i saw Margin Call last weekend on the net for free...
Posted on 10/26/2011 7:49:15 PM PDT by stolinsky
Why Are the Movies Dying?
David C. Stolinsky
Oct. 27, 2011
The other evening my wife and I went to the movies. We intended to see “Margin Call,” a film about the financial crisis starring Kevin Spacey, Demi Moore, Stanley Tucci, Paul Bettany, and Jeremy Irons. The cast is outstanding and the subject timely. But the film was playing in only one small theater in all of the West Side of Los Angeles.
The theater held only about 150 seats, and all but the first two rows were taken. So instead we went to another theater playing “The Three Musketeers.” This is yet another remake of the classic, but hyped up with swordsmen flying through the air, and a warship sailing aloft on a balloon. The special effects were childish, and there were barely 20 people in the 1500-seat theater.
Here in Los Angeles, the movie capital, many theaters have closed. In Westwood, the area around UCLA, theaters with 10 screens have closed in the last few years. A few films still make many millions of dollars, but the movie business is in trouble. Why?
Juvenile movies.
Adult films like “The Driver” play to good audiences, but are distributed to few theaters, so they appear to have mediocre success. The same fate may befall “Margin Call.” The unpopularity of adult-themed films may be a self-fulfilling prophesy. And by “adult” I mean adult, not raunchy.
Most moviegoers are young. Understandably, movie moguls aim films at this audience. But if they make films for young people, mainly young people will see them. Successful businesses strive to attract new customers.
When I was young, a frequent expression was “Grow up!” But today, we see middle-aged “boys” walking through the mall wearing shorts, baseball caps, and T-shirts with juvenile lettering. And we see middle-aged “girls” with see-through tops, tattoos, and navel rings. Only weeds grow spontaneously. Boys and girls must be taught to become men and women.
● The teaching used to be done by parents, who knew their job was to be parents, not pals to their kids. But now, middle-aged parents try to dress and act as young as their kids. Mothers run around in revealing clothes and tattoos. Fathers shave their legs in an attempt to look prepubescent. How can they be role models of adulthood?
● The teaching used to be done by teachers, who dressed and acted as adults. But now, many teachers dress sloppily and try to act “cool,” instead of modeling adult behavior.
● The teaching used to be done by Scoutmasters and ROTC instructors. But now, the Scouts and ROTC have been kicked out of schools. Now, schools teach “nonviolence.” Defense of self, family, and nation are no longer considered noble − or even acceptable. Boys no longer have master sergeants with combat ribbons as role models. They are left with “gangsta” rappers or real gang members to emulate.
● The teaching used to be done by movies. I watched Gary Cooper in “High Noon,” and saw a lawman face criminals alone while cowards hid. I watched Ward Bond in “Fort Apache,” and saw a sergeant who had received the Medal of Honor but didn’t wear it. He had the respect of his men because he earned it, not because he demanded it. I learned what it meant to be a man.
These men were middle aged, as were John Wayne and Clint Eastwood for much of their careers. And actresses like Maureen O’Hara and Katherine Hepburn remained stars well into their middle age. The worst effects of the media’s obsession with youth are not incessant ads for wrinkle removers. The worst effect is the removal of older role models for young people.
Instead of “High Noon” and “Fort Apache,” we have “The Hangover.” Instead of men acting like men, we have men acting like teenaged fools. Instead of adults being role models for the young, the process is reversed. Watching films like “The Hangover” and playing video games into one’s thirties is no way to become men and women − or responsible citizens.
Many moviemakers make films to please themselves – their own leftist, atheist, foul-mouthed, rootless, juvenile selves. Otherwise, they would be aiming at a larger audience, not a smaller one. They would be making films that depict our war on terrorists, and which show our Judeo-Christian values in a favorable light. But they don’t make such films. They prefer their narrow agenda to a wider audience.
Anti-American movies.
I used to keep a list of films that depict America as militaristic, imperialistic, greedy, racist, and generally despicable. I used to be able to recall the films that depict our leaders as corrupt or homicidal. I used to be able to name the films that show our military as crazed, murderous fascists, and our veterans as alcoholic, drug-addicted, divorced, unemployed, mentally unstable losers.
But there have been so many of these films that I lost track. For example, take the “Bourne” series. The hero is so disgusted with being an assassin for the CIA that he develops amnesia. He is so busy beating up and killing Americans that he has no time to fight America’s enemies. It’s not only Jason Bourne who forgets his own identity – it’s also the moviemakers who forget theirs.
I grew up watching “Sergeant York” and saw a pacifist learn that violent evildoers must be opposed by force, then go on to earn the Medal of Honor. I watched “The Fighting Sixty-Ninth” and saw the chaplain, “Fighting” Father Duffy, praying with wounded soldiers.
Instead, we now watch “Training Day” and see police as drug dealers who kill their own partners. We watch “Syriana” and see Americans as murderous money-grubbers, while the only sympathetic character is a Muslim suicide bomber. We watch “In the Valley of Elah” and see our troops murder their own buddy, then go out for a chicken dinner. We watch “The Da Vinci Code” and see Christian clergy as homicidal fanatics.
Now films teach that America is loathsome, our military and police are treacherous, and Christianity is detestable. Why should Americans patronize films that insult their values? Why should Americans patronize films that insult their family members in the military?
People all over the world see these films. Why should we support an industry that presents us in such an unfavorable light? Who knows how much anti-American feeling, or even terrorism, may have been provoked by such films?
Hollywood Lemmings.
During World War II, Hollywood gave us films that built morale. Even during the less popular wars in Korea and Vietnam, Hollywood gave us films like “The Bridges at Koto-Ri” and “The Green Berets.” What films has Hollywood given us since 9/11?
