12 Critically Acclaimed Recent Movies That Actually Sucked

2. On Chesil Beach

On Cheshil Beach Saorsie Ronan
Lionsgate

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 69% (6.3/10)

What The Critics Said: This awards-baiting adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel received praise for Saoirse Ronan's performance and its intimate examination of a young marriage in crisis.

Why It Actually Sucked: Ronan gives a typically committed turn here, but for the most part On Chesil Beach is undone by its infuriating lead characters, an overly saccharine tone, and the wholly unnecessary introduction of a scandalous subplot which completely warps the film's original meaning.

Rightly deemed an up-market Nicholas Sparks adaptation by its detractors, this is offputtingly desperate Oscar-bait that fell almost totally flat on its face. It ultimately skipped awards season entirely and ended up quietly dumped in cinemas at the start of the summer. Yikes.

Advertisement
Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.