On Saturday, Karina and I were discussing the upcoming Judd Apatow-produced comedy Pineapple Express, which I think is a waste of David Gordon Green’s directorial talent. Even more, I think it’s a waste of his writing talent, as it’s his first film where he’s not (credited as) one of the screenwriters. But, as Karina argued, a guy has to earn a paycheck now and again, and if him making this stoner comedy means I get to see more beautiful little films from Green in the future, then I should be happy for him and thankful to Apatow and Columbia Pictures. After all, great actors do this sort of thing all the time, so why shouldn’t it be okay for directors?
However, all too often a sellout film can leave a really bad taste in our mouths. Sometimes that one really commercial movie will harm a filmmaker’s career for a long time, whether because it’s a box office flop or because it ends up only being the first in a new, more-mainstream direction for the filmmaker (see John Woo, sort of). Hopefully Pineapple Express won’t be as bad as any of these famous disasters by otherwise great directors:
Alien Resurrection (1997) - It kind of seemed a dream come true that Jean-Pierre Jeunet (The City of Lost Children) would be wooed by Hollywood, especially for something as high-profile as the fourth Alien installment. But like many great foreign filmmakers, Jeunet was not nearly as great with an English-language script (nor is, apparently, Wong Kar-Wai). The movie looked really good, as had Jeunet’s French films, but overall the film was quite disappointing. It wasn’t necessarily Jeunet’s fault, but because he wasn’t fluent in English, it was likely difficult for him to communicate well with the actors and to see the faults of Joss Whedon’s script. Fortunately, Jeunet went on to make Amelie and has hopefully ignored the call of Hollywood ever since.
Hulk(2003) - This wasn’t Ang Lee’s first film made for Hollywood, but it was certainly his biggest attempt at a really commercial property. And it failed miserably, though not harmfully. Lee followed this up with Brokeback Mountain, for which he was given an Oscar. In a number of ways, stylistically for example, this comic book adaptation isn’t as terrible as it’s now regarded, but overall it is difficult to consider it as having been worth Lee’s time — other than for the money. There’s a good chance, though, that The Hulk can simply not be adapted into a quality film. Just look at the trailer for Universal’s latest attempt. Lee probably did as good a job as was possible.
Mallrats(1995) - Kevin Smith infamously followed up Clerkswith this amusing but ultimately disappointing movie, for which he had a significantly bigger budget yet also significantly less control. Looking back, though, it’s not only not as bad as it first seemed, it’s really not as bad as some of Smith’s work since. Of course, Mallrats was also an attempt to do what Judd Apatow and even American Piewould do better later on: return to the popular sex comedies of the early ’80s.
Canadian Bacon(1995) - It’s hard to consider this one a real sellout, because Michael Moore did produce the thing, but to us documentary fans, it’s almost always annoying whenever a non-fiction filmmaker ventures into fiction. Look at Barbara Kopple’s attempt with Havoc or Seth Gordon, who is following up The King of Kongwith a holiday comedy starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn. Now, some might argue that Moore always makes fiction, but following his phenomenal debut doc, Roger & Me, this was definitely viewed as a disappointing turn towards attempted mainstream success. Fortunately, he didn’t find it here and was able to go back to documentary, where he did find more mainstream popularity.
Finding Forrester(2000) - After the huge success of Good Will Hunting, Hollywood would let Gus Van Sant make anything he wanted. Unfortunately it was a shot-for-shot remake of Psycho, which was deemed the biggest-budgeted experimental film of all time. When that deservedly tanked, Van Sant went for this, his real sellout. He’d made plenty of studio pictures, including the great To Die For, which like Forrester, was made at Columbia. He’d also made plenty of films from other people’s scripts (again including To Die For). He’d even already done a movie that Forrester easily resembled (Good Will Hunting). But this was by far his most conventional work, even more so than Good Will Hunting, and it’s likely he did it just for the money — funny that he parodies himself as a sellout in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back the next year — in order to pave (and pay) the way for another more experimental career turn with the little films he’s done since (Gerry, Elephant, Last Days, Paranoid Park). Looking back it was worth it for him and for us, but at the time it seemed like a huge waste of his time and talent.
Go back to David Gordon Green interviews as far back as 2003 and 2004 and he’s been DYING to tackle comedy and was just waiting for someone to give him the opportunity to do so. I don’t think this a paycheck for him. This is something he actively sought out.
So you i guess you could look at this as him “actively” selling out, but i think it’s more just him pursuing his natural interests.
(in fact, you could prolly say that’s true for all the films you’ve listed aside from the Gus Van Sant one).
I think it’s also too easy to see DGG as just a filmmaker of “beautiful little films.” Frankly that’s ALL i would like to see from him, but he clearly wants to do other things.
