Some screen caps after the cut.
Some screen caps after the cut.
Sasha Stone has been around the Oscar scene since 1999. Almost everything on this website is her fault.
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Awful movie two hours of sheer hell. Scarlett is a dog, if this wins anything then the apocalypse is truly on the way.
Looks very good and entertaining to me. I also don’t see Oscar love yet, but that’s ok by me- not everything has to be Oscar. Globes should be a definite though, I agree with a previous comment here.
Looks very good and entertaining to me. I also don’t see Oscar love yet, but that’s ok by me- not everything has to be Oscar. Globes should be a definite though, I agree with a previous comment here.
I really don’t know how to feel about this film. I really really want to love it, but this trailer is very offputting.
I really don’t know how to feel about this film. I really really want to love it, but this trailer is very offputting.
SHOW ME THE MONKEY!!!
SHOW ME THE MONKEY!!!
Meh.
Meh.
@jeremie and lenny
I agree with jeremie. You cannot go by the trailer. I made a comment earlier that the trailer is terrible (which i think it is) but that doesn’t mean i’m going to skip the movie or i think it has a 0% chance of being a good film. I will agree with Lenny that Crowe has fallen (similar to brooks) in the last decade. Again, i’m rooting for this film, and i’m going to wait for judgement but i can’t say based on 1. the trailer and 2. the past decade of crowe that i’m very excited for this
@jeremie and lenny
I agree with jeremie. You cannot go by the trailer. I made a comment earlier that the trailer is terrible (which i think it is) but that doesn’t mean i’m going to skip the movie or i think it has a 0% chance of being a good film. I will agree with Lenny that Crowe has fallen (similar to brooks) in the last decade. Again, i’m rooting for this film, and i’m going to wait for judgement but i can’t say based on 1. the trailer and 2. the past decade of crowe that i’m very excited for this
Cameron Crowe and Michael Mann
Either one of them makes a movie, I’m there
I don’t care if the movie is called “The History of Dogshit”
I am there before the theater opens
In the case of “We Bought a Zoo”, I’m looking forward to it
Almost Famous happens to be my favorite movie of all time
Pearl Jam is my favorite band of all time
Cameron Crowe loves Pearl Jam, (PJ20, can’t wait to see it)
In my mind, Crowe can do no wrong
We all have our favorite directors, for better or worse ; )
Cameron Crowe and Michael Mann
Either one of them makes a movie, I’m there
I don’t care if the movie is called “The History of Dogshit”
I am there before the theater opens
In the case of “We Bought a Zoo”, I’m looking forward to it
Almost Famous happens to be my favorite movie of all time
Pearl Jam is my favorite band of all time
Cameron Crowe loves Pearl Jam, (PJ20, can’t wait to see it)
In my mind, Crowe can do no wrong
We all have our favorite directors, for better or worse ; )
Trailer makes it look like total cheese. And not even real cheese, just cheese whiz.
Trailer makes it look like total cheese. And not even real cheese, just cheese whiz.
I love “Don’t Come Around Here No More”
I love “Don’t Come Around Here No More”
I never understood why this movie was on so many radars in early Oscar predictions. I just didn’t get it at all. I was hoping this trailer would change my mind.
It didn’t.
Then again, “Juno” didn’t look terribly Oscary either.
It’s just that it took so long for the Academy to recognize Crowe, and they haven’t gone back to him since, which makes me think this is going to be more “Elizabethtown” than “Jerry Maguire” in terms of both public and critical reception, unless the source material is so beloved that people will come out in droves.
I never understood why this movie was on so many radars in early Oscar predictions. I just didn’t get it at all. I was hoping this trailer would change my mind.
It didn’t.
Then again, “Juno” didn’t look terribly Oscary either.
