Star Wars: the Rise of Skywalker
The latest Sky Wars movie attracted poor reviews and I for one was pleased.
There are those critics and viewers who hail the 1975 original film produced by George Lucas as the turning point of Twentieth century cinema.
If that is so I would cite three reasons why the effect was negative:
(1)
After that special effects became more important than acting.
I think of some of my favourite scenes: the opening of Double Indemnity and the dialogue between Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray; the 20 minute silent sequence in Le Rififi; or Rod Steiger and Marlon Brando in the back of a taxi in On the Waterfront and none have any input from special effects.
(2)
It launched the franchise. Movie-making is about money. A one-off film has a budget of $100m for marketing. Develop a franchise/brand and it’s unnecessary – hence Batman, Avengers, Harry Potter etc. and it all started with Star Wars.
The result: a formulaic film.
(3)
Alec Guinness negotiated a fee of 2% of the box office.
Alec Guinness was an acting great in theatre, films and television.
It was not the first time.
William Holden in Bridge Over the River Kwai, in which Alec Guinness starred, negotiated such an arrangement.
The point is that thereafter every tough agent with a big name client sought to negotiate a box office cut on the basis he/she had the following and reputation to make the film a commercial success.
Some critics – notably our leading one Nigel Andrews – liked the movie, but most pointed out the storyline was opaque and the franchise was being fed.
Result?
An average movie, notwithstanding a bevy of stars like Sir Ian McKellen and Judi Dench. Hopefully the last.
I must admit to a touch of hypocrisy.
As a collector of film posters I bought a Sky Wars one for £800 at an auction.
Last week, at a Sotheby’s sale timed to coincide with the film’s release, a similar poster went for £8500.
Mind you, the film took £21 million at the box office in its first weekend so the money men are glowing and gloating.
