When good critics/pundits/journos go bad -- Who got it wrong on Brokeback?

[levans645]

By the way: did anyone find Capote a very sound, very competent yet ultimately dry and overrated film? And, please do let me know, did ANYONE out there HATE Munich as much as I did?? I just found it so very poorly scripted, the sense of time and place very contrived and felt the entire film was a boring travelogue through 70s Europe and Middle East?  You know, if its Tuesday it must be a bomb in Athens, kinda thing?? Cheers! 

Agree with you about Capote and Munich.  Capote was well done but didn't move me... it was nothing to get excited about.  Munich had a very repetitive, plodding quality... it seemed to drag on and on and parts of the script sounded like speeches not real dialogue.

Both were way better than *rash though.

I agree about Capote.  it was well done but didn't move me.  PSH did a good job, but I still think Heath was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better.

and yes, both were waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than *rash

[dback]

This worries me, without the critics who seem to know a good movie from the bad (E & R excluded), then are dear friends at the Academy who dont have to screen the movies they are voting on, can clearly pick a BAD movie if they wanted to, (like this hasnt happened before) I say the critics viewing is very important and should remain as is, other wise Academy brain dead persons will have free rein and great classic movies like our Brokeback wont even have a chance anymore.

The Studios are in ka-hoots with the Academy?

the Oregonian mentioned in yesterday's paper how a few years ago, you'd only get one or two movies a year that were so bad, they'd be released without press screenings for reviewers.  Now there's a movie or two like that every month.  Either mainstream movies are getting worse, or studios are getting more panicky about getting a decent opening weekend before bad word-of-mouth kills a film.

[levans645]

This worries me, without the critics who seem to know a good movie from the bad (E & R excluded), then are dear friends at the Academy who dont have to screen the movies they are voting on, can clearly pick a BAD movie if they wanted to, (like this hasnt happened before) I say the critics viewing is very important and should remain as is, other wise Academy brain dead persons will have free rein and great classic movies like our Brokeback wont even have a chance anymore.

The Studios are in ka-hoots with the Academy?

the Oregonian mentioned in yesterday's paper how a few years ago, you'd only get one or two movies a year that were so bad, they'd be released without press screenings for reviewers.  Now there's a movie or two like that every month.  Either mainstream movies are getting worse, or studios are getting more panicky about getting a decent opening weekend before bad word-of-mouth kills a film.

yes, E & R have their "wagging finger of shame" for those movies that refuse to preview it for the critics.  a dead give-away, but it does work like you say.

[Pierre]

the Oregonian mentioned in yesterday's paper how a few years ago, you'd only get one or two movies a year that were so bad, they'd be released without press screenings for reviewers.  Now there's a movie or two like that every month.  Either mainstream movies are getting worse, or studios are getting more panicky about getting a decent opening weekend before bad word-of-mouth kills a film.

i think it's both. movies have gone the way of the sitcoms. Remember when they all became predictable and boring a few years ago (and still continue) giving birth to reality tv and heavy dramas. film industry is the same way, constant rehashes due to no inspiration, same pool of talent, and basically nothing related to intelligent because audiences allow it. Children run the box office. If you make a children's film you are guaranteed atleast 80 million. adult films have resulted in 2 columns, dumb (action) and dumber ( comedy) ..both forms of escapism. Both water pills distributed to the masses to make them forget their pain ( or add to it depending on the hack job film ) of every day depressing life. Only smaller film companies dare to delve into the realm, and often unprofitable, world of serious adult topics of raw emotion, injustice, and conscience.
Can you imagine how incredibly well recieved films of the past would do in today's culture. Where shallowness and status rule over intelligence and betterment of a people. Our current cinematic scenario directly reflects our culture. The shallow less controversial succeed, blind naivety is preferred to individual thought and determinations. The truly daring and inspiring go unrewarded. Politics has become the manner of business for everything from education to child rearing. Peoples fear of the unknown is a powerful fear to harness.
I find alot of joy in Brokeback Mountain despite it's painful undercurrent. Unfortunately the society we live in is nothing but painful undercurrent.

[bnjmn3]

Society (esp. in the US) wants to avoid the painful undercurrent: Why is the Government considering invading Iran--why is much of this country so pissed at Mexican immigrants? Well, if they were whiter skinned, we'd have to debate something else. Sad, but true. You know the jobs Ennis and Jack had in 1963, and Ennis for the rest of his life would be done by Mexican immigrants these days.

[britmax1]

Good points Pierre.

