An Open Letter To Damon Lindelof

Todd Brown, Founder and Editor

Dear Damon,

With Prometheus opening in North American theaters today I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you. Thank you for returning to television. Because while I've never actually sat through even a single episode of your television output - and therefore have no opinion on Lost's finale or anything at all to do with Crossing Jordan or Nash Bridges - two films into your fledgling feature writing career it's become abundantly clear that you're just Not Very Good at this whole movie thing.

Can we be honest? Let's be honest. Cowboys & Aliens was a clunker, an unwieldy beast that somehow failed to take advantage of a fabulously fertile premise and a visually gifted director. And Prometheus? 'Bad' is too kind a word for your script on this enormous disappointment. Prometheus is an embarrassment and given your recent comments to The Hollywood Reporter that any proposed sequel "might benefit from a fresh voice or a fresh take or a fresh thought", I think you know it. Any hopes this film has of succeeding have everything to do with Ridley Scott's visual skills and audience nostalgia for Alien and nothing at all with your script.

I know that the Lost apologists will insist that any weaknesses will be due to studio or director interference but, come on ... at what point of his long career has Scott ever spared more than a passing glance for his stories? Everybody knows that about him and as the writer hired to bring things home it was on you to make sure this thing held together on a narrative level, which it most certainly does not.

Shall we recount the reasons why? The film's failings? The litany of bizarre decisions made purely to push the film to the next set piece regardless of whether they make any sense? The complete failure to develop any of the characters to any satisfying degree? The total lack of understanding that making a movie about supposedly Big Ideas involves actually having some Big Ideas rather than simply having your characters say "I'm chasing the Big Idea"? I'll refrain from spouting spoilers here out of respect for those who have not yet seen the film but the emperor is naked here, Damon, and that means you've been caught in public with your pants down.

So, thanks. Thanks for recognizing that you're no Dan O'Bannon and for taking your act away from the big screen. Here's hoping I can stomach Star Trek 2 a little better than this mess ...

Around the Internet:

dearcastandcrew

We just found this story thanks to the /Filmcast. Hopefully Mr. Lindelof gets the message after getting all these open-letters...

(excerpt)

Dear Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof, Screenwriters,

Iâm writing you a letter. Itâs also a movie review. Thatâs what we do here: write movie reviews in the form of personal correspondence. Iâm about to review Prometheus, the film that you both co-wrote. I was disappointed by it. Mostly because of your screenplay. Itâs a screenplay that, unfortunately, doesnât mince words. See, sometimes words need to be minced. Or else you end up with something like this: a letter that is a movie review that is written exclusively as exposition and is therefore interminable to sit through.... (CONT'D)

http://www.dearcastandcrew.com/letters/2012/6/12/prometheus.html

huffy08

I'm all for scathing critiques of bad films but this seems rather petty. We get that you were disappointed in the film, that's fine, but acting like Lindelof should be ashamed of himself is taking things a bit too far. And why single him out when there are successful writers in Hollywood that are bigger hacks?

Todd Brown

A pair of short answers to that:

1. Damon is the guy with a movie currently in theaters that he and Ridley have spent months talking up as being about Big Important Issues when it's actually completely, totally shallow and hollow. Slashfilm have a really good review of it up right now where the writer compares Prometheus negatively to Transformers and makes the absolutely correct point that at least with Transformers you were delivered a stupid movie that was sold to you as a stupid movie. They were honest about what it was and delivered what they promised. This is a stupid movie that has been praising its own intelligence for months.

2. Damon has been praised as some sort of writing prodigy for years but when you look at his actual career objectively, what do you really have? You have two shows that everyone has forgotten. You have another show that has one of the most hated finales in television history, a finale which Lindelof continues to defend. You have one feature film that lost its studio somewhere around a hundred million dollars because it couldn't deliver on a kick ass premise. And you have this, which also had all the resources you could possibly hope for and spectacularly fails to deliver. Notice the trend?

The geek community likes Lindelof because he's 'one of us' and he interacts directly with fans. Great. Nice. That's all true. He seems like a nice enough guy who genuinely likes what he does. But he's bad at it.

huffy08

While I still think the tone is a tad bit unwarranted I can agree with you now Todd for two reasons:

1) Your response to my post was informative and probably should have made it into the original article. From that perspective your ire towards him (or at least his cult of personality within the geek community) makes perfect sense.