Well, I guess I did mean for all of them to be intentional attempts to “sell out” or at least make an easy big paycheck. Mostly I think it’s interesting that in all of these attempts, it kind of blew up in their face and they went on to better successes afterward. Well, probably Jeunet, Lee and Van Sant haven’t made as big a paycheck since, but surely Moore has gotten richer since returning to docs.
It’s way too soon to yell “sell out!” at “Pineapple Express” — the script was genuinely funny, much funnier than the last couple of pictures produced by Apatow, and has real edge as well.
Since I’m expecting talk of Christopher Nolan in the Best Sellouts post, I just think we should take a moment to remember that Nolan was responsible for that English-language remake of Insomnia. Just throwing that one out there…
And no, Jake, the Hulk was not well regarded. I remember walking out of that theater hearing people saying it was worse than Daredevil, which was, and probably still is, a horrible insult to the film. And I thought it was at least decent. Oh well.
You dismiss the whole production just because the director isn’t making the film you want him to? I would bet ten-thousand dollars you wouldn’t have anything bad to say about Pineapple Express if one Judd Apatow wasn’t involved.
Other than that, the list seems a bit shallow doesn’t it? There are about at least fifty worse offenses of selling-out than your choices. Number one on my list? Leni Riefenstahl.
It could be possible that the directors might want to attempt something mainstream Hollywood as a creative challenge.
I seem to remember Terry Gilliam describing ‘The Brothers Grimm’ as his attempt at doing something summer mainstream studio film blockbuster-ish just to see if he could do it.
Author Will Clarke bandied about DGG’s name re: an adaptation of Clarke’s novel ‘Lord Vishnu’s Love Handles.’ The deal sort of stalled because DGG said no one would trust him to make a $60 mil film until his films started making $60 mil.
While you are making lists, you could also do a list of ‘Studio directors who creative work,’ because Penelope Spheris made those ‘Decline of Western Civilization’ films.
Canadian Bacon, are you serious? That wasn’t it selling out in the slightest. Canadian Bacon is the best thing He ever did, and probably the best thing anyone in the movie ever did.
You guys are idiots. DGG is far from selling out. Did you even see Pineapple Express? It’s the buzzed comedy of the year and is filled with talented people. Learn how to do research and see more films.
I think you are equating mainstream success with selling out. They are not the same. “Hulk” I consider a major achievement for Ang Lee. He took $150 mil of studio money and made an Ang Lee movie. Is there anything about that movie that seems compromised to you? The reason people hate “Hulk” is because Lee made an Ang Lee movie, not a typical summer comic book movie.
And if you are going to call Gus Van Sant a sellout, you got to start with “Good Will Hunting”. It’s a great film but he undoubtedly compromised his standard vision to fit traditional storytelling. What if Van Sant felt adjusting his style would be best to fit the stories arc. Does that still make him a sellout?
Kevin Smith took a bigger budget for “Mallrats” but he made a Kevin Smith movie with that money. Just because it was a bomb does not mean he’s a sellout. This man brought in Jason Mewes on his own dime, against the studios wishes, for Christ’s sake. Smith sound’s like a man who picked and choose his battles.
And it is pretty unfair to knock David Gordon Green for doing “Pineapple Express” sight unseen. If the trailer is any indication, the movie looks far from your typical “stoner comedy”. How do you know it is a waste of talent? Have you read the script? Do you think Green didn’t bring something to the script when he signed on? You think Apatow brought Green aboard so he could completely change Green’s define style? By your definition, you automatically assume the movie is going to suck. But if you love it, is David Gordon Green still a sellout in your eyes?
moviemenace, you have a lot of good points. except the one about Hulk being uncompromisingly an Ang Lee film. That third act was just awful Hollywood plotting.
and, yes, I’ve seen the trailer for Pineapple, and I think it looks stupid.
anyway, I admit I used the word sellout in a way that was more negative and antagonizing than how I truly mean to define these movies. I do see them all as attempts at making big money on seemingly easily mainstream movies. And despite the fact that Hulk was Lee’s highest grossing movie, I think they all failed to do what they were expected to do. And each filmmaker found better success when they weren’t trying as hard.
You’ve seen the trailer and it “looks stupid”? Really? I think it looks pretty great.
Pineapple Express was written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, and the cast is pretty solid. Also, have you even seen “My Blueberry Nights”? Just because the Weinsteins keep bumping the release date does not necessarily make it a bad movie. The Weinsteins have certainly been bungling a lot of their promotions and releases lately. (”Fanboys” anyone?) So, why the hate on Wong Kar-Wai?
Plus, all of these movies have been released within the last 15 years. What about Robert Altman’s “Popeye”? or Peter Bogdonavich’s “Texasville”? The afore-mentioned Coppolla.
