Charlie Casanova Director Vs Donald Clarke

There's a bit of a fracas going on at the moment involving the makers of the Irish film Charlie Casanova, and one of our most respected critics, Irish Times scribe, Donald Clarke.

Basically Donald had a quote taken out of context in the press for the film, which insinuates that he damn well loved it. It makes the audacious claim that Mr Clarke found it "A pretty jaw-dropping piece of work." Now, I fucking hated Charlie Casanova with every ounce of my being. I've been in this game long enough to realise a hyperbolic statement when I make one - but Jesus do I mean it. When I saw the apparent quote from Donald, I was shocked as I'd spoken to him about the film previously and knew he didn’t like it; but these quotes are pulled out of context all the time - it's certainly happened to me before - just not in as excessive a way as it did in this instance. With the exception of our Gavin Burke, I have not spoken to one person who even mildly liked the low budget production. Frankly, Its ineptness is only outstripped by its arrogance. But hey, it's picked up a couple of festival awards and got the backing of a big studio - Studio Canal, who are apparently responsible for the aforementioned "quotes" on the sides of buses everywhere. I don't get it. At all. The quotes, in that context, are embarrassing, and unlike other instances where this has happened to me, I'd actually be very pissed off also. It's worth pointing out that Hollywood trade bible, Variety, too have a quote taken (somewhat?) out of context.

The film's director, Terry McMahon has a twitter, and he's been using said twitter to voice what he thinks about the back and forth - only a few hours ago publishing his thoughts on the "handbags" with "Donnie" Clarke. You can read Donald Clarke's initial thoughts here, and Terry McMahon's thoughts over yonder.

Ultimately, the makers of Charlie Casanova have gotten a shitload of press from this - which is really what they wanted. I fear that audiences will do the conclusive talking this weekend when it opens, though.

Story by Mike Sheridan | 16:05 | Wednesday 9th May 2012 | Movie News

Comments

Georgie

You're dead right. It's so ethically wrong!

Posted 16:59 | Wed 9th May 2012
KickedArse

Was at the premiere. McMahon is an egotistical moron. The Q&A (where no questions were asked) afterwards was embarrassing. I would've felt bad for him if he wasn't so deluded.

Posted 20:43 | Wed 9th May 2012
Mike Sheridan

It's hard to be flattered by someone publicly using something you felt you didn't say, Pope. And the film is that bad it is genuinely embarrassing.

Posted 15:07 | Thu 10th May 2012
Pope

Not a fan of the movie, but I absolutely 100% side with McMahon in this spat. "The Donald" is should have recognized what McMahon was doing and just shrugged his shoulders and been flattered that someone would appropriate his words. It happens all the time. McMahon has completely snookered The Donald because in the film there is a quote from The Sweet Smell of Success which The Donald did not recognize.

Posted 13:26 | Thu 10th May 2012
Torky

Read Clarks first review and have to say I felt the quote was up for grabs. It certainly didn't seem like he meant "jaw dropping work" in a negative sense. This has the smell of the hacks circling the wagons.

Posted 21:22 | Wed 9th May 2012
Kieron Jay

I smell collusion... All publicity is good publicity.

Posted 16:43 | Thu 10th May 2012
KickedArse

Why would a film critic want publicity? That doesnt make any sense. The Times hardly needs the hits, Kieron

Posted 17:25 | Thu 10th May 2012
Kieron Jay

Yes, how right you are! The Irish Times doesn't need publicity and neither does Donald Clarke. But this film REALLY does. This is a small town, KickedArse, where everybody knows everybody so go figure...

Posted 21:52 | Thu 10th May 2012

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