The Disney publicity guys, a strange and guarded bunch, had an all-media screening last week for Spike Lee's Miracle at St. Anna. Naturally they didn't invite me. I missed it on purpose in Toronto (I was told that the 166-minute length was unjustified), and naturally assumed I'd catch up with it back here. Nope!
Disney always hedges its bets when they've got a problem movie of any kind, which Miracle clearly is. But it was also a struggle to persuade them to let me see WALL*E, and that was a near-masterpiece.
Honestly? It's getting harder and harder to ignore the similarities between Disney publicity and the Church of Scientology
"Spike Lee loses the battles and the war in Miracle at St. Anna, a clunky, poorly constructed drama designed to spotlight the little-remarked role of black American soldiers in World War II," wrote Variety's Todd McCarthy. "Clocking in at 160 minutes, this is a sloppy stew in which the ingredients of battle action, murder mystery, little-kid sentiment and history lesson don't mix well.
"Nor is it remotely clear who the audience is meant to be; the R rating pretty much rules out younger students, and extensive subtitles will deter action fans, who would be bored anyway. Best B.O. will likely be in Italy, where most of the melodrama takes place."
As soon as I saw that made-up-to-look-older black guy shoot that made-up-to-look-older white guy in the trailer, I said to myself, "That's it...the movie is trouble." I didn't know a damn thing about it, but I knew. Trailers and ads do more to kill interest in movies than bad reviews. If there's something wrong with a movie, the trailers will almost always tell you this.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 23, 2008 at 1:58 PM
comment #1
Richardson
says ...
"DIsney always hedges its bets when they've got a problem movie of any kind, which Miracle certainly is. But it was also a struggle to persuade them to let me see WALL*E, and that was a near-masterpiece."
So, this is a clear sign that the movie is bad, even though the last time they did it, it was Wall-E?
Here's a thought -- and believe me, this is a hypothetical! -- but, MAYbe Disney doesn't like you because you write shit like this about their movies? Maybe if you didn't spend the months building up to the release shitting on so many movies that you haven't even seen yet, you might then be allowed to see them early (because bragging rights matter, of course).
Posted by Richardson
at September 23, 2008 2:28 PM
comment #2
BurmaShave
says ...
As soon as I saw that Forest Whitaker Jr. looking guy say "Feel that magic" I knew this movie was trouble.
Posted by BurmaShave
at September 23, 2008 2:40 PM
comment #3
JD
says ...
This movie is shockingly bad. I saw it with four friends and all but one of us thought it was a disaster. Not just bad, embarrassingly bad.
Posted by JD
at September 23, 2008 3:20 PM
comment #4
nelson37
says ...
Bet it still gets a rave review from Roger Ebert. If he can give a good review to She Hate Me, he'll probably fawn all over this. And why do I get the feeling Clint Eastwood will soon be laughing his ass off?
Posted by nelson37
at September 23, 2008 3:42 PM
comment #5
Ogami Itto
says ...
Has Roger Ebert ever given a bad review to a "serious" film about African Americans? I honestly can't think of an example off hand.
Posted by Ogami Itto
at September 23, 2008 5:01 PM
comment #6
BurmaShave
says ...
And he has a mixed-race family. Total traitor!
Posted by BurmaShave
at September 23, 2008 5:48 PM
comment #7
Mike
says ...
Spike's whining about being excluded from this year's Oscar buzz because of his Eastwood comments.
He's out of the running once again because all of his movies are mediocre at best.
Posted by Mike
at September 23, 2008 6:25 PM
comment #8
Jay T.
says ...
Admit it Jeff... you just don't want to see this movie because you're racist. In fact, anyone who doesn't think any movie made by Spike Lee is the best movie of that given year is also racist. ;-)
Posted by Jay T.
at September 23, 2008 6:41 PM
comment #9
Chicago48
says ...
In the trailer: What bank teller carries a gun to the bank with them and shoots a customer?
Posted by Chicago48
at September 23, 2008 7:25 PM
comment #10
D.Z.
says ...
'Best B.O. will likely be in Italy, where most of the melodrama takes place.'
Assuming that the Italians don't have an issue with the alleged distortion of history, sure. Anyway, I'm not very hyped by this one, though it looked slightly better on a theater screen than an Internet ad.
Posted by D.Z.
at September 23, 2008 7:45 PM
comment #11
Josh
says ...
Spike Lee can't hold Clints jock.
Posted by Josh
at September 24, 2008 6:58 AM
comment #12
mrchriswell
says ...
Has Roger Ebert ever given a bad review to a "serious" film about African Americans? I honestly can't think of an example off hand.
Ebert panned A Soldier's Story for some unfathomable reason, but yes, he tends to be one to give Spike a pass for just about anything.
Posted by mrchriswell
at September 24, 2008 7:15 AM
comment #13
actionman
says ...
"What bank teller carries a gun to the bank with them and shoots a customer?"
A bank teller who knows that there is someone coming to his bank that he wants to kill.
Posted by actionman
at September 24, 2008 8:44 AM
comment #14
dixiedugan
says ...
Spike makes better documentaries than he does straight out movies.
Posted by dixiedugan
at September 24, 2008 8:49 AM
comment #15
Richardson
says ...
Yeah, damn Roger Ebert for having different taste than you guys! Damn the disparity between his opinion and yours!
Posted by Richardson
at September 24, 2008 10:43 AM
comment #16
Richardson
says ...
"he tends to be one to give Spike a pass for just about anything."
Except for 'Girl 6', 'Bamboozled' and 'Inside Man'. Which is a pretty eclectic trio.
Posted by Richardson
at September 24, 2008 10:44 AM
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