This is a super-lazy list. Hope your “Best of” follow-up has a little more thought put into it.
How can you possibly be so fucking stupid? What does your cinema IQ stop at 1990. How about Bergman’s The Serpent Egg’s, Coppola’s Jack… George Sluizer? John Badham? The list goes on…
I have seen PE, and I must say it is light years away from being a cash grab. In fact it may be the best film DGG has done to date.
Let’s see….sellout lists…The Julk was not a sellout film; i twas just badly made by someone who didn’t understand the source material (or bother to). It was poorly edited, schizophrenically shot, and I’m not even going to get into where the hell Nick Nolte’s performance fits in (it doesn’t, at all).
That being said, I invoke Howard the Duck as George Lucas’ selling out point. He took a big paycheck, a fad character, and produced HOWARD THE DUCK. How about Casino, maybe, as Scorcese’s sellout point?
Concur with folks who note this is a shallow, lazy list written by someone who should know better and not let his young age be an excuse for callowness.
If Spout wants to have any currency in the film blog world, it needs to drastically expand its cinema-world view.
John, I couldn’t agree more…you don’t have the qualifications to write such a deep journalistic piece. Do some research and step outside of your bubble, see movies made before you were born and enrich your life, or just stop writing out of your league! Really pathetic blog!
I’m actually worried about David Gordon Green ruining Pineapple Express, since all his movies have been insufferable, pretentious, Mallick-aping, naval gazing wastes of time. I was excited to see Pineapple Express until I realized he was the director.
Everyone yelling about Coppola and Jack are clearly overlooking Peggy Sue Got Married. A movie (one of several) that the guy openly admits to doing for cash.
I believe the term “Sellout” refers to a person or group doing something opposite or lacking the same vision (or cultural footprint) of their previously highly regarded but outside the mainstream work for the sole purpose of cashing in on their reputation.
Kevin Smith did not sell out when making “Mallrats”. He made the movie he wrote and wanted to make using his universe and cast of characters. It didn’t make money and catch on with the general public because is WAS a Kevin Smith movie.
A true sellout example: If Michael Moore was paid millions of dollars to star in commercials for Ford.
Addressing your comments about “Alien Resurrection”, this from Wikipedia:
Screenwriter Joss Whedon was unhappy with the final product. When asked in 2005 how the film differed from the script he had written, Whedon responded:
“It wasn’t a question of doing everything differently, although they changed the ending; it was mostly a matter of doing everything wrong. They said the lines…mostly…but they said them all wrong. And they cast it wrong. And they designed it wrong. And they scored it wrong. They did everything wrong that they could possibly do. There’s actually a fascinating lesson in filmmaking, because everything that they did reflects back to the script or looks like something from the script, and people assume that, if I hated it, then they’d changed the script…but it wasn’t so much that they’d changed the script; it’s that they just executed it in such a ghastly fashion as to render it almost unwatchable.” From this interview: http://www.bullz-eye.com/mguide/interviews/2005/joss_whedon.htm
Jeunet makes a pretty movie, but don’t blame Joss because the guy can’t make a monster movie to save his life.
Holy cow. This is the first article I’ve seen on this blog. It will also be my last. This is the stupidest, least-informed crap I’ve ever read. Have you seen more than a few dozen movies in your life?
Wow. I mean jesus. Talk about your lack of information and understanding. No offense, but your opinions are pretty mind-bogglingly uninformed. Other comments have pointed out David Gordon Green’s desire to make a comedy, but also have you seen the movie? I have and it’s fantastic. Not just as a comedy, but there’s some wonderful little commentary and punk film-making sensibilities. And Hulk, for all it’s problems as a piece of entertainment, it was actually an interesting approach to a comic book movie full of thoughtful insights and the kind of things that make Ang Lee dramas so vibrant. Mallrats is his “selling out” and not Jersey Girl? Jesus dude. Ultimately you just listed 5 commercial movies by art directors that didn’t do so well. That fact alone renders your commentary completely inane. This is really amazing. Wow. I mean, wow.
A fault with Joss Whedon’s script? Go deeper and find the numerous changes from the original script, and you’ll find there was some other fault. It was just not the right project.
Have you morons ever SEEN a movie made before 1995? There are a few, or so I’ve heard. Are you fucking nine years old?
As everyone has said, how about Jack? Or anything William Friedkin has done that isn’t To Live and Die in L.A., The French Connection or The Exorcist? John Frankenheimer’s Reindeer Games?
Michael Cimino’s Desperate Hours? George Sluzier’s American remake of his own The Vanishing?
Yeah, you’ve got problems. There’s nothing wrong with an ‘art house’ director making a genre pic–particularly if its a good one.
