Okay...........................................
The Old
Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Gene Hackman, Dianne Weist, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Shirley McClaine, Sally Field, Olympia Dukakis, Harrison Ford, Alec Baldwin.
The New
Jake Gyllenhaal, Hayden Christiansen, Heath Ledger, Kirsten Dunst, Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Ben Affleck, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Josh Duhamel, Rob Schneider, Jason Segel, Natalie Portman.
Are you seeing a pattern here?
In the "Old" group - you see actors who are completely versatile who can do everything from riveting character acting through to drama through to the quirkiest of comedy.
In the "New" group - with the exception of Gyllenhaal, Hoffman and Ledger - you have either one hit wonders, slapstick comedy lightweights, or stereotypes "blonde bimbo / male hottie / goofy sidekick".
Look at the movies made between 1980 and 1995 - and then compare them with the previous 13 years up to now. WE'VE GOTTEN DUMBER PEOPLE!!!
Or - at the very least - the moviemakers have perceived us as rather lacking in the neuron departement.
The number of "great" movies is becoming less and less. Yes, we have Dark Knight and Doubt - but we have also had Dont Mess with the Zohan, Charlies Angels, all of Rob Schneiders films, Bride Wars, the Star Wars prequels (an absolutley travesty even in the FAN'S eyes for petes sake), House of Wax, White Chicks - and don't get me started on Ben Stiller.
What the hell is going on? Why are we being dumbed down? Have we really stopped being discerning movie goers? Are we okay with fluff being the rule instead of the exception? Why has entertainment become so ........................... well............... CRAP !
Mamma Mia is a FUN film made to entertain and easy to SEE as being made to entertain. BUT - even with this in mind, it's a good film. It won't win an Oscar or change the course of history - but it does what it sets out to do (Pierce Brosnan's horrific voice not withstanding).
Personally, I blame the current culture of celebrity. Now you have a one hit wonder such as the blonde bimbo - and rather than have them cast a film, studios are creating films AS vehicles for the celebrity. As a rule, we have stopped writing great screenplays and then casting them appropriately - but rather we look at who is on the magazine covers and who has the "look", spending a couple of bucks on a meagre script to create a forgettable and in some cases horrendous film.
My friends know I'm a bit of a purist in all things. Yes Virginia, Damien is a SNOB. And I'm okay with. My snobbishness is selective and not wholistic. But its hard not to become a complete asshole with regards to modern filmmaking when the options being presented to us are so low brow that the crazy dude who stands on the street corner waving the bible in the air can now be classed as NICHE ENTERTAINMENT!!!
Miley Cyrus anyone?
Hillary Duff?
Jennifer Aniston *shudder*
Vince Vaughan - vomit.
I mean come on. Can we PLEASE up the ratio so for every 10 craptastic vomit fiestas there are at least TWO films of substance.
I used to go to the movies on a weekly basis - now ... it's monthly if I'm lucky only because it's just not worth the 13$ ( 34$ if I go Gold Class).
Anyway - I am off to find something positive for the next post coz I've been in a negative rant mode the past week - losing my job may have had something to do with that.
Chat amongst yourselves - be keen to hear what you all think.
Damien
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1 comment:
Well, that review is not really fair, I think. If you campare the actors you named you're judgement is quite right, but to me it seems like you weren't quite fair by mostly naming the mainstreem and quite mediocre actors in the "new" category.
What about Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet or Penélope Cruz? All of them are brilliant actresses who have made great movies.
You also don't mention Audrey Tatou, Reese Witherspoon, Angelina Jolie or Keira Knightley.
I understand why you migth leave out the latter two, but I actually believe that Keira Knightley has great potential. And whilst the whole Brangelian-madness is quite annoying, you can't deny that she is a good actress.
Considering that, I'd suggest you simply replace some of the names on the list with the one’s I just proposed and you'll be able to see, that all hope is not lost, yet.
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