Why Was That?

The enclosed comments are two or three days old, but it's somehow satisfying to hear Hollywood Reporter critic Kirk Honeycutt call LAFCA (i.e., the Los Angeles Film Critics Assocation) dweeby, off on their own beam, and "out of touch" because they ignored Avatar.

I was also amused to hear Honeycutt describe Seraphine's Yolande Moreau as "an actress nobody ever heard of."

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on December 17, 2009 at 9:41 PM

comment #1

Luke Y. Thompson Author Profile Page says ...

You'd never guess from watching this that Kirk was a member of LAFCA, voted in the awards, and had ample chance to participate in the discussions leading up to the awards.

Interesting that as a veteran critic, he seems derisive towards awarding something or someone the majority haven't heard of.

Posted by Luke Y. Thompson Author Profile Page at December 17, 2009 11:13 PM

comment #2

Gordon27 Author Profile Page says ...

So, I just got back. It's a helluva ride, and it looks amazing, but it's the kind of movie critics aren't supposed to recognize. I wish there'd been one surprising moment in the whole thing.

I can see it winning Best Picture, though; it hits all the right beats and everything.

I definitely came out of 'Titanic' the first time more swept away and enthralled by it, which surprises me.

Posted by Gordon27 Author Profile Page at December 18, 2009 12:21 AM

comment #3

BurmaShave Author Profile Page says ...

Seeing it Sunday. I also am not going to be surprised if it wins Best Picture. Which wouldn't be surprising, since I don't doubt that it's better than UP IN THE AIR. Considering TRUE LIES is better than UP IN THE AIR.

Posted by BurmaShave Author Profile Page at December 18, 2009 1:52 AM

comment #4

raquelswell Author Profile Page says ...

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Posted by raquelswell Author Profile Page at December 18, 2009 2:03 AM

comment #5

Ray Author Profile Page says ...

Saw it last night ... still have yet to write a review. Great effects, of course, because the damned thing cost $400 million (as opposed to $75 million that Van Helsing got to create its world). There is some really stupid stuff here (giant mecha warriors with giant machine guns and giant knives???) and the script is paint-by-numbers, new-age drivel.

I dunno ... it's worth seeing in theaters, and it's a decent film, but by no means is it the next evolutionary step in the development of the human race.

Posted by Ray Author Profile Page at December 18, 2009 5:08 AM

comment #6

Markj74 Author Profile Page says ...

The thing I loved most about Avatar is that it had soul. And as I keep saying it's just nice to see action sequences that are EXCITING, well designed, shot and edited. Cameron is the master of this kind of cinema.

The critics saying the film has no plot, or that the dialogue is weak make me laugh. Star Wars didn't exactly have a screenplay by Proust. These people have spent so long bitching and whining on the internet they've forgotten what wonder and joy is all about. Besides, compared to the 'screenplays' for Transformers, G.I. Joe, Star Trek and Terminator: Salvation, Avatar's screenplay is outstanding.

Posted by Markj74 Author Profile Page at December 18, 2009 6:17 AM

comment #7

Gordon27 Author Profile Page says ...

'Star Trek' I'd disagree with; 'Star Trek' is dumb in much more fun ways than 'Avatar'.

Posted by Gordon27 Author Profile Page at December 18, 2009 7:06 AM

comment #8

Gordon27 Author Profile Page says ...

I only mean they're on par with each other, not that 'Star Trek's script is any better. 'Avatar' reminded me of the script of an old-school 'Star Trek' episode [but, surprisingly, I don't think the crowd I saw it with was geeky enough to understand if I had shouted "I-- Am--- KIROK!" at some point].

Posted by Gordon27 Author Profile Page at December 18, 2009 7:08 AM

comment #9

Markj74 Author Profile Page says ...

Star Trek looked to me like the work of a TV director, there was nothing cinematic about it. In contrast, from the moment Jake opens his eyes at the start of Avatar the whole film is a cinematic toybox. Loved it, can't wait to see it again.

