- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Defending Ron Howard
Posted on 10/3/13 at 11:10 am
Posted on 10/3/13 at 11:10 am
With the release of Rush and the high praise it has received, there’s been a recent uptick in Ron Howard think pieces. Here are two recent examples:
LINK /
LINK
Look, it’s cool to bag on Ron Howard. He is a technician and a “studio director”. He does make middlebrow films for suburban dads. But I AM a suburban dad, so he’s pretty much right in my wheelhouse. And while it’s pretty rare for someone to say Ron Howard is their favorite director, I rarely see someone say he’s terrible.
Look at his filmography:
LINK
That’s a solid list of singles and doubles. One of our big gripes with Hollywood is the blockbuster culture in which everyone swings for the fences but usually strikes out, then we turn around and criticize the guy who keeps turning out quality entertainments.
But what I like best about Ron Howard is this: the guy can tell a story. So many guys working today are so adept with deconstruction and symbolism and all that. But they can’t do something as simple as tell a friggin’ story. It’s such a basic, foundational skill that even some great directors lack (I love David Lynch, but that guy couldn’t tell a coherent story if his life depended on it). And at the end of the day, film is just another method of storytelling.
He is not re-inventing the wheel, he’s just one of the guys who realizes the wheel is a great f’n invention. And if you look at our highways, no one else has come up with a better wheel just yet.
Sure, he's not an "artist". He's a professional. It's probably why many of his best films deal with professional competency: The Paper, Apollo 13, Gung Ho, Backdraft, even Cinderella Man. The world needs artists... it needs professionals, too. We need stories to deconstruct.
LINK /
LINK
Look, it’s cool to bag on Ron Howard. He is a technician and a “studio director”. He does make middlebrow films for suburban dads. But I AM a suburban dad, so he’s pretty much right in my wheelhouse. And while it’s pretty rare for someone to say Ron Howard is their favorite director, I rarely see someone say he’s terrible.
Look at his filmography:
LINK
That’s a solid list of singles and doubles. One of our big gripes with Hollywood is the blockbuster culture in which everyone swings for the fences but usually strikes out, then we turn around and criticize the guy who keeps turning out quality entertainments.
But what I like best about Ron Howard is this: the guy can tell a story. So many guys working today are so adept with deconstruction and symbolism and all that. But they can’t do something as simple as tell a friggin’ story. It’s such a basic, foundational skill that even some great directors lack (I love David Lynch, but that guy couldn’t tell a coherent story if his life depended on it). And at the end of the day, film is just another method of storytelling.
He is not re-inventing the wheel, he’s just one of the guys who realizes the wheel is a great f’n invention. And if you look at our highways, no one else has come up with a better wheel just yet.
Sure, he's not an "artist". He's a professional. It's probably why many of his best films deal with professional competency: The Paper, Apollo 13, Gung Ho, Backdraft, even Cinderella Man. The world needs artists... it needs professionals, too. We need stories to deconstruct.
13
Posted on 10/3/13 at 11:15 am to Baloo
People don't like Ron Howard? 
Apollo 13 is one of my favorite movies of all time. I watched it probably 20-30 times when I was a little kid...watched it 15 years later and still enjoy it immensely.
Apollo 13 is one of my favorite movies of all time. I watched it probably 20-30 times when I was a little kid...watched it 15 years later and still enjoy it immensely.
Posted on 10/3/13 at 11:15 am to Baloo
To my knowledge I've never seen a bad Ron Howard film.
I thought Apollo 13 was full of "artistry" for lack of a better word.
Plus he pumps out great movies without needing to be gritty or edgy. Like you said, he just tells great stories.
I thought Apollo 13 was full of "artistry" for lack of a better word.
Plus he pumps out great movies without needing to be gritty or edgy. Like you said, he just tells great stories.
Posted on 10/3/13 at 11:16 am to Baloo
I said in a previous thread that I see him as a poor man's Spielberg, which is actually not a bad thing to be.
Posted on 10/3/13 at 11:20 am to Baloo
Splash and Parenthood
Posted on 10/3/13 at 11:21 am to Baloo
I think his reputation as an "artsy" director suffers a bit from the fact that he was so well known and important as a TV star. Big thinkers and "filmy" types have a harder time taking him seriously because their assessment starts from a place of Opie and Richie.
Posted on 10/3/13 at 11:58 am to Baloo
quote:
he just tells great stories
I love great stories made into movies when they are done well!
Posted on 10/3/13 at 12:43 pm to Baloo
Everybody loves little Opie Cunningham.
Posted on 10/3/13 at 2:03 pm to Baloo
quote:I wasn't aware that it was
Look, it’s cool to bag on Ron Howard
Posted on 10/3/13 at 2:12 pm to Baloo
quote:
But what I like best about Ron Howard is this: the guy can tell a story. So many guys working today are so adept with deconstruction and symbolism and all that. But they can’t do something as simple as tell a friggin’ story. It’s such a basic, foundational skill that even some great directors lack (I love David Lynch, but that guy couldn’t tell a coherent story if his life depended on it). And at the end of the day, film is just another method of storytelling.
So many people in the industry and even this board don't grasp this. They think guys like PTA or Malick are great directors, but they are painters more than anything. They create visually stunning pieces of cinema. And that's great and I can appreciate that, but a movie is, like you said, about telling a story. If what you are presenting to the audience is boring, disjointed, convoluted, or anything similar, you have probably failed as a director.
Ron Howard is the Stephen King of filmmaking. He has produced some really pretty great pieces, but he doesn't always blow your doors off. He's just solid. There is brilliance in his steadiness and consistency.
His movies have all the hallmarks of what makes good movies: rich characters, engaging plots, well thought out settings.
And then some of his movies have all the hallmarks of what makes great movies: deep meaning, an absorbing recreation of moments in time, symbolism and themes that resonate, cinematography that moves you.
Anyone that thinks Ron Howard isn't a good director, to me, doesn't understand what a good director is supposed to do.
Posted on 10/3/13 at 2:15 pm to Baloo
he has a long list of average movies with the occasional bright spot.
probably wont see rush. doesnt interest me in the slightest
probably wont see rush. doesnt interest me in the slightest
Posted on 10/3/13 at 5:16 pm to Baloo
quote:
Sure, he's not an "artist". He's a professional. It's probably why many of his best films deal with professional competency: The Paper, Apollo 13, Gung Ho, Backdraft, even Cinderella Man. The world needs artists... it needs professionals, too. We need stories to deconstruct.
Good way to put it. My only beef with Howard is that a lot of people do often equate him in some sense to an artist or a great director. That's just a small list for me and he's not on it.
But he's superb at what he does, and 90% of the time I enjoy his films.
Posted on 10/3/13 at 11:55 pm to Baloo
That filmography is a great list of movies that I would gladly rewarch, except Backdraft. shite. His worst movie. Not even close.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News