Robert Rodriguez: Genius or a Hack?

GageFX

GageFX

Carbonite Member
The thread on film vs digital spawned this topic. If it has been discussed before, it wasnt in a thread in the past year - about as far back as I'll research.

What made me start this was trying to express my own thoughts on the man. I saw Desperado before Mariachi - loved it.

Wanted more so I saw Roadracers. Hated it.

Four Rooms: Bored to tears.

Dusk to Dawn: Loved it. Like the first half more than the second. I think Grindhouse will be along the lines of the DtD1.

Faculty: Dont even remember. Dont know if that's good or bad.

Mariachi: What?

Spy Kids 1&2: Enjoyed them. Not so much 3.

Mexico: Shoot me. Make it stop.

Sin City: Amazing. Greatest movie or acting? No. Just amazing.

Looking forward to Grindhouse and future Sin Cities. Not as incrdible "cinema", but as great entertainment.

Read Rebel. Loved it. Greatly inspiring. But honestly, I've now watched Mariachi about 20 times, but nor because I like it - I'm mostly trying to see what the hubbub is about.

I envy his life. And by that, I mean his ability to do things himself, outside the city. I've live in L.A. my whole life and wouldn't want to leave, but I dream of working outside the city as a structure - even if I dont physically leave. His production facilites are great. I think he's talented.

All that said, while I admire him, deep down I think him a hack.

What are your thoughts? Still trying to sort mine out.

-GageFX
 
The Faculty is one of my favorite movies of his. It's totally ductaped and fun. I will never delete it from my DVR. On the idea of him being a hack? I can't say yay or nay as an audience member and a [half-assed] critic. I can say that I agree with you on how he's got it made, being able to do what he wants outside of the city and the system.

I mean, he got to produce Once Upon a Time, and he barely took time to perfect the script. For me, the script is what it's all about and probably one of the only ways I'll get a big chance would be to stick it to a great script with high-concept that's totally feasable on a low-budget scale.

This guy just writes in what, three weeks? Then shoots! Star power and everything. Call him a hack, but he's successful.
 
i think he has balls to do wha the does without getting bent over by the studios. From what i understand, hes not well liked in hollywood, due to the fact that he pretty much takes everyoens jobs.... as silly as that may sound.
He does his own shooting, editing, sound, catering(thats a joke), and whatever else he does and that takes jobs away from union members.
somone correct me if i'm wrong..thanks
 
Very inspirational. Not a very good filmmaker, though. I'm not interested in the least with his "kids" movies and the only movie he's made that I was IMPRESSED with is Sin City. I am looking forward to Grindhouse, but that's more for Tarantino that Rodriguez. I'm afraid that Rodriguez has been somewhat static. Hopefully, Sin City and Grindhouse (if his enty turns out to be good) will usher in a new wave of better movies from him. It's a little disappointing that he's doing so many more Sin City's and not trying to stretch and grow, though. His 10 Minute Film School sections on the DVDs are worth the purchase price, though.

On balance...hack with hope. :beer:
 
All the way up until the first Spy Kids I'd say genius. I mean, he did what all of us want to do - get tons of money to quit our day jobs and go full time at fillmaking. And he did it in a big way (had studios bidding against each other) in a way that hadn't really been done before. Then he did the hardest part, transitioning into making successful Hollywood movies but still doing it on his terms and in his own style. But, since the first Spy Kids I'd say he's dwindling more into a hack. I mean, why is going on DVD special features bragging about how much money he saved Mexico or Spy Kids? For goodness sakes, I wish he'd mature into more of a Peter Jackson/James Cameron. You could never get LOTR from Rodriguez because he'd be too busy trying to figure out how to get the Hobbitton set to double for the Mordor set.
 
i think he has balls to do wha the does without getting bent over by the studios. From what i understand, hes not well liked in hollywood, due to the fact that he pretty much takes everyoens jobs.... as silly as that may sound.
He does his own shooting, editing, sound, catering(thats a joke), and whatever else he does and that takes jobs away from union members.
somone correct me if i'm wrong..thanks
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Ha ha ha, funny you mentioned that. I once heard that he tried taking someones steadi cam job(I think) and he got busted(or did he?). Well I forget whether he got in trouble or not, but the steadi-operator got really pissed.
 