Posted by Markj74 Author Profile Page at December 18, 2009 7:23 AM

comment #10

Gabriel Author Profile Page says ...

I agree 100% on everything you just said, markj. I caught the Arclight 12:01 last night and it blew me away. Not quite my choice for best film of the year, but it's the best film I've heard seriously discussed for Best Picture.

Posted by Gabriel Author Profile Page at December 18, 2009 7:53 AM

comment #11

Jeffrey Overstreet Author Profile Page says ...

"A cinematic toybox," markj?

Great minds think alike.

http://imagejournal.org/page/blog/dumping-out-the-toybox

Honeycutt's just dealt a serious blow to his credibility as a critic. Yolande Moreau turned in the greatest performance by an actor - male or female - I saw this year. She was in "The Beaches of Agnes" and "Paris je t'aime" and "Amelie." Her list of career films is impressive - 62 titles long. "An actress nobody ever heard of"? It's gonna take the Jaws of Life to pry Honeycutt's foot out of his mouth.

Posted by Jeffrey Overstreet Author Profile Page at December 18, 2009 7:56 AM

comment #12

Gordon27 Author Profile Page says ...

mark - sorry, to clarify, I meant the screenplays are comprably bad. The movie is astounding on so many levels that it just seems unusual that he holds everything except the script to such high standards.

That it is never as bad as it could be is a testament to Cameron as a director; he's definitely inventing a new language of 3-D. But any time it gets bad, it's all the script's fault. I can see why people criticize the script, though I can't see not enjoying it in spite of that.

Posted by Gordon27 Author Profile Page at December 18, 2009 8:00 AM

comment #13

Terry McCarty Author Profile Page says ...

Perhaps Kirk Honeycutt now believes in consensus--like a lot of the writers about critics' awards do.

Posted by Terry McCarty Author Profile Page at December 18, 2009 1:20 PM

comment #14

Terry McCarty Author Profile Page says ...

Re Cameron as his own screenwriter: a good comparison would be to Tom Laughlin. There's the same kind of spell-it-out-obviousness to both BILLY JACK and TITANIC.

Posted by Terry McCarty Author Profile Page at December 18, 2009 1:22 PM

comment #15

Gordon27 Author Profile Page says ...

Good call on 'Billy Jack', especially when you throw in the Indian stuff. [If Cameron does a sequel to 'Avatar', you can be *positive* that it will have a vision quest scene.] Also, "One Tin Soldier" would've been a better end credits song.

I was also reminded of 'Billy Jack' at a great, key moment in 'Fantastic Mr. Fox'.

Posted by Gordon27 Author Profile Page at December 19, 2009 3:11 AM

comment #16

atish Author Profile Page says ...

Seeing it Sunday. I also am not going to be surprised if it wins Best Picture. Which wouldn't be surprising, since I don't doubt that it's better than UP IN THE AIR. Considering TRUE LIES is better than UP IN THE AIR.
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Posted by atish Author Profile Page at January 3, 2010 8:55 AM

comment #17

badpete Author Profile Page says ...


So, I just got back. It's a helluva ride, and it looks amazing, but it's the kind of movie critics aren't supposed to recognize. I wish there'd been one surprising moment in the whole thing.


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Posted by badpete Author Profile Page at January 4, 2010 4:32 AM

comment #18

atish Author Profile Page says ...

So, I just got back. It's a helluva ride, and it looks amazing, but it's the kind of movie critics aren't supposed to recognize. I wish there'd been one surprising moment in the whole thing.
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Posted by atish Author Profile Page at January 6, 2010 3:45 AM

comment #19

badpete Author Profile Page says ...

Perhaps Kirk Honeycutt now believes in consensus--like a lot of the writers about critics' awards do.

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Posted by badpete Author Profile Page at January 8, 2010 6:11 AM

comment #20

atish Author Profile Page says ...