Not only do these pics ignore most of film history, they are by no means the worst offenders. These films, by and large, aren’t even sell-outs. A ’sell-out’ is when a director compromises his vision/style for cash.
Hulk? It was such a commercial failure precisely because its very much an Ang Lee movie (and a good one, at that), full of his usual themes and fueled by a bag of neat directing/editing tricks. Just cos you don’t like it doesn’t mean its a ’sell out’.
Mall Rats? Just confirmed the truth about Kevin Smith and his lack of talent. Waxing psuedo-philosophical in his other movies was an embellishment–Smith is at home in juvenile takes on genre films (see Jersey Girl) and Mall Rats is Smith just being himself.
Finding Forrester isn’t a good movie, but it is exactly like Good Will Hunting–the movie where Gus Van Sant really sold out. That movie was a huge departure in every way for Van Sant and, despite its low budget, was essentially a Hollywood movie: light and lulling. That ‘Forrester’ didn’t win any awards doesn’t make it a sell-out, just a bad version of his previous sell-out.
This list seems to equate an art house director making a studio film with a significant budget that turns out to be either financially or critically unsuccessful with selling out. Not the case at all. This list is wrong on many levels, not the least of which is that none of these films–save for Van Sant’s–find the filmmaker ignoring his own sensibilities. Actually, most of these were unsuccessful BECAUSE the director was indulging the same sensibilities that made him an art house success in the first place.
[...] 5 Worst Directorial Sellouts of All Time | SpoutBlog Christopher looks at the five most disappointing attempts at mainstream success (and big money) from otherwise talented filmmakers. [...]
Well, Christopher, again I am going to have to disagree with you on “Hulk”. I just can’t see how a comic book action movie that turns into a father-son, two-character play dealing with abandonment issues in its third act is “Hollywood plotting”.
I also feel the “Pineapple Express” trailer (in both it’s red band and theatrical versions) is pretty amazing. It gives us big laughs, solid characterization, and a good sense of the film’s tone (at least I hope).
As Ziggy mention’s above; for a really good example of “selling out” watch George Sluzier’s “The Vanishing”, and then watch his American remake. That is a man completely compromising his vision.
I was fairly excited about Pineapple Express until I found out that David Gordon Green (3 names is a red flag)directed it. He has consistently made pretentious, ponderous, naval-gazing, Malick-aping wastes of time. All the Real Girls was a movie-torture. I’m not worried about David Gordon Green lowering himself by dipping his precious toesinto the shark infested waters of Hollywood summer releases, or perhaps ruining his career–I’m concerned about him ruining a movie I really wanna see. The only way I could be more worried is if PT Anderson was behind the lens. Also, Hulk is a litmus test, if you like it you have taste, if you don’t then you are content to fry your brain on the shit that normally passes for studio tent pole releases. (X3 anyone?)
First off, I want to say that I think the trailer for Pineapple Express will be ranked as one of the best trailers of 2008. It was genius and balls-to-the wall funny. It’s not going to be written off as just another stoner film, Apatow and his team is going to make another fantastic addition to their repertoire. Secondly, your quote saying “There’s a good chance, though, that The Hulk can simply not be adapted into a quality film… Lee probably did as good a job as was possible.” What the hell are you talking about?! Freakin Edward Norton is in this! That’s already a fantastic start. Plus he helped write the script, the teaser footage has been solid. And they are fulfilling their goal of having a strong character-driven story. They going to follow the same formula that worked for the classic TV show and this time give us a Hulk movie we can all be proud of. I can go on and on but my point is half of what you say is bullshit and although this is the first time I’ve been to this site, your lame blog is giving me a reason not to come back.
I agree with “Mr. Cinema” on the quality of the Pineapple Express trailer. But dude your comments on the new Hulk make me think you should change your name to “Mr. Blockbuster Video”. Ed Norton’s career is in a stall pattern and this is a last ditch effort to get back on the radar. And the only reason he’s tinkered with the script is because he’s an arrogant control freak and he does this on almost every project he’s attached to. How many editing rooms have they had to lock this guy out of? I read today that he’s butting heads with producers over the final cut of this turd, threatening to boycott his publicity obligations if the decision doesn’t go his way. The trailer for Hulk is underwhelming to say the least. Every thing about this is a step down from the Ang Lee version, from the director to the cast(Norton for Bana, Tyler for Connely, Hurt for Elliot). The producers promising that there will be at least 30 minutes of fighting between Hulk and Abomination is further bad news. Great, a full half hour of tepid CGI and quick cuts of one green thing smashing against another green thing. Ang Lee’s gonna have the last laugh on this shit. And I’m staying away for sure. Its time to stop rewarding studios for their bland, cynical decision-making with opening weekend dollars. Marvel should follow DC’s Batman example and put their properties in the hands of directors with vision.
i have faith in pineapple express dirk, this shitty director or not. Apatow films to me are more about the dialgoue and actors than the actual direction.
