ROTTEN TOMATOES: Somebody Out There Likes Brett Ratner

Somebody Out There Likes Brett Ratner

Scott Foundas, critical iconoclast.

by Jeff Giles | August 06, 2007

This isn't strictly news, per se, but it's food for movie lovers' thoughts, and it gives a little equal time to one of their frequent punching bags: LA Weekly's Scott Foundas has written a lengthy piece in defense of -- are you sitting down? -- Brett Ratner.

In "Brett Ratner, Popcorn King," which ran last Wednesday, Foundas presents a carefully assembled, seven-page defense of Ratner's directing talent. After acknowledging that he's pretty much alone in his opinion, the writer lays it all out:

What I am proposing is simply that Ratner excels at a kind of highly enjoyable, wholly unpretentious entertainment that isn’t nearly as easy to manufacture as it seems; that he is a singular personality; and that, unlike many Hollywood flavors-of-the-month, he is most definitely here to stay. In fact, he’s just getting started.

For many, the phrase "Brett Ratner is just getting started" is enough to provoke a cold sweat, and sure enough, some of Foundas' colleagues have already expressed disbelief. In a post titled "Somebody Actually Likes This Uber-Hack?," Nikki Finke suggests her fellow LA Weekly writer needs "a vacation, or...better drugs"; meanwhile, Jeffrey Wells of Hollywood Elsewhere -- after pointing out that "if you're not willing to say the unpopular thing now and then, you're not worth very much as writer" -- goes on to debunk what he calls Foundas' "notion" in persuasive detail.

Wells is right -- you've got to admire the chutzpah it took for Foundas to write this article. Whether it will inspire a critical reevaluation of Ratner's films, however, is another story. Meanwhile, the director's latest project, Rush Hour 3, opens this Friday -- and is currently sitting at a lonely pre-release 17 percent on the Tomatometer.

Source: LA Weekly
Source: Deadline Hollywood Daily
Source: Hollywood Elsewhere

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	Scott Foundas

(1-20 of 77 posts) | Reply

JpPrewitt789 writes:
on Aug 06 2007 08:06 AM

Well I'm apparently the only one on this site who liked X3.....

(Reply to this)

The Great One writes:
on Aug 06 2007 08:15 AM

yea u r. the only good thing he did was rush hour and by the trailer he is just gonna ruin it by making rush hour 3. i thought red dragon was good though

(Reply to this)

lonechicken writes:
on Aug 06 2007 08:35 AM

Popcorn King? I'm pretty sure guys like Cameron, Spielberg, the Scott Bros., and Bay are a bit more popcorny in terms of mainstream box office success. Not that Ratner's track record is anything to sneeze at. He's more of a "Popcorn Duke" perhaps.

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HeisLegend1231 writes:
on Aug 06 2007 08:40 AM

Brett Ratner isn't that bad. I enjoy Prison Break, I liked X-Men 3 even though it wasn't up to par with the first two, and I liked the first two Rush Hours.

(Reply to this)

TombstoneLawDog writes:
on Aug 06 2007 09:01 AM

In reply to this comment (#1015347)
Actually, he's not. I liked #3, also. 'Wasn't as enduring as the first two in the sense that it relied heavily on novelty shock value (diminishing returns upon each viewing), but I had a rockin' good time in the theater on the first watch. It was a fun--if not 'good'-- movie.

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Beastmaster77 writes:
on Aug 06 2007 09:01 AM

I liked X-Men 3 a lot too. In fact, I liked it better than the other 2. Flame away!

(Reply to this)

jmo2ski writes:
on Aug 06 2007 09:02 AM

Yeah give the guy a break. I mean he put together some decent action sequences in X3 and lets not mention the stunts and rush hour. The guy has skill, but like all directors, is weak in some areas.

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Bardego writes:
on Aug 06 2007 09:06 AM

Hmmm...Brett Ratner, Brett Ratner...oh, the guy who almost ruined the X-Men franchise? Oh, yeah, he's such a great director.

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laura_1981 writes:
on Aug 06 2007 09:13 AM

i like chris tucker his pretty funny.

