Within moments of “Green Book” winning the Oscar for Best Picture, the Los Angeles Times published a story Sunday night by critic Justin Chang with the the headline: “‘Green Book’ is the worst best picture winner since ‘Crash.'”
“Remember that this is the same organization that gave its top honor to ‘Crash’ – so not surprising but still, f— it,” wrote the New York Times’ Manohla Dargis.
“Green Book” never had many fans in progressive circles. Though its fans saw it as an unlikely buddy dramedy with a message of hope, critics accused it of old-fashioned and even retrograde portrayals of racial dynamics at a time when American culture demands more complex and nuanced stories.
It also survived plenty of bad press in the week after it won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, as well as other Globes. Old stories emerged of Peter Farrelly flashing his penis as a joke on the set of “Something About Mary” two decades ago, and screenwriter Nick Vallelonga apologized for an old tweet agreeing that Muslims had celebrated in New Jersey after 9/11.
Oscar voters looked past the criticisms, giving the film not only Best Picture, but also giving Best Supporting Actor to Ali and Best Original Screenplay to Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie and Farrelly.
The wins earned instant comparisons to past Oscars for “Driving Miss Daisy” and “Crash,” other films accused of outdated racial attitudes.
Dargis’ newspaper tweeted out last year’s review by critic A.O. Scott, which referred to “Green Book” as “a Road Trip Through a Land of Racial Clichés.”
“Every suspicion you might entertain — that this will be a sentimental tale of prejudices overcome and common humanity affirmed; that its politics will be as gently middle-of-the-road as its humor; that it will invite a measure of self-congratulation about how far we, as a nation, have come — will be confirmed,” he wrote.
In his post Sunday night, Chang wrote that “Green Book” is “insultingly glib and hucksterish, a self-satisfied crock masquerading as an olive branch.”
Calling it “an embarrassment,” he added: “It reduces the long, barbaric and ongoing history of American racism to a problem, a formula, a dramatic equation that can be balanced and solved.”
“Just gonna leave this here,” The Huffington Post tweeted. “This” was a piece entitled “‘Green Book’ Is As Disappointing As It Is Tone-Deaf On Race.”
Golden Globes' 10 Most Ludicrous Comedy or Musical Picks, From 'Get Out' to 'Green Book' (Photos)
Throughout its history, the Golden Globes have consistently made oddball choices when it comes to determining what films qualify under its Comedy or Musical categories. Here are 10 other instances that raise an eyebrow:
Justin Lubin/Universal
"The Three Musketeers" (1974)
There are a lot of examples of sumptuous, overly colorful period pieces and adventures that flirt with the musical tag, but the funniest thing about the 1973 "Three Musketeers," which was nominated for Best Musical or Comedy, is that Charlton Heston would play a villainous Cardinal.
Twentieth Century Fox
"Ghost" (1990)
We've gotten a lot of mileage out of parodies of that pottery scene, but just because Whoopi Goldberg is in "Ghost" doesn't make it a comedy. It was nominated in the Best Musical or Comedy category and lost to Peter Weir's "Green Card."
Paramount Pictures
"Fargo" (1996)
It isn't easy to pin down one genre for any Coen Brothers movie, especially "Fargo." But the real joke is that "Fargo" ended up losing to "Evita."
Gramercy Pictures
"Vicky Christina Barcelona" (2008)
The Globes would eventually figure out with "Blue Valentine" that there are some times when Woody Allen just prefers to not be funny, so why not this time? It did manage to win in the Musical or Comedy category however.
MGM
"The Tourist" (2010)
How can we invite Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp to the awards ceremony? Let's nominate this romantic action caper with a 20 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and stick it in the Musical or Comedy category!
Columbia Pictures
"RED" (2010)
Yeah, it's an action movie, but we'd find some way to invite Helen Mirren to the awards ceremony if we could too.
Summit Entertainment
"My Week With Marilyn" (2011)
Maybe someone will make a movie worthy of a Golden Globe that celebrates Marilyn Monroe's musical and comedic achievements. But this drama about Monroe's romantic fling in London wasn't it. The Michelle Williams film lost to "The Artist" that year.
The Weinstein Company
"The Martian" (2015)
"In your face, Neil Armstrong!" That line of dialogue is just about all it takes to be considered a comedy it seems. And it won!
Twentieth Century Fox
"Get Out" (2017)
Jordan Peele's "Get Out" is funny in that queasy, racially tense and awkward way -- but make no mistake, it's a horror movie. But it was nominated in the Best Musical or Comedy category and lost to "Lady Bird."
Universal Pictures
"Green Book" (2018)
While some jokes are cracked about how much the lead character eats, the story of a white bouncer hired to drive a closeted Black pianist through the racist South is more of a light-hearted drama than anything else.
Courtesy of TIFF
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The categories for ”My Week With Marilyn“ and ”The Tourist“ also had moviegoers scratching their heads
Throughout its history, the Golden Globes have consistently made oddball choices when it comes to determining what films qualify under its Comedy or Musical categories. Here are 10 other instances that raise an eyebrow: