Most of the time, folks in Hollywood defend their films, even when they are critical and commercial failures. Johnny Depp defended both TRANSCENDENCE and THE LONE RANGER while Taylor Kitsch has defended JOHN CARTER. Sometimes these movies enter and exit the zeitgeist and you don't give them a second thought until someone chimes in with their opinion. Producer Brian Grazer has done that with his 2011 flop COWBOYS & ALIENS.
On paper, a Sci-fi Western starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, and Olivia Wilde from the director of IRON MAN seems like a sure thing. Add in a couple of huge producers in Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard and you have the makings of a surefire hit. Well, that didn't happen with COWBOYS & ALIENS and now Grazer has shed some insight with The Atlantic as to where he should have reconsidered his involvement.
“I don't like cowboys, or aliens! But there were a lot of superstars involved with it—Ron Howard; Steven Spielberg; the director of Iron Man, Jon Favreau. I remember having this one meeting, an early meeting, and they're talking about the title, Cowboys and Aliens. I said, 'We aren't really calling it that, are we?' [The others said] 'Yeah, of course we are!' I was going, I don't get this at all.
While Grazer's involvement was less creative and more financial, the man has often made good decisions rather than bad. His long relationship with Ron Howard has been very fruitful and I think I probably would have ponied up for this movie based on the talent involved alone. But, there is a lesson to be learned here.
“Every once in a while I rationalize quality,” he continued. “There are so many decision you make, and you're trying to do excellence. We know what excellence is. We know what better food is versus not good food. But there's a rationalizing process—that's good enough. Anytime the light bulb goes, that's good enough, it's shitty!"
While I didn't think COWBOYS & ALIENS was all that awful, I know I am in the minority. It also is nice to hear someone who pulls some strings in Hollywood saying they prefer quality over bottom line profits. Here's hoping that speaks to his future endeavors.