Unfortunately, it seems like people, even in the industry, frequently pick the wrong targets to direct their ire. This is especially the case with The MCU, which has gotten lots of pushback lately. Be it James Cameron or Martin Scorsese, it can never catch a break. And now, thanks to Stephen Dorff, it’s happened again. Go figure!
In a recent interview, Dorff criticized The MCU for being subpar. To quote Dorff:
“I still hunt out the good shit because I don’t want to be in Black Widow…It looks like garbage to me. It looks like a bad video game. I’m embarrassed for those people. I’m embarrassed for Scarlett! I’m sure she got paid five, seven million bucks, but I’m embarrassed for her. I don’t want to be in those movies. I really don’t. I’ll find that kid director that’s gonna be the next [Stanley] Kubrick and I’ll act for him instead.”
Hmm…So I’m not accused of being unfair, most of what Dorff’s criticizing isn’t a problem. Not wanting to be in Black Widow, or any MCU property, is a sentiment many people in Hollywood have. Additionally, wanting true game-changers, whatever that means, is understandable in an industry increasingly becoming homogenized. And the video game criticism, while weird, is one I can see, even though there are other movies more guilty of that. Basically, I’ll give Dorff the benefit of the doubt.
That said, I don’t think he’s being entirely fair. Therefore, I’m going to prod and explain why I don’t agree with him. See, The MCU’s a product. And like every product, it, in theory, caters to a certain market. In this case, that happens to be comic book, superhero and action fans. The franchisees know this.
The MCU’s also incredibly-successful. So successful, in fact, that The Avengers: Endgame temporarily held the record for being the highest-grossing film ever. The executives at Disney, who own the brand, know what they’re doing. Factor in that most of the films are critically-successful, and they have no reason to stop making them. I’m not kidding about the latter part.
I really think that Dorff’s being unfair here. It’s one issue if the films were universally panned, because they’d be taking up unnecessary head space. It’d be another if audiences didn’t like them, because they’d be a waste of time. But when the films are adored by audiences and critics, it seems like Dorff’s jealous. And that’s not a good look.
The MCU’s also incredibly-successful. So successful, in fact, that The Avengers: Endgame temporarily held the record for being the highest-grossing film ever. The executives at Disney, who own the brand, know what they’re doing. Factor in that most of the films are critically-successful, and they have no reason to stop making them. I’m not kidding about the latter part.
I really think that Dorff’s being unfair here. It’s one issue if the films were universally panned, because they’d be taking up unnecessary head space. It’d be another if audiences didn’t like them, because they’d be a waste of time. But when the films are adored by audiences and critics, it seems like Dorff’s jealous. And that’s not a good look.
It’s especially not a good look given Dorff’s resume. In case you to forgot, Dorff was in a Marvel property in the late-90’s. He was in Blade. Sure, it wasn’t The MCU, but I think that works against it. Because the Blade films, while loved by some fans, weren’t critically-praised. They were actually panned, and their box-office returns were modest. It seems like Dorff might be compensating for that. It’s also hypocritical.
I actually consider Dorff’s remarks to be insensitive. Scarlett Johansson doesn’t mind playing Black Widow, or she’d have left the role a decade ago. Besides, the role pays well. Most MCU roles do. And in an industry where money speaks, why would she pass that up? It doesn’t make sense.
Dorff should really know this, too. He’s been acting for decades. And given that acting’s a job, and Hollywood’s an employer, he should recognize that jobs pay bills. You can argue that Hollywood salaries are too high, but acting’s still a job. And sometimes that means taking parts you don’t love.
I actually consider Dorff’s remarks to be insensitive. Scarlett Johansson doesn’t mind playing Black Widow, or she’d have left the role a decade ago. Besides, the role pays well. Most MCU roles do. And in an industry where money speaks, why would she pass that up? It doesn’t make sense.
Dorff should really know this, too. He’s been acting for decades. And given that acting’s a job, and Hollywood’s an employer, he should recognize that jobs pay bills. You can argue that Hollywood salaries are too high, but acting’s still a job. And sometimes that means taking parts you don’t love.
I’m also miffed because, as with many critiques of The MCU, Dorff’s complaints ring hollow and petty. There are legitimate reasons to critique the franchise: outside of how it’s run, The MCU often comes across as imperial propaganda. It also is littered with casual racism and sexism, and has yet to openly have a queer character. Not to mention, many of the films have runtime bloat. But when the criticism doesn’t take any of the above into account, I wonder if it’s in good-faith.
Perhaps this is a waste of time. Stephen Dorff, apparently, hasn’t had much to his credits in recent years, and this feels like a shameless attempt at trying to stay relevant. But while he’s entitled to his opinion, he’s retreading a lot of the bad-faith attacks that so many detractors use. It’s not honest, essentially. And because it’s not honest, I can’t let it go.
Look, The MCU will eventually fail. It’s run by people, and people are flawed and limited. Sooner or later, be it lack of vision or audience boredom, the franchise will cease to resonate. But that hasn’t happened yet. And as long as it’s not happening, I think it’s safe to enjoy what it offers, even if it’s not to everyone’s liking.
Perhaps this is a waste of time. Stephen Dorff, apparently, hasn’t had much to his credits in recent years, and this feels like a shameless attempt at trying to stay relevant. But while he’s entitled to his opinion, he’s retreading a lot of the bad-faith attacks that so many detractors use. It’s not honest, essentially. And because it’s not honest, I can’t let it go.
Look, The MCU will eventually fail. It’s run by people, and people are flawed and limited. Sooner or later, be it lack of vision or audience boredom, the franchise will cease to resonate. But that hasn’t happened yet. And as long as it’s not happening, I think it’s safe to enjoy what it offers, even if it’s not to everyone’s liking.
So yes, this was me saying that I disagree with Stephen Dorff. Make what you will of that.
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