He's a brilliant filmmaker in the sense that he makes stuff that is cheap and makes money. He's also my biggest inspiration in filmmaking, and for that I am grateful!

For the record, I truly enjoy: Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids 1, 2, Sharkboy and Lavagirl, and Dusk to Dawn.

Not a fan of Desperado.

Haven't seen Sin City.
 
shawneous said:
I wish he'd mature into more of a Peter Jackson/James Cameron. You could never get LOTR from Rodriguez because he'd be too busy trying to figure out how to get the Hobbitton set to double for the Mordor set.
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Exactly. :beer:
 
Rodriguez seems to have made it his speciality to make 100mil movies for 30-40mil. Gaa! I'd love to see him make a 300mil EPIC for 100mil.

EDIT: even his 30 mil movies I'm convinced he pockets half the budget, judging by watching his special features
 
You are grateful he is your biggest inspiration? Er?

I long to give Hollywood the giganto finger. Also, I dont know if I long to be a successful hack. Maybe. I dont think so, though.

Also, I admire his ability, desire, and excitement to keep costs low. While I may enjoy Cameron - not so much Jackson - I dont admire the throw money at it mentality. Although I wouldn't mind being able to throw money at it when necessary.

Great thoughts guys. please keep em coming. Jury's still out.

-GageFX

(So...uh.... how 'bout the over-moderation in these boards? Is everyone aware how quickly harmless threads start then get deleted around here at the whim of moderators that just aren't interested in the topics? What say you?)

Yes. I am expecting this thread to get deleted or at least this post. Do your worst.
 
GageFX said:
(So...uh.... how 'bout the over-moderation in these boards? Is everyone aware how quickly harmless threads start then get deleted around here at the whim of moderators that just aren't interested in the topics? What say you?)

Yes. I am expecting this thread to get deleted or at least this post. Do your worst.
Click to expand...

heehee... just be civil and the mods will treat you right my friend. :beer:
 
tommyinla said:
I'm thinking if Sin City were to play on TV where parts are censored out, Brandon'd be all over it...
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Maybe... I don't know, for some reason it's never appealed to me... Grindhouse on the other hand looks wicked awesome!
 
Yo Brandon, on a side not, I PM'd you a couple days ago about meeting up. If you read this, please PM me. Thanks.

Sorry Gage, I didn't mean to jack yo' thread bra' but I just couldn't take it anymore...BRANDON!!!!!!!!
 
Rodriguez - not a genius.

Innovator maybe, but genius no. I sort of feel if we put him on that pedastel we'd be having to say a lot of directors were geniuses.

Inspirator - definitely!

He cannot be considered a hack because he does everything on his own terms - sure that may mean deciding to make a sequel to Desperado without a real script and shoot it under an unreasonable time constraint to get it shot before a strike, but that also means collaborating with Frank Miller to get a pretty spot on recreation of Sin City.

None of his movies have had an effect on me like some directors films can, but he constantly does what he wants, pretty well when he wants, and has built up a career thats gotten to the point where if he wanted he could make films all on his own for the rest of his life.
 
That wasn't political. I think it was personal. So I deleted it. Self moderation works. This other system....

Robert... Start your own D@mn thread. Oh...wait. I guess your name is on it. Carry on.

-GageFX
 
GageFX said:
That wasn't political. I think it was personal. So I deleted it. Self moderation works. This other system....

Robert... Start your own D@mn thread. Oh...wait. I guess your name is on it. Carry on.

-GageFX
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I hear ya, man!
 
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