Steven Spielberg and James Cameron are two of the successful directors with massive hits. Cameron established his position in the industry with movies like The Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss, and Avatar films.
Meanwhile, Spielberg, through his timeless classics like Schindler’s List and Raiders of the Lost Ark, turned himself into an expert in his field. Not many filmmakers, actors, or movie fans criticize Spielberg and Cameron because they are the ones who shaped contemporary cinema.
But both the directors fell into the trap of a disgruntled director’s criticism. It’s when the director expressed strong criticism against Cameron, and Spielberg became an unintended target.
Jacques Rivette’s Attack on James Cameron Hits Steven Spielberg as Well
There’s one person, Jacques Rivette, who really seemed to hate Steven Spielberg despite having never worked with Spielberg. The director behind movies like The Gang of Four and La Belle Noiseuse expressed his dislike for Spielberg during an interview with Senses of Cinema back in 2001. His criticism came while speaking about the 1997 blockbuster Titanic director James Cameron. Rivette said:
“I agree completely with what Jean-Luc [Godard] said…It’s garbage. Cameron isn’t evil, he’s not an a**hole like Spielberg. He wants to be the new [Cecil] De Mille. Unfortunately, he can’t direct his way out of a paper bag”.
The French filmmaker continued by adding his unsavory comments about Titanic:
“On top of which, the actress is awful, unwatchable, the most slovenly girl to appear on the screen in a long, long time. That’s why it’s been such a success with young girls, especially inhibited, slightly plump American girls who see the film over and over as if they were on a pilgrimage: they recognize themselves in her, and dream of falling into the arms of the gorgeous Leonardo”.
It’s unclear why Rivette called Spielberg an “a**hole,” and his comments on both Spielberg and Cameron appear unfounded. But it didn’t affect the directors. And there are no comments from Spielberg and Cameron on this. Despite this, both directors have a great bond in reality, and they also have a “secret film club.”
Steven Spielberg and James Cameron’s Rare Hollywood Friendship
James Cameron and Steven Spielberg’s genuine friendship in this cut-throat entertainment industry is very rare. These acclaimed filmmakers not only share a personal bond but also collaborate by providing feedback on each other’s films.
In an interview with CinemaBlend, Avatar sequel stars Jamie Flatters and Bailey Bass disclosed the close friendship and “secret film club” shared by James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, and Guillermo del Toro. The young actor teased:
“I know nothing about that, but I know [Guillermo del Toro], Jim, and Spielberg all have a secret film club. […] They’re friends. They visit the set and they talk about creative ideas and yeah. So as long as those guys are happy with the film, that’s amazing … As long as Jim’s happy with it.”
With many directors looking out for their own careers (and dissing other directors like Rivette did), it’s refreshing to see that these directors are genuinely nice to each other.
