Every year, the Best Picture winner comes under scrutiny as fans and pundits question why the eventual winner was selected and whether it actually deserved its place in the movie industry history books. This year is no different with a number of pundits split on whether the movie was the right pick by the Academy.
Ellen Killoran of International Business Times noted that the film did not top many critics' top films lists and was helped by the criticism aimed at "Zero Dark Thirty." Los Angeles Times critic Kenneth Turan wrote that while the film was solid, "there was a time within the memory of those living when turning out films like this what was the studios did for a living. It used to be that smart, entertaining adult vehicles like 'Argo' were simply business as usual for Hollywood, the bread and butter of a busy industry that consistently delivered adult entertainment in genres without number." He added, "In those days, a film like 'Argo' would in no way stand out far enough from the crowd to be the favorite for the best picture Oscar."
Andrew O'Hehir of Salon wrote a piece prior to the film's victory and also felt that "Argo" was undeserving. "If Affleck captures one of the darker and more chaotic periods of recent history in meticulous detail - and his replication of the revolutionary streets of Tehran, and the seizure of the United States embassy, is genuinely impressive - I would argue that's all elaborate window dressing for a propaganda fable, " wrote O'Hehir. The writer goes on to note that the while the film claims to be a depiction of true events is in fact made up of overdramatized inventions that ultimately degrade its quality.
Dale Chong of the Annenberg Digital News did feel that the film was deserving of its victory. "Overall, 'Argo' won its Oscar fairly. Ben Affleck's direction takes an approach to this true-story based film like no other," wrote Chong.
Numerous users also took to Twitter to express their feelings.
@DerekT86: Argo isn't even that good, how did it receive so much hype?#Marketing Pleased for Waltz.
@gspece: Oscar recap: Argo, no surprise. BotSW and Lincoln probably better. DDL was deserving, Chastain was robbed. Good choices on supp. acts (cont)
@PhilthePill : Debating whether it should've been Argo or Django. RT@postpolitics: What is Congress doing this week?
@sav01: And all their tax breaks! RT @SenJohnMcCain: Congrats to@BenAffleck and his colleagues on #Argo for well-deserved #OscarsBest Picture win
@BhamWeekly: Argo deserved it. Reality under stress is more absurd than anything you could make up. Why meet Sanchez in a walk-in freezer, I ask myself?
@scott_rickard: Carter's wrong on this one. Argo did not deserve such recognition.
@seanfisher3: Argo absolutely did not deserve Best Pic. Silver Linings had emotional storytelling, great acting. Argo was above average, not great.
@KennedyShane: I thought Django was better than Argo. That being said, Argo diddeserve it.
@JamiJurich: ARGO!!!! At least the Academy got that right. BEN, so deserved. Youdeserve all the universe for this genius film. George. Marry me.
@TFLAMB: Best Movie - Argo | So got 16/24 (66%) right, how you do? Slightly better then average. An no Argo didn't deserve it
@MahsaMaboudian: Argo doesn't deserve any awards. It was full of BS.
@Politicolnews: The real story of Iran hostages was dramatic enough, no "creative license" needed. If #ARGO was accurately written, would deserve an oscar.