comment #1

alynch says ...

Well Jeff, if the festival only showed superhero and God movies, would you still go to it?

comment #2

Devin Faraci says ...

It's a numerical problem, Jeff. How much is the festival worth it for a site if their readers don't care about the films being shown there? Every nerd site guy I know struggles with this a lot. You have an audience that you have to serve so that you have an audience. Don't blame the guy from whatever site you're talking about.

Note: Speaking for my nerd site, we usually have a guy that does Toronto for us, but this year he couldn't make it at the last minute. We'll be back next year.

comment #3

Hallick says ...

Kind of like saying, "yeah, we might go if they didn't show so many movies with subtitles there". Kind of depressing. What are they going to do? Sit around counting down the days til Watchmen comes out?

comment #4

Hallick says ...

If it's a genre site specifically geared towards comic book movies and the like, then Devin's got a fair point, even though there are people who can't see past the superhero genre elsewhere. So (without going into specifics if you can't) what kind of site is it?

comment #5

cinefan says ...

It's not just super-hero, super CG boys - this country in general is way too isolationist and xenophobic. How many people are there in this country who would rather travel to disney world or a state park for their vacation than actually leave the country and experience a different culture. God forbid that you actually broaden your horizons and experience something new!

comment #6

Devin Faraci says ...

What a weird argument. It's not like traveling overseas is all that cheap anymore, and our country does happen to offer an astonishing variety of wonderful places to visit.

comment #7

rockne says ...

Mr. Faraci: What?

For an excellent example of what you mention, Mr. Wells, head on over to FirstShowing and read the terribly labored review they've posted of Me and Orson Welles.
I mean, christ, you'd think their grandfather made them sit through Battleship Potemkin or something like that...or Bary Lyndon. They had no idea what to think except that the central performances were pretty strong.
Not saying any reviews on that site are anything but labored, but, boy...I almost felt bad that the reviewer had to sit through it.
Funny.

comment #8

Devin Faraci says ...

Alex Billington is a moron.

comment #9

rockne says ...

If that is the person who runs that site, I would say they are not only mentally challenged, but they may quite possibly be the most unabashedly co-opted journalist in the short history of the blogosphere. Their transparent dealings with studios and marketing groups border on the ridiculous.
I remember one marketing thing they did for 10,000 B.C. and I think there was actually copy that stated we should prepare for and "epic and wondrous experience from the duo who brought you The Day After Tomorrow". Really?

comment #10

cinefan says ...

Just want to clarify my argument a little bit, Devin Faraci. I can't tell you how many people I've talked to who, if I ask them if they like to travel and what countries they've visited, get this look on their face like I've said something deeply offensive ("What? Leave America? Why would I ever want to do that?"). Wells' post made me think of a Suze Orman bit on SNL ("Can I afford that?") where a millionaire calls in and asks her if he should take a trip to Europe and she tells him no, that he should just go to Epcot Center instead. Maybe it's just me but I think that kind of attitude is pervasive in this country (at least as far my experience goes).

comment #11

Richardson says ...

I'd like to step up to defend superhero movies for a moment.

As a film viewer, considering how expensive the experience of seeing a film is getting, I like to see something that deserves to be on a big screen. Most movies don't. There are a lot of good movies that go down just fine on DVD or even cable.

Some art films, like 'There Will Be Blood', really know how to use the bigscreen. But most of them don't. Or, if they do, the director doesn't care because he knows most people will see it on DVD or cable later.

Spectacle movies meant to be seen on the big screen, when they work, can be the most fun you'll have at the movies.

But, then I assume Jeff thinks "fun" is overrated. Like laughter.

comment #12

mtgilchrist says ...

Hello eveyone,

the person who made that joke was me. First of all I was completely joking, not half or two-thirds or any percentage other than 100%. Second, anyone who knows me knows that I am far more interested in smaller, independent and foreign films than I am in mainstream blockbusters, although I like those too. (Hopefully Devin will attest to this.) But echoing sentiments made above, despite my best efforts the site that I work for does in fact focus the majority of its coverage on genre-specific movies and entertainment, which means that even though I champion PTA, Pasolini, Seijun Suzuki, and Wong Kar-Wai (the latter of whom I'm interviewing next week), we still have to focus the majority of our attention on Michael Bay and Batman.

Again, there was absolutely no part of me that was serious about my comment (anyone who wants to send me to Toronto, I'll have my bags packed in five minutes), but I don't discriminate - I like Funny Games and I like Dark Knight, Sukiyaki Western Django and Speed Racer. And while I didn't give quotes for 10,000 B.C., you can find them on CJ7 (which, incidentally, has subtitles).

Sincerely,

Todd Gilchrist

comment #13

mtgilchrist says ...

Hello eveyone,

the person who made that joke was me. First of all I was completely joking, not half or two-thirds or any percentage other than 100%. Second, anyone who knows me knows that I am far more interested in smaller, independent and foreign films than I am in mainstream blockbusters, although I like those too. (Hopefully Devin will attest to this.) But echoing sentiments made above, despite my best efforts the site that I work for does in fact focus the majority of its coverage on genre-specific movies and entertainment, which means that even though I champion PTA, Pasolini, Seijun Suzuki, and Wong Kar-Wai (the latter of whom I'm interviewing next week), we still have to focus the majority of our attention on Michael Bay and Batman.

Again, there was absolutely no part of me that was serious about my comment (anyone who wants to send me to Toronto, I'll have my bags packed in five minutes), but I don't discriminate - I like Funny Games and I like Dark Knight, Sukiyaki Western Django and Speed Racer. And while I didn't give quotes for 10,000 B.C., you can find them on CJ7 (which, incidentally, has subtitles).

