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[Extract from The Guardian] In Woody Allen's new film, Hollywood Ending, one New Yorker asks another: "Remember when they showed 10 foreign films a month in this city?" Later, Allen's character asks: "Why did the country get so stupid?" The same question could be asked of Britain.
How did we get so stupid, so insular, so uninterested in cinema as a serious art form, still less as one that might have something important to say about the way we live?
How come the British Film Council devotes so much of its money to nurturing genre films that rarely tackle difficult subjects and that hardly ever have an original voice?
Woody Allen blames his country's stupidity on fast food.
What's our excuse?
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Fast food=metaphor by the way.
I've had debates exactly the same and similar to this one with friends and the only conclusion is that the majority of people in this country are stupid. To be honest I would blame it on television rather than fast food (although I'm sure meant that statement to have deeper meaning). On a pure sense television was always the enemy of cinema and not only that the quality of the televisual programming these days is so low that lowers the expecations of the viewers and their ability to comprehend new ideas. When you realise that the most popular programmes on tv are soaps its no wonder that so many bad films get the limelight in cinema. I use this example all the time but a while back I was expecting to see on the new release list for the local 8 screen odeon, the Royal Tenenbaums but what do I find taking up all the slots? - Blade 2 and Crossroads. Its sickening. Cinemas can make more money from the majority (i.e. stupid people) than they can the minority. Note: I'm not saying that if you went to see Crossroads or Blade 2, that you must be 'stupid' but I would expect that the majority of viewers were.
It makes you feel sorry for the people who actually make the better films when it should be the exact opposite. And its exactly the same with music but to a worser extent.
We need a revolution of the way we live at the moment because frankly, it really does suc_k.
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Exactly.
Most people can't be *bothered* to hunt out the stuff that appeals to their niche interests. Apathy, pure and simple.
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I'm tempted to say money but I think that would be the easy option. Having worked for a couple of years in a video shop, it always amazed me how lazy people are about choosing a film and are quite happy to let the people who make the films tell them which ones are the best. People rented Pearl Harbour even though they had heard it was a terrible film but were sucked in enough by the advertising and general hype to spend money on it!
People have become too used to watching a film where no serious level of thought is required. I hear people tell me all the time that they just want something easy to watch. Fair enough but if you've just finished work but not if you've never seen any of the great films out there. I feel that a lot of these people haven't seen these great films so don't know what they're missing.
The question is, why haven't they seen them. the answer is simple. The people that make money from films don't want them to because there largest audience is going to be made up of people who are very much like the ones I descibed above and so of course being the largest they will make the most money for the film makers. Even an organisation set up to promote genuine talent that may not be mainstream will always want to cover itself and will be tempted to compromise artistic integrity for profit.
As for there being films out there and just choosing to watch them. I find it very hard to find anything truly original!
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Despin: You obviously have better cinemas than around here. Either, way my point is that the good films dont get enough exposure because people are too stupid to watch them, coupled with studios that give heavier advertising to the films that can make the most money - the stupid ones.
Miker: How can wanting to watch quality films be a niche market? Oh wait thats my point people are stupid.
RHP: "I feel that a lot of these people haven't seen these great films so don't know what they're missing."
Exactly how I feel. It usually only takes one quality film to realise what you are missing and hunt for the best.
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Good topic. I am glad to see people thinking about film in solid intellectual ways.
In my opinion--I feel that it has nothing to do with TV or with fast food. It has to do with the fact that most people British or otherwise don't see the value in Film/Literature/Visual Art/Etc. that exsists.
There are indivduals out there that will seek out the diamond in the rough no matter where it is. The options availible is far greater now than it was 60 years ago.
In the USA it would have been even harder to find a film outside of the studios in 1942 or 1952 than it is today. Time will tell if diversity will win. I will guess that it will in the end.
Good Luck
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Hey there.
I watch almost every new release at the cinema. I visit the local multiplex at least twice a week sure it has all the big blockbusters but it shows loads of smaller movies too. For example this week alone there are showing Monsters Ball, The Closet, No Mans Land and Read My lips. As well as About A Boy, Starwars, Panic Room and Thinderpants. The choice of movies is out there. Its just up to the public to go and watch them.
P.S
I like Fast Food. But I also like to eat good food too.
Despin out.
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Nigel:
Good topic. It has to do with the fact that most people British or otherwise don't see the value in Film/Literature/Visual Art/Etc. that exsists.
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To throw in my two pence why should they ?
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The majority of people in this country are stupid?? Compared to what , a few self-important pallid chumps who watch too many movies? people watch what they like. and cinema is for the people. just cos you can't watch what YOU want at your local cinema you think there's something wrong with everyone else.....wake up and smell the glove you moany beggers. and woody allen is a **** .
