Can Variety get a Mulligan?

Just read today about a “controversy” about Variety’s review of the movie Promising Young Woman. Just in case Variety changes its mind about this, here is a picture of the apology now appended to the head of the review:

Now, Variety is an industry rag, of course, but it still purports to be journalism. Take a look at the review and see if you think there is something problematic about a critic expressing an opinion that the lead role was somewhat miscast. Granted, it’s possible, I suppose, if one believes that the Academy gives a shit what critics think, that this modest complaint might harm Carey Mulligan’s chances of being nominated for Best Actress next month. There’s a first time for everything—even though the critic praises the performance itself (“skillful, entertaining and challenging”). Mulligan complained about the review, which she felt was somewhat misogynistic for suggesting, she felt, that she, Carey Mulligan, was less attractive than Margot Robbie, a producer on the film, and that that opinion engages in a problematic way with the subject matter of the movie (rape culture and #MeToo).

A successful, popular actor finding fault with a critic’s take is hardly news. An actor willfully reading malevolence into that review is also not news. But the publisher of the review actually printing an apology that takes the actor’s position as read, without examination, is news, and the news is bad. Variety is “sincerely” apologizing to a subject of its journalism for an opinion that Variety editorially reviewed and signed-off on, effectively throwing the writer (and editor) under the bus, because the review was mildly critical. Having seen Promising Young Woman, I happen to agree with the writer—Carrie Mulligan is somewhat miscast in the role—but even if I didn’t, an apology is ridiculous. It should bother everyone who writes and thinks about film.

I tend to believe that Carey Mulligan was genuinely bothered by the way the review was written. She has a right to her opinion, obviously, but it should perhaps be taken with a grain of salt since a movie she stars in is being criticized. I do not really believe that she is cynically working the awards press circuit via this complaint, although other people might be pushing this story for that reason, an analysis that only the entire history of Hollywood supports. But Variety’s job is to not be taken in by this obvious bullshit. You don’t apologize for publishing a perfectly reasonable review because an actor doesn’t like it!