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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that I have started to watch the worst film ever made?

360 replies

Dohee · 21/02/2019 00:57

It's called Fences.
It's essentially a monologue from Denzel Washington.

Perhaps it's supposed to be a study on social injustices at the time, but I have endured 40 minutes of it and literally can't take one more second!

Please don't tell me that this is some sort of award winning film and that I'm a bit thick or something?

I'd heard the title before which is why I thought it would be good. 40 minutes in, and literally nothing has happened. Except yer man ranting on and fucking on and fucking on.

I love Denzel usually, and his acting is good, but fuck me, the writing is pure and utter unadulterated shite!

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Original poster
Dohee · 21/02/2019 13:03

And it's nigh on impossible to listen to 40 minutes of a diatribe, even if it is from my beloved Denzel.

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peachgreen · 21/02/2019 13:03

But it's not unresearched (the play won a Pulitzer, for God's sake) and lots of people - including those with experience of abusive relationships - have said it DOES ring true for them, and they did feel for the characters. So you can't unilaterally dismiss it in that way.

Original poster
Dohee · 21/02/2019 13:04

I can dismiss it. It's my opinion. If other people appreciate it, so be it!

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BartonHollow · 21/02/2019 13:09

@StroppyWoman

Yeah so much of it is wishy washy for me. The Doctor Husband barely even made my radar.

The shitty boyfriend was kind of a one dimensional character

Sex scene

Random stick dancing

I'm pregnant, walks out

Goes to find him

Look for me again I'll murder you and the baby Confused

I wondered in a way if the thinness of plot and character was because it was based on childhood memories and family stories.

"Oh yes, she did go and try and find him but he threatened to kill her"

It felt quite 'surface'

Original poster
Dohee · 21/02/2019 13:09

The play won.
The actors were nominated and one won.

The screenplay didn't win. About 2 minutes in, I was confused as to whether I was watching a play or a movie.

I say, that from my experience, the dynamics of the relationship made zero sense.

It was unbearable to listen to one character rant on for 40 minutes solid with no scene changes, nothing. It did not adapt to the screen.

It was pure shite that I turned off 40 minutes in (after deciding 10 minutes in that I would persevere). I gave it a fair shot. It's just not my taste!

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SweetNorthernRose · 21/02/2019 13:10

@peachgreen i think you are being deliberately obtuse. Clearly (well, to everyone i know) when someone says 'it's shit' there is an unpsoken 'in my opinion' that can be infered. I don't think anyone here for a minute thinks that their opinion of a film is the final say to be agreed by everybody forevermore.

peachgreen · 21/02/2019 13:10

You're entitled to any opinion you like, but saying something is "unresearched" and that "the audience will never feel for the character as the character(s) don't ring true" isn't stating an opinion, it's stating something as fact and speaking on behalf of the whole audience.

peachgreen · 21/02/2019 13:13

@SweetNorthernRose I'm honestly not! I'm just saying there's a difference between saying "from my experience, the dynamics of the relationship made zero sense" - totally valid subjective criticism - and "the audience will never feel for the character as the character(s) don't ring true" - objective statement of fact which is demonstrably untrue.

Original poster
Dohee · 21/02/2019 13:14

@peachgreen Apologies. I should have clarified. I am speaking on behalf of every person who has ever watched the film Fences.

Happy now?

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Original poster
Dohee · 21/02/2019 13:15

Demonstrate to me then how untrue my statement is?

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peachgreen · 21/02/2019 13:16

Demonstrate to me then how untrue my statement is?

Someone on this thread literally disagreed with you when you said it wasn't realistic because in their experience it was. So the character DID ring true for them.

StroppyWoman · 21/02/2019 13:17

Barton
Seeing as we share lots of film tastes, can I ask you for a recommendation? What have you seen recently and enjoyed?

BartonHollow · 21/02/2019 13:17

You can't police how other people express themselves though and/or whether they are even tuned into or care about the world of film theory and criticism - you can't tell people that they can't say something was unresearched if that is their opinion why do you think someone isn't entitled to say that ! ?

Original poster
Dohee · 21/02/2019 13:18

You're telling me that my opinion is not valid. You're telling me that your opinion is demonstrable. Show me then?

FFS, I should have put #lighthearted in the thread title.

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Original poster
Dohee · 21/02/2019 13:20

One person on here disagrees with one OP and that is evidence to you of people (people being a plural word) disagreeing with me?

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peachgreen · 21/02/2019 13:20

Facts and opinions aren't the same thing! It WAS researched. That's a fact. The characters didn't ring true for the OP. That's an opinion, totally fine. But to say they didn't ring true for ANYONE is stating a fact, and it's incorrect.

@Dohee I'm absolutely not telling you that your opinion is invalid. In fact I've said the opposite several times. I didn't bloody like the bloody film either! Grin

Original poster
Dohee · 21/02/2019 13:22

If you liked the film, fair play to you! Jeez Louise!

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Original poster
Dohee · 21/02/2019 13:24

Christ above. I didn't go out and question every person who had ever watched the film, so of course my statements are my opinion only! You're being ludicrous now.

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Original poster
Dohee · 21/02/2019 13:24

Did you write the piece of crap or why are you getting so sensitive about it?

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peachgreen · 21/02/2019 13:25

I didn't even like the bloody film! 😂 Okay, okay. You win. I can see that nobody agrees with me so I'll stop being a dick. I just think there's a massive difference between subjective opinions and facts and the line has been blurred a lot on this thread. I hate seeing people dismiss any art as "shite" because a) a lot of people put a lot of work into making it and b) a lot of people really enjoyed / appreciated / loved it, and seeing something you made or something you love dismissed as "shite" is always a bit hurtful.

But again, to clarify - I didn't like the sodding film. I just don't think that makes it shite. Just means I didn't like it.

BartonHollow · 21/02/2019 13:26

@StroppyWoman

Ooooo

Recently I thought Can You Ever Forgive Me was brilliant

Depends if you've got Netflix, Prime or Sky but

Last few years :

Arrival
Nocturnal Animals
The Favourite
Three Billboards
Blackkklansman
Lion
A Star Is Born
Captain Fantastic
Room

For lighter stuff Netflix has a great romcom range

Original poster
Dohee · 21/02/2019 13:27

Well it was shite. The End.

OP posts:
peachgreen · 21/02/2019 13:28

😂 I admire your tenacity, @Dohee, even if I don't agree with your style of critique!

Baconislife · 21/02/2019 13:30

I tell you what beats Fences,hands down for utter shiteness

The Pledge

It's complete and utter wankery at its finest

Original poster
Dohee · 21/02/2019 13:32

And hey you two @stroppywoman @bartonhollow , it hasn't gone unnoticed either that you're cosying up there discussing shite films. Aha.

This is an appreciation thread for non-shite films.
Don't be bringing your appreciation for shite films on here y'all!
That's all I have to say on the matter.

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