Glenn Whipp ends his article at the Los Angeles Times detailing reactions from a recent Academy screening of David Fincher‘s Gone Girl with this comment from an “Oscar-nominated producer”:
“What did I just see? That’s it? Really? I’ve seen better social commentary in a good episode of ‘Bob’s Burgers.'”
That’s the quote, what it means I’m not entirely sure. Is it an insult to the film? Is the animated television show “Bob’s Burgers” profound in its social commentary? What? I don’t know, I’ve never seen “Bob’s Burgers” and Whipp does nothing to add any context, he merely knew he had a good little quote that would echo across the Internet and it has, but to what effect?
I would like for this producer to stand up and make themselves known. Explain your statement, enough of this half-assed, so-called “reporting” from Academy screenings where people are quoted in soundbites that carry a word count only long enough to fit within the parameters of a tweet. You say “That’s it” after 149 minutes of watching a movie and offer 20 words in response? Care to elaborate or… is that it?
Now this bothers me for several reasons. First off, for Whipp not to ask for clarification is a problem. I’ve never seen “Bob’s Burgers“, but clearly this producer has and has strong feelings about the matter so let’s hear them. First question I’d have to ask is whether “Bob’s Burgers” has some serious measure of social commentary? It seems like such a random show to pick out of the air there must be some reason for it.
Another quote goes on to say, “This is first-class filmmaking, but, like a lot of [David Fincher’s] other movies, you admire it more than you enjoy it.”
I wonder if that same Academy member “enjoyed” 12 Years a Slave. However, I wouldn’t necessarily have a problem with that comment if it wasn’t for the use of “but”. It’s as if to say the movie is bad because it can’t be enjoyed on the same level of something lighter… at least that’s what I am guessing, because, again, Whipp adds no context or follow-up questions, which brings us to the larger issue.
In the past I’ve reported on these Academy reaction articles and perhaps they actually mean something in the grand scheme of things when it comes to predicting Oscar winners, but they most certainly don’t do much to forward the conversation concerning a film’s quality. Whipp does nothing to hold these people accountable to their statements and I’m not even talking about the fact they are anonymous quotes, but more to the fact he doesn’t offer any pushback or follow-up. Why do you say this? Why do you believe that? Instead it’s a hit piece and, beyond that, who cares if it affects the film’s chances at the Oscars?
Finally we have movie out of Hollywood this year that has people talking about something more than special effects, sequels and world-building and up comes along an article to try and tear it all down. I don’t see the point.
