Brian Cox Says Cinema Is In “a Very Bad Way”, Cites Marvel, ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’: “It’s Become Party Time”
Brian Cox Says Cinema Is In “a Very Bad Way”, Cites Marvel, ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’: “It’s Become Party Time”
Brian Cox thinks cinema is "in a bad way," with the Marvel and DC Universes partly to blame, he said at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Brian Cox thinks cinema is “in a very bad way,” with the Marvel and DC Universes partly to blame.
The legendary actor of stage and screen – who most recently garnered critical acclaim for his award-winning role in HBO’s Succession – spoke at an Edinburgh International Film Festival panel on Saturday. When asked about the recent successes of globally popular TV shows, Cox cited the latest MCU installment Deadpool & Wolverine as a great example of cinematic “party time”.
“What’s happened is that television is doing what cinema used to do,” Cox told the audience of television’s originality. “I think cinema is in a very bad way. I think it’s lost its place because of, partly, the grandiose element between Marvel, DC and all of that. And I think it’s beginning to implode, actually. You’re kind of losing the plot.”
He discussed Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman of Deadpool & Wolverine while referencing how films are “making a lot of money that’ll make everybody happy, but in terms of the work, it becomes diluted afterwards. You’re getting the same old… I mean, I’ve done those kind of [projects].”
Cox starred as William Stryker Jr. in X2: X-Men United (a military scientist who persuades Logan to become Wolverine), and admittedly said he “forgets” about the fact he “created” Wolverine. “Deadpool meets the guy… Wolverine, who I created, but I’ve forgotten. Actually,” he jokes, “When those films are on, there’s always a bit of me [as Stryker] and they never pay me any money.”
“So it’s just become a party time for certain actors to do this stuff,” Cox added. “When you know that Hugh Jackman can do a bit more, Ryan Reynolds… but it’s because they go down that road and it’s box office. They make a lot of money. You can’t knock it.”
Television is pulling ahead, he continued, with incredible shows like Jesse Armstrong’s Succession and Netflix’s Ripley, starring Andrew Scott. “There’s so many [shows] and you’ve got the honor of telling the story over a period of time.” The actor said movies of his childhood such as On the Waterfront are what made him want to “be the actor I’ve become,” but it’s partially eradicated.
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Old useless man yells at cloud
Career actor answers question with honest opinion about the industry he works in.
He literally said you cant knock it, it is money making. If you are going to debate the artistic integrity I will point you to D23 where they made the very business decision to revert back to the okd recipe people enjoyed of RDJ and the Russos.
You can enjoy the movies, but it is clear tentpoles have gotten bigger and pushed other genres and studios out of the cinema.
I am sure he didn't mind that X-Men 2 paycheck. Fucking hypocrisy
Yeah that movie he did 20+ years ago that was not related to what he was talking about until a few weeks ago.
It isnt hypocrisy, he isnt saying they shouldnt be made and the people that make them are bad. He is saying there isnt much room for anything else. This comment has some strong victim vibes going on, fact is this genre and cinema in general has leaned heavily into catering to the broadest audience as possible and it has taken more and more from the creatibe elements with each passing entry.
Even casting choices are less creative now because they have to cater to a broader corporate strategy.