Gunn slams Foster for movie criticism
Guardians Of The Galaxy director James Gunn has hit back at Jodie Foster after she criticized comic book films for “ruining” cinema.
In a recent interview with Britain’s Radio Times magazine, the 55-year-old actress and director said superhero movies were damaging audiences’ viewing habits as the concentration on spectacle and expensive special effects had made going to the cinema like visiting a “theme park.”
Gunn, 51, who helmed the hit 2014 Marvel movie and the second Guardians of the Galaxy film, has responded to Foster’s criticism by describing her views as “oldfashioned.”
“I think Foster looks at film in an old-fashioned way where spectacle film can’t be thought-provoking,” he wrote on Twitter on Monday. “It’s often true but not always. Her belief system is pretty common and isn’t totally without basis.
“I say not without basis because most studio franchise films are somewhat soulless — and that is a real danger to the future of movies. But there are also quite a few exceptions. For cinema to survive I believe spectacle films NEED to have a vision and heart they traditionally haven’t. And some of us are doing our best to move in that direction. Creating spectacle films that are innovative, humane, and thoughtful is what excites me about this job.”
In her interview, Foster also said that she would not direct a big blockbuster as she made films, “to figure out who I am or my place in the world, or for me to evolve as a person.”
Gunn took issue with her description of her motivation too, adding that his personal experience was only one part of what drew him to projects.
“But, to be fair, at least from Foster’s quotes, she seems to see filmmaking as something that’s primarily about her own personal growth,” he explained. “For me, that may be part of why I do this, but spending many millions of dollars on a film has to be about more than that — it’s communication — so my experience is merely one spoke on that wheel.”
Guardians of the Galaxy was a box office hit upon its release in May, earning $864 million at the worldwide box office, beating the $773 million the original 2014 movie made. He is returning for a third instalment in the franchise. WENN