Salma Hayek and Academy president Sid Ganis announce the nominees in L.A. this morning.Photo: Getty Images
From: David Edelstein
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 12:25 PM
To: Lynda Obst
Subject: I forgot to say I am so above this
Dear Lynda,
A word about my New York review of The Departed, since I’ve come in for some ribbing about it. It’s true the ads identified me as saying that “the movie works smashingly.” They did, however, omit what followed: “Especially if you haven’t seen its Hong Kong counterpart and haven’t a clue what’s coming. But for all its snap, crackle, and pop, it’s nowhere near as galvanic emotionally.” A movie can “work smashingly” and still be a piece of shit, especially if the director is enough of a whiz/speed demon to put it over. (Rocky Balboa works smashingly.) And along with many people I enjoyed some of the Mamet-speak and the splatter. But it was, in retrospect, a too cautious — i.e., wussy — review. I won’t let it happen again.
