Ryan McNeil
While it slightly saddens me to realize that I’m on the back nine of this year’s Toronto Film Fest, I’m sure my eyes and body will be happy to know that only four more days of this crazy abuse remain.
As you might have read below, this afternoon brought me to Darren Aronofsky’s THE WRESTLER (btw – that’d be Darren above in a photo I snapped at the screening). You might have also read how much I enjoyed this movie, but I wanted to be careful in my praise, because the situation surrounding THE WRESTLER reminded me of the part of this cinematic circus that drives me crazy: hype.
Praise for THE WRESTLER has been at a fever pitch…and in many respects it’s well deserved. However, the film isn’t the second coming (no film is), and has already started leaving those who see it disappointed. In a slightly related matter, I read a piece this week about Danny Boyle’s film SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE which is also making the festival rounds. The item went so far as to claim that SLUMDOG stands a chance at landing the FULL MONTY/FOUR WEDDINGS/SIDEWAYS/JUNO spot when the Oscar nominations are announced. This left me shaking my head for a few reasons.
One is the fact that its only September, and many an indie darling has faded from the race much later than the early days of autumn, so don’t make that congratulatory call just yet. The other thing that bothers me about that is the label attached. That fifth spot usually goes to a movie whimsical…which SLUMDOG does indeed have moments of, but to compare it to the charms of the titles listed above is misleading, and pulling the hype in the wrong direction.
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE is a fine movie, and one I recommended – but to call it one of the year’s five best at this point is misleading, and only setting the stakes for a letdown. Hell, even the standing ovation the film received was started by the group sitting in the seats reserved for Fox Searchlight guests. Co-incidence?
To you dear readers – keep reading. Get suggestions, soak in the thoughts, perhaps seek out something you might not have looked for…but do so without the notion that your whole world is about to be changed based on a critic’s opinion.
To you fellow writers – calm down. These are fun times, where more and more of us can share our thoughts with more and more readers. But before you run to the nearest hotspot stop for a moment…soak it in…let it breathe…allow it to swirl around in your grey matter before you set it on a pedestal it can’t possibly balance on for long.
I want be you.
Who doesn’t?