Listen “STOJ” your Ang Lee hate campaign reads like a studio plant trying to smear Mr. Lee’s good name in an attempt to promote the newer, shittier Hulk. Wait, maybe your not a studio plant at all, your something worse aren’t you? Your Ed Norton! Ed Norton posing as “STOJ” in an effort to promote the newer, shittier Hulk!
Listen buddy, I don’t care how big and green and mean you get in your new movie, no amount of CGI spectacle will be able to wash away the purple stain of Death to Smoochy from your ailing career.
The Score was total shit too.
And that one where you were a priest and Ben Stiller was a rabbi. Total shit.
FF Coppola is not a sell-out. Rather, he is simply shallow and intellectually dim, with a decent eye for a good camera shot. Too bad - would have made a great DP. He is actually all about the camera and visuals, and absolutely clueless about all but the simplest stories. Unfortunately for film-goers he seems to have transmitted the clueless gene to his offspring. Lost in Translation? Try “Lost in Space” Listen to the director’s comments on “Youth Without Youth” if you can stand it.
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Go back to David Gordon Green interviews as far back as 2003 and 2004 and he’s been DYING to tackle comedy and was just waiting for someone to give him the opportunity to do so. I don’t think this a paycheck for him. This is something he actively sought out.
So you i guess you could look at this as him “actively” selling out, but i think it’s more just him pursuing his natural interests.
(in fact, you could prolly say that’s true for all the films you’ve listed aside from the Gus Van Sant one).
I think it’s also too easy to see DGG as just a filmmaker of “beautiful little films.” Frankly that’s ALL i would like to see from him, but he clearly wants to do other things.
Well, I guess I did mean for all of them to be intentional attempts to “sell out” or at least make an easy big paycheck. Mostly I think it’s interesting that in all of these attempts, it kind of blew up in their face and they went on to better successes afterward. Well, probably Jeunet, Lee and Van Sant haven’t made as big a paycheck since, but surely Moore has gotten richer since returning to docs.
Critically speaking wasn’t the hulk well regarded? I don’t think it should be that high on the list.
It’s way too soon to yell “sell out!” at “Pineapple Express” — the script was genuinely funny, much funnier than the last couple of pictures produced by Apatow, and has real edge as well.
Since I’m expecting talk of Christopher Nolan in the Best Sellouts post, I just think we should take a moment to remember that Nolan was responsible for that English-language remake of Insomnia. Just throwing that one out there…
And no, Jake, the Hulk was not well regarded. I remember walking out of that theater hearing people saying it was worse than Daredevil, which was, and probably still is, a horrible insult to the film. And I thought it was at least decent. Oh well.
You dismiss the whole production just because the director isn’t making the film you want him to? I would bet ten-thousand dollars you wouldn’t have anything bad to say about Pineapple Express if one Judd Apatow wasn’t involved.
Other than that, the list seems a bit shallow doesn’t it? There are about at least fifty worse offenses of selling-out than your choices. Number one on my list? Leni Riefenstahl.
It could be possible that the directors might want to attempt something mainstream Hollywood as a creative challenge.
I seem to remember Terry Gilliam describing ‘The Brothers Grimm’ as his attempt at doing something summer mainstream studio film blockbuster-ish just to see if he could do it.
Author Will Clarke bandied about DGG’s name re: an adaptation of Clarke’s novel ‘Lord Vishnu’s Love Handles.’ The deal sort of stalled because DGG said no one would trust him to make a $60 mil film until his films started making $60 mil.
While you are making lists, you could also do a list of ‘Studio directors who creative work,’ because Penelope Spheris made those ‘Decline of Western Civilization’ films.
Jim Sheridan, Get Rich or Die Tryin’.
Doesn’t get more obvious than that.
Canadian Bacon, are you serious? That wasn’t it selling out in the slightest. Canadian Bacon is the best thing He ever did, and probably the best thing anyone in the movie ever did.
You guys are idiots. DGG is far from selling out. Did you even see Pineapple Express? It’s the buzzed comedy of the year and is filled with talented people. Learn how to do research and see more films.
Why’s everybody got to be so nasty to Kevin Smith these days? I don’t get it.
Jake: Critically speaking it was only a 61% on Rotten Tomatoes; 53% if you only consider the top critics. And only 45% from the “civilian” commenters.
I think you are equating mainstream success with selling out. They are not the same. “Hulk” I consider a major achievement for Ang Lee. He took $150 mil of studio money and made an Ang Lee movie. Is there anything about that movie that seems compromised to you? The reason people hate “Hulk” is because Lee made an Ang Lee movie, not a typical summer comic book movie.
