. Samuel L Jackson should have won for Pulp Fiction, Saving Private Ryan was beat by Shakespeare in Love for best picture, which also gave Judi Dench a gong for 8 minutes of screen time. Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!

I observe that many films panned/rejected by critics and Oscar nominators are actually very entertaining - and visa versa. For example, I found Invictus both entertaining and inspirational. So I don't "get" what the critics etc. are looking for - certainly the total earnings of a film seems to reflect the public's opinion rather than that of the paid critics

This is a wonderful example of "art" critics' snobbery. So what? Those films didn't get the oh-so "prestigious" Awards - it doesn't make it any more or less of a film. Some of the best films in cinema history failed to be recognised or appreciated by the judges, and since the whole judgement showdown falls in human opinion and criticism, the whole system is fallible.

I don't take to the supposed idea that these films' purpose was to grab a few awards. It's completely degrading to the actors and filmmakers, who have done an extraordinary job - (Memoirs of a Geisha does NOT deserve a "Memoirs of a Loser" footnote. Are you attempting to say that the technical aspects of a film aren't an integral role in filmmaking? If so, I suggest you revise your first-year Film-College notes, unless of course you're writing from complete inexperience and ignorance.)

Sure, there are elements that appeal to the judges, but (to put it in simpleton's words) just because Jack likes red, it doesn't mean that every red object was designed to suit Jack.

I think it's a bit weird that Frida Kahlo is described as 'obscure', because she's really not.

The winner of the best film, I've found is the one to avoid at the movie theater, far better too wait for the extended DVD box set.

Sean Penn.......ok-ish actor, needs to keep his trap shut about the Falklands (I KNOW it's off topic!). Apparently, the new Tom Hanks fil is trying a bit too hard (post 9/11) & trying to tug on the heartstrings a bit too hard. No doubt our American "cousins" will love it & continue to whoop & wave their flag.

Don't forget Incredibly Loud And Close. A cold, calculated use of 9/11 to garner academy votes. Tom Hanks would sell his granny for an Oscar.

well i really liked Memoirs Of A Geisha

The Artist is another Oscar bait, I seen silent movies like this many times.

talking of injustices at the oscars..2002 -. The year That Johnny Depp was nominated for his innovative characterisation of Jack Sparrow in disneys Pirates of the Caribbean..the movie grossed more at the box office than other 4 best actor nominated films takings all added together... yet he was snubbed in favour of Sean Penn...but then he never did play goodie twoshoes and stick to their ideals..

The public vote at the box office...thats how they should decide who wins.

Frida Kahlo is only "obscure" to an ignoramus. She is very famous to anyone who knows even a smattering about art. Please keep your ignorance in your own camp, thanks.

To say popular films deserve oscars is like saying McDonalds derserves 5 stars in Egon Ronays guide to restaurants, and anything with freshly caught seafood and fresh vegetables deserves 1. Sorry, but a lot of people only want easy entertainment dished out to them.

In 1982 ET ought to have won the Oscar for best picture. Millions went to see it, it broke all box office records at the time, it was hugely enjoyable and people loved it - and still do.
The Oscar went to Gandhi, a longwinded, pretentious bore of a film by a longwinded pretentious bore of a director, Richard Attenborough. The cinematic snobs thought it wasn't cool to vote for ET.

Memoirs of a Geisha and Frost/Nixon were good films?????

Memoirs of a Geisha is certainly a good decent film. However, there are few little details which confuse me. The plot takes place in Japan. The leading actresses Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh are Chinese (in this film, they obviously play Japanese characters). And 99% of all actors and actresses speak English. If I was the director, I would haved forced everyone (including Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh) to speak Japanese.

I seem to remember Thin Red Line and Saving Private Ryan battling it out. SPR was the victor if only for the unforgettable opening scene, but I'm more of a TRL fan myself.