It’s just that it took so long for the Academy to recognize Crowe, and they haven’t gone back to him since, which makes me think this is going to be more “Elizabethtown” than “Jerry Maguire” in terms of both public and critical reception, unless the source material is so beloved that people will come out in droves.
it clearly seems like Scarlett Johansson is completed wasted in this supporting role
I absolutely agree. I mean, in the approximately 15 seconds we’ve seen her in this trailer, it couldn’t be any more obvious. Because I don’t think we’ll see any more of her in the film. That’s probably it. Same with Patrick Fugit and Peter Riegert. Just a quick shot of their face passing by in the background. What a complete waste.
it clearly seems like Scarlett Johansson is completed wasted in this supporting role
I absolutely agree. I mean, in the approximately 15 seconds we’ve seen her in this trailer, it couldn’t be any more obvious. Because I don’t think we’ll see any more of her in the film. That’s probably it. Same with Patrick Fugit and Peter Riegert. Just a quick shot of their face passing by in the background. What a complete waste.
I am not absolutely convinced by this trailer but to be fair I don’t really trust trailers any more these days. And I just re-watched the trailer for Almost Famous and it doesn’t really do any justice to the film. And that the thing, I don’t care how bad Vanilla Sky or Elisabethtown actually were, but when someone can achieve this level of brilliance as Crowe did in Almost Famous, I have absolutely faith in the guy. He is a great writer and one of the best actors’ director working today. How it failed to win the SAG ensemble this year, and Hudson best supporting actress at the Oscar, is a complete mystery to me (and that’s the thing, I don’t think Hudson is an especially great actress, but what Crowe managed to get of her is just amazing).
So I’m still really curious about this one. And I was actually thinking about it whilst reading your last article, Sasha, about festival and PR machine behind the scene. I’m quite puzzled with Fox’ strategy with the film. After the flop of Elizabethtown, it seems to me, that what Crowe would have needed was a good grassroots campaign starting in festivals like Telluride, getting bloggers behind the film and getting good word of mouth out there, to put him back on the map. But they obviously decided to keep the film unseen for a few more weeks. This could mean several things: the film is not that great (always a possibility but I doubt it considering the feedbacks from test screenings), the film is good but maybe not Oscar material (who cares?), or the film is great and Fox know they’ve got a strong player for the race that doesn’t need to be revealed until the last minute.
I am not absolutely convinced by this trailer but to be fair I don’t really trust trailers any more these days. And I just re-watched the trailer for Almost Famous and it doesn’t really do any justice to the film. And that the thing, I don’t care how bad Vanilla Sky or Elisabethtown actually were, but when someone can achieve this level of brilliance as Crowe did in Almost Famous, I have absolutely faith in the guy. He is a great writer and one of the best actors’ director working today. How it failed to win the SAG ensemble this year, and Hudson best supporting actress at the Oscar, is a complete mystery to me (and that’s the thing, I don’t think Hudson is an especially great actress, but what Crowe managed to get of her is just amazing).
So I’m still really curious about this one. And I was actually thinking about it whilst reading your last article, Sasha, about festival and PR machine behind the scene. I’m quite puzzled with Fox’ strategy with the film. After the flop of Elizabethtown, it seems to me, that what Crowe would have needed was a good grassroots campaign starting in festivals like Telluride, getting bloggers behind the film and getting good word of mouth out there, to put him back on the map. But they obviously decided to keep the film unseen for a few more weeks. This could mean several things: the film is not that great (always a possibility but I doubt it considering the feedbacks from test screenings), the film is good but maybe not Oscar material (who cares?), or the film is great and Fox know they’ve got a strong player for the race that doesn’t need to be revealed until the last minute.
Sasha,
Can you honestly say that after seeing this trailer, you can feel optimistic that We Bought a Zoo will spark the return of Cameron Crowe’s creative genius? You have to be out of your mind if you think that. Sure there is no doubt that Cameron Crowe is capable of producing genius work. We’ve seen it in Say Anything, Singles, Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous. But he has been out of the picture for over a decade thanks to the failed ambition of Vanilla Sky and the horror of Elizabethtown. Perhaps maybe it’s a bit outrageous to compare him to Shyamalan, whose ego has always gotten in the way of his work. But it’s not an unfair statement to compare him to the likes of Coppola, Oliver Stone, Jim Sheridan, etc. all of whose genius has been toned down extensively in recent years.