And if you are going to call Gus Van Sant a sellout, you got to start with “Good Will Hunting”. It’s a great film but he undoubtedly compromised his standard vision to fit traditional storytelling. What if Van Sant felt adjusting his style would be best to fit the stories arc. Does that still make him a sellout?
Kevin Smith took a bigger budget for “Mallrats” but he made a Kevin Smith movie with that money. Just because it was a bomb does not mean he’s a sellout. This man brought in Jason Mewes on his own dime, against the studios wishes, for Christ’s sake. Smith sound’s like a man who picked and choose his battles.
And it is pretty unfair to knock David Gordon Green for doing “Pineapple Express” sight unseen. If the trailer is any indication, the movie looks far from your typical “stoner comedy”. How do you know it is a waste of talent? Have you read the script? Do you think Green didn’t bring something to the script when he signed on? You think Apatow brought Green aboard so he could completely change Green’s define style? By your definition, you automatically assume the movie is going to suck. But if you love it, is David Gordon Green still a sellout in your eyes?
moviemenace, you have a lot of good points. except the one about Hulk being uncompromisingly an Ang Lee film. That third act was just awful Hollywood plotting.
and, yes, I’ve seen the trailer for Pineapple, and I think it looks stupid.
anyway, I admit I used the word sellout in a way that was more negative and antagonizing than how I truly mean to define these movies. I do see them all as attempts at making big money on seemingly easily mainstream movies. And despite the fact that Hulk was Lee’s highest grossing movie, I think they all failed to do what they were expected to do. And each filmmaker found better success when they weren’t trying as hard.
Mallrats?!?
See 75% of Francis Ford Coppola’s career. Was it The Godfather Part III that saved his vineyard or the smash hit Jack?
[...] Why Mallrats is on the list I will never know… Fly Fat Ass Fly!! [...]
[...] Worst Directorial Sellouts of All [...]
You’ve seen the trailer and it “looks stupid”? Really? I think it looks pretty great.
Pineapple Express was written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, and the cast is pretty solid. Also, have you even seen “My Blueberry Nights”? Just because the Weinsteins keep bumping the release date does not necessarily make it a bad movie. The Weinsteins have certainly been bungling a lot of their promotions and releases lately. (”Fanboys” anyone?) So, why the hate on Wong Kar-Wai?
Plus, all of these movies have been released within the last 15 years. What about Robert Altman’s “Popeye”? or Peter Bogdonavich’s “Texasville”? The afore-mentioned Coppolla.
This is a super-lazy list. Hope your “Best of” follow-up has a little more thought put into it.
i also disagree with Mallrats being on the list, only because i think it’s slightly closer to being watchable than the rest of the crap Smith makes.
FYI: Here’s some feedback from people who have either read or seen Pineapple Express.
How can you possibly be so fucking stupid? What does your cinema IQ stop at 1990. How about Bergman’s The Serpent Egg’s, Coppola’s Jack… George Sluizer? John Badham? The list goes on…
I have seen PE, and I must say it is light years away from being a cash grab. In fact it may be the best film DGG has done to date.
Next time try doing some research.
In the mean time see more films.
And please stop writing half ass blog entries.
Francis Ford Coppolla directing “Jack” is the biggest sellout I can think of.
Let’s see….sellout lists…The Julk was not a sellout film; i twas just badly made by someone who didn’t understand the source material (or bother to). It was poorly edited, schizophrenically shot, and I’m not even going to get into where the hell Nick Nolte’s performance fits in (it doesn’t, at all).
That being said, I invoke Howard the Duck as George Lucas’ selling out point. He took a big paycheck, a fad character, and produced HOWARD THE DUCK. How about Casino, maybe, as Scorcese’s sellout point?
*Hulk, sorry. My mistake. Cursor was over the “J”, thought it was an “H.”
Concur with folks who note this is a shallow, lazy list written by someone who should know better and not let his young age be an excuse for callowness.
If Spout wants to have any currency in the film blog world, it needs to drastically expand its cinema-world view.
The fact that you haven’t even seen the movie completely negates your argument that David Gordon Green is a sellout. Nice try though.
I had a cat named Christopher once…what a pussy.
John, I couldn’t agree more…you don’t have the qualifications to write such a deep journalistic piece. Do some research and step outside of your bubble, see movies made before you were born and enrich your life, or just stop writing out of your league! Really pathetic blog!
I’m actually worried about David Gordon Green ruining Pineapple Express, since all his movies have been insufferable, pretentious, Mallick-aping, naval gazing wastes of time. I was excited to see Pineapple Express until I realized he was the director.
