Boo-ray for Non-Hollywood

The other day I was in a bit of an artsy mood, as TorsoPants sometimes are, so I decided to watch some independent and foreign films. And I have to say, as much crap as Hollywood gets for lack of quality, they sure have it all over everyone else when it comes to making movies.
I'm not saying Hollywood doesn't suck, I'm just saying that once you consider the alternative, it starts to look a heck of a lot better. People who defend indies as being superior to mainstream movies are quick to point out the handful of successes. But when you look at the percentages, you quickly realize Hollywood is the clear winner.

Yeah, Reservoir Dogs was an indie. But for every Reservoir Dogs there are roughly 100 movies made up of little more than 90 minutes of black and white shots of an Indonesian boy crying in a field right before the movie ends with a 10 minute shot of a dead goat.

It seems "indie" is just another word for "not entertaining." And I get it, smart people - Movies aren't always about being entertained. But as much as the mainstream panders to the public's funny bone and bloodlust, the "under the radar" filmmakers pander to our emotions and intellect.

And foreign films are no better. For every cool martial arts epic there are a few dozen movies composed of nothing but two German people speaking to each other in a darkened bedroom while facing opposite walls. "Oh, I get it. It's helping me grow as a person because I'm bored out of my mind."

So, yeah, Hollywood made Norbit and everything starring Jessica Alba, but they also made the Jason Bourne movies and No Country for Old Men. It's all too easy for you unknown filmmakers to say "Hollywood sucks" so you can justify the fact that no one wants to make your crappy movie, but you'll become a good director when you admit that you're the one who sucks.