UP IN THE HOLLYWOOD SHILLS On the same day that ...
THE HOLLYWOOD SHILLS On the same day that L.A. Times editor John Carroll was reported as assailing the rise of "pseudo-journalism"aka, anything besides a reliable leftist slanthis own newspaper provided a glowing example of why the L.A. Times is a joke. Of course, the paper's most recent decline in readership was based on blatantly biased political coverage. Let's not forget the Times' infamous willingness to suck up to Hollywood, though. Just check out "Hollywood Rediscovers Grown-Ups," published on Sun., May 9, by staff sycophant Elaine Dutka.
What's the hot scoop in this breathless Times report? Why, it seems that the upcoming summer film season is going to be really, really good! Last summer was kind of a disappointmentwhat with The Hulk and allbut those industry types have learned their lesson, and everyone should rush out to the multiplexes and enjoy some fine theatrical fare!
To make this point, Dutka informs us all about how the major studios are "releasing substantive fare such as Jonathan Demme's 'The Manchurian Candidate' and Steven Spielberg's 'The Terminal' into a high-stakes summer." Never mind that Jonathan Demme's previous remake, The Truth About Charlie, was both a critical and box-office disaster. The Manchurian Candidate will be substantive!
Oh, and The Terminal doesn't look anything like a glossy film romance set in a shopping mall. Really.
All this is presented as a straight news report. In that same spirit, we're assured that other upcoming substantive films include "a remake of 'The Stepford Wives,' the Cole Porter portrait 'De-Lovely,' the latest Robert Ludlum adaptation, 'The Bourne Supremacy' and Michael Mann's 'Collateral,' in which a cabdriver picks up a passenger (Tom Cruise) who turns out to be an assassin."
Michael Mann's a talented filmmaker, and maybe that Cole Porter bio will be daringly adult. As for The Stepford Wives and The Bourne Supremacywell, let's just say that Dutka certainly has a unique definition of what isn't typically lame summer fare. Are we supposed to be impressed that both films are based on novels? Actually, they're both based on other movies.
For that matter, Dutka hopes we're stupid enough to be impressed that Spider-Man 2 is made by "heavy-duty director" Sam Raimibest known as the same heavy-duty director who made Spider-Man.
Dutka also provides plenty of quotes from industry insiders who are very excited about the major studios' summer film season. Same goes for all the consumers that she finds outside the local multiplex. As a true student of Carroll's school of bonafide journalism, Dutka even provides historical context. She wants us to know that last year's classic comedy Something's Gotta Give proves that audiences are "still likely to turn out when the material is there." It's a fact!