Was Braveheart the worst Oscar winner?

What’s everyone else’s take? In my opinion, they aren't even the worst—I mean, we can all agree
that those two definitely don't hold a candle to what should have won. Personally, I think
the wins were totally undeserved compared to the other heavy hitters (Se7en, The Usual Suspects)—which, if you ask me,
are much better films.

hollowsailor19 said:What’s everyone else’s take? In my opinion, they aren't even the worst—I mean, we can all agree
that those two definitely don't hold a candle to what should have won. Personally, I think
the wins were totally undeserved compared to the other heavy hitters (Se7en, The Usual Suspects)—which, if you ask me,
are much better films.

Discussing American award criteria is getting more ridiculous by the year. They seem to have some logic behind their decisions that the rest of us can't wrap our heads around—or worse, they're just plain laughable.
As for the movie in question, I actually don't think it was undeserving of the Oscar for Best Picture. Both movies you mentioned (Se7en, The Usual Suspects) are undeniably masterpieces within their genres, but I find Gibson's film much more impactful because it hits on such universal themes.
Aside from Rocky, which you brought up, here are a few Best Picture winners I would never, ever vote for:
1982- The Raiders of the Lost Ark
1989- Rain Man
1995- Forrest Gump
2000- American Beauty
2003- Chicago
2007- No Country for Old Men
I won't even get started on the older ones.

hollowsailor19 said:What’s everyone else’s take? In my opinion, they aren't even the worst—I mean, we can all agree
that those two definitely don't hold a candle to what should have won. Personally, I think
the wins were totally undeserved compared to the other heavy hitters (Se7en, The Usual Suspects)—which, if you ask me,
are much better films.

Stop kidding, please.😎

Forget about those awards. Who actually cares about an Oscar? That thing always misses the mark...

Honestly, Se7en and The Usual Suspects didn't even snag a Best Picture nomination...

Here’s this year’s lineup.

Best Picture
Winner:

* Braveheart (1995) - Mel Gibson (I); Alan Ladd Jr.; Bruce Davey

Other Nominees:
# Apollo 13 (1995) - Brian Grazer
# Babe (1995) - George Miller (II); Doug Mitchell (I); Bill Miller (II)
# The Postman (1994) - Gaetano Daniele; Mario Cecchi Gori; Vittorio Cecchi Gori
# Sense and Sensibility (1995) - Lindsay Doran

Jerry Martin19 said:Honestly, Se7en and The Usual Suspects didn't even snag a Best Picture nomination...

I know they aren't, I'm just saying they're better movies.
It’s just like how 1992 Reservoir Dogs didn't get a nomination, yet it's easily ten times better than...
Unforgiven

Based on whose criteria, though?

hollowsailor19 said:I know they aren't, I'm just saying they're better movies.
It’s just like how 1992 Reservoir Dogs didn't get a nomination, yet it's easily ten times better than...
Unforgiven

You're really exaggerating. That Tarantino flick is considered a cult classic just because a specific group of people hasn't stopped raving about it since, but comparing it to Clint's film...🙄

Look, I’m not gonna get into whether Tarantino's work is better than Clint's since I've only seen this one from Tarantino. But I honestly don't get where you guys get off deciding which movie is superior?! You really think you have the authority to judge that? I know I wouldn't...

Braveheart is an absolute Movie Buff masterpiece, and honestly, if someone is out here claiming Forrest Gump is trash—I truly have nothing left to say to them.😲Seriously, it just goes to show that you can't really argue much when it comes to personal taste, because for me, that film is easily one of my top three all-time favorites.🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

Jerry Martin19 said:Look, I’m not gonna get into whether Tarantino's work is better than Clint's since I've only seen this one from Tarantino. But I honestly don't get where you guys get off deciding which movie is superior?! You really think you have the authority to judge that? I know I wouldn't...

It's a toss-up for me. And honestly, I think anyone who watches enough movies and has seen a decent amount of stuff earns the right to have an opinion.