Another director you could compare him to is James L. Brooks, a filmmaker who also churned out Oscar-calibre material many years ago (Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, As Good as It Gets) and has now kinda faded into obscurity a little bit with his particular brand of comedy (Spanglish, How Do You Know).
Sasha,
Can you honestly say that after seeing this trailer, you can feel optimistic that We Bought a Zoo will spark the return of Cameron Crowe’s creative genius? You have to be out of your mind if you think that. Sure there is no doubt that Cameron Crowe is capable of producing genius work. We’ve seen it in Say Anything, Singles, Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous. But he has been out of the picture for over a decade thanks to the failed ambition of Vanilla Sky and the horror of Elizabethtown. Perhaps maybe it’s a bit outrageous to compare him to Shyamalan, whose ego has always gotten in the way of his work. But it’s not an unfair statement to compare him to the likes of Coppola, Oliver Stone, Jim Sheridan, etc. all of whose genius has been toned down extensively in recent years.
Another director you could compare him to is James L. Brooks, a filmmaker who also churned out Oscar-calibre material many years ago (Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, As Good as It Gets) and has now kinda faded into obscurity a little bit with his particular brand of comedy (Spanglish, How Do You Know).
P.S. Sigur Rós is a fantastic band, but “Hoppípolla” is such a hackneyed song. It worked very well in Slumdog’s Millionaire because it felt so fresh back then, but here doesn’t really fit with the film’s plot. Dev Patel’s character was overcoming tremendous obstacles. What’s Matt Damon facing here compared to Dev’s? Running a zoo? Does that look real, a story that the audience can really connect to?
In addition, I didn’t see any unforgettable lines coming from the trailer like “Show me the money” or “You had me at hello”. I only watched a cute, funny kid that looks quite like the one that appeared on “Jerry Maguire”. The only difference is that, in this film, we’re talking about a younger girl.
Once more, I hope I’m wrong. When I get to see the movie in theatre, I hope I don’t get as disappointed as I’m feeling right now.
P.S. Sigur Rós is a fantastic band, but “Hoppípolla” is such a hackneyed song. It worked very well in Slumdog’s Millionaire because it felt so fresh back then, but here doesn’t really fit with the film’s plot. Dev Patel’s character was overcoming tremendous obstacles. What’s Matt Damon facing here compared to Dev’s? Running a zoo? Does that look real, a story that the audience can really connect to?
In addition, I didn’t see any unforgettable lines coming from the trailer like “Show me the money” or “You had me at hello”. I only watched a cute, funny kid that looks quite like the one that appeared on “Jerry Maguire”. The only difference is that, in this film, we’re talking about a younger girl.
Once more, I hope I’m wrong. When I get to see the movie in theatre, I hope I don’t get as disappointed as I’m feeling right now.
*I don’t envision that Matt Damon will be considered for any major awards and it clearly seems like Scarlett Johansson is completed wasted in such a supporting role.
*I don’t envision that Matt Damon will be considered for any major awards and it clearly seems like Scarlett Johansson is completed wasted in such a supporting role.
I’m just going to put it out there: Cameron Crowe sucks now. He hasn’t made a good film in more than a decade. My theory is people still give his movies a shot hoping that he can return to creative form (e.g., Almost Famous). But its over. Sorry folks, move along.
I’m just going to put it out there: Cameron Crowe sucks now. He hasn’t made a good film in more than a decade. My theory is people still give his movies a shot hoping that he can return to creative form (e.g., Almost Famous). But its over. Sorry folks, move along.
Let’s be honest when it comes to awards Damon was never a factor with this movie cause Academy for some reason doesn’t like him. I think he is too subtle for them. He doesn’t break plate or do any “look at me” actor stuff. They nominated him for Invictus, but overlooked him for The Informant, Good Shepard, The Departed, Ripley, True Grit etc. He was never getting nominated sadly.
Let’s be honest when it comes to awards Damon was never a factor with this movie cause Academy for some reason doesn’t like him. I think he is too subtle for them. He doesn’t break plate or do any “look at me” actor stuff. They nominated him for Invictus, but overlooked him for The Informant, Good Shepard, The Departed, Ripley, True Grit etc. He was never getting nominated sadly.