2) I just saw the movie. I actually liked it mainly because I have a massive soft spot for that kind of speculative sci-fi but from a purely objective perspective how the fuck did that script not get rewritten? If they wanted to make a full-on unconventional, 2001-esq narrative I would have been fine with it, but if you want to make something that resembles a conventional film and can't be bothered to write in a single convincing ark, character or narrative...fuck.

So yeah, think your being a bit nasty but I agree with the message: Lindelof is kind of a shitty writer. Has a good imagination but in terms of fundamentals. He probably flourished in the Lost environment where he had other writers to reign in and develop his ideas into functional narratives but thus far he's flopped on his own.

pjking86

This will be my last post on the subject as it seems that you clearly have some kind of axe to grind or some other pent up irrational anger. You make unsound comments such as "You have another show that has one of the most hated finales in television history, a finale which Lindelof continues to defend." which are laughable to anyone who even remotely follows the tv industry and put the entire blame of a movie with 9 writers which was clearly an example of a studio designed by committee kind of movie on Lindelof.

and this

"The geek community likes Lindelof because he's 'one of us' and he interacts directly with fans."

I don't even know how to respond this gem. So amazingly wrong on so many levels

Marty

Please don't respond, you're boring the fuck clean out of me.

pjking86

There is something oddly icky about this post. I think it's either just plain ignorance at best or cynical abandonment of any journalistic integrity to generate some link-bait at worst. Case in point the argument laying the blame for Cowboys and Aliens on Lindelof all the while ignoring that fact that he was one of what 12 or so writers credited for that script, how much input could he realistically have had? Not to mention the failure to give credit for the first Star Trek movie, it has been acknowledged by JJ, & Kurtzman-Orci that Lindelof had a big hand in writing that script between seasons of LOST, but couldn't get credit due some WGA rules instead having a producer credit. Also the writer the claims never to have watched an episode of LOST yet seems to imply that it sucks. Prometheus is at more than 70% on RT, has gotten rave reviews from RESPECTED critics such as Ebert and Roeper, Lindelof helmed what is considered to be the most ambitious network show, his scripts were nominated for emmy considering virtually every year that Lost was on air barring perhaps one or two. It is clear that Lindelof if a talented writer who has enough respect in the industry that talented filmmakers like Abrams, Scott, Forster are wiling to work with him. Therefore this strange screedishly personal nature of this post is bizzare and offputting.

Todd Brown

Also, the issue with the Rotten Tomatoes / MetaCritic approach to grading reviews is there are no shades of gray. For instance, Twitch has now run three reviews of Prometheus, all of which would be judged by RT as Fresh, because they all praise the visuals and the acting and generally weigh in slightly more on the positive side. However all three also openly criticize the script. As do the vast majority of other positive reviews of the film. So, yeah ... 74% fresh at the moment, but of those how many are judging it fresh *despite* the script rather than *because* of it? The answer is most.

I find it very interesting and telling that when this post went live here and on Facebook - where the comments were even more vigorous - all of the defenders of Lindelof came from areas where Prometheus had not opened yet while everyone who had seen the film was in agreement with the sentiments of the post. Limited sample size, obviously, but it was 100% consistent along those lines. And I still haven't seen anyone try to mount a defense of the actual script.

pjking86

Because this post has nothing to do with Prometheus at all, atleast the way I read it. Instead comes across as a personal attack carrying little substance. I'd probably defend whichever writer was a target of such a screed considering the nastiness that is behind the original post. If you want to have sound discussion on the script perhaps you should consider writing something of substance that even begins to address the movie rather than 3 short paragraphs personally attacking the people behind the movie.

Todd Brown

LOST is the X-FILES of this decade: A show that strung an audience along and convinced them it was brilliant by selling 'mystery' only to ultimately fail to deliver.

szczuka.lukasz

So first you admit you haven't seen a single episode of Lost and don't have an opinion about it and then you give us your opinion about it. What's that all about?

Todd Brown

That's about having lived with someone who was a major Lostie at the time and having caught big chunks of a whole lot of episodes without ever being bothered enough to sit through a single full episode myself.

Todd Brown

Couple that fact with the equally obvious fact that you can't move on the internet without tripping over someone who HATED the Lost finale. It's the exact same phenomenon as The X-Files ...

szczuka.lukasz

So you basically shit all over something without watching a single full episode, because other people didn't like it? I saw couple of Sopranos episodes here and there and heard a lot of negativity about the ending, but since I haven't seen it I wouldn't make any sweeping generalizations about it. I just think you have to see things for yourself before you judge them.

