Did Signs Ruin the Careers of Mel Gibson, M. Night Shyamalan and Joaquin Phoenix?
Marvel comics maven Brian Michael Bendis wondered if -- in light of recent headlines -- Signs was cursed. And seriously, between the critical drubbing of The Last Airbender and the latest allegations of racism levied against Mel Gibson, all that was missing from yesterday's news cycle was a story about Joaquin Phoenix falling asleep on David Letterman's front lawn while wearing a chicken suit. What happened here? Will the 2002 blockbuster go down in history alongside Diff'rent Strokes and the Curse of the Billy Goat as a creepy ghost story of coincidence? Ahead, Movieline throws some garlic around its neck and investigates.
· Mel Gibson
Before: In the ten years prior to Signs, Gibson had six $100 million grossers and won a couple of Oscars for Braveheart. Signs was his biggest theatrical hit as a leading man. A larger box office star could not be found.
After: Gibson courted box office success -- and much controversy -- as a director with The Passion of the Christ. But then: "Sugar t*ts." Followed now by some crazy, Viking-like allegations about threatening to burn down houses and force oral sex. Not to mention the racism. That The Beaver would be only his second starring role since Signs came out should tell you something.
Is he cursed: Yes. Either that or Gibson has some sort of benign tumor pushing down on his frontal lobe which causes insane behavior.
· Joaquin Phoenix
Before: Fresh off box office glory and an Oscar nomination for Gladiator, Phoenix's work in Signs pointed toward a career of both great performances and choices.
After: There was much praise for Walk the Line -- and not much praise for The Village. More recently, of course, he tried to become a rap star and got pooped on.
Is he cursed: Debatable. Phoenix's run of glory, post-Signs, was quite impressive. Even with The Village hanging around his neck like a noose.
· M. Night Shyamalan
Before: Shyamalan shot to fame with The Sixth Sense, took a slight detour with Unbreakable and then hit another home run with Signs. Say hello to the next Steven Spielberg!
After: Say hello to the next Joe Johnston! Since Signs, Manoj's work has followed the laws of diminishing returns. The Village, The Happening and The Last Airbender are three of the more reviled films of the last decade.
Is he cursed: Yes. Whatever deal he made with the devil during The Sixth Sense years has come back with a vengeance.
Final Verdict: Signs isn't Diff'rent Strokes... yet. But don't be totally surprised if you read on Monday that Abigail Breslin burned her hand with a firecracker over the holiday.
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Comments
Come on guys, Gibson took time through 2002-2006 to direct Apocalypto and Passion, so that's why he didn't star in anything during those years.
You're also forgetting Edge of Darkness, which grossed 80 million WW on an 80 million budget (FLOP).
If anything, I think The Beaver could be a hit. A screenplay oscar nod is almost assured, and looks to be a quirky, really fun comedy that could have good legs. Somehow people don't seem to hate Gibson as much as Cruise post-couch debacle.
um....i don't think "pack of N*****s, forced oral sex, concussions and broken teeth earmark someone for continued success.
I was wondering the same thing: how is it that Cruise seems to be more reviled because he jumped on Oprah's couch and went public with his religious beliefs? Granted, Scientology stretches the definition of "religion," but still...
Meanwhile, Gibson reveals a really nasty side of himself, but Edge of Darkness largely got judged on its own merits, and not the personal merits of its star.
Why do people still allow the media to manipulate their stance on anything? It was a private argument.. it is not our business!
Remeber M.Jackson? crucified by the media and the public, B.Spears..?
Enough already!!
Besides Ms.Foster is a person I most admire in the limelight, it seems she has respect for mr.Gibson, while his gold digging begrudged ex-lover is accusing him left and right, hmmm, if I were taking sides, I'd be siding with mr.Gibson
p.s. I am Jewish
I think that Gibson has a major drinking problem. It seems like alcoholism is really hurting his life right now; maybe that's what is making him less reviled than Tom Cruise; however, no one is giving Gibson a free pass on this - everyone is disgusted with his behavior.
Yeah you are right J. Tomas it was a private argument, but unfortunately it became public. We now see an ugly side of Mr. Gibson he tries to hide from the media. These are not private Miley Cryrus photos, or a phone call of Alec Baldwin yelling at his daughter, this is a man spewing defamations about marginalized groups. Now are you telling me if you were to hear a recording of President Obama saying similar things, or even your boss making hateful comments about you you would say: "Hey, I wasn't meant to hear it so I'll let it slide off my back?"
You speak of keeping private business private, yet how do you know that Jodie Foster respects Mel Gibson? She cast him (a movie star) in her movie, but have you heard her speaking out in his defense this week?
Of course you can side with whoever you want, but I wouldn't necessarily use Jodie Foster's loyalty as a truth barometer of Mel Gibson's behavior.
Well, I've got a major drinking problem, but I can say with certainty that I've never called a police officer "sugartits", never used appalling racial epitaths, and never knocked someone unconcious. (Although I do admit to maybe demanding oral sex before I burn the house down, I can't really remember)
You know what? I'm gonna go out there and say this:
I never really liked Braveheart. It's too long, and everything good about was done better in other movies. (Including the Horner score, which he ripped off of himself like all his scores).
Also Apocalypto is terrible. 20 minutes of awesome at the end don't make up for the two hours previously that included native mother in law jokes, eating pigs testes, and a monkey fight while a chick gives birth underwater.
In most cases I find it difficult to fault the art while the artist makes lunatic choices and sees his world crumble around him. In this case, I never really respected the artist outside of Mad Max and "Riggs!"
(That being said, the demanding oral sex before burning someone's house down is priceless, and will hopefully make it's way to the lexicon the way Sugartits did).
All we need for this theory to solidify and become an unqualified truth is for Abigail Breslin to spontaneously combust in a spectacularly fiery display. Imagine, she's just walking down the street one day when suddenly- KABLAAAM!
It should be noted that Rory Culkin is currently part of the breaking news that is Scream 4. Also, he's Rory Culkin. Someway, somehow, he's also cursed.
I think it's because crazy Tom is always on display, grinning that grin, trying to sidle up next to you and be your friend when all the time you're trying not to look him in the eyes and just get away. Meanwhile, CRAZY Mel is away on his island or wherever (see? I don't even know where he lives), denying the Holocaust in his private church and we'd never have known he was threatening his baby mama with oral sex and arson if she hadn't made a tape and leaked it to Radar.
Old Hollywood was on to something with its "brush it under the carpet" strategy.
Add The Lady In The Water to that list of critically reviled films.
That was so bad, I literally forgot it existed. Do you think Paul Giamatti stumbles onto that late night while flipping channels and wonders if he's dreaming?
I'm just curious: Did Mel Gibson harbor these feelings back in the day when he was working with Danny Glover?
Rhonda, curious you should bring that up. I remember watching Danny Glover and Mel on one of the morning shows way back when. They were promoting the first Lethal Weapon. I distinctly remember watching his uncomfortable body language toward Danny and thinking he had a race problem. Over the years I'd mention this to family and friends when discussing cinema and get the rolling eyes. I feel like my intuition/observations were dead on.
The Sixth Sense was a fluke. Shyamalan isn't cursed, he's just lame.