Sincerely,

Todd Gilchrist

comment #14

mtgilchrist says ...

(apologies for the double post)

comment #15

frankbooth says ...

Hilarious review.

"If you find it troublesome to enjoy period pieces about plays, then be sure to stay away from Me and Orson Welles."

He also calls him "one of the most prolific filmmakers of all-time", like he's Jess Franco.

And then there's this: "Orson Welles' boisterous personality so perfectly portrayed by Christian McKay adds an extra level interest to the film that was utterly captivating to watch." I last saw this kind of language on a menu in a Chinese restaurant.

comment #16

vp19 says ...

Kinda weird they made these comments before a screening of "The Women" (which they were ostensibly there to see). I'm sure they'll give it a bad review.

A tongue-in-cheek memo to Diane English: It's not too late to rewrite the script, add CGI effects and reshoot the movie, calling it "The Super-Women." Imagine: Debra Messing as Wonder Woman, Eva Mendes as Bat Girl, Meg Ryan as Supergirl (after some red Kryptonite has temporarily aged her 25 years), Carrie Fisher as Elasti-Girl (from "Doom Patrol," not "The Incredibles")...it's gold, Diane, pure gold. Hell, even Jeff Robinov might buy into it.

comment #17

Dan Revill says ...

Eva Mendes as Batwoman. Then she'd be a lesbian, and the fanboys would really go for that.

comment #18

D.Z. says ...

"But I found myself thinking the next day about the xenophobic mentality of super-hero, super-CG fan boys"

So does that mean you're going to change your opinion on the Sex and the City movie, Jeff?

comment #19

JD says ...

Everyone's talking shit about TIFF, but I've seen 10 movies over the last 3 days and at least 4 of them were incredible (2 or 3 others were really damn good). Any self-respecting movie fan would jump at the opportunity to cover this Festival.

comment #20

Gaydos says ...

Perhaps the day will come when Tony Scott's piece in the New York Times pleading for a pause in the production of comic book super hero movies will be seen as being as brave and groundbreaking as Pauline Kael's famed tome on the importance of "Bonnie and Clyde."

Still can't figure out why people who balk at buying corporate coffee, voting McCain/Palin and falling into the conformist lockstep lemming-like swan dive over the cliff of consumer culture can't grow some cojones and demand more challenging fare from the studio entertainment production machines.

"The absence of any need for control is the final stage of totalitarian control."

comment #21

The Playlist says ...

An interesting convo.

It made me think of Wells' penchant for revealing or being inspired by those that reveal. I.e. That one time that one blogger (forget who it was) who admitted the important movies he had never seen. Wells was kind of appalled (heh) and then did his own full disclosure of what big impt movies he'd never seen.

I've been thinking about doing a "Things I Post About Just For Traffic That I Could Really Give A Shit About."

It's a little sad to admit, but almost everyone does that.

For me that would generally be comic-book movies even though i am interested in them to an extent. There's also some movie/music stuff that i feel like i should report that i personally don't give much of a care about.

comment #22

The Playlist says ...

This might be a broad diss, but what strikes me as super odd about the fanboys is there predilection for everything dark or cool.

Meaning they love comic-book films, but they also like modern auteurs if their work is dark and twisted.

They'll like someone like Sofia Coppola but they'll probably like the least cool film the least. Like Marie Antoinette.

Or they'll love There Will Be Blood, but Boogie Nights is the only they really heart the most.

Or of course they love the Fountain, but they love Requiem all that much more.

Surely, the slow-moving Jackie Brown is their least fave Tarantino, right?

Maybe i'm super projecting, but that's usually my experience with the friends i have and ppl i generally talk to.

comment #23

jenyamato says ...

"Half-joking means you're being half-serious, of course, and what's the difference between saying the above and some conservative movie critic saying he/she would be more inclined to go Toronto if they were to show more films about God, faith and Christianity? "

The difference might be that a conservative movie critic might have a choice in the matter, while the critic who writes for a site with a specific, 18-24 y.o. male demographic might not get to decide if he gets to cover a film festival or not, even if he would like to. :)

(I wish I was in Toronto right now!)

comment #24

AuggieBenDoggie says ...

Devin Faraci says ...
"What a weird argument. It's not like traveling overseas is all that cheap anymore, and our country does happen to offer an astonishing variety of wonderful places to visit."

That is the the standard argument of the North American xenophobe. Even if you were only mildly frugal, expedia could get you 5 days in Paris plus 5 days in London for about $2,500 total for two.

That's a pittance to get the feel of different culture's, meet new people with a different outlooks then yourself, and see the places, monuments, and works of art that has shaped western civilization for the past two milennia.

Or, you spend the $2500 on a hotel and a 7 day e-ticket, shuttling between the local strip mall and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and drinking beer out of a mug shaped like goofy..

comment #25

Cadavra says ...

Anyone remember when Mike Tyson went to Tokyo several years ago and was loudly bitching because he couldn't find a Burger King or KFC? There ya go.

comment #26

mtgilchrist says ...

AuggieBenDoggie, you obviously don't know how much journalists are paid. For most of us, $2500 is a prohibitive amount, especially since that time away from work means you're losing money. As a person who has lived in NC, VA, GA, FL, TX, and CA, and visited at least 10 other states I can testify that the US does indeed have a lot of wonderful and fascinating places to visit, even if I always jump at the chance to travel or visit other countries.

comment #27

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