Todd Brown

Shit all over it? Where? I made no direct comments about Lost in the article whatsoever. None. All I say in the comments is that the show has one of the most hated finales in television history. And I can prove that ten times over. That's a simple statement of fact. People were LIVID. I see not this shit of which you speak.

All of which, of course, is just fluff to cloud the actual point of the article. Which is that the script to Prometheus is god awful. I'm still waiting for someone who has seen the film to try and defend it.

szczuka.lukasz

Okay, you said the show failed to deliver on something it promised. You're saying it like it's a fact (which it isn't) yet you didn't watch it (large chunks here and there don't really qualify as watching a show, agree?). All I'm saying is that you are partially judging a writer based on other people's opinions about show you didn't watch. Don't you ever find yourself liking something that majority of people don't like? Maybe Lost would be an example of that if you actually watched the damn thing.

As for the whole 'one of the most hated finales' thing I never quite bought it. I think it's the case where people that hated it were so loud and passionate about trashing it that it created this perception of EVERYONE hating it. I remember when the show ended and I visited couple of blogs and opinions were much closer to 50/50 then you would think (which I was actually suprised by). Not to mention the fact that there are shitloads of people that liked it and never felt the need to defend it on the internet because negative opinions always drive people harder then postivie ones. But that is a whole different discussion.

As for Lindelof I'm really curious about this 1952 project, because it's 100% his original idea and not work for hire. I think that will be a better opportunity to judge his ability of lack thereof to write a good movie.

Todd Brown

I agree completely that 1952 will be a key project for Damon. And, honestly, I think STAR TREK 2 is going to be a key moment in the industry deciding whether he continues to be treated as a high end film writer. He's got one outright commercial flop and a film that is taking a beating where the writing is concerned - and, while it's making box office I doubt very strongly that Prometheus has even made it's marketing budget back yet and it's going to take a steep week two drop - as his only feature credits right now and Hollywood will be distracted by the next shiny thing in very short order. If he doesn't deliver a bona fide hit before that happens, Lindelof is done. It's just a reality of the industry ...

Mr. Cavin

Well, with the footnote that THE X-FILES managed to deliver quality stuff during two-thirds of any particular season (well, maybe not the last two) via quirky standalone episodes, whereas LOST was very much a show built around only those creepy Sweeps Week continuity episodes we always avoided like the damn plague.

Jim Tudor

I agree with Todd's points about the problems with PROMETHEUS, but leveling the lion's share of the blame on one of the credited screenwriters seems abruptly shortsighted. I don't know the details and breakdown of how things went in the making of PROMETHEUS, but one thing we can probably safely assume is that, at the end of the day, it all comes down to Ridley Scott. Seeing how the pronounced strengths and weaknesses of this film are both very much in keeping with the quality Scott's work of the last decade or so, we have little to be surprised about. If Lindelof is really out there saying things like "enjoy the visuals" and "keep your expectations in check", odds are he got yanked around, bulldozed and rewritten, like most any screenwriter on such a project in this day and age. LOST was a spectacular TV program, whatever anyone thinks of the finale. Lindelof has proven that he is a worthy talent of today. Whatever the true story is about PROMETHEUS, we may never know. Perhaps it is just a case of lousy writing by Lindelof, but it sure sounds like he knew better. If there's an open letter to be written, shouldn't it be to Ridley Scott?

MarsHottentot

It's his blog, he can do whatever he wants. Now leave - and ne'er return!!

godsaremonsters

I never said he shouldn't do whatever he wants. I said that what he wanted to do and did do was a write a bunch of predictable, pedestrian nerd-rage bullshit. And hes only response was to be glibly pedantic. Which I can kind of respect. Unlike you sycophants polishing his swimsuit parts because evidently you don't think he is a big boy that can take criticism.

Todd Brown

I've only got one script actually in development Ard, and I don't think that entitles me to anything. Nothing more than any thinking person who expects a bit of value for their dollar is entitled to, at any rate. And I fully expect people to be just as harsh with me when the thing is done and out there.

Rhythm-X

And his inexorably linked counterpart, the angry, entitled nerd stepping on someone else's soapbox to broadcast their condescending incredulity at the perceived condescending incredulity of the guy who bought the soap which came in the box that all concerned are standing on. Or something.

godsaremonsters

What an uncommon sight. An angry, entitled nerd stepping on their soap box to broadcast their condescending incredulity across the interwebs. Better take a screed shot lest no one believe it happened.

