Peter Berg is NOT a hack

I am so sick of people complaining about how someone like Berg, or Michael Mann, or Paul Greengrass uses handy-cam shots rather than traditional cinematography. I am sick of people claiming that Berg is trying to imitate, if not become Michael Mann. And above all, I am sick of people saying that he is a hack.

You have your preferences. Go watch Malick if you want the camera to be completely still. But if you watch Berg's movies, without prejudice, you'll find he is actually a happy medium between Mann and Greengrass, with the ability to choose scripts that have some entertainment value. Let's face it. Aside from Collateral, Mann has a tendency to make very serious movies. Even Miami Vice was somber. And Greengrass is just the same. The two Bourne sequels are very no-nonsense. Whereas Berg can take a story like The Kingdom and add in some humor. He can make it easy to watch, as well as thrilling. And unlike the other two directors, he has taken a risk in another genre with Hancock, in this case the superhero genre. From where I was sitting, the result was awesome. It is a fun and entertaining movie, with a very different story. But that scares these days. Unless it's a sequel or remake, originality is considered "terrible" or "awful" or "crappy," or even in the vulgar cases "sh!tty." Hancock has all the powers of Superman, but with something that Superman could never have....humanity. That's what makes it unique. But, original and unique aren't allowed in Hollywood anymore. That's why Michael Bay still gets work. Good job, dweebs.

Peter Berg isn't at the level of Michael Mann yet, but he has a lot more promise than most directors out there. You can complain that other directors are more worthy, but the fact is he is already well connected in the business. If he wants to direct instead of act, why shouldn't he be allowed to? The Rundown was popular enough to give him a push, and Friday Night Lights was an excellent film. He has earned a place as a Hollywood director, doing a variety of films. If that's what makes him a hack, then you must be sad and miserable people. He took a huge risk with Hancock, and it paid off. So why is he all of the sudden a target? He has the balls to make a different kind of movie. That's more than you can say about most people who have nothing going for them but the ability to bitch about movies they didn't like. Jealousy is a sad thing, really.

I want some toquitos!