And what was really sad last year was that the thoughtful movies such as... Brokeback, Capote, Munich, Good Night And Good Luck, minus Crash, all chosen and recognized with multiple awards and dominated the Oscars, was at the same time being downplayed by the media who kept beating the drum of negativity...that nobody was going to watch the Oscars because of such low grosses for these movies. As if how much money a movie makes is any measurement of it's quality. There was emphasis of the 'left leaning.' movie theme. Blaming the Oscars for being 'out of touch with main stream America'  and the cause of low grosses for last year. This was fed to the public for months, who swallowed it hook line and sinker.  Infact, it's these same low budget but high quality movies that make money because they cost so little to produce. A fraction of what the big budget flicks cost. Quite often they make 6,7 or eight times their cost. And if they fail, not to much is lost. But contrast that to a 100M dollar movie that flops, only grossing a fraction of what it cost to make. It was the big budget flops which brought the yearly gross for movie going down in 2005, not the little low budget indie flicks, they made money. Anyway,  lets face the truth, much of the American public just prefer watching Cartoons, horrors or toilet humor comedies. Most don't want to deal with serious issue movies, but prefer badly acted throwaway popcorn flicks. Most of these movie's opening week gross is high, but then sink like a brick in their second or third week of release because nobody wants to see them a second time, unlike a classic like Brokeback where 5, 6 or 7 viewings was not unheard of.

The more I think about it, the more I come to realize what an amazing accomplishment Brokeback Mountain really was and continues to be. Ang Lee really had to produce a masterpiece. Heath and Jake really had to be in top form. Infact, all involved had to be the best of the best or they would have been crucified.  Just look at the ribbing, parodies and the flat out disrespect and homophobia that this movie has had to endure even though it is one of the finest movies ever to come out of hollywood.  Now, can you imagine if this movie was poorly made, the response would have been horrendous. So kudos to all for taking the chance.

[Pierre]

here here

i think whats so amazing about the film, is how it really is reminiscient of older films. the acting, the pace, the story, the angles. It just feels and plays like a classic.

[peregrino]

I have proof that in Panamá the distributor of Crash has this poster for the movie which lists it as an Oscar winner for Best Director.  It is everywhere in the papers and handfliers.  I don't know what to do to make them stop and give an apology for such misleading advertising.

I don't know how to insert jpg image.  Is there a way I can post it here?

[levans645]

I have proof that in Panamá the distributor of Crash has this poster for the movie which lists it as an Oscar winner for Best Director.  It is everywhere in the papers and handfliers.  I don't know what to do to make them stop and give an apology for such misleading advertising.

I don't know how to insert jpg image.  Is there a way I can post it here?

if you have the URL link to the image on the internet then post it in a message, highlight the link, then click on the image button above the message box.  the button is right below the B bold button.

[Pierre]

I think you need to contact lionsgate or Focus features and have the distributor corrected. Someone can get sued over a misprint like that.

Since it's lionsgate responsibility, the academy would also encourage it's correction.

I'd send a note to focus

[peregrino]

I have proof that in Panamá the distributor of Crash has this poster for the movie which lists it as an Oscar winner for Best Director.  It is everywhere in the papers and handfliers.  I don't know what to do to make them stop and give an apology for such misleading advertising.

I don't know how to insert jpg image.  Is there a way I can post it here?

if you have the URL link to the image on the internet then post it in a message, highlight the link, then click on the image button above the message box.  the button is right below the B bold button.

Here is the link:
http://www.forospanama.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4584&d=1143838424

I don't have the address of Lionsgate nor Focus to contact either one of them.  I don't know who distributes Crash for Latin America and Panamá in particular.  But it makes my blood boil to see the poster for Crash with mention that it won Best Director Oscar.

[Pierre]

i called Focus features and they directed me to lionsgate since it is their responsibility.
i'm gonna call the la office but its too early where i'm at, so heres the information

Offices         
Los Angeles
Lionsgate
2700 Colorado Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Telephone (310) 449-9200
Facsimile (310) 255-3870

New York
157 Chambers Street
11th Floor
New York, NY 10007
Telephone (212) 577-2400
Facsimile (212) 962-2872   

call them and tell them that there is an untruthful misprint.
I search the academy site also

[levans645]

i called Focus features and they directed me to lionsgate since it is their responsibility.
i'm gonna call the la office but its too early where i'm at, so heres the information

Offices         
Los Angeles
Lionsgate
2700 Colorado Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Telephone (310) 449-9200
Facsimile (310) 255-3870

New York
157 Chambers Street
11th Floor
New York, NY 10007
Telephone (212) 577-2400
Facsimile (212) 962-2872   

call them and tell them that there is an untruthful misprint.
I search the academy site also

you'd think Focus Features would want to defend their own picture, or at least pass the info on to Ang Lee who might make a call to Lionsgate.

[estefue]

Unfortunately Focus sold the international rights in most countries.  I believe Universal is only distributing it in Spain so it would have to be the Panamanian distributor who should be contacted.  In a sense, in most countries, BBM is not Focus' film...

[peregrino]

i called Focus features and they directed me to lionsgate since it is their responsibility.
i'm gonna call the la office but its too early where i'm at, so heres the information

Offices         
Los Angeles
Lionsgate
2700 Colorado Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Telephone (310) 449-9200
Facsimile (310) 255-3870

New York
157 Chambers Street
11th Floor
New York, NY 10007
Telephone (212) 577-2400
Facsimile (212) 962-2872   

call them and tell them that there is an untruthful misprint.
I search the academy site also

Thank You, Pierre.

I will contact both focus features and lionsgate and fax them a hand flier with the untruthful misprint.  I wonder if the mistake was done with or without malice (knowingly or unknowingly).