Hollywood and the title "genius".....

[ak]

Genius. Genius. Genius. Genius. Genius. Genius. Genius. Genius. Genius. Genius.

You sick of the word already? So am I.

The word/term - Whatever you want to call it, seems to be popping up more and more nowadays.
Seemingly, Empire film magazine calls someone a genius every month (Can you believe they used the G word in the same sentence as Hugh Grant one month?)

The Concise English Dictionary definition:

An extraordinary endowment of intellectual, imaginative, expressive, or inventive faculty; a person so endowed...

Now, this topic is not one in which I serve to list who I think is a genius in the film industry at the moment. I have a very short list, but do not wish to share it as it will lead to so much useless argument....It just isn't worth the bother.
Some people's presumptions about genius can be rather pompous, to an extent, so I wish to stear clear of that argument.

What I am merely stating is that the G word really is bandied about far too often for my liking.
There are several new directors working in Hollywood today (who shall remain nameless), who, it must be said, have crafted some highly original and clever films, that may be, on several levels - entertaining, thoughtful, deep, emotional, visually stunning, and so on....But, what bothers me is when people like this are instantly hailed with the G word.
Genius is usually persons who have truly changed a medium....one or two clever films is not, in my opinion, genius.
(Directors is an example.....There are other fields with many other genius', obviously)

There are only a handful of genius films from the last decade, created by some genius directors.

It's fine if the word is used in an off-the-kuff kind of way. I have friends that say "yeah, that guy, he's a genius".......Now that is almost a passive statement made by many. That doesn't bother me so much.

I'm asking you to discuss what you feel about it. List examples if you will, it's entirely up to you. I've steered clear for reasons already mentioned.

Do you think the word is over-used? Why?
When should someone truly deserve it?

Side note: Before anyone replies with a post saying "that's only a dictionary definition, I think I have the right to state who I think is a genius"......well, you do, so give an argument.....I just posted that dictionary quote to get some kind of real focus to the discussion.



[This message has been edited by ak (edited 08-27-2002).]

[Grebdron]

I'll throw in my argument for Steven Spielberg. I think he has changed his medium, for the better, and his films have enriched us all. While I am a fan of QT and Kevin Smith, I do think that "genius" is a bit much in describing them. They are gifted writers/directors, but genius is strong.

[Nate6]

I totally agree, Grebdron.

[electriclite]

They whore that word and "Brilliant" like a two dollar hooker.

[notchreturns]

It is my personal belief that the words genius, brillant, great, overrated, underrated, the greatest, and best are used way too often.

Calling a director a genius is like forgetting the hundreds of other people that help get the "genius" across. Don't get me wrong, there are a fair share amount of director's you can call a genius, but the word is used way too often and usually not enough thought is put into it.

Honestly, who should even decide who, or what genius is? Everyone has a diffrent opinion of what it is, or should be considered. Damn those words, damn them to hell!

[asyouwish530]

Really. The word is so overused by people now who have their own interpretation of it. It's sad that word has become so heavily relied upon in something as limited as the film industry. I've even heard Liam Neeson say that about George Lucas when asked if he thought Mr. Star Wars was one. "There are no geniuses in this industry. DaVinci, Van Gogh, those are the geniuses." He acted like there was no room for argument. Talent is one thing, but who is to say who's a "genius" and who isn't? Shit, it isn't enough that fucking everybody who happened to be fresh or clever at some point with whatever idea wants to be recognized or remembered as one. When Boogie Nights came out a few years ago I read in some horrible Hollywood craplication like US magazine, this comment made by Gwyneth Paltrow when asked about the film at it's premiere: "Pure unadulterated genius."

I thought the movie was cool, alright, but when hype about something so everyday has to be as pretentious as that statement...

[Ender]

Yes, it's overused, but what other term are you going to use in it's place? "Um, I think David Fincher is really neat."

[ak]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Ender:
Yes, it's overused, but what other term are you going to use in it's place? "Um, I think David Fincher is really neat."</font>

There are plenty of words to use instead of the G word.
And that's one of the main things that bugs me - It's as if no other words exist in the English language to describe a clever person.
I'd say David Fincher is a very clever director, but he is absolutely no genius.

As for Liam Neeson's comment - In my opinion, he is wrong to a degree......There have been quite a few genius' involved in the film industry.
Look at the criteria according to the dictionary. I agree with it, and I think there are a few who meet it.

There's no difficulty in deciding who's a genius in my opinion.....All you have to do is look at the facts.
We all know Einstein was a genius - He was completely creative, and revolutionised science and thoughts toward space and time.
There are people who have had the same effect on the film industry.

[edonline]

IMO, genius is one of those words that are best used in retrospect. The true test of a genius is that their work stands the test of time and that hardly anything comes after to surpass it. Like "classic" movies are ones that people remember and from which other filmmakers draw inspiration.