Remember when Dawson on Dawson’s Creek wanted to be a director and his favourite director was Steven Spielberg? I happened to think to myself, “Surely no self-respecting director goes into the business wanting to be Steven Spielberg?”Yes, he has been amazingly successful and delivered some of the most iconic film images of all time, but how consistent is he really as a director? His style – certainly right into the ’80s and even with flashes now – is of a really ’70s, non-linear, self-indulgent school of which I am not a big fan.
So I looked through his filmography, and spotted almost as many misses as hits.
Let me just say that I love a good Steven movie and I think he is a great guy and he especially provided me with some amazing childhood entertainment. But it must be said that it is his producing, and not directing, that has delivered some of my favourite movies; The Goonies, Back To The Future, Gremlins. All things I will be forever grateful to him for backing and getting made.
This story could have been 3000 words long (and in honesty, the first draft was) so for brevity I will give one line reviews to all of his films and see what we come up with.
Duel (1971)
Alleged “classic” plays more like a well put-together student project.
(Note: I have skipped Sugarland Express and 1941 as I have never seen them, nor was I on hand to witness their cultural impact - if any)
Jaws (1975)
People remember flashes of terror in the movie, but it is actually really, really long and talky and boring. Iconic, yes. Very good? No.
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (1977)
Like Jaws, this movie was all dull, talky build-up. But the impressive alien sequences would serve him well when making E.T..
Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
The movie is magic and the team of George Lucas and (mainly) writer Lawrence Kasdan means that it has a story, and plot points actually flow throughout. (George, please get Lawrence back, give him half your money and beg him to never leave you again.)
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)A cultural landmark, let’s ignore that much of this fillum feels like a bunch on unrelated scenes. First movie I saw at the cinema!
Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)
Steven directed one of the three stories in this ill-advised and infamous remake of the TV show. His segment is fine, but the fillum doesn’t play like a fillum at all.
Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom (1984)
When it came out I liked this one even better than the first. It may be more exciting, if less cohesive as a story.
The Color Purple (1985)
Steven’s first stab at a “worthy” fillum. But actually a good one. Plus: Whoopi AND Oprah!
The Goonies (1985)
He only directed one scene, but did come up with the story and produce it. Did I mention it was one of my favourite films EVER?
Empire Of The Sun (1987)
I have never seen this movie. But a pint-sized Christian Bale is in it!
Always (1989)
I saw this on video when I was a kid. It is the kind of video your dad picks and you just wish you could watch Alf.
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989)
More Indy fun!
Hook (1991)
Possibly one of the worst movies ever made.
Jurassic Park (1993)It is hard to explain the impact this fillum had when it came out. It blew people away, which is Spielberg’s (all too rare) magic.
Schindler's List (1993)
More worthiness. The movie is fine, I just don’t like feeling lectured. You know?
Amistad (1997)
LECTURE. (I was so bored I honestly can’t give this a rating)
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
It’s like the first one, but the dinosaurs visit San Diego! Probably fine, but ultimately forgettable.
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
More lectures. But I appreciate the point he was making about the depiction of war in film. He did for gore what he’d done for aliens. I’m calling it good.
A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Almost good at some point and then shit. And the more you think about it later, the more shit it truly seems.
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
I actually quite liked this one. Probably his most understated fillum at that time.
Minority Report (2002)
I like this despite Tom Cruise.
The Terminal (2004)
UTTER Shit.
Munich (2005)
Shit. Allegedly worthy, but actually morally corrupt, self-indulgent, boring shit.
War Of The Worlds (2005)
I didn’t need a remake of this. I certainly didn’t need an alien to go up against the aliens!
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (2008)SHIT!
In conclusion: I am going to say that seven of his films have been utter rubbish, eight have been rather damn good, and the others seem to have been attempts to win Oscars.
But above all, know this: there was NEVER any reason for The Terminal to be made by Steven Spielberg. It could have possibly been an okay TV movie with Bronson Pinchot in the Tom Hanks role and Meredith Baxter in the Catherine Zeta-Jones role. I may have even cried.
Scott Keenan
I hope Steven still works with me one day o'clock
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment