“Saw films are below par.”
Brooklynite actor Michael Pitt has come a long way from starring on Dawson’s Creek, and in the current issue of Giant magazine he delivers, in context, some particularly vapid-funny-traditionally-hipster quotes about the Saw franchise, U.S. soldiers and people who won’t/don’t “get” the March remake of Funny Games.
On his film preferences…
“I don’t even know what Saw or Hostel are. Are they like Texas Chainsaw Massacre? I guess I’m drawn to things like Lawrence of Arabia.”
And then he adds…
“[Audiences that don't like Funny Games] can kiss my ass. I hope they do [get angry with] Funny Games. It challenges you. If you’re not up to the challenge, go see Saw.”
And not to get Fox News-y, but coming from Pitt, “one of the faces of Emporio Armani and a friend of author J.T. Leroy,” this quote equating being a soldier to regression is ridiculous…
“People think that, until you’ve killed someone or had someone shoot at you, you’re not a grown-up. Going to war isn’t growing up; it’s moving backwards.”
February 16th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
While I’m not a fan of the stuff he is making fun of. Someone in his place has no fucking room to mock any of these audiences.
Maybe he can make more music sounding exactly like “Kurt Cobain”? He always seemed like those “coffee house intellectuals” to me everytime I saw him in a film. I think this interview proves that.
Might as well start shooting down “color” over “black & white” buddy.
February 16th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Can I say sensationalist heading? He is not dissing anyone. In the last quote he is dissing war as primitive not the soldiers.
February 16th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
I don’t condone the SAW films, but listening to the elitist bullshit falling out of this twat’s mouth makes me understand them.
February 16th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I agree with him:
War is moving backwards.
I’m more drawn to things like lawrence of Arabia too.
Saw doesnt represent any big challenge to the audience, its easy to see.
I like when movies challenge me.
February 16th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Dont understand wheres the “elitist bullshit” or where he is “making fun of fans”
February 16th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Slow news day, nothing to see here.
February 16th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
like him already, cos Saw movies are really dumb and overrated
February 16th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Um, he’s right…
War IS moving backwards. How can anybody think the opposite? War does nothing but destroy entire regions, disintegrate societies into a shell of their former selves, and almost all soldiers are just mindless killing machines with no will of their own. To fight for a government and it’s supporting bankers is akin to volunteering your mind, body and soul into suicide. Their is no honor there, only deception.
February 16th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
and this is news because…
February 16th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Although I’m not a fan of the Saw series, why does he criticize those who will not like his film, as if it’s HIS film? It’s a shot-for-shot remake, man. That’s like me making, no that’s exactly like me making a translation of a book in spanish, and calling it “my” book.
February 16th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I agree with Pitt, fuck the troops.
February 16th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
I also agree with him. I’m more of a Lawrence of Arabia guy, the Saw franchise is simply commercial crap, and war IS moving backwards: you’re not evolving as a human being, you’re regressing.
February 16th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
uummm…….okay…
February 16th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
I agree with everything this guy said, don’t ever write a terrible article like this again.
February 16th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
even if he’s a bit of a douche, he’s mostly ‘right.’ he did do some good work in rhinoceros eyes, an indy canadian gem. look for it.
(i haven’t seen funny games. i will not kiss his ass if i hate it. so he is wrong there.)
February 17th, 2008 at 3:53 am
Ack, I misspelled “there”
Anyway, Hunter. Stop writing these stupid posts. Everything he said is what an intelligent person would say. You come off as an idiot with posts like these.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:20 am
I like his acting. I think he’s very talented and shows enormous promise.
I’d probably rip on him until he cried if I heard him waxing cocky like that at some hipster party.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:28 am
I like his acting. I think he’s very talented and shows enormous promise.
I’d probably rip on him until he cried if I heard him waxing cocky like that at some hipster party.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I can’t really comment on troops themselves, but, like everyone is saying, war IS moving back and I don’t see how it could be any other way. Especially pre-emptive war like now. Fighting is only justified if you are attacked, and to be honest no COUNTRY has attacked America since - well, I don’t know cause I’m Canadian lol. The war in Iraq is the equivalent of a swedish dude bombing shanghai and then two years later China launches a war on the US to stop it from happening again
February 17th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I have never heard of Michael Pitt until now, but I whole heartedly agree with him. It’s refreshing to see someone telling it like it is, and not just jumping on the band wagon and cashing in.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
This dude slams mediocrity in his taste in films. Too bad he doesn’t slam mediocrity in music. His band, Pagoda, is up there with Dogstar for worst band with a actor in it.
February 18th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
I don’t know if anyone’s seen the original “Funny Games,” but if the remake is as effective as the original (since its shot for shot, and filled with great actors, I don’t doubt it will be), then Pitt’s commens about it are right on the money. It does upset you and make you think about film-violence and all that other groovy stuff. It’s going to be interesting when it opens because they’re marketing it like a big horror movie, which it isn’t. Hopefully it will at least start a discussion.
February 19th, 2008 at 2:22 am
Well, he’s not actually dissing soldiers per say…He’s dissing war and he’s dissing people who’re excited to got to war and kill people…and he’s right
February 19th, 2008 at 9:51 am
He may be a flake but I agree with him.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
He might be a bit full of himself but he is no idiot.
I agree with him about that war is moving backwards, it really is.
I really like his movies and i just saw him in Funny games and it was brilliant. Who got upset? No europeans i can tell you that. It’s okey for american kids to grow up to be fat retards but its not allowed to make movies that makes you think and makes you feel a bit guilty that you watch people get killed or hurt for entertainment. Just think about Jackass the Movie. Thats entertainment for dumb people! Its great that some people have the courage to make different movies to start a dialouge. It takes a European to do that!