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Pilgermann writes:
on Aug 06 2007 09:22 AM

X-MEN 3 was pretty bland, but I remember being entertained by the first two RUSH HOUR films. Thery're certainly better than crap like TRANSFORMERS that people seem to think is good entertainment.

(Reply to this)

arendr writes:
on Aug 06 2007 09:23 AM

I saw this article on news stands the other day, but I didn't read it. I think Brett Ratner gets a lot of crap he doesn't deserve. However, the simple fact is that his movies aren't great. They're movies for the "now" and that's all. They come out and make money, but will they be remembered? No, but he probably doesn't care much. I'll take him over Michael Bay though, because I'm convinced Bay wants to annoy me. It's a conspiracy.

X-3 was pretty bad though. Red Dragon is okay I guess. Good actors save it. The Rush Hour movies are sort of fun, although cliche.

(Reply to this)

chazbow writes:
on Aug 06 2007 09:34 AM

I don't have to feel guilty anymore for my defense of Peter Hyams and John Badham.

(Reply to this)

twinsfan2715 writes:
on Aug 06 2007 09:42 AM

i agree that Red Dragon was saved by the strong performances by the great actors, but it was a pretty good movie beyond that. i also liked X3, definitely the worst of the series but good, and the other rush hours were fairly fun

(Reply to this)

SolidChamp writes:
on Aug 06 2007 09:43 AM

Red Dragon was a really great film, his only standout picture in my opinion. Nobody is willing to acknowledge that Red Dragon is a good film simply because Ratner directed it. Slap any other directors name on it (with it staying exactly the same in quality) and I garauntee it'd be hailed as some great film by many fanboys.

Ratner is not a great director by any stretch of the imagination. He's merely a competent one. He lacks vision, but he's not without potential. Red Dragon is proof of this.

(Reply to this)

arendr writes:
on Aug 06 2007 09:57 AM

I think a lot of us have a hard time enjoying Red Dragon because of the fine job Michael Mann did on the original version, Manhunter. It's a weird film, but it focuses more on Graham's inner turmoil. Red Dragon was more about Lecter. It's still pretty cool, especially for Anthony Hopkins to get another crack at the character after the ordeal that was Hannibal.

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I Am Remote writes:
on Aug 06 2007 09:59 AM

I'll also defend Ratner under similar terms. He's no hitchcock, but I'd gladly take any of his films over Bay or Woo or Singer. The Rush Hour films are great. The Last Stand took botched characters themes and storylines (from singer) and made an enjoyable action flick. And Red Dragon is the best of the Hannibal series (save Lambs, I suppose). He seems like kind of a fratboy in interviews and stuff, which i don't like, but the proof is in the pudding: his films are great.

(Reply to this)

unbreakable_samurai writes:
on Aug 06 2007 10:12 AM

I enjoy his films, he's no where near one of my favorite directors but I do like him. I thought X-Men 3 was the worst of the 3 but I still enjoyed it and plus he stepped in at the last moment and was really rushed by the studio. The Rush Hour films are fun stupid comedy's, which is all they could hope to achive. And I really did enjoy After the Sunset. Plus Red Dragon was pretty good, not as good as Munhunter though. So yeah I think he gets an undue rap and I'll stick up for him.

(Reply to this)

ttboy80 writes:
on Aug 06 2007 10:16 AM

Red dragon was ****e. Every time it started to get a little bit intense mr retard had to add some humor.

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Uradik Smoke writes:
on Aug 06 2007 10:22 AM

His movies may get trashed by critics but the general movie going public likes his work so for god sakes leave the guy alone , ok he may be hackish , he may be lacking some shock and awwww but his movies make people laugh and have a good time and that is what movies are about to the general public. I dont think Mr. Rattner ever goes into a new movie thinking how can I win an Oscar this time ??? He thinks how can i entertain people... Red Dragon was awesome , The first 2 Rush Hours were funny and had action and i dont blame him for X-3 , he was thrown into that way to late after The Superman Slayer Singer bailed , so if it was not the best of the 3 i cant blame him ...

(Reply to this)

bobdebicker writes:
on Aug 06 2007 10:30 AM

he's not THAT bad. x3 sucked but i really love the rush hour films and red dragon.

(Reply to this)

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