Watching movies: "Hustlers" and the promo problem
It's no secret that promotional spots for movies are not always reliable when it comes to the content of the film itself. Intense dramas may be turned into implied comedies, and vice versa; famous actors in small roles are made large in the trailers, and sometimes scenes shot for trailers have been cut from the actual movie. The problem with such tactics -- however successful they may be in getting people into theaters -- is that audiences' expectations are based on what they have been told in advance. So, if they are expecting a comedy and do not get it, disappointment may follow. Sure, it's possible to sit down with a movie and put aside all preconceived notions, seeing the film solely on its own terms -- possible but not all that likely. And that does harm to the movie itself, because as much as it may be admirable, an audience expecting something else has to fight disappointment. All of this applies to Hustlers, the recent drama about women trying to make a living i...