Many film fans have been cynical in regards to the modern moviegoing experience. It seems like actress Jodie Foster is no different, as she goes as far as blaming the entire superhero genre for ruining the modern style of film. According to Foster during a new interview with Telegraph:
“Going to the movies has become like a theme park. Studios making bad content in order to appeal to the masses and shareholders is like fracking – you get the best return right now but you wreck the earth.”
Foster then decided to target the superhero genre.
“It’s ruining the viewing habits of the American population and then ultimately the rest of the world. I don’t want to make $200 million movies about superheroes.”
Although she was quick to say that she’d gladly make a superhero film if it contained “really complex psychology.” A little hypocritical, but I can see where some of her other complaints stem from.
Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn responded on Twitter, saying:
1. I think Foster looks at film in an old-fashioned way where spectacle film can’t be thought-provoking. It’s often true but not always. Her belief system is pretty common and isn’t totally without basis. https://t.co/IgthsjsSYm
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) January 2, 2018
2. I say not without basis because most studio franchise films are somewhat soulless – and that is a real danger to the future of movies. But there are also quite a few exceptions.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) January 2, 2018
3. For cinema to survive I believe spectacle films NEED to have a vision and heart they traditionally haven’t. And some of us are doing our best to move in that direction. Creating spectacle films that are innovative, humane, and thoughtful is what excites me about this job.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) January 2, 2018
4. But, to be fair, at least from Foster’s quotes, she seems to see filmmaking as something that’s primarily about her own personal growth.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) January 2, 2018
5. For me, that may be part of why I do this, but spending many millions of dollars on a film has to be about more than that – it’s communication – so my experience is merely one spoke on that wheel.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) January 2, 2018
6. But I respect Foster and her talent and what she’s done for films and I appreciate her different way of looking at Hollywood’s landscape.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) January 2, 2018
The current trend of blockbusters happen to be a lot different than the Hollywood productions that were being released just a few decades ago. Whether that’s good or bad is up to you, but considering that most of the content out now consists of properties from decades ago that Hollywood insists on continually rebooting – it’s probably bad.
But hearing the problem once again come from an established filmmaker is a little reassuring. Maybe Hollywood will decide to produce more original and risky content instead of more of the same.
What do you think, does Jodie Foster have a point when it comes to the current crop of blockbusters? Or is she just being hypocritical? Let us know in the comments section down below!