When Critics Attack: Armond White Strikes at the NYFCC – Darren Aronofsky Strikes Back

The annual New York Film Critics Circle dinner brought out the stars on Monday night. All the A-list awards hopefuls were there: Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, Natalie Portman, Michelle Williams, etc. It’s a night where critics honor the actors, writers and directors who make the movies that they critique, thus giving them a job. It’s supposed to be a night of respect, admiration and celebration of all the great films and performances of the past year. That is, of course, when contrarian film critic and certified douchebag Armond White of the New York Press isn’t hosting. The infamous critic who notoriously bashes nearly every film that the rest of the world considers great, created some apparently uncomfortable and awkward moments at the ceremony, most notably when Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky had enough and struck back.

I’m not going to provide links to Mr. White’s reviews on the NY Press website, as the curiosity and rage he inspires by his obnoxious and hateful rhetoric gives his critiques huge traffic, thus allowing him to keep his job. But just for perspective, this is a man who gratuitously ripped apart films like Black Swan, Inception, The Social Network and The King’s Speech. Now, OF COURSE I am not condemning Mr. White for having a differing opinions from the majority. I’m one of the few people I know who didn’t like True Grit; to each his own. But his mean, nasty, hateful, egotistical and pretentious attacks, sometimes very personal, on the actors and filmmakers who create the art that pay his rent, is reprehensible.

As much as you might not think it, directors, writers and actors DO read critic reviews. It’d be pretty hard not to. So his reputation is well known throughout Hollywood. Which is what made the NYCC awards dinner such a great night for awkwardness. Apparently, White was taking some public jabs and the some of the night’s big winners, The Social Network and Black Swan; to the point where director Darren Aronofsky felt like he had to respond. According to Entertainment Weekly film critic Lisa Schwarzbaum, Aronofsky appeared on stage to present the Best Cinematography award to his DP and long-time friend Matthew Labatique, for his work on Black Swan. Before giving the award, Aronofsky stepped up to the mic and said the following:

I thought I was giving White the compassion award because if you don’t have something, you should get it. Seriously, keep it up because you give all of us another reason not to read The New York Press.

Now, this NEVER happens. There has never, at least as I can recall, a filmmaker calling out a critic on stage at an awards event. I mean, critics are critics, they get paid to like or dislike movies. But I’m sure Michael Bay and Roger Ebert are at least friendly to each other, even though Ebert has written bad reviews of Bay’s films. Because Ebert speaks negatively about the films he dislikes in a respectful, tasteful manner. But White is, obviously, another story. Not one to step down from a verbal fight, White responded as he took to the podium following Aronofsky:

That’s all right. Darren reads me. That’s all I want. And because he reads me, he knows the truth.

Gaaahhwwd!! Just let it go, Armond! Pretty soon filmmakers are going to blacklist you from screenings and you’ll have to pay $10 to see movies on opening day like the rest of the world. And this is not just me vicariously venting about an altercation that I didn’t witness. Schwarzbaum’s lengthy recap of the event had her recall moments of embarrassment, as White was the one who was stupidly chosen to represent his peers as host. Here’s an excerpt from her experience:

We all left — okay, I left — feeling sour and lectured to and embarrassed. Represented by an ungracious spokesman, all critics were made to look as sour and bitter and ungenerous as caricature (and Ratatouille) would have us. Judged by snark from one irritated director, everyone in that business was made to look ungracious.

Oh, and did I forgot to mention that, at the end of the night, White took to the mic and said “I thank the Circle for not awarding a single award to Greenberg;” as the film’s writer-director Noah Baumbach sat in the front row? I mean, this is like unprecedented childish behavior. The whole thing is pretty mind-boggling. (shaking my head, face palm, sigh, all that good stuff)

It’s really fascinating thing, being a film critic. Walking that tight-rope of sticking to your guns and speaking your mind, but not biting the hand that feeds you. Well, at least not ripping the entire arm off.

What Do You Think? Discuss.