It is easy to denounce a film from the comfort of home with the modern-day weapons: smartphone and tablet. Even a baby can do that, open an IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes page and rate it bad. But our readers are not like that, they are genuine film lovers who would never do that.
Making a film with the blood and sweat, is not an easy task, certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. In that regard, We should respect the filmmakers’ effort and think thoroughly before announcing a film as the worst. Majority of the film viewers know that, but this millennium has also seen a fair number of underserving backlashes to good films. They are rarely objectively discussed or examined, being a result of overtly hurt sentiment and nostalgia.
These are the films that deserve a reevaluation, another chance to win hearts. Without further ado, here are some good films that saw undeserved backlash:
1. Ghostbusters (2016)
It is difficult to believe that we live in a world which is still riddled with sexual politics. The time it was announced that the new Ghostbusters reboot is going to be a gender reversal, the rants started coming in. No film lover should refute that before criticizing a film, one should watch it first. Unfortunately, the naysayers were not so idealistic.
The main problem with the fans was that the new film will have female protagonists, that it is going to be a film made only to hone the feminist agenda. There was another group of people who were hurt by the mere decision of rebooting their childhood nostalgia. But it was inevitable as we are living in the age of franchise reboots. It is the high time to grow up and acknowledge the world atrocities.
Honestly, the new reboot is nowhere near the original; the original was a classic film whose charm can not be recreated. But the new film is surprisingly good in its way which never tried to pretend like the original. Boasting amazing cinematography and an all-new female cast, it was a completely different movie. Kate McKinnon and Melissa McCarthy gave a good performance and the action set pieces were alluring to the eye in 3D. Regardless, if you despise the film, at least it has increased the view of the original film more than ever. It is time to believe in the positives of life.
2. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
Sorry haters, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” was a fantastic film. The cinematography by Steve Yedlin looked amazing in the big screen, the script successfully balanced drama and action set pieces, there were events specially designed to elicit a strong nostalgic reaction from the fans of the trilogy.
It also included some new players in the fandom, and most of them worked. It has to be admitted that the new film has its fair share of flaws: some of the jokes are extremely forced, parallel plot lines impose a distraction and major fan theories were discarded. But the Star Wars trilogy was never a highly intellectual discourse, rather a great spectacle and great fun in the movies.
This film managed to bring this to a dying franchise. The old players got a respectful farewell, new entries are successfully introduced, and it is the time to let the past die. Rain Johnson is an intelligent director and knows how to strike a balance. Attacking Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB with own prejudices will not take haters so far.
3. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
“Slumdog Millionaire” has often been described as one of the worst films to win an Oscar. Not delving in the argument about Academies choice in that year, it can be objectively said that “Slumdog Millionaire” was a great movie. In terms of the authentic portrayal of a Mumbai Slum, it is an epic fail; Boyle mush have researched further, but it was great entertainment.
“Slumdog Millionaire” was the perfect mix of tearjerker melodrama and Bollywood song-dance routine, with great cinematography that balanced murky and warm color tone in Indian slums. Suspension of disbelief is required to adjust that Jalmal’s whole life prepared him to win “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”, but once you have done that the film presents a great old school melodrama. The accusations of poverty porn can be true, it may not be the best cinema of that year, but it is a good film indeed.
4. Argo (2012)
Now, The criticism about “Argo” was inevitable. It was badly marketed, not a winner of best pictures in any year by any miles and the historical authenticity was thin as a wafer. Cinematic portrayal can never be authentic because a film also has to manage a dramatic arc, but “Argo” played revisionist history game by diluting the role of international relations in the Iranian hostage game.
Oscar is presented in a social and political context, and it is entirely possible that for this sole reason of altering history “Argo” was presented the trophy. All the accusations and more doesn’t dismiss the quality of “Argo” though.
It was not a great film, but one made with care. Ben Affleck was successful maintaining an atmosphere of skepticism throughout the film, which was most important for a film that deals with hostages, the acting performances were believable and it brought back the feeling of yesterday political thrillers.
Another winner of that film is the script by Chris Terrio which helped to maintain dramatic tension, and the meeting scene in the heart of Iran looked splendid but was never easy to shoot.
5. Chicago (2002)
2002 was a tough year for cinema. It was difficult to be disheartened with the choice of “Chicago” as the best picture, even if there were better pictures than this, such a happy picture was this. “Chicago” rejuvenated feminism in Hollywood with its gender subversion and great technical mastery.
With careful choreography, “Chicago” was a blast from first to last. The trolly movement that exposed the dancers one by one is a masterclass in framing for commercial cinema. It is clear from the organic flow of the story and the happy performance from the actors, that the cast and crew had a great time shooting the film.
Among the ensemble cast, Richard Gere had a great time dancing and Catherine Zeta-Jones deserved a special mention for her excellent performance in the film. Rob Marshall successfully utilized the epic scope of jazz music in the film and the female convicts kicked ass with their dancing. “Chicago” is certainly one of the best modern-day musicals in ages.