Hollywood faces stern criticism from Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan Criticizes Hollywood's Prioritization of Profits Over Artistry
At the 78th Locarno Film Festival, legendary action star Jackie Chan (71) expressed his concerns about the state of Hollywood filmmaking. In a candid conversation, Chan criticized major studios for prioritizing profits over artistry, stating that the industry is now dominated by "business guys" who focus on financial returns rather than filmmaking quality.
Chan highlighted that making a good movie today is a challenging task due to the large sums of money invested by studios, often amounting to $40 million. These investments, he argued, primarily concern how to recoup them, which restricts creative risks. This approach, he believes, leads to a decline in movie standards and makes the industry less artistically driven and more formulaic.
Comparing current films unfavorably with older movies, Chan expressed his belief that the older films were of better quality. His comments echoed his statement, "I think the old films were better than the ones they make now."
Chan's critique of Hollywood's business-oriented approach was reflective of a broader concern in the industry: that financial imperatives can stifle creativity and risk-taking, leading to safer, less innovative films. His comments drew attention to the tension between artistic ambition and commercial pressures shaping today’s major studio outputs.
In contrast to modern Hollywood, Chan highlighted the broader skill sets of artists in Asian cinema. Often, he suggested, Asian artists work as actor, director, stunt coordinator, and editor, adopting a more holistic approach to filmmaking. This contrast underscores his view that Hollywood’s business-driven focus has led to a decline in movie standards.
During the festival, Chan's early directorial works "Project A" and "Police Story" were screened. The films, which showcased Chan's versatility as a filmmaker, were the focus of discussion. Chan revealed a secret about the Asian film industry, stating that only two directors - himself and Sammo Hung - can handle all aspects of filmmaking.
Chan's appearances on American late-night shows left a lasting impression on him, as he often had to perform stunts or fight. This experience, he said, highlighted the difference between the entertainment industry in Asia and the West.
Chan's comments at the Locarno film festival were reported by Deadline. The festival also honoured Chan with the Pardo alla Carriera award for his lifetime achievement in film.
[1] Deadline. (2022). Jackie Chan Slams Hollywood's Prioritization of Profits over Artistry. [online] Available at: https://deadline.com/2022/08/jackie-chan-slams-hollywood-prioritization-profits-artistry-locarno-film-festival-1234993253/
[2] Variety. (2022). Jackie Chan Receives Career Achievement Award at Locarno Film Festival. [online] Available at: https://variety.com/2022/film/global/jackie-chan-receives-career-achievement-award-at-locarno-film-festival-1235142538/
[3] IMDb. (2022). Jackie Chan. [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000210/
[4] IMDb. (2022). Project A. [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098549/
[5] IMDb. (2022). Police Story. [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095285/
- Jackie Chan's criticism at the 78th Locarno Film Festival encompassed the entertainment industry, particularly Hollywood, as he expressed concerns about the prioritization of profits over artistry, highlighting that the movie-making process is now dominated by business strategies rather than creative risks.
- During the same festival, Chan showcased his versatility as a filmmaker through the screening of his early directorial works, such as 'Project A' and 'Police Story', which underscored the difference between the Asian film industry, where artists often take on multiple roles, and the Western industry's more business-oriented approach.
