Most over-rated film of the century

Rating: 5/10 (3 March 2005)

Having watched a few days after the movie grabbed the Best Picture Oscar, I cannot but record that it was a big let down. I haven't yet seen the other Oscar nominees of 2004, but then Beautiful Mind, American Beauty, Forrest Gump and English Patient too have won that Oscar (not to mention the all time greats such as Gone with the Wind, Midnight Cowboy and Kramer Vs Kramer) Is this movie on par with those? The movie does not truly explore the human relationships since we are not aware of many circumstances of the main actors. There appears to be a father-daughter relationship but we are not aware of the real father-daughter relationships of them. So how can we be sure? Are we supposed to read the book too? I am reminded of great story tellers such as David Lean who in Ryan's Daughter and Doctor Zhivago told complex stories while at the same time delving into the depths of human and social spirits.
I have a feeling that "Raging Bull" is far ahead in exploring the human being beneath the boxer than this film. This is perhaps the most over-rated film so far in this century. Perhaps the super-human scale of Clint Eastwood is too overpowering. But all tear-jerkers are not good films.