We have “United 93,” a docudrama about the brave passengers who fought the hijackers on 9/11 and prevented the plane from crashing into the Capitol or the White House. But omitted was the heroic Todd Beamer reciting the Lord’s Prayer with the phone supervisor, then shouting, “God help me. Jesus help me. Are you ready? Let’s roll!” All this is documented − why omit anything of religious significance?
And we have “World Trade Center,” which depicts police buried in the rubble. Americans are often shown as villains, sometimes as victims − but rarely as heroes. “The Hurt Locker” is conspicuous by its rarity. But it’s not a matter of money. The film cost $15 million and made over $49 million. In this economy, how many other investments made a 227% profit? No, it’s a matter of ideology.
There are films about heroes. But they are cartoon heroes like Spiderman and the X-Men, who fight cartoon villains. They don’t inspire; they merely entertain. I could try to emulate Gary Cooper in “High Noon,” but today’s kids can’t emulate Spiderman. They can only sit passively and watch.
Support us in our time of danger? No, that’s too “controversial.” If someone did make a pro-American film, he might not be invited to any more Hollywood cocktail parties, and that would be a fate too horrible to contemplate. Lemmings aren’t known for their individuality. They just go along with their group − even if it’s over a cliff. But we’re not following.
H. L. Mencken remarked that nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public. But even he wasn’t cynical enough. Hollywood is in the process of proving him wrong.
A prior version of this article appeared on Aug. 30, 2007. Dr. Stolinsky writes on political and social issues. Contact: dstol@prodigy.net. You are welcome to publish or post these articles, provided that you cite the author and website.
I disagree on World Trade Center. Stone is a jerk, but the movie IS about heroism. It shows all those men marching into a building to do good in extreme danger, some of them already injured.
All that said, I was watching Destination Tokyo the other day and struck with the difference in tone about America with today’s movies - that one so positive, while todays are schizo and self-hating.
But the real reason adults don’t see movies today are simple. They are older, more responsible, and less likely to say, “I have to see that movie NOW!” Because if they wait, it will come on Netflix or Redbox for a dollar and there is such a choice at home.
They have control of the major TV in the house, so it’s silly to run out to a dirty theatre because you “can’t wait”. It’s something kids do because they are out with their friends, in love with Twilight, or they DON’T have control of the big TV - they watch the smaller one on their iphone.
Can’t argue with any of this. The country is in a severe and increasingly-rapid cultural decline.
Watching old films and even some vintage tv-shows, I’m often in sheer awe of their adultness and morality. It makes modern fare, with their perpetually infantile and self-absorbed protagonists and characters truly unpalatable.
Love the song "Courageous" by Castings Crowns, but from what I understand, they don't use this great song in the movie (only the trailer).
Is this true?
Movies suck, Hollywood sucks, actors really ****in suck.
I bought my own popcorn maker and movie salt, now there is absolutely no reaon for me to go there.
I own all my old favorites on dvd and blu ray.
I have seen three movies in the last 10 years. I had gone expectantly to several in a short period of time in ‘99, I think, and each one had me thinking, “I spent money and dedicated 2 hours to this crap?” I resolved to quit the habit. A few years later my niece talked me into going to a Robin Williams flic. Williams had been my favorite comedian in the past so I went. The movie induced in me a horrible feeling that other people might see me seeing this thing. More recently I got interested in the reviews about the special effects that were in the new Alice in Wonderland movie. So I went to see it. Very early into the thing, no more than 10 minutes, I realized it was a formula Disney movie and I could predict the action and the climax and the spex were not great. I was appalled. The movie was boring as hell and I sat through it because I had paid money. I should have cut my losses and left.
I was going through movies in the 70s and think about it.
godfather
Rocky
Exoorcist
Taxi
Jaws
Most movies today suck because, like this recycled column, they are unoriginal.
i saw Margin Call last weekend on the net for free...
I can't remember when I have seen a better movie. Everything was well done, and Hollywood has nothing on these folks. Good acting, good settings, etc.
I wish them MUCH success, and look forward to viewing their other, "Fireproof".
Don't miss this one, there is something for everyone in it. You will not regret paying the price and time. Promise
Not with my money, Hollywierd, sell to Gen-X/Y/Z.
Different rant, but about watching it later on TV, but this is my beef with Netflix. They only stream the newer crap, not the old quality stuff I want to watch. So you are stuck with paying double for DVD and streaming.
1. The cost of tickets--even matinee tickets--have gone through the roof.
2. The cost of getting to the movie theater isn't cheap, either.
3. The cost of concessions is just exorbitant.
4. Movie subject matter is not as good or interesting as it once was, with a few exceptions.
5. Why bother with often uncomfortable seating?
6. Why bother with often poor picture and audio quality?
7. Why bother with rude audiences that talk during the movie and don't bother to turn off cellphones?
8. Movies are too often "hacked up" to meet a certain MPAA rating.
9. Home theater systems with flat panel HDTV's, Blu-ray players and surround-sound speakers are often better than what you get in a theater.
No wonder why with just about all of the good Hollywood blockbusters of recent years, I've seen it first on home video on either DVD or Blu-ray format.
never...
To sum up the problem they make propaganda not entertainment...Most people don’t like being lectured to.
Not a bad movie. I usually like nothing with Clooney.
What I was surprised at was that the movie was about political corruption...and in this one it was the DEMOCRATS who were corrupt.
The move should have had more of a kicker at the end. Then it might have had a chance of being a much better film.
I wonder how long it will be before these masterpieces end up on the remake slab.
It really is as if Hollywood has lost its sense of creativity and just wishes to preach to us masses their brand of insanity.
You mean the Dr who spent the majority of the movie with some one who was not his wife?
Saw dawn of the DEAd and night of the living dead again. True masterpieces.
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