A Ranking of The Best Picture Catalogue Part I (90-94)

On May 8th, 2022, I had embarked on a mission to watch and review every film that won Best Picture at the Academy Awards, in those seventy-three days I watched all ninety-four movie in alphabetical order. You can view my analysis on each film at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bestpickpod.

I have decided the next step is to rank them based on three criteria. 1. Did I enjoy the film; 2. Did I feel the stories and/or characters were compelling. 3. Did it do something revolutionary or extraordinary.

94.?The Broadway Melody (1928/29).?Just tedious boredom with simple melodies. ?The best scene: is the outburst where Anita Page stands up to Bessie Love and Charlie King.

When it comes to the films of the 1920s, they are still trying to find out what audiences will appreciate. The films are not as complicated as they are today. The Broadway Melody celebrates the showbiz world as two sisters try to make it on Broadway while going after a song-and-dance man who can make it happen. It all comes to a head in a rare dramatic scene for a musical, as Anita Page stands up to both her sister Bessie Love and Charles King in a thrilling show of anger and outrage that gives this simple move fire. But, unfortunately, it lacks anything else that we consider entertaining by today's standards. Average Ranking of the Film: #94

?93. Chariots of Fire (1981).?Just tedious boredom about the Olympics, and the rematch we don't get to see.

When it comes to films about sporting events, they are fascinating stories within themselves. ?You watch a boxing match with an eye on who wins and who gets pummeled. ?You watch football for the same reason, but then you come to the Olympic running team. ?Unfortunately, we don’t see that thrill significantly when you must slow down the event for the moviegoing audience.?Chariots of Fire gives the 1924 Olympics fantastic scenery, an excellent supporting cast, and exciting character work in Ian Holm’s Sam Mussabini.?However, the plotting is slow, and the competition angle is weak.?As a result, it doesn’t capture our attention, with Holm’s reaction to Cross winning a gold medal the only excitable thing to watch. Average Ranking of the Film: #85

92. An American in Paris (1951).?Just tedious boredom with a lengthy ballet number with dancing legend Gene Kelly.

When it comes to the musicals in their heyday, you need catchy tunes, selling stars, and exciting visuals.?Most of those combinations are in Oscar-Winning Best Pictures.?Yet, this film, which gives us some of Kelly’s most challenging choreography sequences, ruins it with a lengthy ballet dream that takes us out of the picture and into a land of boredom.?As for the music, it has some catchy songs, though Caron’s introduction falls flat.?It does have one redeeming quality in the face-passed dialogue, particularly between Gene Kelly and Nino Foch in their introduction, and Kelly’s work with the children is quite enjoyable.?It just needs a more compelling narrative. Average Ranking of the Film: #34

91. Out of Africa (1985).?Just tedious boredom with an African landscape and a great character in Karen.

When it comes to Africa, with its Beauty and majestic scenery and animals walking around in their natural habitats, capturing those images on film would be a no-brainer.?However, with Out of Africa, all we wanted to do what escape the African continent.?Unfortunately, it lacks chemistry between its stars, Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, lackluster and questionable plotting turns, and commentary on women in the African plain.?Though Streep’s character is complex, and the Beauty of Africa is visually breathtaking, the only emotional scene that excites is the thrilling heat in the breakup between the stars.?It had so much hope and potential but squandered it. Average Ranking of the Film: #91

90. Grand Hotel (1932/33).?Just a big cast with nothing to do in a hotel about nothing.

When it comes to an ensemble of A-list stars in a movie, one needs to ensure each character is highlighted, each performance is excellent, and doesn’t overshadow one actor for another.?Yet, with Grand Hotel, we have competing mundane tales that have no connectivity, except they all happen within the confines of the hotel.?The characters are thrilling to watch, with Lionel Barrymore coming alive in his drunkard entrance to his hotel room. ?However, the chaotic nature of introducing each character with phone conversations intercutting between each one is confusing.?In addition, the plots are dull, with a business merger being discussed at one end, a clichéd drunk bar room scene in another, and two people falling in love at first sight. ?Though Greta Garbo speaks her classic line, we want something to keep our interest in the unremarkable hotel of mundane scenes. Average Ranking of the Film: #75

Stay tuned for the next ten films in my ranked 80 to 89.