Film Critic Insults Award-Winning Actors, Makes Annette Bening Cry
New York Press film critic Armond White isn't exactly beloved in Hollywood -- in fact, he's quite the opposite -- and things
came to a head last night during the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, with 'Black Swan' director Darren Aronofsky chastising White from the stage and a teary-eyed Annette Bening pleading for everyone to "just get along."
According to the
Village Voice, things were tense from the get-go after White, chairman of the Critics Circle, brought Aronofsky onstage to present an award to his 'Swan' cinematographer, Matthew Libatique. In an obvious wink to White's negative 'Swan' review, the director said, "Keep it up, because you give us all another reason not to read New York Press."
"Aronofsky was saying this stuff with a smile,"
Gawker reports. "He was riffing." White, however, wasn't laughing, and took his next turn at the mic to stir the pot, saying, "That's all right. Darren reads me. That's all I want. And because he reads me, he knows the truth."
White is notorious for, well, being deliberately antagonistic. Gawker perhaps puts it best: "[White] is a
very angry critic who feels
very passionately about movies and tends to hate what everyone else likes and like what everyone else hates." To wit: White wrote a favorable review of Jonah Hex, last summer's 80-minute debacle currently ranked 13 percent fresh on
RottenTomatoes, and he gave 'Toy Story 3,' 2010's
best-reviewed film at 99 percent, one of only three negative reviews.
The atmosphere at last night's event appears to have been volatile, to say the least. "Armond broke the bank on insulting award winners he didn't agree with," an attendee told Gawker.
When 'Blue Valentine' actress
Michelle Williams was presented with a prize, White introduced her by praising her performance in the 2004 film 'Land of Plenty,' leading the Oscar-nominated actress (for 'Brokeback Mountain') to say, "I made that movie almost 10 years ago. I can't imagine what you've said about me since then if you had to go back that far to say something nice."
Later, when White brought 'Angels in America' playwright Tony Kushner to the stage to award director David Fincher's universally acclaimed 'The Social Network' with the Best Picture prize, he said, "Maybe he can explain why it won best picture."
White also made sure to thank his peers for not awarding any honors to director Noah Baumbach's well-reviewed indie hit 'Greenberg.' Baumbach's continued success has long been a thorn in the critic's side; in his review of Baumbach's 1997 film 'Mr. Jealousy,' White said the director's mother should have had a "
retroactive abortion." How tasteful and professional of him.
The tone of the evening, however, was apparently set in stone when Annette Bening took to the stage to accept the Best Actress prize for her turn in 'The Kids Are Alright.' "Bening, tearfully, came close to lecturing critics for being mean little s**ts," an attendee told
Gawker, while another reported, "She said something like, 'Can't we all just get along?'"
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I'll bet White's mouth got him frequent beatdowns as a kid, and now he's finally found a niche where he can unlearn that lesson. Too bad for all of us.
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I had been thinking...So who voted the most "Nasty critic" to be chairman of the critics
circle? The other critics don't seem to praise him either.And I have never heard of him!
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A whole lot of player hating going on.
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Somebody actually cares about what's in the NY Press?
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These people are ALL monuments to self-indulgence and unchecked egos. They don't seem to realize that what they do is of little consequence in this universe when countries are at war, psychos are killing politicians at random, and economies are crumbling.
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Not true. Films have a place in our society and are just as valuable as anything. Sounds like a lot of disguised jealousy to me. I have often gone to the movies to take my mind off my problems and the problems of the world. A good movie can put everything in prospective and give us a break from cares and worries. Of course you are going to find those who are just along for the ride, taking up space , but that is in everything.
Personally I don't give a rat's azz what critics think anyway! If a film appeals to me..I see it, if not I skip it. Simple. Next!
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There was one thing said that I did agree with....can someone please explain why 'The Social Network' is the movie of the year? I saw it and I did like it, thought it was a good movie, but didn't leave the theater feeling like it was the best movie I had seen all year.
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If the actors don't like what the critics say, then ignore the critics for God's sake!
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Having grown up in the movie theater business, I've never taken most critics too seriously. Everyone is entitled to his opinion, however; Armond is just plain NASTY. That's his stchick. As for Ms. Bening, she's a decent actress-no Helen Mirren but she's in a very tough business. Nobody likes a crybaby.
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It makes no difference what anyone thinks or says about them, they still get paid. They are still rich. I speak of the Hollywood crowd.
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we don't need critics. we know what we like.
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Oh No, the Actors must be crying all the way to the bank! Who is White? I never heard of him! I just don't have the time to EVER read critic's reviews with living a normal life and all. I get the buzz from the TV or friend. Knowing the plot helps me decide whether to see the film or not. White, or any other critic is ever involved in the decision. So dry your little eyes Actors and gather up those royalty checks and make your way to the bank. And that's "THE END"
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saw blck swan lst nite --it was confusing--needed explanations --made no sense--the director and producers had a great potential film--and they wrecked it--it was like the inmates took over the asylymn--acting and dancers were great--lead guy was good but miscast--confushion masquarading as art is a huge mistake--film needed a strongwer hand--a shame
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A catty gay film critic ? say it ain't so !
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Why does anyone really Care. It is so immaterial.
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They must all be democrats. That's the way they get along together.
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What is the New York Press? NHOI.
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Does anyone really listen to these people? Film critics are like the bottom of the barrel.No talent morons.They are no better than the people they write about.
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Armond White is a narsasistic, egomaniac who takes himself way too seriously, as though any of his thoughts and critiques mean anything to anyone but him! He is a joke and nobody cares what this A--HOLE says about anything or anyone!! I can't believe he still has a job! White is an arrogant idiot and needs to just go away, back to the getto where he belongs!!! Good ridance!!!
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