# The least subtle film ever made **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 22, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612 "2013-03-22T04:11:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/1 "2013-03-22T04:11:58Z")
I watched _Nixon_ again tonight, for no particular reason – what an amazing freaking cast, and what an utter disregard for nuance. Seriously, I think there’s a strong possibility that it is the least subtle film ever made; certainly it’s the least subtle film that had people associated with it [nominated for major awards](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113987/awards) (there are plenty of crappy movies that are less subtle). Are there other possibilities, or can we just give the trophy to _Nixon_ without further discussion? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/2 "2013-03-22T04:15:53Z")
_Pleasantville_ (also staring Joan Allen) makes no pretense toward subtlety. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/3 "2013-03-22T04:16:40Z")
Showgirls! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/4 "2013-03-22T04:20:10Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > I watched _Nixon_ again tonight, for no particular reason – what an amazing freaking cast, and what an utter disregard for nuance. Seriously, I think there’s a strong possibility that it is the least subtle film ever made; certainly it’s the least subtle film that had people associated with it [nominated for major awards](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113987/awards) I’ll see your Academy Award nominations and raise you with Academy Award wins for _Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner_. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/5 "2013-03-22T04:20:16Z")
Raiders of the Lost Ark ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/6 "2013-03-22T04:27:08Z")
> [@Typo\_Knig](#): > > Raiders of the Lost Ark I’d argue that Spielberg topped himself with _Schindler’s List_. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/7 "2013-03-22T04:32:41Z")
Are you talking about that Frank Langela film? It was impressive but I found the real Nixon even better. Least subtle film to me is Machete. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/8 "2013-03-22T04:38:54Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > Are you talking about that Frank Langela film? It was impressive but I found the real Nixon even better. No, the Oliver Stone film with Anthony Hopkins in the title role. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/9 "2013-03-22T04:59:03Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I’d argue that Spielberg topped himself with _Schindler’s List_. Spielberg couldn’t afford subtlety when he made that movie. He needed to get the message out. The audience needed to learn that the Nazis were bad and the Holocaust was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Reepicheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/10 "2013-03-22T05:22:24Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Are there other possibilities, or can we just give the trophy to _Nixon_ without further discussion? Both unsubtle and historic _Birth of a Nation_. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/11 "2013-03-22T06:21:26Z")
Anal Harlots 5 Which is surprising, because the first four were so nuanced. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/12 "2013-03-22T06:52:33Z")
[The Eternal Jew](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eternal_Jew_%281940_film%29) ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/13 "2013-03-22T07:34:51Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Spielberg couldn’t afford subtlety when he made that movie. He needed to get the message out. The audience needed to learn that the Nazis were bad and the Holocaust was wrong. What is the least bit subtle about Nazis putting bullets into the heads of Jews? If anything, the film wasnt as brutal as the reality and in fact his use of black and white was indeed subtle. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/14 "2013-03-22T10:04:24Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > certainly it’s the least subtle film that had people associated with it [nominated for major awards](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113987/awards) Ummmm . . . _Crash_ was itself nominated for and _won_ the Academy Award for Best Picture. I think I win the Thread- not a very satisfying victory though since it was such an easy victory. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/15 "2013-03-22T10:05:32Z")
Porn. All of them ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/16 "2013-03-22T10:25:33Z")
Peter Jackson wouldn’t know subtle if it hit him like a tossed dwarf. I mean, he’s capable of great cinema, but subtle storytelling, well… ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/17 "2013-03-22T10:58:21Z")
I haven’t seen it, but I’m going to go ahead and throw in the recent _Atlas Shrugged_ movie anyway. I have a hunch. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/18 "2013-03-22T11:33:25Z")
**Tommy**. Ken Russell hit every single point with a sledgehammer and an utter lack of humor, turning the meaning up to 11 long before Spinal Tap. It’s bombastic as hell, and hilariously awful. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/19 "2013-03-22T12:01:12Z")
I thought the original **Red Dawn** was about as subtle as a sledgehammer, with its realization – however convoluted – of jingoist ideas and sayings. The one that made me actually laugh was when an invading soldier actually _does_ Pry a Gun from a gun owner’s Cold Dead Hand. ---
**Author:** ![nate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nate/32/13085_2.png) [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612/20 "2013-03-22T12:08:20Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Ummmm . . . _Crash_ was itself nominated for and _won_ the Academy Award for Best Picture. > I think I win the Thread- not a very satisfying victory though since it was such an easy victory. I second _Crash_. I lost the automatic respect I had for Best Picture winners after that year. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-least-subtle-film-ever-made/653612.md?page=2)