12 Most Desperate Oscar Grab Movies Of 2016
1. American Pastoral
The actor turned director formula can sometimes be a successful recipe for an Oscar win. It worked for Mel Gibson and Kevin Costner once and a couple of times for Clint Eastwood but if there’s glaring proof that it’s not a 100% effective approach it’s with Ewan McGregor’s directorial debut, the abysmal American Pastoral.
Adapted from a novel, set in the 1960s and boasting an all-star cast including McGregor himself, Elle Fanning and previous Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly it had all the elements of an Oscar contender.
Well until it was actually released, that is, and turned out to a dismally bland and boring affair – basically the cinematic equivalent of dry toast – and earned a meagre $1.48 million worldwide and a rather underwhelming 23% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Might be a good idea to just stick to acting next time, McGregor.
Which other films belong on this list? Share your reactions below in the comments thread.