Top four overrated classic films, by me.

Actually, I think you is SO wrong.

hi Matt.

HELLO AUSSIE and Hi Matt!!

Well, to start with...

2001: A Space Odyssey....boring from start to finish..... 

I like The Big Sleep.

Don't like It's A Wonderful Life.

I love Casablanca, and although I've only seen Lawrence of Arabia once, I think it's excellent too.

No I don't think you is right.

Welcome home, Aussie!!!  Boy, it's been a long time.  You have been missed.  So glad to see you again!!

All four films are rated perfectly as they should be. But we can get a little bit deeper into if you want.


First off is 'The Big Sleep' which I don't think anyone really claims is in the Goat contender category like the other three films you mentioned are. Yes it waters down a lot of Raymond Chandlers book, mostly because of censorship at the time. Also it really beefs up the Lauren Bacall character in order to capitalise on the Bogie/Bacall chemistry. In my opinion they do go a little too far with this, to the point where Bacall is in scenes she has no right being in.
However the presence of the unmatchable Humphrey Bogart and the superb direction of Howard Hawks ensure this classic is still thoroughly enjoyable all the way through.


With 'It's a Wonderful Life' we have a stone cold beloved classic. I think the only complaint I've ever heard about this movie is that the ending where George goes to a world where he doesn't exist comes too late into the film. However I've always disagreed with this. We need all that previous set up, so we truly understand the character, making the ending where he cries 'I want to live again' all the more powerful.


Ok, calling 'Casablanca' overrated just annoys me, as its my favourite movie of all time. But I will be fair and address a couple of things. The letters of transit are often called a dumb macguffin, since after all the wrangling that goes on to attain them, Lazlo and Elsa board the plane at the end, and it doesn't even seem like the letters get checked!
Well, maybe they were checked off screen while Rick and Elsa were talking, and maybe the presence of the chief of police Renault helps ensure the the letters legitimacy. All exit vizas need to be signed by Renault anyway.
Remember the point of a macguffin is to drive the characters. As long as we understand it, and all the characters believe it. It doesn't have to make perfect sense.

Another possible legitimate weakness that people often point out is Paul Henreid gives a weak performance, especially compared to the rest of the cast. And my reply to that is he did exactly what was required for the part. He could not outshine Bogart. We are supposed to be invested in Bogart's romance with Bergman. So Henreid needed to appear weaker. And honestly its not a bad performance by any stretch anyway. It's just surrounded by era defining performances all around it.


Finally 'Lawrence of Arabia'. Well I have heard biographers of the real T.E Lawrence have complained about the film because it doesn't go deep enough into the character. I agree with this a little bit I guess. Sometimes when I watch this film I feel like even after spending four hours with Lawrence, I still don't fully understand him. But isn't that true to human nature? Aren't all humans an enigma to some extent. The film also leaves a lot out regarding the nature of the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire and why the French and the British are involved, which would have been nice to explore.

But c'mon. David Lean giving us one of the most beautiful films ever made. Peter O'Toole giving us one of the greatest ever performances. The incredible score by Maurice Jarre. If you don't consider this films a masterpiece, you don't understand cinema.

Bringing Up Baby

His Girl Friday

I love Cary Grant & Rosalind Russell, so the scenes they are in are golden. But the rest of His Girl Friday is just a bore.

As for Bringing Up Baby I always heard how wildly funny it is. But it missed me. I'm not the biggest Hepburn fan, I guess that's it.