'Norbit' Director Says Movie Critics Are Irrelevant
Filed under: DIY/Filmmaking, Newsstand, Politics
Following in the footsteps of folks from Disney and Fox -- who recently called out critics for panning films like Norbit and Wild Hogs, even though audiences are eating them up at the box office -- Brian Robbins has popped in to add more fuel to the fire. After all, if there's one man at the center of all this rubbish, it's Robbins; not only did he direct Norbit, but he also produced Wild Hogs -- combined, both films have taken in upwards of $120 million so far. According to Robbins, he cannot -- for the life of him -- understand how a film like Norbit could score so well with audiences, yet be universally panned by critics. He says, "How do you figure that? Is the audience that stupid? Is America's taste that bad? I don't think so."
I don't think so either. It's not that all of America is stupid; I believe it has more to do with what feels familiar. Wild Hogs and Norbit are both "familiar" films; from the actors to the stories being told, audiences have watched and enjoyed similar films, therefore it's easier for them to sit there with a smile because they've already been pre-trained to do so. Robbins continues: "The only films that get good reviews are the ones that nobody sees. I just don't think you can make movies for critics." Well, this is a stupid argument, because plenty of great films simply get butchered when it comes to marketing; studios would much rather spend their money on Eddie Murphy in a fat suit than Clive Owen in a film about the end of the world. And, regardless, a number of big blockbuster films get good reviews ... but those same reviews are conveniently forgotten about when someone like Brian Robbins is trying (but failing) to make a point.
This shouting match is a tired one because, in the end, no one really wins. Hollywood will continue to churn out movies for the masses, and critics will continue to trash the shoddy acting, regurgitated plotlines and lack of originality. Just like an audience is programmed to enjoy what's familiar, a critic is programmed to be, well, critical. And neither party should be blamed for doing their job.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-08-2007 @ 11:00PM
Gilbert Davis said...
Well, many intelligent people go to movies to be entertained. Brian Robbins is a fellow who has helped to create a couple of movies that are entertaining but hated by critics. It kind of reminds me of Clint Eastwood who was a wildly popular movie star and at the same time universally hated by the critics. Clint Eastwood seemed to have a deep seated desire to be loved and respected as an artist and spent his energy quietly working to acquire that love from the critics. It's a win win situation for Clint, his fans love him for the movies he used to make and the critics love him for the stuff nobody will ever see. Robbins seems like he wants to be loved by everyone too, only he's less quiet about it and he's rather fuss and have a tantrum about it. And he's right, he can't make movies for critics, he doesn't want to make a point, he wants to make a dollar and he's doing a fine job of it except for the whining part.
Still and all, he is mostly correct about critics IMO. He generalized to make his point and showing that the generalization has exceptions doesn't disprove the point. It seems like we need some sort of Venn Diagram, the set of movies hated by critics but did well at the box office, the set of movies loved by critics that made no money, the set of movies hated by critics that made no money and the set of movies loved by critics that made money. Humm, perhaps we'd need a spirograph to make this Venn Diagram. Just cause critics liked The Godfather and it made a ton of money doesn't make critics any less elitist,snobbish or political. (generally speaking and IMO)
At any rate the only way I would ever see either Norbit or Wild Hogs is if I was in a coma and someone put TBS on the television and they were having a film festival of popular movies panned by the critics. I don't hate the movies or the people who went to see them or who like them, live and let live you know -they just are not my favorite types of movies.
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3-09-2007 @ 9:38AM
Ben said...
It has nothing to do with audiences being "programmed." Critics are pointless, the only people they serve are soulless people who want others to believe that they are "sophisticated." When regular people hear "Critically Acclaimed" its either regarded as an ad for the movie, or an indicator that the movie sucks and is boring. If you ask most people what their favorite movie is you definately will not get The Departed, or Brokeback Mountain, or Crash. You will get real movies, like Dumb and Dumber, Talladega Nights, The Matrix. You probably wonder what I mean by "real" movies, a movie is meant to entertain, and frankly almost nothing "Critically Acclaimed" is entertaining. I pay attention to what movies win Oscars (especially in the best movie category) to know what movies to avoid.
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