Posted by R.O. at 209.108.213.108 on February 21, 2000 at 19:26:27:
In Reply to: *Yawn* posted by Kevin on February 21, 2000 at 10:38:55:
"Good Lord, you're a little late to the party on this one. I thought we'd
wrapped up this shit ages ago."
First of all, I'm "a little late to the party" because I read my issue of
EW a little late and second, this is my maiden voyage on View Askew so
pardon me for not being up on the topic du jour.
"For the record, though (and for the zillionth time): I never apologized
for 'Mallrats'. If you see the Indie Spirit Awards show where that
apocryphal tale originated, I was clearly joking around."
It made total sense to me that you would have to apologize for 'Mallrats'
so I saw it as a pretty admirable thing to do and not as a joke.
"I love 'Mallrats'. I realize it may not be your cup of tea because no
frogs fall from the sky, but a lot of folks seem to like it."
Actually I don't even really "hate" 'Mallrats.' It's better than a lot of
the crap coming out these days. When I read your quotes in EW that was the
first thing I thought of - "How could the guy responsible for 'Mallrats'
criticize a guy who in my opinion has yet to make a bad film?" Hey I like
long, character driven movies - you like movies with rubber poop monsters.
Oh well.
"Although we only subjected non-fans to ninety minutes of agony and spent
merely six million to flop, whereas Paul subjected non-fans to over three
hours of senseless horseshit and spent thirty five million to do the same."
I know a lot of people who didn't like 'Magnolia' and my hostility towards
you comes from choosing to defend the damn movie all the time. I don't
actually know what you didn't like about it other than describing it as "a
cinematic root canal." Which is pretty funny by the way. I do find it hard
to believe that as a director you can so easily dismiss such an obviously
ambitious film (like it or not). I found parts of 'Eyes Wide Shut' kind of
ridiculous but it's hard not to see Kubrick's genius amid the questionable
plot.
"R.O. - you have to be nicer to me."
I will be nicer now that I know you will actually respond. I assumed that
you wouldn't so I figured I'd just give your "faithful" something to scream
about.
"Accuse 'Dogma' of being poorly directed. Accuse it of being too wordy.
But 'pretentious'?"
Maybe self-indulgent would have been a better word (but if you don't
indulge yourself who will, so more power to you). I find the subject matter
pretentious. Maybe I don't want religous humor in my comedies any more than
I want Ben Affleck in them. I was looking forward to another Kevin Smith
film until I found out what it was about. I'm not Catholic, I'm not an
atheist, I'm not anything! I'm just not into 'Dogma.'
"You're a poor loser Kevin"
Bottom line is I think that P.T. is in a totally different class of
director than you. With a couple exceptions you're really good at what you
do but your comments about Magnolia, to me, sounded bitter and envious.
"Although I see Paul wished testicular cancer on David Fincher in a
'Rolling Stone' piece. And at SNL this weekend, he got in Harvey
Weinstein's face about Harvey's ability to get 'Cider House Rules'
nominated from his sick bed, deeming it the 'Cider House Snooze' (which
kinda made me chuckle) and offering that the film "fucking sucked."
I'm pretty sure that P.T. is a gigantic, egotistical prick, but I would
(and will) defend his work to the death. I had a great time seeing 'Fight
Club' and at the same time find it hilarious that he would wish cancer on
someone and say that an Oscar nominated movie "fucking sucked." Strong
opinions make for a much more interesting world.
"And if all that makes me some kind of cock... Well then, goddammit -
respect the cock."
Good one. I look forward to respecting your cock again