David Denby Vs. Scott Rudin: Film Critics Take Sides

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is living up to its dramatic reputation. Though, much of the drama isn't happening on the screen.our editor recommends'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' Producer Bans NYer Critic From Future Screenings for Breaking Review EmbargoTrent Reznor Releases Six Free Tracks From 'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' Soundtrack'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' Extended Trailer Released (Video)'Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' H&M Collection in Stores a Week Before Film Opens (Video)Noomi Rapace vs. Rooney Mara: Will the Real Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Please Stand Up? STORY: 'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' Producer Bans NYer Critic From Future Screenings for Breaking Review Embargo The film was screened for members of the NY Film Critics Nov. 28, but they signed a waiver saying they would not post their reviews until Dec. 13. PHOTOS: 10 Biggest Book-to-Big Screen Adaptations of the Last 25 Years However, NYer critic David Denby's review was printed in its current issue, a week before the embargo date. In response, the film's producer, Scott Rudin banned Denby from all future screenings of his films, writing in an email, "You've very badly damaged the movie by doing this, and I could not in good conscience invite you to see another movie of mine again." VIDEO: 'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' Extended Trailer Released On Monday, many in the movie business took to Twitter to offer their thoughts on the situation, with most coming out starkly in favor of Rudin. The Hollywood Reporter's awards bloggerScott Feinberg said, "Rudin/Denby Emails Released (I'mwith Rudin; Denby was out of line; whether embargos are cool is irrelevant;he signed)" The Twitter for the NY Film Academy wrote, "Shame on You, DavidDenby." VIDEOS: 'Dragon Tattoo's' Christopher Plummer in THR's Awards Season Actors Roundtable "It is adorable that Scott Rudin thinks movie reviews affect box office.Ever the utopian," writer/critic Sasha Frere-Jones said. "So David Denby breaks Sony embargo and reviews The Girl with the DragonTattoo. Says it's a "bleak but mesmerizing piece of filmmaking." film criticAnupama Chopra said. Movies.com and Box Office Magazine writer David Ehrlich, "i assume that thiswhole david denby disaster is making me very happy that i unfollowed KevinSmith a few months ago." "David Denby Does Something Relevant." I quite enjoyed@Choire's take on allof this Dragon Tattoo nonsense." said Moviefone's Mike Ryan while calling out formerGawker editor Choire Sicha's thoughts on the subject. Film writer Guy Lodge, "Denby hasn't a leg to stand on in this emailexchange with Rudin, but I don't see how he "very badly damaged" the film." He later added, "I still think Rudin's melodramatically overstating critics' influence with this particular film." "Embargoes are dumbass, and even more so when they involve matters of noconsequence like showbiz." YES. THAT," wrote the Portland Mercury'sErik Henricksen. The Chicago Tribune reporter, Mark Caro, simply tweeteed "Rudin's right." Public radio's Marketplace reporter David Gura said, "Scott Rudin callsDavid #Denby's embargo-breaking review "deeply destructive," but can thispublicity be a bad thing?" Scott Rudin-David Denby is the closest Hollywood has gotten to rap beef in avery long time. #nosubliminals," Wired senior editor Peter Rubin. However, The Economist blogger, Glenn Fleishman seemed to side with Denby,saying, "Sony wants broken movie review embargo to stand for _all_ otherreviews. Ridiculous." He added, "But movie review embargoes are ridiculous, as are most embargoes.Embargoes are a way to make sure stinkers aren't sunk by too much knowledge on the part of customers/buyers/viewers." PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery The Dirty Dozen: Films that Narrowly Avoided an NC-17 Related Topics Scott Rudin The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo