From 1982-91, director Barry Levinson could do no wrong. I wasn’t a fan of all his early work (“Rain Man,” for one, annoyed the hell out of me), but he could at least be counted on to deliver quality:
“Diner,” The Natural,” “Tin Men,” “Good Morning, Vietnam,” “Rain Man,” “Avalon” and “Bugsy,” in order of release.
Not a bad resume. So what happened to Levinson? Since then, with the exception of the entertaining but overrated “Wag the Dog,” he’s made nothing but crap:
“Toys,” “Jimmy Hollywood,” “Disclosure,” “Sphere,” “Bandits” “Envy” and Robin Williams’ latest, “Man of the Year.”
Though the comparison isn’t seamless, he’s become what DeNiro and Pacino have become to acting, choosing commerce over art and embarrassment over respect.