What did people at test screenings think of Johannson?
What did people at test screenings think of Johannson?
Based on this trailer, I really cannot believe the wonderful directed who made outstanding films like “Jerry Maguire” and “Almost Famous” is involved in such a cheesy Disney-like comedy. Although I can grasp some of Crowe’s typical trade marks, I am almost sure this picture won’t be in “favourite” or “great” films list in years to come. I don’t envision that Matt Damon will not be considered for any awards and it clearly seems like Scarlett Johansson is completed wasted in this supporting role (Watch out, Scarlett! I am affraid your star market is downgrading. I seriously wish you do not become like Kate Hudson, who, ironically, only had a tour-de-force performance in a film directed by none other than Cameron Crowe).
To sum up, I do not foresee anything unforgettable coming from this picture. Hopefully, I’m wrong and all wrote in this post is actually rubish.
Based on this trailer, I really cannot believe the wonderful directed who made outstanding films like “Jerry Maguire” and “Almost Famous” is involved in such a cheesy Disney-like comedy. Although I can grasp some of Crowe’s typical trade marks, I am almost sure this picture won’t be in “favourite” or “great” films list in years to come. I don’t envision that Matt Damon will not be considered for any awards and it clearly seems like Scarlett Johansson is completed wasted in this supporting role (Watch out, Scarlett! I am affraid your star market is downgrading. I seriously wish you do not become like Kate Hudson, who, ironically, only had a tour-de-force performance in a film directed by none other than Cameron Crowe).
To sum up, I do not foresee anything unforgettable coming from this picture. Hopefully, I’m wrong and all wrote in this post is actually rubish.
Sasha,
Okay, my line was a bit on the gnashing side. But only because I feel that once upon a time there was a golden god named Cameron Crowe. Fast Times, Say Anything, Singles, Jerry Ma-Fucking-Guire… Almost Famous. He pinned great dialogue on great emotions. And his use of music only deepened those emotions. But since then it has been, to quote Lester Bangs… “a long journey to the middle.” I just sense that with Vanilla Sky, then Elizabethtown and now this, I fear Crowe has passed the middle and found a new center to it.
Sasha,
Okay, my line was a bit on the gnashing side. But only because I feel that once upon a time there was a golden god named Cameron Crowe. Fast Times, Say Anything, Singles, Jerry Ma-Fucking-Guire… Almost Famous. He pinned great dialogue on great emotions. And his use of music only deepened those emotions. But since then it has been, to quote Lester Bangs… “a long journey to the middle.” I just sense that with Vanilla Sky, then Elizabethtown and now this, I fear Crowe has passed the middle and found a new center to it.
Although I think this is a really good trailer, it’s far too revealing. This film will kill during the holiday season. This should be a huge hit for Crowe. As I said in a previous thread, people in the audience were crying… lots of people. Word of mouth will be great. Damon is VERY good in the film. The cut I saw was a bit all over the place tonally, mostly in the first act. Once the film found its footing it was really enjoyable and likable.
Although I think this is a really good trailer, it’s far too revealing. This film will kill during the holiday season. This should be a huge hit for Crowe. As I said in a previous thread, people in the audience were crying… lots of people. Word of mouth will be great. Damon is VERY good in the film. The cut I saw was a bit all over the place tonally, mostly in the first act. Once the film found its footing it was really enjoyable and likable.
@Sasha: While everyone is entitled to their opinions, I do agree with you that this movie will be great. It has so much heart and depth, and though no one in this blog has seen the movie yet, you can see the soul of the picture by the mesmerizing close-ups these actors are giving us in this trailer. This movie will probably be this year’s UP IN THE AIR. Will receive a Best Pic and Adapted Screenplay nod. Actor, Supp. Actress/Actor, Director tbd on box office success.
Note: People said the same thing about Jerry Maguire, responding with “eh’s”, “sappy”, “Cruise is sinking”. So to all those pundits, save the remarks and go watch the movie first.
