DISQUS

Adam_Sweeney · 10 months ago

There is a big difference between Eastwood, Fincher and Aranofsky and Bay or Ratner. The first three can make quality films in multiple genres. And I will fight you to the death on the argument that Wall-E is the best film of the year, Kevin. Can I do a special WTF entitled Wall-E the Fuck? That little robot is going to get rust all over his metal private parts the way some critics are slobbering on him.

James Rocchi · 10 months ago

Neil: You know I'm terribly fond of you, but dismissing The Wrestler as "a chepa grab at some award wins" is simply fatuous.

Respectfully disagreeing,

James

rejectnation · 10 months ago

James, I'm terribly fond of you, too. Thankfully Kevin wrote this article. ;) So you and I are totally on the same side of the argument. I think that most things Kevin says are fatuous.

BigPoppa · 10 months ago

To quick to judge my friend.I love alot of the movies out this year but how are they"selling out"?Personaly im so excited for benjman buttton.These diectors arent selling out their growing up.their abillity's as story tellers are coming full circle,david fincher dosent need to come out with another "shock n awe" gritty ,violent piece of film.All these diectors are able to tell simple stories,thats what they've brought to the table.As a director each movie you do is an opportunity to create something exellent and with movies like milk,the wrester,and benjiman button these diectors have created movies that i love,and critics alike agree are exellent.And common gus van sant is the very example of someone who hasn't sold out,hes able to do critically praised hollywood movies then he pops out movies like "elephant","paranoid park",and "last days" then to come back and do movie like milk,this man is genuis.
PS.Darren Aronofsky deserves a paycheck just to make up for the beatings the fountain gave him

rejectnation · 10 months ago

Also, Kevin, your oblivious knack for satire continues to be brilliant.

Cole_Abaius · 10 months ago

Haha! Fat! I get it.

Cole_Abaius · 10 months ago

Neil, why do you have more meaningless commenting points than I do? This is an outrage!

This agression will not stand.

Dave · 10 months ago

I think you need to re-watch the Fountain before calling it a "shit storm". Sure, it had its production and finance issues, but it is a brilliant film made by one of the most brilliant directors in decades. I ask you to take back your comment. That being said, making a film to win awards is in no way selling out - if the film is good, it should win awards. If it's not, it won't.

Dani · 10 months ago

Don't really get most of your examples. Ron Howard has been making oscar-y films for quite a few years now: Apolo 13, Cinderella Man, A Beautiful Mind... Successful or not, it's not like he suddenly changed his style.

David Fincher already made a three hour piece with toned down visual stlye. It was called Zodiac, and not many people saw it. Don't think Benjamin Button is inconsisten with his body of work.

Clint Eastwood has been directing films that were not westerns or dirty cop movies for a long while now. 20 years ago he directed a jazz musician biopic. A perfect world? Bridges of Madison County?

Davebaxter1989 · 10 months ago

In fairness some would say Fincher has deserved Oscar attention long before now with Zodiac, Fight Club and Se7en. At least most of these films are at least good as it would be worst to attempt an Oscar film and get shut out.

Jackson mackson · 10 months ago

Well David Fincher is doing HEAVY METAL, so I wouldn't say he is trying to make an oscar grab for that and Benjamin Button was suppose to come out in MAY and not be an oscar season movie, which looks amazing. Also Darren Aronofsky has always said he wanted to do big budget studio movies, he has always loved sports movies and he wanted to make this- Rudy is one of his favs. I mean why not bas Christopher Nolan while your at it, he made great indies and now does the big studio movies. Sure call Ron Howard a sell out but he is doing stuff that he wants to do. I don't mind calling Eastwood a sell out because he only seems interested in oscars. Its unfair to throw Gus Van Sant in there too because he just about only makes indie movies but MILK is getting the most recognition.

ANGRYBROOMSTICK · 10 months ago

who cares? If they want to make good, artsy films, let them do that. I like artsy films AND big budget Hollywood films.

you need to relax, man.

FilmFemme · 10 months ago

It seems to me that any director worth his salt as an "artist" probably wants to venture into new genres and styles as much as possible. Much better to "sell out" (which I think is the wrong way to put it) by exploring new techniques and styles than to get stuck in a rut, making the same movie over and over.

PS: When Brett Ratner gets nominated for an Oscar is when I stop going to the movies.

John · 10 months ago

I would not call it selling out. I would call it directors trying their hardest to produce a good film. The directors obviously have a passion for the project or else they would not have taken it on. The awards season is just an extra catalyst for them to try and do better. And what's wrong with that? At least people are trying to make good movies, instead of the run-of-the-mill action films and bland holiday comedies that people shell their money our for. At least people will experience different types of films and would be more open to newer things. And then maybe, we will have more decent films.

Also, your reasons for these directors are faulty. As someone mentioned above, Ron Howard has been directing "oscar" type films for many years. And I would not repremand Fincher for doing something different. At least, he is trying to stectch himself as a director. And most of Eastwood's "DIRECTING" films have been "awards" type films.

I guess this all comes down to taste, but I think this is a very unfair assessment of directors trying to make GOOD movies.

Alericc · 10 months ago

Screw Ron Howard, he deserves all the bile you can cast at him. His films have been sliding into the Spielberg version of how to not make movies for the last 5 years. These days if I see Ron's name attached to it I close my wallet and move on to another movie.

Have to disagree with Clint Eastwood, his track record shows he has no problem crossing from money making movies, Dirty Harry, to oscar contenders, Million Dollar Baby, just to throw the critics off balance. He at least produces enjoyable and watchable films.

Nish · 10 months ago

If these directors aren't selling out, why aren't these films being released outside the award season? It annoys me that films are being called the best film in 2008 when they've only been released for like a week.

Kevin_Carr · 10 months ago

I think you're right. "shit storm" was a bit harsh... how does "shit sandwich" sound?

Seriously, this movie was excruciating. I'd watch it again, but I don't hate myself enough to do so.

Kevin_Carr · 10 months ago

I will fight you, Neil Miller.

Kevin_Carr · 10 months ago

Amen, brother.

lordbeagle · 10 months ago

And where would you place Spielberg? One movie can be Oscar winner like Schindler's List and then next he's making a blockbuster like Indiana Jones and The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull . Eastwood been directing for years since High Plains Drifter.

lordbeagle · 10 months ago

here's 2 quotes from Clint Eastwood (Thanx to IMDB)

...in America, instead of making the audience come to the film, the idea seems to be for you to go to the audience. They come up with the demographics for the film and then the film is made and sold strictly to
that audience. Not to say that it's all bad, but it leaves a lot of the rest of us out of it. To me cinema can be a much more friendly world if there's a lot of things to choose from.

You know when you think of a particular director, you think you would have liked to be with them on one particular film and not necessarily on some other one.

Seanithan Egan · 10 months ago

I have to say this is a pretty null argument in my book.

I agree that sometimes directors purposely make an "award" movie.. but come on.

The main problem with your argument is that you claim that something being a hit makes it a "sell-out" movie which is ridiculous.

28 Days Later was a relatively low budget movie and it did so well because it's fucking enjoyable. The Ocean movies, although a bit ridiculous, were well made (alright, maybe not the 2nd one) and also enjoyable.

What the hell's wrong with David Fincher's movies?

I dunno, from this article you just seem like the kid in high school who goes around calling everyone who doesn't listen to Black Flag and Minor Threat a poser.

Some directors make movies to make money and some make money making movies.