This month sees the release of Mufasa: The Lion King, another entry in Disney’s photorealistic revival of its older, much-loved animated properties.
In the director’s virtual chair is Barry Jenkins, whose film Moonlight is perhaps a vital piece of modern auteur filmmaking. It was so good, in fact, that it managed a surprise Best Picture win at the Oscars against the more accessible and whimsical La La Land. The top Academy prize went to the film that most deserved it? Now there's a tear in the fabric of reality.
Given the strong voice and depth behind Jenkins’ filmmaking, and what the prestige, attention, and glory of being a Best Picture winner affords someone, why has he now turned to directing a faceless Disney product?
This is all part of a recent trend in taking respected auteur filmmakers and giving them the reins of large mainstream blockbusters. There is little pushback to this – in fact, it seems celebrated – as if a win has been served to the little guy. The real artists have finally ‘made it’. Now that a filmmaker has made work of merit and acclaim, they can now turn their attention to light entertainment and really get the bag. This is fine apparently because, well, money.
A perception lingers that handing these types of filmmakers huge mainstream projects........