Comments on: THE FUTURE

By: MD

MD — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 22:18:29 +0000

I have to say I agree with you. I went to one of the opening LA screenings and thought her Q&A was more interesting than the actual movie. Her ideas in the Q&A made sense, but I spent MANY a dog-walk trying to re-watch the movie in my head with the Q&A in mind. It just didn’t work. The movie, I mean. Movie didn’t work.

By: GWL

GWL — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:30:41 +0000

Oh, shit … this is the Internet? Oops. Wrong turn.

Internet smells more like chips than I imagined it would.

By: Jessica Hopper

Jessica Hopper — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:55:07 +0000

I mean, I would say I am and have been perfectly reverent of her work (I wrote a cover story on her a few years ago, interviewed her twice, reviewed her books). I also understand what it’s like to work on something for years, “personal projects”–books, magazines, etc.–and have them critiqued. MJ’s previous film won at Cannes, it’s not like I am kicking a syphilitic dog to death here. Simply, her movie is good, her acting, is it’s weak part. Too bad, so sad.
THAT SAID:
Regardless of whether I am professional critic (I am) or some any-schmoe appreciator of movies (I am!), I needn’t a. EVALUATE MY SELF IN ORDER TO EXAMINE SOMEONE ELSES ART b. KEEP MY OPINION PRIVATE ON MY OWN MOVIE BLOG. Or why should I keep my opinion private but you get to have yours? It’s the internet, Greg Locke!

P.S. Did you write this same email to David Denby, about his review and expression of his “heavy opinion” on The Future in The New Yorker? Do you truly worry about me? I hope not. You really needn’t.

By: GWL

GWL — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:25:16 +0000

I get the impression that your personal relationship with Miranda the Filmmaker might be getting in the way of a pure reaction to her work. What she meant to you, or sill means to you, coupled with your expectations and where you’re currently at in your personal life, appears to be a bad combination in the context of The Future. And thus I don’t think offering a heavy opinion in a public forum is a great idea. It’s not respectful to the artist … not unless you also critique yourself in the same breath and examine how you came to this opinion.

Do you really think that Miranda’s work is bad here? I’ve read her books and watched her movies and always paid close attention to her as long as I’ve known of her existence. I just don’t see her doing bad work. Lesser work, maybe, but always work that’s worth examining. And always unique work. But perfect work? Not even close. I worry that your high opinion led to unrealistic expectations.

It’s not that I think your opinion is bad or even harmful, I just feel that it doesn’t respect the artist in the way that Miranda deserves. I imagine The Future is a project she worked on for a long time – probably a very personal project. And so I think this is one of those instances where the work demands respect and deep consideration. Passing opinions are one thing, posted reviews in public places are another.

Just rambling.