Author:
Dear Editor,
This is a letter in response to Audrey Lamsam’s exceptionally stale “Critique on Hollywood.” According to Lamsam, “movies are starting to get less and less original” and “no one appreciates the art of filmmaking anymore.” The only assumption I can safely make from these statements is that Lamsam has little or no grasp of what constitutes an innovative or, using Lamsam’s words “truly awe-inspiring” or “groundbreaking” film.
I take it Lamsam did not see such impressive films as The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, I’m Not There, Persepolis, Once, This is England, Notes on a Scandal, Volver, Old Joy, La Vie en Rose, Half Nelson, or The Puffy Chair, all of which were released in the past two years. Since Lamsam obviously didn’t make it to see any flicks in an independent movie theatre, surely she caught the blockbusters The Departed, No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood, Sweeney Todd, or Wall-E. And was she not moved by the charm of Ratatouille, the hysterics of Superbad, or the thrill of The Bourne Ultimatum? (All of which were top-grossing films last year, by the way.) And while Lamsam hails the brilliance of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather II (such an unique observation!), she neglects to cite the originality of Coppola’s latest film, 2007’s Youth Without Youth. Did she bother to see it? Doubt it. Well I did, and I thought it was phenomenal.
To Lamsam: your “critique” on Hollywood is a trite one. Guess what? It’s called the film industry because that’s just what it is, an industry. Films are made and released with the intention of generating profit. That’s the nature of the film industry, so get over it. People pay to see movies that will, for at least an hour or two, distract them from the monotony everyday life. If someone is enthused to see a movie about a superhero, talking dog or Roman warrior, then so be it. But keep in mind, each week dozens of new films are released, and although many are formulaic or predictable, many are also inspiring and innovative.
To the editor: Lamsam’s ever-so-typical disgruntled film student complaints are very limited, ill-informed and clichéd. Get someone new to write about movies. Please.
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