Even though classic films like The Godfather are universally recognized as pinnacles of cinematic excellence, some viewers fail to see what the hype is all about. Many films have been labeled as pretentious, and it has led to a clear divide in moviegoers.
Whether it is modern war epics such as The Hurt Locker or classic pieces of Hollywood cinema such as Casablanca, some Reddit users aren't sold on these films' quality. In fact, a few Redditors have gone so far as to accuse others of only pretending to like movies to seem smart.
Boyhood (2014)
Gimmicks have always been a part of cinema, but some feel that they can overshadow the film as a whole. A deleted user brought up a film that featured a unique gimmick when they wrote about Boyhood, "In all honesty if it wasn't for the 12 year timeline I don't think it would be getting much praise and attention".
Many viewers were sucked in by the timeline gimmick of the film, but that unfairly ignores its other great qualities. Fans of cinema are going to fixate on the newest and freshest ideas, but the story and direction from Richard Linklater is still very strong. Linklater has shown time and time again in his best films that he is capable of pushing the boundaries while also delivering a compelling story.
Boondock Saints (1999)
It is impossible to overstate the tremendous impact that director Quentin Tarantino had on 1990s, cinema and many films popped up in his wake. User Karagar pointed out one such type of film when they wrote "I really know a lot of people who think Boondock Saints is the best s--- ever, not because it's fun, but because they think it's brilliant".
Audience perception of a film is out of the control of an artist, and many films gain mythic proportions beyond their original intention. Troy Duffy's The Boondock Saints is an exciting action romp with an independent spirit, but it has been accepted in many circles as a great piece of cinema. While art is ultimately subjective, its lumping with Tarantino has left many film purists turned off by how clever many fans think the film is.
Casablanca (1942)
Praise tends to beget more praise, and many audience members don't want to feel left out of the film conversation by having a conflicting opinion. User catmonocle went after a specific classic when they commented about Casablanca, "I think it's disproportionally praised by people in a Mona Lisa kind of way. ... It gets more popular because it's already popular".
Many audience members have a hard time connecting to older films, but they feel as if they must love them because they are acclaimed. While that may account for some classics, Casablanca delivers a compelling story that hasn't lost its gusto all these years later. Generally considered one of the best Hollywood movies of the 1940s, Casablanca has only gotten better with age.
Requiem For A Dream (2000)
Some movies challenge the audience, and attempt to be as thought-provoking as possible with their narrative. User jaxmadden87 was less than impressed with "Requiem for a Dream, writing, "People look into it way too much. It is a very straightforward movie. I just don't see it as amazingly intelligent".
Art is wonderful because it elicits specific reactions from every individual. Requiem for a Dream was a thought-provoking film with a dark message, and many audience members thought they saw through the subtext. Darren Aronofsky is known for his utterly unique films, and Requiem for a Dream was one of the first films that many viewers saw that opened their eyes to the possibilities of cinema.
Idiocracy (2006)
Satire is often the best way to make a statement about modern society, and some films go over the top with their messaging. A deleted user pinpointed a specific comedy film when they commented "I agree that a lot of people think they're smart because they can see the 'deeper meaning' of Idiocracy".
Rather ham-fisted in its approach to satire, Idiocracy was nevertheless a cult hit, and has gone on to have a life of its own. Many viewers missed the point of the film, and believe that they understand it better than the average fan. However, because of the film's obvious nature, none of the humor of the film is lost on the audience as a whole.
The Hurt Locker (2009)
Some films benefit from the advantage of hindsight, while others have their finger on the pulse of the moment. User fatcobra7 thought newness blinded viewers when they said of The Hurt Locker, "People took it seriously because they wanted to feel like they finally had a meaningful Iraq War movie".
There is no denying that outside elements can effect an audience's perception of a film, and The Hurt Locker certainly reflected the dour mood of the public at large regarding the war. However, this mood alone was not the only thing that helped the film succeed, and there is a reason that is one of the best contemporary war movies in recent memory.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Occasionally it isn't the film itself that turns viewers off, but the way that certain films are defended in critical circles. User Khiva thinks Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey is overly intellectualized. They commented about the sci-fi classic, "It always bugged me that its partisans so often seem the drip with such condescension when defending a piece of work that has always struck me as so disjointed and shallow".
The argument that one simply 'doesn't get it' has pervaded art forever, and challenging films like 2001: A Space Odyssey tend to divide audience along those lines. While praised for its technical mastery, some viewers were left cold by the film's millennium spanning narrative. Like all art though, a film doesn't have to be everyone's cup of tea, and not liking something isn't a reflection of someone's ability to perceive something accurately.
Inception (2010)
Despite being somewhat convoluted, some films still manage to serve up a straightforward narrative that is easy to follow. When speaking of the film Inception, a deleted user commented, "It's a movie that makes people feel smart. It's strange how much satisfaction people take in understanding such a rudimentary premise".
A film like Inception works because it challenges its audience without fully leaving them in the dust. The dreamscape is a brilliant plot device, and it allows the film to have some truly amazing action sequences. Christopher Nolan is a smart enough filmmaker that he can make the simple seem complex, and vice versa. This pseudo-intellectualism helps make the audience feel involved in the story in ways that more complicated films cannot.
The Godfather (1972)
When a film enters the common lexicon as one of the best of all time, it will naturally garner a few detractors who doubt its fan's veracity. User TrjnRabbit aired their doubts when they wrote, "The Godfather is overrated in the sense that people's opinions of it are higher than the actual quality of the film".
When considering the best gangster movies of all time, it is impossible not to give The Godfather at least a passing mention. Outside of its genre though, the film is also a masterclass of technique and storytelling, and there is a reason it is so beloved. Despite this, its heady tone and bloated length can sometimes lead some viewers not enjoy it as much as other audience members.
Donnie Darko (2001)
While being intentionally obtuse may be a positive for some audience members, others are completely turned off by the lack of clarity. User BZenMojo specifically talked about Donnie Darko when talking about a movie people watch to feel smart, writing "It's not really complicated as the story is pretty straightforward. ... It's got an interesting idea in its core but that idea is 100-level philosophy course material".
Donnie Darko captured a lot of the angsty zeitgeist of the new millennium, and it has thus become a cult favorite with audiences of a certain age. Though its ideas are somewhat rudimentary to an experienced viewer, it stands as a great primer of film philosophy for viewers who might not necessarily be as knowledgeable.