@Sasha: While everyone is entitled to their opinions, I do agree with you that this movie will be great. It has so much heart and depth, and though no one in this blog has seen the movie yet, you can see the soul of the picture by the mesmerizing close-ups these actors are giving us in this trailer. This movie will probably be this year’s UP IN THE AIR. Will receive a Best Pic and Adapted Screenplay nod. Actor, Supp. Actress/Actor, Director tbd on box office success.
Note: People said the same thing about Jerry Maguire, responding with “eh’s”, “sappy”, “Cruise is sinking”. So to all those pundits, save the remarks and go watch the movie first.
What are you people thinking?… this looks great. It seems like if we don’t see “oscar worthy” performances or cinematography or directing or whatever on the fricking trailer we dismiss the movie even before we see it. Fuck the oscars, i am watching this and i bet most of the people who are criticizing the trailer will too.
I am not saying this will be oscar worthy, maybe it will maybe it won’t… but how can we know from a trailer? When i saw the trailer for the hurt locker i would have never imagine it would be a best picture winner. neither the departed for that matter. and whoever says that they saw the trailer for no country for old man (even from the coen brothers) and new it would go on to win before they saw the movie is lying.
I am not agaist criticizing a movie. i guess we all love to do that… let’s just wait to see it before we destroy it.
What are you people thinking?… this looks great. It seems like if we don’t see “oscar worthy” performances or cinematography or directing or whatever on the fricking trailer we dismiss the movie even before we see it. Fuck the oscars, i am watching this and i bet most of the people who are criticizing the trailer will too.
I am not saying this will be oscar worthy, maybe it will maybe it won’t… but how can we know from a trailer? When i saw the trailer for the hurt locker i would have never imagine it would be a best picture winner. neither the departed for that matter. and whoever says that they saw the trailer for no country for old man (even from the coen brothers) and new it would go on to win before they saw the movie is lying.
I am not agaist criticizing a movie. i guess we all love to do that… let’s just wait to see it before we destroy it.
M Night is better than Crowe, and The Village is a great psychological study so the comparison isn’t apt at all. People act like Jerry Maguire wasn’t as sappy as this appears to be
M Night is better than Crowe, and The Village is a great psychological study so the comparison isn’t apt at all. People act like Jerry Maguire wasn’t as sappy as this appears to be
This looks awful! So many white people!
This looks awful! So many white people!
My impression is that it would make a good family film, but I’m not getting an Oscar vibe.
My impression is that it would make a good family film, but I’m not getting an Oscar vibe.
We Bought a Zoo? More like Cameron Crowe’s vomitus emiritus.
We Bought a Zoo? More like Cameron Crowe’s vomitus emiritus.
Oh man. Tough crowd. I think it’s wonderful – but then again, I really like Cameron Crowe’s movies — almost all of them but especially Almost Famous. Do you people have cold stones where your hearts should be or what?
We Bought a Zoo? More like Cameron Crowe’s vomitus emiritus.
We Bought a Zoo? More like Cameron Crowe’s vomitus emiritus.
Oh man. Tough crowd. I think it’s wonderful – but then again, I really like Cameron Crowe’s movies — almost all of them but especially Almost Famous. Do you people have cold stones where your hearts should be or what?
As some have pointed out, Midnight in Paris may be in danger if there are many future films that are great. Allen’s film is not in any danger because of this. One down.
As some have pointed out, Midnight in Paris may be in danger if there are many future films that are great. Allen’s film is not in any danger because of this. One down.
I only see Golden Globe love!
I only see Golden Globe love!
Don’t like this trailer at all so very Disney in a bad way…if this is considered Oscar material then I will just give up! 🙁
Don’t like this trailer at all so very Disney in a bad way…if this is considered Oscar material then I will just give up! 🙁
1. this looks terrible
2. i hope its not
3. is damon the hardest working guy in hollywood? this fella’s been busy
1. this looks terrible
2. i hope its not
3. is damon the hardest working guy in hollywood? this fella’s been busy
Did someone seriously just compare Crowe to Shyamalan? Seriously? This movie looks very good.