So, I just got back. It's a helluva ride, and it looks amazing, but it's the kind of movie critics aren't supposed to recognize. I wish there'd been one surprising moment in the whole thing.
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Posted by atish Author Profile Page at January 8, 2010 7:32 AM

comment #21

atish Author Profile Page says ...

That it is never as bad as it could be is a testament to Cameron as a director; he's definitely inventing a new language of 3-D. But any time it gets bad, it's all the script's fault. I can see why people criticize the script, though I can't see not enjoying it in spite of that.
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Posted by atish Author Profile Page at January 9, 2010 3:52 AM

comment #22

atish Author Profile Page says ...

Interesting that as a veteran critic, he seems derisive towards awarding something or someone the majority haven't heard of.
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Posted by atish Author Profile Page at January 13, 2010 3:33 AM

comment #23

atish Author Profile Page says ...

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Posted by atish Author Profile Page at January 23, 2010 7:43 AM

comment #24

pamelazz Author Profile Page says ...

I can see it winning Best Picture, though; it hits all the right beats and everything. purchasing voip

Posted by pamelazz Author Profile Page at January 30, 2010 2:54 AM

comment #25

pamelazz Author Profile Page says ...

Seeing it Sunday. I also am not going to be surprised if it wins Best Picture. Which wouldn't be surprising, since I don't doubt that it's better than UP IN THE AIR. Considering TRUE LIES is better than UP IN THE AIR.holiday to Olu Deniz

Posted by pamelazz Author Profile Page at February 2, 2010 11:08 PM

comment #26

doublexjohn Author Profile Page says ...

There is some really stupid stuff here (giant mecha warriors with giant machine guns and giant knives???) and the script is paint-by-numbers, new-age drivel.

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Posted by doublexjohn Author Profile Page at February 3, 2010 6:24 AM

comment #27

pamelazz Author Profile Page says ...

It all feels like it's fulfilling a sense of obligation, and that drained some of the joy from the storytelling. The facile thing to say is "Cameron's always like that," only he's not.fax from internet

Posted by pamelazz Author Profile Page at February 5, 2010 8:24 AM

comment #28

pamelazz Author Profile Page says ...

Perhaps Kirk Honeycutt now believes in consensus--like a lot of the writers about critics' awards do. free online voip

Posted by pamelazz Author Profile Page at February 5, 2010 11:16 PM

comment #29

pamelazz Author Profile Page says ...

Maybe rounding them up into 'help camps' is a bit too far, but some basic education is sorely missing here.voip service

Posted by pamelazz Author Profile Page at February 6, 2010 8:58 AM

comment #30

steven Author Profile Page says ...

The Los Angeles Film Critics are well aware that they symbolically uphold critical and artistic standards in a company town known for churning out "product." Perhaps because they're based in Hollywood, LAFCA members may be more aware of what actually goes into the making of a movie (and just how difficult that is, and how unpredictable the result can be).
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Posted by steven Author Profile Page at February 7, 2010 3:45 AM

comment #31

steven Author Profile Page says ...

Accordingly, LAFCA in recent years has added categories the other U.S. critics groups don't acknowledge: music, production design, animation, indie/experimental -- and, each year, a "new generation" award to encourage a promising newcomer, and a "career achievement" award to salute a Hollywood veteran/legend.
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Posted by steven Author Profile Page at February 7, 2010 3:46 AM

comment #32

pamelazz Author Profile Page says ...

I dunno ... it's worth seeing in theaters, and it's a decent film, but by no means is it the next evolutionary step in the development of the human race.email lists

Posted by pamelazz Author Profile Page at February 21, 2010 10:08 PM

comment #33

doublexjohn Author Profile Page says ...

There is some really stupid stuff here (giant mecha warriors with giant machine guns and giant knives???) and the script is paint-by-numbers, new-age drivel.

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