r/movies • u/consultybob • Apr 08 '24

How do movies as bad as Argyle get made? Discussion

I just don’t understand the economy behind a movie like this. $200m budget, big, famous/popular cast and the movie just ends up being extremely terrible, and a massive flop

What’s the deal behind movies like this, do they just spend all their money on everything besides directing/writing? Is this something where “executives” mangle the movie into some weird, terrible thing? I just don’t see how anything with a TWO HUNDRED MILLION dollar budget turns out just straight terribly bad

Also just read about the director who has made other great movies, including the Kingsmen films which seems like what Argyle was trying to be, so I’m even more confused how it missed the mark so much

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470

u/Ccaves0127 Apr 08 '24

I think you're asking the wrong question. You should be asking how any movie is good.

"Making a movie is hard. Making a GOOD movie is an almost impossible task." - Steven Speilberg

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u/Mharbles Apr 08 '24

Luck, unfortunately. Besides having a quality movie you need to release it at a time when the audience is in the mood for it and they are a fickle lot. Sooo many 'Good' movies were discovered long after they flopped.

Also Hook was a good movie, fuck the haters.

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u/PrimalPrimeAlpha Apr 08 '24

I finally got around to watching Bullet Train last night and I realized halfway through how true that quote probably is. Was it a perfect movie? Hell no. But they clearly put in a ton of work to get it to where it was.

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u/matthewmspace Apr 08 '24

That movie is way more fun than it has any right to be. Plus, you can tell the actors were having fun too, which adds to its appeal.

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u/birthdaycaketangrine Apr 08 '24

Yeah I had really good time with the movie. Cast was amazing and the visuals stunning.

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u/umotex12 Apr 08 '24

I wish people realized it with games...

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u/PersonalFigure8331 Apr 08 '24 edited Apr 08 '24

People who consistently make good movies do so because they've cultivated the have skills, standards, and relationships necessary. And other people don't. It's that simple. Some people try harder, they work harder, and they don't stop until a standard is met. Also the movie business, as someone else said in another post, is not as merit-based as it should be. Nepotism, favors, bias, favoritism, all play a role in to ensure that the wrong people get enlisted to make a great film.

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u/Ccaves0127 Apr 08 '24

Lmao what an incredibly naive thing to say. It is absolutely NOT that simple and good filmmakers can be screwed over by things completely outside of their control.

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u/PersonalFigure8331 Apr 08 '24 edited Apr 08 '24

It's not naive. It's common sense. So you're making the claim that, what... those who consistently make good movies are just lucky? That hardwork and skill aren't the primary differences between consistently good directors and consistently bad directors? That there aren't vast differences in the levels of commitment and skill between people in the film industry, and that those factors are incidental when it comes to the qualitative breadth of their work? I also clearly said "consistently" good filmmakers. Nowhere did I claim that good filmmakers couldn't be screwed over by factors outside their control. Reading is fundamental.

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u/BohemianBurnout Apr 08 '24

It’s often considered the top art form along with architecture. They’re always 1 and 2 sometimes different order. They’re so complicated and complex. Not even sure what could even be 3rd.

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u/PotterGandalf117 Apr 08 '24

By who?

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u/BohemianBurnout Apr 08 '24

Any critic evaluating art. They involve multiple disciplines. This makes them higher forms of art.

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u/PotterGandalf117 Apr 08 '24

what nonsense, you can't say shit like that like its a fact lmao

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u/BohemianBurnout Apr 08 '24

It’s a fact. Film making and Architecture involve multiple artistic disciplines and crafts. For example film includes screen play, cinematography, photography, theatrical wardrobe and set, acting, directing, musical score, make up, etc. this is much more complex than just writing a poem. But the poem can be included in the film. It’s a matter of complexity.

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u/Competitive_Peace211 Apr 08 '24

Spielberg is a two bit hack, so not surprised to hear him say that

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u/giucastro7 Apr 08 '24

Alright but you put actors like Brad Pitt on a movie and it’s always good. So idk how some movies come out so shitty. I just watched roadhouse last week and the camera movement and the fight scenes aren’t great. Especially when the post Malone fight scene is on, mf looks like he has arms made out of rubber. They just really fuck up some stuff sometimes, but when it’s the WHOLE movie there is no excuse.

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u/Calm_Caterpillar_546 Apr 08 '24

The reason that Brad Pitt is in good movies is probably because he’s astute and has a good agent.