Everyone yelling about Coppola and Jack are clearly overlooking Peggy Sue Got Married. A movie (one of several) that the guy openly admits to doing for cash.
Awwww! Mallrats is one of my favorite comedies! I completely disagree with your taste.
I believe the term “Sellout” refers to a person or group doing something opposite or lacking the same vision (or cultural footprint) of their previously highly regarded but outside the mainstream work for the sole purpose of cashing in on their reputation.
Kevin Smith did not sell out when making “Mallrats”. He made the movie he wrote and wanted to make using his universe and cast of characters. It didn’t make money and catch on with the general public because is WAS a Kevin Smith movie.
A true sellout example: If Michael Moore was paid millions of dollars to star in commercials for Ford.
Addressing your comments about “Alien Resurrection”, this from Wikipedia:
Screenwriter Joss Whedon was unhappy with the final product. When asked in 2005 how the film differed from the script he had written, Whedon responded:
“It wasn’t a question of doing everything differently, although they changed the ending; it was mostly a matter of doing everything wrong. They said the lines…mostly…but they said them all wrong. And they cast it wrong. And they designed it wrong. And they scored it wrong. They did everything wrong that they could possibly do. There’s actually a fascinating lesson in filmmaking, because everything that they did reflects back to the script or looks like something from the script, and people assume that, if I hated it, then they’d changed the script…but it wasn’t so much that they’d changed the script; it’s that they just executed it in such a ghastly fashion as to render it almost unwatchable.” From this interview: http://www.bullz-eye.com/mguide/interviews/2005/joss_whedon.htm
Jeunet makes a pretty movie, but don’t blame Joss because the guy can’t make a monster movie to save his life.
Holy cow. This is the first article I’ve seen on this blog. It will also be my last. This is the stupidest, least-informed crap I’ve ever read. Have you seen more than a few dozen movies in your life?
Wow. I mean jesus. Talk about your lack of information and understanding. No offense, but your opinions are pretty mind-bogglingly uninformed. Other comments have pointed out David Gordon Green’s desire to make a comedy, but also have you seen the movie? I have and it’s fantastic. Not just as a comedy, but there’s some wonderful little commentary and punk film-making sensibilities. And Hulk, for all it’s problems as a piece of entertainment, it was actually an interesting approach to a comic book movie full of thoughtful insights and the kind of things that make Ang Lee dramas so vibrant. Mallrats is his “selling out” and not Jersey Girl? Jesus dude. Ultimately you just listed 5 commercial movies by art directors that didn’t do so well. That fact alone renders your commentary completely inane. This is really amazing. Wow. I mean, wow.
A fault with Joss Whedon’s script? Go deeper and find the numerous changes from the original script, and you’ll find there was some other fault. It was just not the right project.
Have you morons ever SEEN a movie made before 1995? There are a few, or so I’ve heard. Are you fucking nine years old?
As everyone has said, how about Jack? Or anything William Friedkin has done that isn’t To Live and Die in L.A., The French Connection or The Exorcist? John Frankenheimer’s Reindeer Games?
Michael Cimino’s Desperate Hours? George Sluzier’s American remake of his own The Vanishing?
Grow the fuck up.
Yeah, you’ve got problems. There’s nothing wrong with an ‘art house’ director making a genre pic–particularly if its a good one.
Not only do these pics ignore most of film history, they are by no means the worst offenders. These films, by and large, aren’t even sell-outs. A ’sell-out’ is when a director compromises his vision/style for cash.
Hulk? It was such a commercial failure precisely because its very much an Ang Lee movie (and a good one, at that), full of his usual themes and fueled by a bag of neat directing/editing tricks. Just cos you don’t like it doesn’t mean its a ’sell out’.
Mall Rats? Just confirmed the truth about Kevin Smith and his lack of talent. Waxing psuedo-philosophical in his other movies was an embellishment–Smith is at home in juvenile takes on genre films (see Jersey Girl) and Mall Rats is Smith just being himself.
Finding Forrester isn’t a good movie, but it is exactly like Good Will Hunting–the movie where Gus Van Sant really sold out. That movie was a huge departure in every way for Van Sant and, despite its low budget, was essentially a Hollywood movie: light and lulling. That ‘Forrester’ didn’t win any awards doesn’t make it a sell-out, just a bad version of his previous sell-out.
This list seems to equate an art house director making a studio film with a significant budget that turns out to be either financially or critically unsuccessful with selling out. Not the case at all. This list is wrong on many levels, not the least of which is that none of these films–save for Van Sant’s–find the filmmaker ignoring his own sensibilities. Actually, most of these were unsuccessful BECAUSE the director was indulging the same sensibilities that made him an art house success in the first place.
