Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by caa on November 28, 2002 at 15:17:35

In Reply to: Different kinds of art posted by mvwine on November 27, 2002 at 11:15:01:

A film like "Saving Private Ryan" could have been art - if Spielberg would have drawn on his personal emotions or experiences and show us (through the performance of an actor, dialogue, lighting, cinematography, whatever) those emotions or experiences.

It's too much to define what art is. A film like Saving Private Ryan, IMO, demands the director to be as objective as possible. Spieldberg clearly has enough crafts and skills to be qualified as an artist. But it's not about the knowledge but the choices that he makes. It appears his recent films are always made in a "timely" fashion with respect to current politics and culture to satisfy popular demands. If that has always been his intention, then the film values won't last very long as politics as well as culture change.

OTH, there's no reason for an artist not to make a little cash once in a while. Deniro did it; Brando did it, perhaps ahead of his time.