May 02, 2006
Singer is the new Spielberg
Singer is the new Spielberg. Now granted, its impossible to make such formulaic statements about filmmakers, and I dont want to pigeonhole anybody. But for years, people have been trying to label somebody the "new Spielberg." This is because no other filmmaker has ever tapped into the American pop cultural consciousness as effectively as Spielberg. I really believe there is a generation of people within 5-10 years of my age who grew up on Spielberg movies and who look to repeat the experience of Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., or Jaws just about everytime they walk into a summer blockbuster hopeful.
Now granted, nobody, not even Singer, will ever be able to recreate the experience of going to see Raiders of the Lost Ark for the first time, because nobody can recreate the experience of living in 1981, before the internet information age kicked American consumptive behavior into maximum overdrive. We just cant be struck with awe and wonder anymore by a guy running away from a giant boulder. Those are a dime a dozen in modern movies.
But I think we can build on a tradition and make it better and not worse. Spielberg, and the generation of filmmakers who worked in his shadow (Richard Donner, the director of Superman: The Movie is an excellent example) helped to carve out a tradition of making big studio films that were important enough to justify the continued existence of a big studio system. The big money that was dumped into these films ultimately payed off, not just economically, but culturally, for these films created shared, cultural moments that have become authentic, historical time capsules.
I think Singer, above any other filmmaker working today, thrives as a kind of modern Spielberg. He has proven to work really well in the studio system, churning out quality directorial vision within the confines of big budget expectations and pressures.
He has also proven that he has a love for and a deep understanding of the immense historical context that American pop culture now swims in. This is somewhat reflected in his reverential nod to film noir in The Usual Suspects: the film that in my opinion should be most credited for reviving the genre in the nineties.
But Singer's respect for pop culture tradition is even more evidenced in his superb treatment of over 38 years of comic book history in his X-Men films. I am more and more amazed at the quality of his work in these films, at his attention to detail and the way he captured the essence of so many great characters. I think the quality of his work holds up more than most of the other summer films they have competed with, such as the Wachowskis' Matrix movies and Lucas' Star Wars prequels.
And now Singer has taken on the greatest American pop cultural icon of them all: Superman, the Man of Steel. And who better to direct a movie about an minority immigrant orphan than Bryan Singer, a gay Jewish orphan. I am quite happy that he was chosen to direct Superman. Let us not forget that this film was almost directed by McG, the director of Charlies Angels! McG wanted Beyonce Knowles to play Lois Lane! No Joke.
No, Singer was the perfect choice for this character. He was the perfect choice because he respects the character and the cultural history of the character. From what I understand, Singer is going to pay some serious homage to just about every major incarnation of Superman on film. Richard Donner's "Superman: The Movie" serves as the backstory for Singer's film, and Singer uses many of Donner's stylistic elements. Jack Larson and Noel Neill, who played Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane in the 1950's TV show "The Adventures of Superman" both make appearance in the new movie. There have also been rumors of small nods to "Smallville" the current Superman TV show. And of course, the comic books history will be referenced in multiple ways. And perhaps the most exciting move was Singer's decision to use John Williams' score from the original film. I believe this decision to incorporate so many elements of Superman lore into this new film is one that will prove to make the film rise above the average summer blockbuster.
And I think Bryan Singer's excellent ability at making new, exciting films that flow from the tradition of American pop cultural consciousness is going to make him a filmmaker who will provoke the kind of interest and expectation that Spielberg knew in his heyday.
Posted by todd at May 2, 2006 05:19 PM