In his excellent Grantland piece, Wesley Morris draws an eerie parallel between Trayvon Martin and Oscar Grant, but more to the point, Ryan Coogler’s film. It calls to mind what is, I think, the difference between an objective film review (if there is such a thing) and a critic who gets or cares about the bigger picture. Says Morris:
The reaction to the movie trumps ambivalence about how it was made. To some extent, what’s upsetting people is that Coogler has crafted a gentle portrait of a man we know will die at movie’s end. In the aftermath of the Zimmerman trial, that empathetic gentleness suddenly feels crucial. It feels like a tonic. I saw the film for a second time last Friday, and I left with a long face. There was no one for me to comfort this time. Those weeping around me had brought their own shoulders to cry on.
Spike Lee’s Kickstarter is already up to:
But of course, the haters are out in force. Steven Soderbergh has contributed $10,000. Anyone who contributes is putting in a vote to say: we support Spike Lee making this movie and we’re putting our money where our mouth is. In short, WE are the producers. What could be wrong with that?
Hailee Steinfeld in the new Romeo and Juliet – poster and trailer here.
David Thomson calls Blue Jasmine the best film Woody Allen has ever made (I would say it’s his best since Crimes and Misdemeanors).
First look stills for Diablo Cody’s Paradise.
Is there any particular reason you guys aren’t listing Octavia Spencer on your supporting actress shortlist yet? Seems like a rather glaring oversight.
Wow, I read one review that said “How the mighty have fallen”, referring to Woody Allen.
The best thing to do is just see it for yourself and be your own critic.
Listen people, get over it Kickstarter is for everyone. A lot of people are using this site, whether there poor, rich or whatever. Most of the money probably comes from fans and other generous donators. I think it’s the smart way to do it now and days especially if you are an independent filmmaker. So it doesn’t matter whether your rich or poor. If you don’t want to give your money to them then that’s your choice but don’t bitch about someone else’s business when in fact it’s none of your own.
Off topic: Kind of tired of Hollywood dumping all the good movies in the theater at one time. There are a bunch of good, Oscar worthy movies coming out in the next month I want to see, but money can be stretched just so long….how about this Hollywood — stream online at AMZ or Itunes at the same time it’s in the theaters? Much cheaper to watch than paying $8-10 a ticket in the theater.
Who cares about this. I’m still devastated this guy couldn’t raise $12,500. Shameful.
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/dragon-ball-z-the-fall-of-men
He had some interesting ideas for redemption!
weeping angels
Can you include a link to Spike’s kickstarter? Thanks.
Here ya go.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spikelee/the-newest-hottest-spike-lee-joint
He may have made a movie for the ages with Do the Right Thing, but Spike Lee is a silly man. He makes me so tired.
Shameless pandering to people already warped by a biased media. Congratulations Mr. Lee…i like you even less now
Thats sick of him to be that greedy and ask people with to fund his movie! The guys a fucking millionare. And he cant fund his own movie? I already hated him, now I hate him even more. Just sick.
Thanks for the bits and bites, Sasha. (Will check out the links later.)
Re Spike Lee, I’m just curious about his indie-like option, putting the Kickstarter into good use rather than the traditional means; curious as to whether he is not in financial distress due to an inability traditionally to finance his project, OR just doing it for peace of mind — reading: no more Tinseltown hassles — and for the good of creative freedom, etc.
It seems some old boys — pun intended — recently have been facing the same problems funding their projects more or less….
For instance, Paul Schrader, reportedly having gone through hell [hyperbole] during the filming process and, unbelievably amazingly — thank UFO-GODS — back alive and kicking still, has been given a “microbudget” of (in Hollywood terms: ONLY) $ 250,000 in making the Canyons [good film or not, I don’t know; to check it out on legit DVD for rent when it comes my way]. ($ 250,000 is already quite generous in our international terms in many cases, I believe; but that’s another story.)
My point: Matter-of-factly speaking, a fan of his, I’d like to see what Spike Lee could do with so tiny an amount of $ 1,250,000 probably so in *his* view (not mine). I’m rooting for him and hoping he is ready to leave the Hollywood mindset for good in order to create something great with that relatively tiny amount of money (a huge one though if you look at it in non-Hollywood studios terms). All the best!
I may be wrong….but I think Spike is raising the money for one of his mentored filmmakers. If you read the script summary, it doesn’t feel like something Spike would write.
No way I’m giving money to a guy who could easily fund the film out of his own pocket. Yes, it sucks that the studio won’t support him. But that’s not my job. I’ll pay to see his film once it’s made. I don’t care who it is, Braff, Lee or freaking Spielberg: these guys shouldn’t come begging to those of us with real financial issues to fund their films. Sorry Sasha, but I think you’re in the minority on this one.
Celebrity net worth says he is worth 40 million , but I think the smart thing to do is spread the risk around in the event it never turns a profit or goes in the red. It is a business savvy thing o do.
@ David — exactly.
He might be worth $40 million, but how much of it is liquid? How much can he use safely? You might know the overall numbers, but you don’t know the nuts and bolts of his finances, and you shouldn’t pretend like you do simply to attack him and feel superior.
Kickstarter is a wonderful tool because it allows full creative control, a sense of legitimacy, and also proves there is demand. A self-financed picture could have distributors going “if you had to finance it yourself, it obviously isn’t suitable for a mainstream release.” And the movie will end up in release-date purgatory (like Pacino’s “Wild Salome”). Kickstarter offers undeniable proof that the public wants the movie to be made.
We all know I have issues with Spike Lee but either way I’d still ask this question.
Doesn’t he have money?
I mean I get the kickstarter thing for poor people, but not for people who are millionaires. Others have done it, I think Zach Braff did and Kristen Bell. I wouldn’t give to them either. Not that I know which of the 3 mentioned has the most. But he’s been famous for a long time, so I’d assume he invested besides what he’s made with his films.
Anyway this falls under my cateogory of hating when rich people ask poor people for money. If he went bankrupt and I missed it, I’ll take it back.
Of course Spike has money, and he’s putting in some of HIS money too. It’s like what Whoopi did with Moms Mabry movie. She had skin in the game, but she still asked for donations. Everybody in business knows, you don’t use your own money for projects you get a loan — or donations. I’m going to donate, just because — I always donate to this ventures. I support artists. May not be a LOT of money I’m giving but I will give.