re: William Friedkin Has No Sense of Social Obligation

Julian — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:41:51 GMT

"How they play to the outside world is no concern of his."

Well, why should it be? If the specific subject matter happens to be those particular subcultures portrayed, as was the case with the cult favorite 'Cruising', then Friedkin's only duty is to portray them, period. While the P.C. gays may have hated it, plenty of more knowledgeable people who actually frequented the leather scene (like author and Mapplethorpe lover Jack Fritscher) have testified to its unpleasant, almost documentary-like accuracy.

As David Cronenberg once famously said "The artist has no responsibility to society whatsoever."

Friedkin's only responsibilty is to make a good movie (and granted, most times he's failed). But 'social obligation' is a smokescreen that moralists from the Left and Right use to oppose and oftentimes censor whatever offends their delicate, eager-to-be-offended sensibilities.

Friedkin's biggest crime against cinema is simply that he made several great films without actually being a great filmmaker.