David Fincher is one of the most respected directors in Hollywood. Not only has he worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, but his films have also had a cultural impact to a degree that is extremely difficult to achieve. From making polar opposite films like Gone Girl and Fight Club to psychological works of art like Zodiac, Se7en, and The Social Network, there is no story he cannot tell through the lens of a camera.
The filmmaker made a shift to streaming platforms, making content that is exclusive for Netflix, with the most recent example being that of The Killer. While he wasn’t the first to take this decision, it has become a controversial one among those who hold deep respect and adoration for the cinematic experience in a theater.
So much so, that it has prompted many, who are more traditional in their beliefs of how films should be released, to publically criticize people who work with streaming services. The most recent example of this is Thierry Fremaux, a Cannes Director, who condemned Fincher’s decision to release his works on Netflix.
David Fincher Is No Longer Cannes-Worthy According To Thierry Fremaux
Ever since David Fincher shifted the release of his films from the cinema to Netflix, there have been many to criticize the loss of one of the best and most respected filmmakers from the theatre. Thierry Fremaux, best known for being a Cannes Director, spoke candidly on this very subject at the Goteborg Film Festival, via Deadline. He started by saying that he has great respect for the Gone Girl filmmaker, but the way the French director looks at him and thinks of him, has since changed.
“[Fincher’s] still a great filmmaker,” Fremaux said. “But he doesn’t exist at the same level in our hearts and minds as in the past.”
He elaborated on this, stating that after Fincher decided to walk away from the cinemas and focus on releasing his works on online platforms, The Cannes Film Festival could not help but look at him differently. The respect and high regard that he was given, was knocked down to some extent, according to Fremaux.
It would seem that Fincher’s decision, which does not have an impact on his filmmaking, has made him lose some degree of respect in the eyes of Cannes.
David Fincher’s Works Are Missed By Cannes Film Festival
Thierry Fremaux also talked about how David Fincher now prefers working alone and quietly, when making his films. He claimed that working with streaming platforms like Netflix is a completely different world compared to making movies for the theatre. The Cannes Director, however, went on to speak more fondly of the filmmaker, stating that the organization misses having him be a part of their events.
“He wants to work alone, quietly, making his films for platforms. It’s a different world. We miss him. We want him back in our world.”
Despite saying that Fincher had lost a degree of respect in their eyes, Fremaux stated that there was still an opportunity for him to come back. If the Gone Girl director goes back to releasing movies in theatres, he could, again, be taken back into the world of the Cannes Film Festival.
