We will soon see if far-left Hollywood learns a valuable – and profitable – lesson from 'Twisters'
The cast of the new movie 'Twisters' talks about natural disasters
Glen Powell, Sasha Lane and Brandon Perea on what makes the standalone sequel great, which natural disaster they would rather experience, facing their fears — and more more.
With then-Tropical Storm Debby moving off and up the west coast of Florida, I convinced my wife that it was the perfect time to see the movie "Twisters" again. I surmised that with wind gusts consistently over 40 mph and torrential rain, we would have the movie theater to ourselves.
Boy, was I wrong. A full two weeks after the movie’s release, the theater was sold out.
What?
Cast members attend the premiere of Universal Pictures' "Twisters" at the Westwood Regency Village Theatre on July 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Lila Seeley/WireImage)
As we quickly grabbed two seats with more people flowing in by the second, I began to talk to the people around me as we waited for the previews. I spoke with two families and three couples. My question being: "What brings you out to this movie in this weather?"
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Five of the people gave me a variation of the same answer: "No politics. No lectures from the left. Just word of mouth that it is great entertainment."
All true. Again, my wife and I first saw the film two weeks ago when it premiered. Like millions of Americans, over the last number of years I have come to dread going to the movies because many are infused with far-left taking points and lectures. Worse, many will openly insult those who don’t agree with their leftist or "woke" narratives.
Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones at the "Twisters" Los Angeles premiere on July 11, 2024. (Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)
The last time I checked, lecturing and insulting potentially half of your viewing audience was not the best way to create a hit movie or make a profit for your investors. And as we have seen over the last few years, Disney and other liberal to far-left movie studios have seen film after film crash and burn at the box office as they have collectively lost billions of dollars.
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With "Twisters" being a film dealing with adverse and dangerous weather conditions, I was, at the very least, waiting for the tiresome lecture about "climate change" from those behind the film. It never came.
The film has a racially and ethnically diverse cast. Which is wonderful. Not only did I see that as a reflection of America, but of my own greater family which is racially diverse, spiritually diverse, sexually diverse, and even home country diverse. A true and wonderful melting pot of Americans.
But Americans who choose to go to the movies to be entertained. Americans who work hard, face constant struggles, and don’t want to pay precious money to see a movie that lectures them or tells them they are intellectually inferior to the far-left directors, actors, producers and writers behind the movie.
Lee Isaac Chung, the exceptionally talented director of the film, pushed back hard against far-left criticism that his movie didn’t pound "climate change" at every opportunity. Said Chung, in part: "I just wanted to make sure that with the movie, we don’t ever feel like (it) is putting forward any message. I just don’t feel like films are meant to be message-oriented."
Amen, brother.
Glen Powell – the co-star of the film led by Daisy Edgar-Jones – addressed some of that counter-productive trend by some in Hollywood in an article for The Telegraph. Said Powell, in part:
Glen Powell at the Toast to Texas Film at Troublemaker Studios on May 16, 2024, in Austin. (Nicola Gell/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)
"Having grown up in and around Texas, I’m aware there are vast parts of America that have been underserved in terms of movies that they want to see. You sort of have New York and Los Angeles making the decisions about what gets made, but there’s a whole lot more audience out there you need to think about."
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He then very politely cut to the chase with regard to some in his business lecturing or speaking down to their audience: "First and foremost, because if you’re telling people what to think, you’re not allowing them to feel. You can’t put people into that heightened state if they’re thinking, ‘Hmm, do I or do I not agree with this message?’"
From his lips to the far-left and "woke" ears of Disney CEO Bob Iger and others in Hollywood who seemingly can’t stand half the people in the United States of America. To his great credit, legendary director and producer Steven Spielberg – who is the executive producer of "Twisters" – does seem to understand Powell’s subtle warning to his industry.
Director Lee Isaac Chung attending the "Twisters" European premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square, London, on July 8, 2024. (Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
And as for Powell and director Chung being on to something, I give you a packed theater showing "Twisters" as a tropical storm played havoc with the weather. A theater that was full because of the word of mouth was: "No politics. No lectures. Just great entertainment."
"Word of mouth." Now there's a concept.
We will soon see if far-left Hollywood learns that valuable – and profitable – lesson. As they process some unassailable truths, go see the movie "Twisters." It’s made for you.
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Douglas MacKinnon is a former White House and Pentagon official and author of the book: "The 56 – Liberty Lessons from those who risked all to sign The Declaration of Independence."