Did someone seriously just compare Crowe to Shyamalan? Seriously? This movie looks very good.
God, I agree – watched it like three times. I really don’t understand people.
Did someone seriously just compare Crowe to Shyamalan? Seriously? This movie looks very good.
Did someone seriously just compare Crowe to Shyamalan? Seriously? This movie looks very good.
God, I agree – watched it like three times. I really don’t understand people.
I know people who have seen test screenings and say it pretty good, not awards worth, but that people will eat it up. The trailer is meh, but I will see anything Damon is in.
and Yay for this coming out the same day as Scarlett’s nudes, marketing at its best.
I know people who have seen test screenings and say it pretty good, not awards worth, but that people will eat it up. The trailer is meh, but I will see anything Damon is in.
It need only be really good to be awards worthy…
I know people who have seen test screenings and say it pretty good, not awards worth, but that people will eat it up. The trailer is meh, but I will see anything Damon is in.
and Yay for this coming out the same day as Scarlett’s nudes, marketing at its best.
I know people who have seen test screenings and say it pretty good, not awards worth, but that people will eat it up. The trailer is meh, but I will see anything Damon is in.
It need only be really good to be awards worthy…
Yikes. Looks saccharine and awful. And then Scarlett’s hoarse voice comes onto the scene and you know you can’t take it seriously. That’s a shame. Crowe will never make anything as good as Almost Famous. Must suck to have peaked long ago.
Yikes. Looks saccharine and awful. And then Scarlett’s hoarse voice comes onto the scene and you know you can’t take it seriously. That’s a shame. Crowe will never make anything as good as Almost Famous. Must suck to have peaked long ago.
Definitely too weak to survive Oscar season to be honest. Might just as well be a Christmas film with nods for Damon if lucky!
Definitely too weak to survive Oscar season to be honest. Might just as well be a Christmas film with nods for Damon if lucky!
I hope this is a good role for Scarlett. She’s been floundering for a few years now, which is disappointing considering the promise we all saw in her ten years ago.
I doubt that this will be much of a serious Oscar contender. It has a chance at picking up a few nominations, but it doesn’t look conventionally ‘respectable’ enough to trouble AMPAS voters’ waters.
P.s. barf
I hope this is a good role for Scarlett. She’s been floundering for a few years now, which is disappointing considering the promise we all saw in her ten years ago.
I doubt that this will be much of a serious Oscar contender. It has a chance at picking up a few nominations, but it doesn’t look conventionally ‘respectable’ enough to trouble AMPAS voters’ waters.
P.s. barf
I really need to throw up now.
I really need to throw up now.
Eh. Love Almost Famous. Jerry Maguire is a strong flick. Damon is always enjoyable and understated. Scarlett is absurdly easy on the eyes, but yea….not sure how I feel about this.
Eh. Love Almost Famous. Jerry Maguire is a strong flick. Damon is always enjoyable and understated. Scarlett is absurdly easy on the eyes, but yea….not sure how I feel about this.
I don’t know I’m kinda getting that “meh” feeling with this and really think that it’ll be one of those films that just fades into the wind so to speak. It’s a shame really because Cameron Crowe was on such a creative high ten years ago. He was taking his work to a whole new level with Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous and was on the right path to become one of cinema’s most revered filmmakers if he wasn’t already. Then Vanilla Sky came out (which I happen to like) and that didn’t sit well with critics or audiences for that matter. Then came the disaster of Elizabethtown. And now it looks as if he’s about to hit another creative brainfart that won’t come anywhere close to the brilliance he achieved with Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous.
Watching this unfold for Crowe kinda reminds me of what happened to M. Night Shyamalan. Granted we’re talking about two completely different styles of filmmaking working in two completely different genres. But if you look at the way their films have been received over the last decade and a half, you see a kind of negative connection between the two unfold here. Shyamalan was being hailed as the next Spielberg, the next Hitchcock if you will after what he accomplished with The Sixth Sense. Then he released Unbreakable (which I also happen to like) and Signs back-to-back, both of which received positive critical success and good audience response. Then came The Village, which completely rubbed people the wrong way and he hasn’t made a respectable film since. I think we’re starting to see Crowe head in a similar direction.
