For a film to be "rotten" on Rotten Tomatoes it has to have a score of under 60%. Even films that were at first critically reviled, but have aged like fine wine, have (for the most part) had their scores boosted above 60% by present-day reviews and reconsideration. Because of that, it was actually tough to find 10 “classic” movies which are still rotten. These are all still below 60%, but as time passes they will more than likely move towards that 60 percent fresh spot. For now, they belong on this list.
Read moreCritics Refusing to Admit Craig Zahler’s “Dragged Across Concrete” is An Achievement
Armond White’s review of Craig Zahler‘s “Dragged Across Concrete” is one of the few honest assessments of what Zahler has accomplished with his third feature-length film [via National Review]:
Read moreS. Craig Zahler's ‘Dragged Across Concrete' Is Avant-Garde Right-Wing Cinema [Review]
Bless writer-director S.Craig Zahler’s pulp heart for not conforming to what it supposed to be deemed acceptable in movies today. His first two movies “Bone Tomahwak” and “Brawl in Cell Block 99,” were non-conformist depictions of violence raised to the level of art. Casting conservative actors like Vince Vaughn, Mel Gibson and Kurt Russell in his films has irked people to no end; Zahler has been called every name in the book: A misogyniost, bigot, racist, sexist and, really, any terrible term deemed “alt-right” on Twitter. Sounds familiar? Quentin Tarantino had the same issues back in 1994 when his “Pulp Fiction” pushed the boundaries of distastefulness in cinema to create a landmark movie event. Zahler isn’t in the same league yet as QT, but his rebellious brand of avant-garde, right wing cinema is making a mark, whether people want to admit it or not.
Read moreImmediate backlash following announcement of Mel Gibson as "The Wild Bunch" director
Another Mel Gibson backlash has started. This week it was confirmed that Gibson was hired by the WB to remake the 1968 Sam Peckinpah-directed classic, "The Wild Bunch." I mentioned how Peckinpah, a well-known working alcoholic who pushes boundaries with his violent movies, and Gibson seemed to be a match made in heaven or is that hell? Regardless, a pushback has occurred, and it all started with a Sarah Silverman tweet reminding of Gibson's persistent history of antisemitism:
Read moreMel Gibson Writing and Directing ‘Wild Bunch’ Remake
Deadline has the exclusive that "Mel Gibson has been set by Warner Bros to direct "The Wild Bunch," a new version of the 1969 Sam Peckinpah-directed classic Western. Gibson is writing the script with Bryan Bagby. Gibson will be executive producer."
"Bloody Mel" is at it again. We all know that he never skimps out on the on-screen violence with his films as director ("Braveheart," "Passion of the Christ," "Apocalypto" and "Hacksaw Ridge"), having created some of the most violent imagery to date in modern cinema. He seems to revel in staging be-headings and grisly deaths. A madman indeed.
Read more