Disappointing Films of 2000
Submitted by JohnnyW on Sun, 04/22/2001 - 01:31
Tags:
- 1.The Contender
- 2.State and Main
- 3.Shadow of the Vampire
- 4.Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Author Comments:
Not necessarily bad, just didn't live up to the hype (for instance, the multiple epiphanies I should have had watching Crouching Tiger never materialized; still a pretty good film though).
While I greatly enjoyed CTHD, I would agree that it was overhyped. I'm curious about The Contender though, as I was quite pleasantly surprised by it. Did you not like it, or just not like it as much as you thought you would? If the former, what were your objections to it?
My major problem with The Contender was that I thought it wimped out. It was making a great point that past behaviour, especially far in the past, has little or nothing to do with leadership ability or qualifications in the present, but then it had that moment when Joan Allen's character admitted she didn't do any of it...I felt the film wanted to have it both ways, and it weakened the film. Also, little things like the "rousing" music when she spoke of the "church of democracy" and Jeff Bridges' harangue at the end were a little too unsubtle for me. Somehow the ending felt forced and unsatisfying. I was most disappointed because I felt it had all the elements to be a great film, but just didn't put it all together.
Johnny waco
Regarding the film wanting it both ways, I think that's an excellent point that I hadn't considered before. Even though her admission never came out in the movie universe, it probably would have been stronger were that admission not made for our benefit too.
I didn't really mind the "rousing" moments though. Sometimes I dig those over-the-top moments. It probably helps that I like Joan Allen and Jeff Bridges in general.
Jim, good comment on the acting. I like Jeff Bridges, and I love Joan Allen; I'm totally with you on that one. Her performance in Nixon was great. I think that is part of the reason I was disappointed by The Contender; if it had been actors I didn't care for as much, I would have shrugged and went my way, but Joan deserves the best! Also, from what I read, the original cut didn't have the "rousing" moments, but when Dreamworks decided to distribute Contender, Spielberg apparently told the director to add music that tells the audience exactly what to feel. That's always been my problem with Spielberg, an admittedly good filmmaker; he has too hard a time controlling his sentimental streak...
I also hear that Gary Oldman pretty much disowned the movie because of alleged pressuring by DreamWorks of the editors to nudge the movie in less ambiguous/more liberal-leaning directions. I don't recall him singling out Spielberg, but I'd agree that those moments do have a decided Spielbergian feel about them...
Yeah Oldman is a tough one to figure out. I read something about his discontent with The Contender as well...
Johnny Waco