You nailed it with Content, an ocean of content. Netflix's policy for yrs has been throw stuff against the wall and see what sticks. Countless awful series, some just bad ideas, and some with actors who looked bewildered as to what was going on, and some like The Witcher just deteriorated into weird woke soap operas. The red lighting of projects has to be the issue, balancing strong artfully made projects with family friendly throwaway content.
this was very interesting to read yet went nowhere. so is netflix bad because they don't invest in authorship, only presentability? is it the lack of media event? is it the chronic overuse of the medium that devaluates its emotional heights?
So I guess the answer to why Electric State is so bad comes down to: Netflix hired a lousy director? I actually wish they would court better screenwriters because imho that's where they're really falling flat. Friends who saw Electric State didn't complain about the acting or direction, they told me the plot was a mess and the dialogue was cliched. Maybe if Netflix started with a solid foundation of good writing they'd have better rating scores? But of course, that can be said of the theatrical film world as well. Writers never get their due, the studios just want famous actors and a director with a track record, and they think that's enough. It all starts with someone at a keyboard getting their ideas across. If you hire a mediocre writer and force them to do endless rewrites to satisfy some algorithm, you just end up with a tepid, confusing mess no matter how famous the cast is.
You nailed it with Content, an ocean of content. Netflix's policy for yrs has been throw stuff against the wall and see what sticks. Countless awful series, some just bad ideas, and some with actors who looked bewildered as to what was going on, and some like The Witcher just deteriorated into weird woke soap operas. The red lighting of projects has to be the issue, balancing strong artfully made projects with family friendly throwaway content.
this was very interesting to read yet went nowhere. so is netflix bad because they don't invest in authorship, only presentability? is it the lack of media event? is it the chronic overuse of the medium that devaluates its emotional heights?
Good article!
What about the series? Seems like Netflix is better in that direction.
Maybe it is just me, but I see more TV series than films. At least the format seems good right now.
You can clearly tell a story within 5-6 episodes, cover more subplots, and show all main characters.
So I guess the answer to why Electric State is so bad comes down to: Netflix hired a lousy director? I actually wish they would court better screenwriters because imho that's where they're really falling flat. Friends who saw Electric State didn't complain about the acting or direction, they told me the plot was a mess and the dialogue was cliched. Maybe if Netflix started with a solid foundation of good writing they'd have better rating scores? But of course, that can be said of the theatrical film world as well. Writers never get their due, the studios just want famous actors and a director with a track record, and they think that's enough. It all starts with someone at a keyboard getting their ideas across. If you hire a mediocre writer and force them to do endless rewrites to satisfy some algorithm, you just end up with a tepid, confusing mess no matter how famous the cast is.
I’ve been asking this question every time I see a new high-gloss film being released that I instinctively know will be rubbish.
Thank you for the deep dive, it all makes sense. You’ve renewed my faith in Hollywood and the respect that serious filmmakers have for their craft.
It's wild to read this with Demon Hunters being so much of a success it got its own theatrical release.
Great read. Thanks for the deep dive on this one