Chris, why do you write about movies and filmmaker when it’s obvious that you know NOTHING about film?
[...] 5 Worst Directorial Sellouts of All Time | SpoutBlog Christopher looks at the five most disappointing attempts at mainstream success (and big money) from otherwise talented filmmakers. [...]
Well, Christopher, again I am going to have to disagree with you on “Hulk”. I just can’t see how a comic book action movie that turns into a father-son, two-character play dealing with abandonment issues in its third act is “Hollywood plotting”.
I also feel the “Pineapple Express” trailer (in both it’s red band and theatrical versions) is pretty amazing. It gives us big laughs, solid characterization, and a good sense of the film’s tone (at least I hope).
As Ziggy mention’s above; for a really good example of “selling out” watch George Sluzier’s “The Vanishing”, and then watch his American remake. That is a man completely compromising his vision.
I was fairly excited about Pineapple Express until I found out that David Gordon Green (3 names is a red flag)directed it. He has consistently made pretentious, ponderous, naval-gazing, Malick-aping wastes of time. All the Real Girls was a movie-torture. I’m not worried about David Gordon Green lowering himself by dipping his precious toesinto the shark infested waters of Hollywood summer releases, or perhaps ruining his career–I’m concerned about him ruining a movie I really wanna see. The only way I could be more worried is if PT Anderson was behind the lens. Also, Hulk is a litmus test, if you like it you have taste, if you don’t then you are content to fry your brain on the shit that normally passes for studio tent pole releases. (X3 anyone?)
First off, I want to say that I think the trailer for Pineapple Express will be ranked as one of the best trailers of 2008. It was genius and balls-to-the wall funny. It’s not going to be written off as just another stoner film, Apatow and his team is going to make another fantastic addition to their repertoire. Secondly, your quote saying “There’s a good chance, though, that The Hulk can simply not be adapted into a quality film… Lee probably did as good a job as was possible.” What the hell are you talking about?! Freakin Edward Norton is in this! That’s already a fantastic start. Plus he helped write the script, the teaser footage has been solid. And they are fulfilling their goal of having a strong character-driven story. They going to follow the same formula that worked for the classic TV show and this time give us a Hulk movie we can all be proud of. I can go on and on but my point is half of what you say is bullshit and although this is the first time I’ve been to this site, your lame blog is giving me a reason not to come back.
I agree with “Mr. Cinema” on the quality of the Pineapple Express trailer. But dude your comments on the new Hulk make me think you should change your name to “Mr. Blockbuster Video”. Ed Norton’s career is in a stall pattern and this is a last ditch effort to get back on the radar. And the only reason he’s tinkered with the script is because he’s an arrogant control freak and he does this on almost every project he’s attached to. How many editing rooms have they had to lock this guy out of? I read today that he’s butting heads with producers over the final cut of this turd, threatening to boycott his publicity obligations if the decision doesn’t go his way. The trailer for Hulk is underwhelming to say the least. Every thing about this is a step down from the Ang Lee version, from the director to the cast(Norton for Bana, Tyler for Connely, Hurt for Elliot). The producers promising that there will be at least 30 minutes of fighting between Hulk and Abomination is further bad news. Great, a full half hour of tepid CGI and quick cuts of one green thing smashing against another green thing. Ang Lee’s gonna have the last laugh on this shit. And I’m staying away for sure. Its time to stop rewarding studios for their bland, cynical decision-making with opening weekend dollars. Marvel should follow DC’s Batman example and put their properties in the hands of directors with vision.
i have faith in pineapple express dirk, this shitty director or not. Apatow films to me are more about the dialgoue and actors than the actual direction.
plus dirk ang lee sucks
hahahha
Listen “STOJ” your Ang Lee hate campaign reads like a studio plant trying to smear Mr. Lee’s good name in an attempt to promote the newer, shittier Hulk. Wait, maybe your not a studio plant at all, your something worse aren’t you? Your Ed Norton! Ed Norton posing as “STOJ” in an effort to promote the newer, shittier Hulk!
Listen buddy, I don’t care how big and green and mean you get in your new movie, no amount of CGI spectacle will be able to wash away the purple stain of Death to Smoochy from your ailing career.
The Score was total shit too.
And that one where you were a priest and Ben Stiller was a rabbi. Total shit.
FF Coppola is not a sell-out. Rather, he is simply shallow and intellectually dim, with a decent eye for a good camera shot. Too bad - would have made a great DP. He is actually all about the camera and visuals, and absolutely clueless about all but the simplest stories. Unfortunately for film-goers he seems to have transmitted the clueless gene to his offspring. Lost in Translation? Try “Lost in Space” Listen to the director’s comments on “Youth Without Youth” if you can stand it.