Todd Brown

If 'screed shot' was a typo, it's a good one. Applause!

Ard Vijn

Well, as a scriptwriter with several scripts in development Todd is at least a BIT entitled.

MarsHottentot

Well, I think he knows. He was on NPR and said something along the lines of "keep your expectations in check" and, more telling "sit back and enjoy the visuals". That's all I needed to know. I had been avoiding spoilers and most of the trailers but I see now there's no point. Oops.

Well, at least the Blade Runner sequel with have Hampton Fancher on board.

TBYITBSITBH

If I were writing Damon a letter I wouldn't be so kind. The more I ruminate on the 'story' and 'plot' of Prometheus the worse it gets. On casual inspection the plot falls to pieces, but on closer inspection even the PIECES fall to pieces hah. And it is so damn frustrating because almost all the rest is fantastic! the script is the only thing wrong with it. Except that's kinda everything, isn't it? Prometheus is a spaceship without an engine; a wonderful replica.

On the other hand Lindelof might not be entirely to blame since he worked from a script by Jon Spaihts, and Spaihts wrote The Darkest Hour, which also had some really weird character moments, disconnects in its plot, etc.There're a few similarities I think between The Darkest Hour and Prometheus actually; moments of character development that were vaguely interesting but were spurious because they weren't followd through or were of no consequence, the aforementioned plot problems, and characters behaving oddly, the degeneration in the third act to real silliness and kindof B-movie cheesiness, the ****SPOILERS FOR BOTH*** open-endedness/sequel-setting up of both, but also and I think notably, the fact that I did ENJOY both films while I was watching them, despite the glaring flaws. I just dunno if I'll ever return to either, and both were disappointments because they could have easily been so much better. I also don't know how I managed to trick myself into thinking that Prometheus might be a masterpiece, when it was written by these two guys. One guy who can't write coherent plot or characters and one guy who doesn't know how to follow through and deliver on the potential of a premise...what were the odds?

I might watch Prometheus again for 'David', and Fassbender's performance of him. Someone on AICN said they would've rather watch David for two hours on the ship before everyone woke up I can't say I disagree. Surely even Lindelof and Spaihts coulda made THAT make sense. Right?

blog comments powered by Disqus

Leading Voices in Global Cinema

Todd Brown, Founder & Editor Toronto
Peter Martin, Managing Editor Dallas
Ryland Aldrich, Festivals Editor Los Angeles
James Marsh, Asian Editor Hong Kong
Brian Clark, European Editor Paris

China Beat: What did China See in IRON MAN 3?

Much has already been written, both on these pages and many others, about the landmark Hollywood-China co-production that is Marvel and DMG Entertainment's Iron Man 3. The film, directed by Shane Black, is the third solo outing for Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark, and has proved a phenomenal success around... More »

FEAR & LOATHING AT CANNES, PART 2: I'M IN LOVE WITH EVERYBODY'S GIRL

CHAPTER 4: THE PHILOSOPHY OF ANNA KARINA AND BUTT PLUGSI'm sitting outside at a small Café that my editor told me to meet him at. I'm a 10 minute walk from the Marche Du Film convention hall and I'm still waiting for my editor to arrive so he take guide... More »

CINEMA HOLOCAUST ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA, PART 1: THOSE GOD DAMN FILM BLOGGERS

MIKE'S JOURNAL. MAY 13. MORNINGI wake up sometime around five AM. My flight to France doesn't leave until five PM. I should be there for security check in sometime around 3PM. There is no reason for me to be up this early but I'm feeling anxious. I have an itch... More »

FEAR & LOATHING AT CANNES, PART 1: A MAN'S HANDSHAKE SAYS EVERYTHING

CHAPTER ONE: THE BIGGER THE SIDEBURNS, THE BIGGER THE ASSHOLE. I've hit the big time now. I've finally made it. I'm in like Flint from here on out. I'm boarding a plane to France where I'll be attending the Cannes Film Festival for the first time.No more unpaid blogging from... More »

Destroy All Monsters: Leo DiCaprio and the Myth of the Chick Flick

I have a running argument about whether or not movie box office is a zero-sum game. I tend to attack film earning potential from the "mother of two" perspective - which is that while yes, it's nice to believe that if a film is good it has a theoretically unlimited... More »