Comments on: Iron Man and new subversive cinema http://blog.spout.com/2008/04/14/iron-man-and-new-subversive-cinema/ Daily coverage of what is truly interesting in the film world Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:55:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: LG launches Iron Man content site : Movie Marketing Madness http://blog.spout.com/2008/04/14/iron-man-and-new-subversive-cinema/#comment-91649 LG launches Iron Man content site : Movie Marketing Madness Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:07:27 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=2643#comment-91649 [...] and star Robert Downey Jr. and, examining recent comments by the two, talks about how “subversive” the movie might be. Basically it seems the filmmakers are out to hoodwink the audience into [...] [...] and star Robert Downey Jr. and, examining recent comments by the two, talks about how “subversive” the movie might be. Basically it seems the filmmakers are out to hoodwink the audience into [...]

]]> By: Xavier http://blog.spout.com/2008/04/14/iron-man-and-new-subversive-cinema/#comment-91357 Xavier Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:26:37 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=2643#comment-91357 I'd tend to give those film makers/stars who say they're using the platform offered by blockbusters to challenge film-goers, to "implant them with something." But how much of that is true and how much of it is the rationalization of their own guilt? I mean, there's something to be said about a film which makes its audience question contemporary foreign or domestic policy either unexpectedly or in a way they did not anticipate ("Rendition" did this to me relative to the Patriot Act and FISA). But, it can't be easy to live in a world of excess (Hollywood) so disconnected from not just the lives of everyday Americans, but from the very real suffering of people across the world. I think there's a reason that Brad Pitt's charitable donations went up after he went abroad with Angelina Jolie, and the tone of his film roles began to change--after being exposed to this you begin to think you <i>have</i> to do something. The Politico had a great story the other day about "<a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0408/9559.html" rel="nofollow">the new Hollywood left</a>" and this really stood out to me: "Sometimes they’ll host political “salons” when they just want an excuse to party. For all their talk about diversity and pluralism, major studios and agencies employ few African-Americans or Hispanics in their executive ranks. And, of course, it’s an inconvenient truth that many outspoken Hollywood eco-warriors drive a Prius around Brentwood while using private jets to travel outside 90049." I’d tend to give those film makers/stars who say they’re using the platform offered by blockbusters to challenge film-goers, to “implant them with something.” But how much of that is true and how much of it is the rationalization of their own guilt? I mean, there’s something to be said about a film which makes its audience question contemporary foreign or domestic policy either unexpectedly or in a way they did not anticipate (”Rendition” did this to me relative to the Patriot Act and FISA). But, it can’t be easy to live in a world of excess (Hollywood) so disconnected from not just the lives of everyday Americans, but from the very real suffering of people across the world. I think there’s a reason that Brad Pitt’s charitable donations went up after he went abroad with Angelina Jolie, and the tone of his film roles began to change–after being exposed to this you begin to think you have to do something.

The Politico had a great story the other day about “the new Hollywood left” and this really stood out to me:
“Sometimes they’ll host political “salons” when they just want an excuse to party. For all their talk about diversity and pluralism, major studios and agencies employ few African-Americans or Hispanics in their executive ranks. And, of course, it’s an inconvenient truth that many outspoken Hollywood eco-warriors drive a Prius around Brentwood while using private jets to travel outside 90049.”

]]>