All of us have a film that we hate.
It could be for any number of reasons. The film could have an actor that we hate. It could be because it is based off of a book that the filmmakers have failed to adapt properly. Or it could just be that the film sucks really badly.
With that in mind, I am starting a new column. I have seen many interviews where people talk about the films that they love. The films that inspire them. Films that they consider classics. This column is going to be the opposite of that.
Bad films can stay with us for a long time. I believe that if you look deeper into it, you can find surprising things in a bad film. For instance, while there maybe a film that you really hate, that same film could contain a scene or a moment that you really enjoy. An example of this is 50 Shades of Grey. Most people that saw the movie hated it with a passion. Yet, how many people own the soundtrack that came from that film? It just goes to show you that just like life, you can find something good in even the worst of things.
So with that in mind, let's begin our new column....
I have worked with Lee for the last few years and like many people, Lee likes going to the movies. He sees a lot of films good and bad. One of those bad films is the topic of this column today.
The one film that Lee cannot stand is The Revenant
Steven Hash: So do you think that it was just the hype for the movie or is it just the fact that you didn't like the movie that made you really hate this film. Because it seems like the director, Alejandro G. Inarritu, the movies he does.... it seems like they go up for a lot of awards and you have people that really like the stuff he directs, but you also have just as many people who hate his movies as well.
Lee Cruse: To me, the film was just pretentious. Maybe because of the hype. But I think some of the decisions he made were for the elongation of a film that needed to be 45 minutes shorter. That is just a director who has just fallen in love with his cinematographer and is really just allowing this to go on.
And then DiCaprio, who I like and is a great actor, and Alejandro who I love. I mean, Birdman was okay. But DiCaprio's performance, here is the thing about it. That performance was hyped and it got him an Academy Award when he has done so many other performances that were just so much better than that. He was just rolling around in the dirt grunting.
SH: Well it is weird because it did have a show off quality to it because on one hand, Yeah he grew a beard. He went out the middle of the cold, he even went into the inside of a horse. But there also is this quality to it that is just him basically saying "I want an Oscar and I want one really badly!"
LC: Yeah. I mean, I assume the tumblers all worked out for him to win an award. I think it really was for more past efforts. I don't know how the voting works. But I really don't know if that was Oscar worthy because I don't know what he did that was so fantastic other than be in pain all day and having it sort of reflect my experience sitting in the theater all day watching this movie.
SH: Was there anything you liked about the movie at all?
LC: The visuals! I love the visuals. I love the special effects and that is the thing with Alejandro and his cohorts, I don't know if there is anybody more cutting edge with the way they organically integrate effects (with the real world). For instance, that fight scene with DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. When he cuts Hardy's finger off, that one shot choreographed fight.... how the hell they pulled that off where he grabs the axe and rolls over and then there is the effect put into place. I mean, it is just really felt so real but that is just what they do and they do it better than anybody right now.
SH: Well even the scene with the horse, when it went over the cliff, if you watch the behind the scenes clips, it really is just DiCaprio in a room somewhere that is all green screen and they something marked off somewhere that says that "this is where the tree is."
SH: I agree with you on that. With that being said, is there a part of the movie that just bugs you the most?
LC: I think just the agony of him dragging himself around forever and ever and ever, and I think we could have gotten rid of what seemed, to me, to be padding. I mean these are Oscar winners. All of them. Someone has got to make a decision here. Why are you putting your audience through this?... You are just so in love with it all. You can convey that in a montage and just put some "Mister Mister" music behind it and (Laughs)... just play them going through the wilderness for maybe three minutes and we are done! We don't need this!!
SH: Do you agree with the assertion that if there is one thing that Inarritu loves to do is to show suffering. Like all his movies are just about "SUFFERING." I mean, the term "grief porn" has been used to describe some of his films. Do you agree with that assertion at all?
LC: I mean, that is just a showcase of his stuff, so maybe. It be nice to see a departure. You know, maybe just do a comedy? Maybe see him do something different.
SH: Well Birdman is comedic...
LC: Well frankly there is a lot of pain in that as well... (Laughs) Emotional pain mainly. I don't think that assertion is a knock, I think it is just the experiences of the stories he is telling. I don't have a problem with that. It was just that with this one, I felt that "Hey we spent all the money to come out here, we got this beautiful vista, let's continue to show it." And it's like (sighs) okay.
SH: Well I take it you think it should not have won Best Picture then. What do you think should have?
LC: Well what were the other nominees again?
SH: Well you had Revenant, The Big Short, you had Spotlight which won Best Picture...
LC: Again, I think Creed was really good. I don't know about Best Picture but I am still pissed off about Sylvester Stallone (not winning).
SH: Since you mentioned liking DiCaprio as an actor, is there another movie of his you would recommend to other people to watch?
LC: The Departed. I love that one. It is fantastic. If it is on TV, I'll usually stop the channel and watch that.
SH: Right. that is one of my favorites. So any other final thoughts on The Revenant?
LC: Don't see it! Other than for the scene with the bear, don't see it!
Well many thanks to Lee Cruse for sitting down with me and giving some criticism of The Revenant.
This Saturday, May 7th, Lee will be a part of LEX 18 and their live coverage from Churchill Downs of the Kentucky Derby.
Please leave a comment down below. Let me know if you agree or disagree with Lee on this movie.
- Hash
