Yesterday, The Guardian ran an article under the headline William Friedkin criticises superhero movies. In the piece, Friedkin is quoted as saying "Films used to be rooted in gravity. They were about real people doing real things. Today, cinema in America is all about Batman, Superman, Iron Man, Avengers, the Hunger Games: all kinds of stuff that I have no interest in seeing at all."
The article opens with the following line - "William Friedkin has launched an attack on Hollywood blockbusters, claiming the constant stream of superhero movies is killing the artform." As fans of American cinema, we were disappointed to see one of its finest directors dismiss it in such a manner. After all, superhero movies account for a miniscule fraction of the output of American cinema, which in our opinion is currently undergoing a renaissance in the field of indie filmmaking.
The article opens with the following line - "William Friedkin has launched an attack on Hollywood blockbusters, claiming the constant stream of superhero movies is killing the artform." As fans of American cinema, we were disappointed to see one of its finest directors dismiss it in such a manner. After all, superhero movies account for a miniscule fraction of the output of American cinema, which in our opinion is currently undergoing a renaissance in the field of indie filmmaking.
But then Friedkin contacted us to clarify the piece, claiming he was misquoted. "I never said superhero movies are ruining cinema, nor do I believe it. It's a bullshit quote. I don't disparage films," he told us. "Like everyone else, I have my own preferences, but these false quotes that have appeared are probably wishful thinking."
@themoviewaffler I never said superhero movies are ruining cinema, Nor do I believe it. It's a bullshit quote. I don't Disparage films....
— William Friedkin (@WilliamFriedkin) June 17, 2015
"There's a difference between saying I have no personal interest in these films to 'They're ruining cinema'," he went on to tell us. "It's not the quotes, it's the headline, in which they've made up a quote. I never said anything is 'ruining Cinema'."
@themoviewaffler It's not the quotes, it's the headline in which they've Made up a quote. I never said ANYTHING is "ruining Cinema."
— William Friedkin (@WilliamFriedkin) June 17, 2015
It would seem Friedkin is the latest victim of clickbait, in which the nuance of an article is reduced to a sensational, attention grabbing headline. Once the practice of tabloids, it now seems even venerable publications like The Guardian are adopting such reductive methods.
"By the way, I did no interviews with The Guardian or Daily Mail. Haven't for years," Friedkin clarified.
@themoviewaffler
By the way, I did no interviews with the Guardian or
Daily Mail. Haven't for years.
— William Friedkin (@WilliamFriedkin) June 17, 2015