It was the first film I went to see with the woman who became my wife. We found out on the way home that we both thought it was awful and only sat through it because we didn't want to spoil it for each other. You're right that it was obvious Oscar fodder for the Americans, with all the things...
You're not joking about being criminally overrated. It beat The Shawshank Redemption, Four Weddings & Pulp Fiction to the 1995 best picture Oscar.
I'd disagree that its good though. It had a misguided belief in its own profundity, but, in reality, was a hollow vessel. I particularly hated...
Although a big fan of Scorcese, I thought 'Raging Bull' was overlong and a bit up itself. I know I'm a Philistine, but I preferred 'Rocky,' a very good film which has been devalued by its sequels.