I Just Didn’t Get It: Praised Films of 2013 That Didn’t Deserve The Hype

I JUST DIDN’T GET IT

By Kyle Osborne

These are films that garnered high praise and, in some cases, big tallies at the Box Office, but I just didn’t get it. Didn’t get the glowing reviews, the hype, just….didn’t get it.

Captain Phillips

Yes, I am fully aware that Tom Hanks is a national treasure and, having interviewed him several times, I can tell you that he truly is, as is his reputation, one of the nicest guys in the business. But his ‘Pepperidge Faaahm’ New England accent drove me to distraction and, the film itself seemed rather plodding. I was ready to jump off that boat long before the Captain was. Here’s my original review: http://www.entertainmentordie.com/2013/10/movie-review-captain-phillips-with-tom-hanks/

Saving Mr. Banks

Wow, I’m really gonna get hate mail because here is Mr. Hanks, once again sporting some sort of tortured accent of none other than Mr. Walt Disney, who I think was from Missouri or someplace like that. At any rate, we know what the real Disney sounded like, and this ain’t it. Can we just stipulate that Hanks’ forte is not accents? Remember Forrest Gump? Anyone? Anyone? But that’s not the weakest part of the film—the weakest part is that the storyline is circular, repeating the same pattern over and over again until the movie is finished. Some praise it because it’s wholesome-but shouldn’t we asked more of a film than that? Here’s my video review of Banks (and Anchorman 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BZVPQJ8UXk

Inside Llewyn Davis

Wait! Don’t throw anything yet. I actually liked this movie. I liked it a lot. Looked great, acted well, the music was sublime. But do you know how many critics have put this Coen Brothers film on their Top Ten List? And some have even put it at the Best Film of 2013. Really? The individual elements are all great, but the whole is more like “I admire it” or “I kinda liked it” and certainy not “OMG-it was the BEST.” Anyway, The Big Lebowski was a flop at first—it only later became a cult favorite (and one of mine, for sure) so maybe repeat viewing of Inside Llewyn Davis will show me what I’m missing.

Spring Breakers

Sure it was fun watching James Franco try to talk through the grillz on his teeth,and the first six thousand times he said “Sprang Braaaake” I laughed. But some thought this chaotic, exploitative piece of crap was art. I wasn’t among them. My review: http://www.entertainmentordie.com/2013/03/movie-review-spring-breakers/

All Is Lost

At 77, Robert Redford gave an amazing performance, and the film was well crafted. But people got way over-hyped on this art house nugget with the annoyingly ambiguous ending.  Too much praise for this scantily clad Emperor (the movie, not Redford). My review: http://www.entertainmentordie.com/2013/10/movie-review-all-is-lost-robert-redford-stays-afloat-but-does-the-film-sail/

Which movie stars had the Worst 2013 ?? Here’s a hint: They’re former business partners. Check it out here: http://www.entertainmentordie.com/2014/01/which-stars-had-the-worst-year-in-2013/