I always relish the annual overrated list, even when I know it’s wrong. Very, very wrong. Yes, it’s the best way I know to wedge a gap between me and my reader.
Don’t care.
I’m going for it anyway. You have to know. And I have to tell you.
The following 2017 films got more attention than they deserved, and deep down, you know it as well as I do.
A shiny nickel to any person who can point out a genuine, non-ironic, non mean-spirited smile in this film (given or received). Thomas the Overrated Engine docks at station Phantom Thread in 2017. Yeah, it’s last film for Daniel Day-Lewis. So what? Look, I don’t care if this were the last film ever made; I’d still rather see Weekend at Bernie’s and you would, too. Admit it.
Bullcrap.
Every single year, the Oscars holds some sort of toon outreach program acknowledging poorly animated films without an ounce of humor. These films attempt to compensate their 
obvious shortcomings by making a bigger statement of some kind. I think they do this just so the award doesn’t have to be renamed “Best Animated Film from Pixar, Disney, or DreamWorks.” Whatever statement these films make, the bigger statement they always make is: “We don’t belong in Pixar’s league.” And, even though Pixar has been off its game for a few films, this latter statement is 100% true.
In a year replete with great trailers for lousy films, The Square gets the circle. Any mirth or irony the trailer hinted at dies in long form. I have no idea what ”Cannes Do” attitude led to this selection, but it’s dead wrong.
Waited twenty years for this. Yup. Watched Ewan McGregor evolve from user to jedi to songster to … Gotye lyric. Trainspotting: T2 Trainspotting::Ghostbusters: Ghostbusters II.
Thurgood Marshall started his career as Johnny Cochran, only oilier. Good to know. Can’t possibly be true, but good to know.
“Hey, there’s a building. Check it out, there’s another building. Oh ho! What have we got here? Another building.”
“Ummmm. What do you say to some romance?”
“Would you keep it down? I’m looking at buildings here.”
Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool
In case you ever asked yourself if stars ever take roles just for Oscar 
consideration, the answer is “HELL YES!!”
Speaking of taking a role just for Oscar consideration … Winston Churchill has only been played about seventeen times since Sunday, so, sure, why shouldn’t there be room for another? I have no grudge against the man or the Gary Oldman depiction, which, while excellent, owes a great deal to the makeup department. What I object to is calling this a great film. Even if were moved beyond human recognition, which I most certainly was not, I could still no better than admit: “We’ve done this. A lot. And recently. Churchill is about as much a mystery to an audience, any audience, as Shrek.”
Huh, this list has quite the English/European bent this year. I’d apologize, but … I’m not wrong. Especially about Phantom Thread. The powers of snobbery have elevated a “Mystery Science Theater 3000” offering to Best Picture material. In all seriousness, I would rather see that honor go to Smurfs: The Lost Village.
