No Surprise There

By John

Anti-War flicks meeting a lukewarm reception at the Toronto Film Festival.

Later I'll talk about the films that have done well, but it should come as no surprise that the response to several Iraq themed films that are screening here,including Redacted, Valley of Elah, Rendition and Battle for Haditha, has been lackluster.

At first I thought that perhaps this was only the opinion of a small minority, but in truth, it's not.While Reuters insists the films have had "positive response", a reality check proves otherwise.

A top inde producer told Reuters that he did not believe:

" the many Iraq war movies playing here would find audiences,..... people were tired of being bombarded with war and killing on television, the Web and in newspapers and magazines."

That aptly expresses the general feeling towards theses films by those in the industry and by the general public in attendance at the festival. Also weighing in is film critic Richard Roeper, a liberal who is no fan of the Bush administration:

"Of course we shouldn't shirk from the atrocities, alleged and confirmed, committed by our side. But would it be so horrible to make a film showing American soldiers performing genuine heroics?"

Not really. Hell, a film like that might even make money.

Question for producers: if this particularly crappy brand of whiny cinema can't even create a buzz amongst an audience as friendly as anti-war Hollywood, you think Joe America is going to go watch?

Step one in pulling yourselves out of the red? Make GI Joe American, dammit.

September 13, 2007 08:56 PM Hollywood

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Comments

For every one unfavorable incident in Iraq there are probably 1,000 genuinely inspiring stories (and I'm probably low-balling) You think there would be lots of material for a genuine All-American hero type film......

Talk about not seeing the forest through all of the trees.......

Old Tanker · September 14, 2007 05:12 AM

Go Joe!

(Sorry, had to be said....)

It seems they're mixing Destro and Cobra Commander.

Ew.

Some 60ish years of history, and they go "ooh, let's make 'em UN Joe!"

Foxfier · September 14, 2007 06:06 AM

I had heard that a movie company bought the rights to Bing West's No True Glory, with the lead (Mattis) to be played by Harrison Ford, but that was a while ago and haven't heard anything since.

jordan · September 14, 2007 09:48 AM