And you’re also seeing this happen with legendary filmmaking talents as well. Francis Ford Coppola hasn’t come close to replicating the level of brilliance he achieved in the 70’s. To me, his last great film was Bram Stoker’s Dracula and that in itself has been underrated through the years. Oliver Stone used to be able to tell powerful, controversial, gritty, realistic stories but his filmmaking style has been toned down over the years to the point where his films are almost devoid of any real emotion now. World Trade Center and Wall Street 2 don’t come anywhere close to the grittiness and poetry of films like Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July, Salvador, JFK, NIxon, etc. I can’t really pinpoint why exactly legendary artists like these have suffered lapses in their creative spark. For Coppola, I guess it would be a desire to get back to his creative roots which really hasn’t taken him anywhere since he decided to do that. Stone is still dabbling in controversy but remains so politically entrenched that his films now are more about the politics and less about the characters. It just frustrates me how these great artists have kind of lost their way. And it looks as if Crowe is headed down that same path if he hasn’t already done so.
I don’t know I’m kinda getting that “meh” feeling with this and really think that it’ll be one of those films that just fades into the wind so to speak. It’s a shame really because Cameron Crowe was on such a creative high ten years ago. He was taking his work to a whole new level with Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous and was on the right path to become one of cinema’s most revered filmmakers if he wasn’t already. Then Vanilla Sky came out (which I happen to like) and that didn’t sit well with critics or audiences for that matter. Then came the disaster of Elizabethtown. And now it looks as if he’s about to hit another creative brainfart that won’t come anywhere close to the brilliance he achieved with Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous.
Watching this unfold for Crowe kinda reminds me of what happened to M. Night Shyamalan. Granted we’re talking about two completely different styles of filmmaking working in two completely different genres. But if you look at the way their films have been received over the last decade and a half, you see a kind of negative connection between the two unfold here. Shyamalan was being hailed as the next Spielberg, the next Hitchcock if you will after what he accomplished with The Sixth Sense. Then he released Unbreakable (which I also happen to like) and Signs back-to-back, both of which received positive critical success and good audience response. Then came The Village, which completely rubbed people the wrong way and he hasn’t made a respectable film since. I think we’re starting to see Crowe head in a similar direction.
And you’re also seeing this happen with legendary filmmaking talents as well. Francis Ford Coppola hasn’t come close to replicating the level of brilliance he achieved in the 70’s. To me, his last great film was Bram Stoker’s Dracula and that in itself has been underrated through the years. Oliver Stone used to be able to tell powerful, controversial, gritty, realistic stories but his filmmaking style has been toned down over the years to the point where his films are almost devoid of any real emotion now. World Trade Center and Wall Street 2 don’t come anywhere close to the grittiness and poetry of films like Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July, Salvador, JFK, NIxon, etc. I can’t really pinpoint why exactly legendary artists like these have suffered lapses in their creative spark. For Coppola, I guess it would be a desire to get back to his creative roots which really hasn’t taken him anywhere since he decided to do that. Stone is still dabbling in controversy but remains so politically entrenched that his films now are more about the politics and less about the characters. It just frustrates me how these great artists have kind of lost their way. And it looks as if Crowe is headed down that same path if he hasn’t already done so.
“I like animals, but I looove humans”.
This trailer screams “Disney!”, not “Oscar!”.
“I like animals, but I looove humans”.
This trailer screams “Disney!”, not “Oscar!”.
Based on the trailer, it doesn’t look like a serious Oscar contender to me… but music by Jónsi, so count me in.
Based on the trailer, it doesn’t look like a serious Oscar contender to me… but music by Jónsi, so count me in.
Look ok but I think I will pass
Look ok but I think I will pass
It’s too gooey and unrealistic in a bad way.
It’s too gooey and unrealistic in a bad way.
Looks great. Best Actor is getting crowded.
Looks great. Best Actor is getting crowded.