I honestly think this thread should just be deleted—calling Braveheart a stupid movie is like saying when you poop, you eat crap; it’s just an absurdly false statement! Braveheart is an absolute masterpiece, and it’s right up there with Rocky, which was essentially the childhood defining moment for anyone who grew up back then (though I’m sure you wouldn't get that, being part of this MTV generation). As for Reservoir Dogs, calling it trash is just wrong, just like how people dismiss all of Tarantino's films.

Forrest Gump is easily one of the better films out there—it says so much about how we live our lives, honestly. If some people just can't wrap their heads around its core essence or the message it's putting out, well, that’s on them, not the movie. Besides, it earned its Oscar fair and square. That Hanks guy—who, if I'm being honest, never particularly blew me away with this specific role—actually managed to achieve something much bigger here. In my book, it was his career-defining performance; I doubt he'll ever top it, but hey, at least he hit that peak. And please, stop bashing movies like Forrest Gump or even Braveheart—they really don't deserve the hate. 👍

Laura Palmer25 said:It's a toss-up for me. And honestly, I think anyone who watches enough movies and has seen a decent amount of stuff earns the right to have an opinion.

I watch a ton of movies too, yet I'm still second-guessing my own takes while you seem pretty set in yours. Don't you think "film knowledge" is a bit more subjective than people make it out to be? 🙂

Nathan Myers28 said:I honestly think this thread should just be deleted—calling Braveheart a stupid movie is like saying when you poop, you eat crap; it’s just an absurdly false statement! Braveheart is an absolute masterpiece, and it’s right up there with Rocky, which was essentially the childhood defining moment for anyone who grew up back then (though I’m sure you wouldn't get that, being part of this MTV generation). As for Reservoir Dogs, calling it trash is just wrong, just like how people dismiss all of Tarantino's films.

This is banally stupid. ☕

Jerry Martin19 said:I watch a ton of movies too, yet I'm still second-guessing my own takes while you seem pretty set in yours. Don't you think "film knowledge" is a bit more subjective than people make it out to be? 🙂

You took the words right out of my mouth. Knowledge is actually a fairly solid concept. You notice how most critics—and honestly, even the general public—usually agree on whether a movie is a masterpiece or a total disaster? (Don't crucify me for mentioning critics; I actually make an effort to read their reviews in the papers). There are certain constant elements of quality or failure that you can spot in a film. Personal opinions will always vary from person to person, but I still think the consensus carries more weight.

Laura Palmer25 said:You took the words right out of my mouth. Knowledge is actually a fairly solid concept. You notice how most critics—and honestly, even the general public—usually agree on whether a movie is a masterpiece or a total disaster? (Don't crucify me for mentioning critics; I actually make an effort to read their reviews in the papers). There are certain constant elements of quality or failure that you can spot in a film. Personal opinions will always vary from person to person, but I still think the consensus carries more weight.

True, true. There are definitely good and bad elements in films that almost everyone notices. But I still maintain that criticism (though I personally think it shouldn't even exist) should focus strictly on the technical side of filmmaking rather than "the other stuff," which is often just as important, if not more... If we're going to follow the majority voice as some mass that's easily swayed or misled, I wouldn't put much faith in them... Take 300 for example; in my book, it's one of the worst movies of the year, yet it sits at an 8.1/10 on IMDb with over 132,000 votes according to their metrics...

p.s. why would anyone crucify you for reading critic reviews (that's what they actually are, by the way)? Man, just do whatever you want...

Jerry Martin19 said:Here’s this year’s lineup.

Best Picture
Winner:

* Braveheart (1995) - Mel Gibson (I); Alan Ladd Jr.; Bruce Davey

Other Nominees:
# Apollo 13 (1995) - Brian Grazer
# Babe (1995) - George Miller (II); Doug Mitchell (I); Bill Miller (II)
# The Postman (1994) - Gaetano Daniele; Mario Cecchi Gori; Vittorio Cecchi Gori
# Sense and Sensibility (1995) - Lindsay Doran

🙏 🙏 🙏

Jerry Martin19 said:This is banally stupid. ☕

Honestly, go ahead and ban me—I truly don't care—but anyone claiming Braveheart is a bad movie is clearly losing their mind, and saying Reservoir Dogs is anything less than a masterpiece is just plain wrong.