“Spectacular!” I’m always wary of the one-word blurb on film ads, suspecting that the real context presents a different reality: “It’s a spectacular mystery how this abysmal attempt at filmmaking ever got made.” Gelf Magazine confirms the suspicion, comparing film blurbs with the original reviews they came from. A few examples:
Los Angeles Times review of Be Cool:
“…Travolta is as smooth as ever…”Actual line:
“[Travolta’s character Chili] Palmer is back in Be Cool, and although Travolta is as smooth as ever, the picture is a bust, a grimly unfunny comedy with no connection to reality, and worst of all, running on and on for two dismal hours.”Daily Star review of 16 Years of Alcohol:
“Trainspotting meets A Clockwork Orange!”Actual line:
“This glum, violent drama about a Scottish thug ruined by drink is written and pretentiously directed by Richard Jobson whose approach--Trainspotting meets A Clockwork Orange--is bad enough to drive you to drink in no time.“
[via]
Wow that is hilarious. I feel like such a sucker…
Hey Paul why doesn’t the Walker’s marketing department do things like that with film reviews? Or do you not put much stock in reviews, because i never see them on Walker material.
Comment by Eric — 7/21/2005 @ 9:16 am
Hi Eric,
Good question. I tend to think the blurbs are kinda crass. That’s why in our calendar, I’ll embed quotes from reputable critics within copy rather than use ‘em as screamin’ headlines. Also, we show so much new work that reviews just don’t exist for some of it…
Comment by paul — 7/22/2005 @ 10:33 am