‘Little Boy’ filmmaker to audiences: don’t let critics tell you what to think

Last updated on: May 6, 2015 at 8:47 am by CNA Daily News

‘Little Boy’ filmmaker to audiences: don’t let critics tell you what to think 2015-05-06T08:47:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Hollywood, Calif., May 6, 2015 / 02:47 am (CNA).- Following a string of negative reviews for his latest film, “Little Boy,” award-winning director and screenwriter Alejandro Monteverde said audiences should see the movie and draw their own conclusions about the film.

While the movie has won the overwhelming approval of audiences, it has drawn criticism from reviewers.

“‘Little Boy’ is a victim of labeling. It was labeled as a faith-based film and it is not a faith-based film. It is a film for everybody,” Monteverde told CNA April 30.

While his award-winning 2006 film, “Bella,” went largely unnoticed by the mainstream media, “Little Boy” gained the attention – and contempt – of some film critics, who described it as a “Sunday-school lesson” that would appeal only to “faith-based” audiences.

“Of course, of anything, when somebody says something offensive, in the beginning it hurts,” Monteverde admitted, “Then you have to ask, ‘where is this coming from?’”

For the director, the special hatred that many reviewers seem to have for his latest work comes from it being labeled a “faith-based Christian film.” This mischaracterization influenced critics before they even saw the film and that showed up in the “offensive” way they reviewed the movie, he said.

“The way the movie was presented to the critics might have influenced them in the wrong way and they came with everything in a very vicious attack.”

On the popular movie review site, Rotten Tomatoes, “Little Boy” received an average score of 89 percent from audiences, 17 percent from industry film critics, and 10 percent from “top critics.”

“I think we broke the record,” Monteverde said of the rating discrepancy, “it’s the first time there was such a large gap; we’re talking almost 80 points.”

Of course, critics should be able to voice their opinions “if they really understand what an artist goes through to make a movie or to make a painting,” he said, but in this case it seems that they are simply telling people what to think.

“It’s just very dangerous when one person tells everybody, ‘You will feel this way’,” he said.

Audiences should see the film before making up their minds about it, otherwise they are letting those in positions of power dictate their opinions, he continued.

“We need to allow people to read their own hearts, (and for) critics to say, ‘No, this is my point of view, you should see it and see if you agree with me,’” he said.

Monteverde invited audiences to see the film and form their own opinion.

“I would even dare to say that if they don’t like it, to call me and I will actually personally pay their ticket back,” he said. “I have screened the movie to thousands and thousands of people and it’s a movie for the audience.”

The film follows the spiritual journey of the town runt, Pepper Busbee / Little Boy (Jakob Salvati), while his dad – and only friend (Michael Rapport) – is fighting in the Pacific during WWII. After seeing his favorite magician Ben Eagle (Ben Chaplin) perform, Pepper is led to believe that he has magical powers that can do anything if he just believes strongly enough.

After he and his brother, London (David Henrie), are caught terrorizing the town outcaste, Mr. Hashimoto (Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa), for being Japanese, his mother (Emily Watson) sends him to the parish priest, Father Oliver (Tom Wilkinson), who redirects his enthusiasm for magic to growing his faith in God by serving others and befriending Mr. Hashimoto.

“Little Boy” is now in select theaters nationwide.

Previous Post

May 6, 2015

Pope Francis blesses image of children killed in Maryland fire

Next Post

May 6, 2015 'Drinking with the Saints' – new book encourages Catholic fellowship, good spirits

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the father of King Solomon?

Select your answer to see how you score.

David Saul Samuel Jonathan