Steven Spielberg is one of the wisest men in Hollywood and is known to give all kinds of advice to his peers, whether they are part of his films or not. After all, there is no one who wouldn’t want to get advice from someone who has such a wealth of knowledge. However, John Carpenter has one notable Steven Spielberg movie, which he claimed was pretentious.
Steven Spielberg has been a part of many iconic franchises over the years, as he has been responsible for films such as the Jurassic Park franchise, Indiana Jones film series, Saving Private Ryan and many other films. That is why his opinion carries a lot of weight when it comes to anything related to films, but that doesn’t mean all of his films are equally well-received.
John Carpenter Dubbed A Popular Steven Spielberg Film ‘Pretentious’
In a 1979 interview, John Carpenter reflected on the recently concluded decade and delved into Steven Spielberg’s filmography, acknowledging the classics such as Sugarland Express, Jaws, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind—the latter being Spielberg’s initial venture into alien-themed movies. Despite Carpenter’s deep appreciation for science fiction, he expressed a strong aversion to Close Encounters, dismissing it as a “pretentious piece of cinema.”
“I didn’t care for it. It was pretentious, and I think it got out of control. I believe he lost control of it. There were parts of it that were not well done; it didn’t have a single purpose and went off in several directions.”
”One of the things I admire about a great work is that even if it’s flawed that the director is completely in control of it, he directs the film or tells the story with a great deal of authority and I felt that that wasn’t there in Close Encounters.”
Crafted by Steven Spielberg, the sci-fi film tells the tale of an electric lineman whose ordinary existence takes a dramatic turn after encountering an extraterrestrial being, profoundly altering his perception of the world. The movie not only secured an Academy Award for ‘Best Cinematography’ but also earned Spielberg a ‘Best Director’ nomination. The stellar cast included Richard Dreyfuss, Melinda Dillon, and François Truffaut.
While John Carpenter expressed his discontent with Close Encounters, it’s essential to note that he does not harbor a blanket dislike for Spielberg’s body of work. In fact, at the outset of the interview, Carpenter praised Spielberg’s monster movie, Jaws.
Steven Spielberg Deemed The Dark Knight Oscar Worthy
In a 2015 interview with The New York Times, Steven Spielberg openly conveyed his admiration for Christopher Nolan and his cinematic prowess. Spielberg specifically lauded Nolan’s directorial skills and filmmaking style, focusing on Nolan’s notable work on The Dark Knight. Spielberg praised Nolan for his adept management of the film’s darker elements and his insightful exploration of the character’s commitment to public service.
“Everything Chris Nolan has touched in Batman, because of the darkness, of what would motivate a character like that, a very rich character, to do the kind of public service work he does.”
In a recent interview with Deadline, Steven Spielberg reiterated his ongoing admiration for The Dark Knight. As movies like Avatar: The Way of Water and Top Gun: Maverick secured Best Picture nominations at the Academy Awards, Spielberg expressed encouragement, noting that such recognition was overdue for a film that should have been nominated years ago.
“I’m really encouraged by that. It came late for the film that should have been nominated a number of years ago, Christopher Nolan’s, The Dark Knight. That movie would have definitely garnered a Best Picture Nomination today.”
Spielberg was specifically referring to Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Spielberg asserted that The Dark Knight would have undoubtedly received a Best Picture nomination if it were considered today.
