"These are tough economic times and yet it is surprising, rather shocking, that some studios give so much leeway to certain filmmakers."
What a disappointing statement. If leeway is not to be given to directors like Mallick, then who should it be given to? Bruckheimer's directors (let us not bother naming them)? Because they can give the studios more bang for the buck.
It is better to have funded an Orson Welles failure than the Michael Bay summer blockbuster. Every movie can't be commercial success.
Making movies is not a science. The reviewer would do well to find out how Annie Hall came into being.
Re: It is not science or finance
by Kevin Dillon on Jun 12, 2011 12:38 PM
There are more choices than Bruckheimer or Mallick! Where where you when Lynch couldn't get funded. I think the reviewer is right. This film is too self-indulgent!
Re: It is not science or finance
by Kevin Dillon on Jun 12, 2011 12:38 PM
There are more choices than Bruckheimer or Mallick! Where where you when Lynch couldn't get funded. I think the reviewer is right. This film is too self-indulgent!
I can see why the reviewer felt that the piece was self indulgent. Most Mallick films are considered self indulgent. And so were Tarkovsky's and even Kubrick's to an extent. But this is what makes them so unique!
See, we are force fed by Hollywood and the likes on the structure of film-making. The 3 act script structure and what not. Fine, if you want entertainment. But cinema is also an art-form and for the likes of Terry it is art and nothing else. This is an existentialist piece. We need more films like this to be honest.
I am also happy that the film got reviewed by an Indian reviewer. I hope(and highly doubt) that the film will see a release in the subcontinent. We need Mallick for the sake of art. Just as we had Tarkovsky, our very own Ray and Kubrick.
Self indulgent might not necessarily be a bad thing. With cinema, most film makers take the safe approach because they are very expensive to make and tell a story that's as conventional as possible. Filmmakers like Terence Malick make daring and challenging films which push the boundaries of the medium and they may not be 'entertaining' like your usual movie but its rewarding as an art film. 2001 A Space Odyssey was considered a self indulgent bore upon release by many critics but its considered one of the greatest films ever made in history now.
