On being a useless film critic: the numbers
April 10th 2007 18:13
Last week, I wrote a heart wrenching post about how being a film critic is a futile endeavor, unless you're willing to pander to the masses and write burstingly positive reviews of dopey comedies, big action blockbusters and formulaic CGI movies for the family.
Today, I read a post on What Would Tyler Durden Do that seems to back up my plea for help.
From the post:
I haven't seen any of these movies, but I'm definitely looking forward to Grindhouse, which seems like a film made from a passion of B-movies. I've been in a state of denial over Blades of Glory, which, though it may have some laughs, is just throwing Will Ferrell into another theme comedy.
Are We Done Yet? The Ice Cube driven movie is a shocking travesty to his hard-hittin' days with NWA. I can't even begin to consider to think about possibly watching this.
I dunno, maybe I'll see all the above movies and realize that Grindhouse stinks and Blades of Glory is one of the best comedy movies in existence.
Today, I read a post on What Would Tyler Durden Do that seems to back up my plea for help.
From the post:
Dear god, the numbers from this weekends box office are in and they reveal a very disappointing pull for "Grindhouse". Despite being awesome in every way, it came in fourth place and earned a surprisingly low $11.5 million. Lazy ass comedy "Blades of Glory" somehow topped the weekend with $23 million, bringing its two week total to a heart-breaking $69 million. "Meet the Robinsons" was number 2 this weekend, earning $17 million. Even a family comedy with Ice Cube beat "Grindhouse", as "Are We Done Yet" came in third and pulled $15 million.
I haven't seen any of these movies, but I'm definitely looking forward to Grindhouse, which seems like a film made from a passion of B-movies. I've been in a state of denial over Blades of Glory, which, though it may have some laughs, is just throwing Will Ferrell into another theme comedy.
Are We Done Yet? The Ice Cube driven movie is a shocking travesty to his hard-hittin' days with NWA. I can't even begin to consider to think about possibly watching this.
I dunno, maybe I'll see all the above movies and realize that Grindhouse stinks and Blades of Glory is one of the best comedy movies in existence.
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Comment by Filmpeeker
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I kinda agree with this week's box-office, since you got to admit Grindhouse is not something the majority would go and see. I mean, sure it might be awesome, but while BoG collects people from all ages and genders, Grindhouse is something mostly 20-40 year old males go to see.
You get my point right?
Have a good one,
filmpeeker
Comment by D. Armenta
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I loved Ferrell's work with Saturday Night Live, but he seems to have acquired the SNL curse when it comes to movies, because every one he's been in has sucked. Hard.
In my opinion, anyway...
Comment by Mo Diggs
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Comment by Cibbuano
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Best roles: Frank the Tank in Old School, and the homosexual wrestler in Ladies Man.
D. Armenta, SNL leaves a pretty big curse...
Mo, take out your anger with violence!
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Meet the Robinsons isn't all bad.
Grindhouse is aimed at the brainy end of the gene pool as a reference type of film. Critics love it because they see other films and influences. However most film watches don't care as they just want to be entertained.
Here are some failed great films:
Bladerunner
Bonny and Clyde
The Man Who Would Be King
The Italian Job (original)
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Wll Ferrell was good on SNL but his films have been unfunny lame ducks....except for Stranger Than Fiction which was quite good.
Not that Grindhouse will be anything but what it promises, trashy fun there is still something wrong with family friendly Ice Cube attracting even a single audience member.
Oh well its always worth remembering the great films nearly always tank on first release, Donnie Darko didnt even make back its budget on the big screen first time round....Fight Club bombed harder than the world trade centre at the cinemas....Most of Kubrick (2001, Clockwork Orange), Lynch's (Blue Velvet, Lost Highway) and Cronenburg's (Videodrome, Dead Ringers) films are big screen duds that later earn appreciation...The better a film the less chance of decent box office...or a respectful advertising budget.
Comment by Nina
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Comment by Cibbuano
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Nina, definitely.. the few TV shows that I've enjoyed have been overwhelmed...
yoda, I quite liked Ice Cube in Friday and Barbershop... but he must be sitting on piles of money now...
damn, that's the guy that was Straight Outta Compton...
Comment by D. Armenta
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Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog
I'm pretty sure he was sitting on piles of money before. Friday was brilliant, the subsequent cashins were rubbish. F*** The Pol-Ice?
As for Pixar, they do seem to have lost their way a bit. Cars? I mean, really?
;o)
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Yoda, D. Armenta - I watched the first 15 minutes of Cars and it was awful. I mean, really, really bad.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Choke is worth a read too and Im currently working through Diary which is still good but not great.
Comment by KylieW
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Comment by Filmpeeker
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Anchorman
Talladega Nights
Elf (more for kids, but very funny still)
Pixar is not loosing it, Cars is the only movie they didn't get right. They'll come back huge with Ratatouille.
Are We Done Yet is a sequel of a bad movie. And sequels are worse than prequels... do the math.
//filmpeeker
Comment by Brenton
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The WWTDD site irritates me. I can't see Tyler Duden wasting his time on the internet whining about movies - especially not on a site hosting ads for pink hoodies.
Comment by Luke
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Music critics might give 5 stars to Bloc Party's first album, but Britney Spears still appears in the charts more.
Likewise, book critics will tell you to pick up the latest piece of gutbusting literature from Peter Carey, but everyone rushes out to buy Matthew Reilly's latest action book instead.
I don't think Tarantino or Tarantino fans can complain too much... he's very well-known for a 'cult' director and he pretty much gets to make films exactly the way he wants to, with whoever he wants in whatever roles, he's very much an A-list director in terms of talent and talent-pulling power. Kill Bill probably made more money than all the films that inspired it combined.
Comment by Ahmed
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Comment by D. Armenta
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What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
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Comment by Cibbuano
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Ahmed, Bean was good? I'd give it a shot...
Comment by JohnDoe
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Jenny Agutter the actress in Walkabout was later to star in American Werewolf in London and Logan's Run.
Comment by D. Armenta
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What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
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Comment by Luke
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Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Qwerk
Cinema Three