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Thursday, October 2, 2008
Suspicious of “Blindness’ protest, sight unseen
A commenter named Roger asked me about a post on our Celebrity Worship blog, regarding advocacy groups for the blind protesting the movie Blindness.
“I was curious what your thoughts are on this especially since you commented on the similar treatment of “Tropic Thunder” and “Wall-E” with their alleged discriminatory messages. Thanks!”
Thanks for your interest, Roger. I haven’t seen Blindness yet, so I must tread somewhat lightly here, but I have to say I am inherently suspicious of any such protest. Sadly, more often than not, these protests come from people who are only looking at the surface of the movie rather than truly trying to understand it.
I have a very hard time believing that a director as savvy as Fernando Meirelles (The Constant Gardner) would have made a film that so assaults the blind. I fear this is the Tropic Thunder mess all over again, and I fear that the advocates for the blind are reacting without carefully thinking first. If that is so, that cannot help their cause.
Movie columnist David Poland has seen Blindness, and he calls the controversy “Stupidest Protest Ever.” He writes:
“The idea that sighted people in their 20s, 30s and older suddenly becoming blind, surrounded by others who are suddenly blind, would not be disoriented and find it hard to deal with a massive new challenge is pretty absurd on its face …
“Blind people have nothing to protest here … Better to use the sections of the film in which people overcome their sudden, unprepared for handicap with kindness and generosity to remind people that being blind does not have to be a bad thing… but being blind doesn’t automatically make you a saint either.”
Take that as you will. I will report back after I see the movie.
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What’s opening Friday, Oct. 3?
Quite a lot is opening Friday, Oct. 3, actually. And at least one of the movies is even good.
An American Carol: Never mind wondering whether the man who co-directed Airplane! and The Naked Gun, among others has lost his mind with this conservative comedy. I’m more concerned he’s lost his touch. His recent filmography includes BASEketball, My Boss’ Daughter, and Scary Movie 3 and 4. Not pretty - or particularly funny.
Appaloosa: Ed Harris moves into directing with this western starring himself, Renee Zellweger and Jeremy Irons. Reviews have been less than great, but I’m still curious.
Blindness: I’m always in for any movie by the director of City of God and The Constant Gardener, even if his movie is attracting middling reviews and a protest of dubious merit.
Beverly Hills Chihuahua: Some people who have seen this film assure me it’s actually pretty cute, but still - no thanks. I’m about to make another Disney trek and I’ll be surrounded by ads for this thing there. That’s more than enough.
Flash of Genius: Is it just me, or is it hard to get excited about the story of a man who got shafted trying to invent the intermittent windshield wiper?
How to Lose Friends and Alienate People: Great title and cast, including Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst, Megan Fox and Jeff Bridges. Too bad about the reviews.
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist: This has been billed as this year’s Juno. It’s not. Find out what it is in my review Friday.
At the arthouses: The Neon in Dayton plans to open Choke, a film from the mind of the man who brought us Fight Club, and Reigulous, Bill Maher’s acerbic take on organized religion. The Little Art opens the highly acclaimed The Edge of Heaven.
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