A couple of days ago I noted another pan of Cuban’s “Redacted,” and he fired back with this:
Wick, Far be it from me to dispute your omnipotent wisdom on this film. And I appreciate your concern for my financial well being in the movie business. If anyone understands the challenges of running a media business, its you. You make it seem as if there arent any positive reviews. Not that Im suprised that such “fair and balanced” blogging would come from you. If anyone has an interest in seeing all reviews listed, good and bad, they can head over to rotten tomatoes http://www.rottentomatoes.com/ Thanks for the independent and objective journalism Wick. We can always count of D Mag and Front Burner for that.
And thanks to you, Mark. You are always good for a little self-righteous indigation, and at least this time you didn’t call and curse at the receptionist. So let’s go to your points.
1) Recognizing the omnipotence of my wisdom is a good way to start, but the next step is to avail yourself of it before you produce a bombastic, tedentious attack on the American military. 2) Yes, I do know something about the media business. One lesson I might impart to you is to refrain from joining the tiny leftist, hate-America claque that is, unfortunately, a part of it. 3) I’m sure there are positive reviews of “Redacted” but I am not interested in sharing those because I want–and expect–the movie to tank. 4) This is an “independent” view, as you note, but hardly objective, because I feel very strongly on the matter. I feel very strongly about most things we publish in D Magazine, which is why I publish them. I don’t know where you got “fair and balanced” — probably you are confusing me with Fox News (not that I blame you for the confusion; it’s true I’m almost as popular and certainly more telegenic than most of their male announcers) — but I have never tried to be fair and balanced. Quite to the contrary, I try to tell the truth. It’s an exercise that might refresh you the next time you undertake to describe the honorable men and women who sacrifice themselves so that you are free to contribute whatever you think you are contributing to American society.
40 comments
Can’t you two see you love each other?
Why does Wick hate traditional American values, like due process and habeus corpus and stuff? That’s all we want to know…
“…a bombastic, tedentious attack on the American military”? TOTALLY. I mean, it’s not like an individual in our military would EVER rape or kill civilians, like the fictional characters in this film. And God forbid anyone have, say, an opinion on that type of story. When things are unpleasant, it’s best to downplay them, make them sound better, or just flat out lie. Unless, of course, they can be used to scare people into behaving a certain way.
Do Wick and Bill O’Reilly share the same loofah?
So which years did you serve, Wick?
Alot of the time people don’t go to D Magazine for real news information anyway. D Magazine is a soft news magazine that is interesting to the Dallas newcomer but not to the seasoned veteran. It “reports” the same types of stories year in and year out: Best Doctors, the retail run-down, the Best Restaurants, schools and suburbia ratings, where the most expensive houses are, Best Lawyers in Dallas…hasn’t anyone noticed that it’s pretty much the same stuff over and over again? Check out the archive covers.
The focus shouldn’t be on Wick’s long stay at the trough of neocon Kool-Aid. The focus should be on how much of a crush he has on Cuban. He hates that Cuban has been ignoring him. So Wick, with nothing new to add about the movie, has to try to stir up another slap fight four days after hearing nothing. He’s like a girl who didn’t get the call four days after the date.
1970-72, Daniel. How about you?
Jenny,
D Magazine is mostly unapologetic fluff — but it does have the occasional worthy cover feature. It is what it is. The magazine’s editorial crew seems far hipper than the material it serves. (”The 10 Sexiest Local Newscasters! Page 42″)
At all events, if Dallas were a cool enough city to rate a TimeOut, I guess we’d have one by now.
Well, Wick, I stand corrected and I acknowledge as much.
Wow, for all those people who hate Wick and his magazine, there sure seems a fair amount that pay attention to it/him.
keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Wick is Bush league when it comes to Mark Cuban and it is obvious now it makes him a little nuts.
The brutal rape and killing reinacted in Redacted is a brutral reality. It doesn’t really concern Mr. Allison as it didn’t happen in Highland Park.
He is trying to bait Cuban, and chance are he has moved on to this next project/film/
investment while Wick is stuck looking for
the best hot dog relish in Dallas.
Again, out of your league dude…way way the
f*ck out of your league. You should go after the editor of the Ducanville News.
The bottom line is that most people have come to believe this war is useless and therefore illegal. It doesn’t matter what Wick did in 1972. It matters that the truth about this war comes out and ends as soon as possible.
If TimeOut ever comes to Dallas, it will be the end of D Magazine.
Jack Jett
Couldn’t agree with Jett more. You’re a douche bag Allison. It’s sad that you have to resort to right-wing shock value to get any public response. Your magazines are vain and petty, and the people that do things in this city (rather than just sit back and report on them) don’t give a crap what you think. A few of the people you employee are talented, but you are simply annoying and uninteresting.
A stunning combination of flawless logic and potty-mouthery exhibited by the left side of the aisle. Like the war or don’t, but we presently have troops in harm’s way, and under no scenario can this “movie” be a good thing for our troops at the present. But Mr. Cuban, this is America, so feel free to knock yourself out. However, if you really want to document, promote, and profit from some atrocities, I would commend to you the many Islamist’s beheading photos and videos out there on the internet. Fertile ground indeed for an ambitious man like you.
Would the beheading’s have happened if Bush had not invaded the country of Iraq under false pretenses?
No one has made a bigger profit from this war that the likes of Halliburton, KPG, Blackwater and those former supporters who have come out with anti-war books.
One can support the troops and not the oops.
Was it an Islamist or an Islamist extremist that did the beheading? Was it a Christian man or an evangelical extremist that started this war?
I don’t think that Mr. Cuban or any true American wants this “fertile” ground that you speak of. My guess is that, just like the Iraqis, they want their family and friends back safe and sound, and of course,
Peace,
Jack Jett
Y’all are too distracted with all this talk about who served in the military and who has a crush on Cubes. Let’s get back to the meat of the subject. Some of us believe very strongly that it’s un-American for a government to arrest people in secret, to hold them in secret prisons without due process or judicial oversight, and to engage in torture, not to mention other practices like secret, warrantless wiretapping. On the other side are people who contend that it’s un-American to criticize our own government even when it engages in these activities. Wick stirred up this discussion, and his comments clearly imply that he belongs in the second category, the folks that favor patriotism over principles.
If you aren’t for real American values, then you aren’t really for America. Would you agree, Wick? If not, then why?
Open letter to Wick AND Cuban.
I am disgusted with you both. Cuban is a crybaby who cannot take criticism and Wick has fallen and tripped on the good old Stars and Stripes…you are a self-righteous snob. Do you believe we are (as Americans) incapable of atrocities in wartime? Or – do you think that every American soldier looks and acts as you do? I can assure you – they do not. Chances are – you would not allow them to cut your grass.
Anything involving Cuban makes me physically ill – especially his ambiguously gay rants about his toys.
Later
The reason elite rich people enjoy sniping at the military or the US is because they can.
Risk the Theo van Gogh treatment, not a chance.
Screw the mavericks.
Yeah, Steve. Because one thing this country sorely lacks is rich elites spewing anti-Islamic commentary.
Mark my words: Once the world sees this movie, our troops will cease to be welcomed as liberating heroes.
It’ll be a mess, a morass. All because Mark Cuban hates America.
Abeer Qasim Hamza was 14 at the time she was gang raped by American soldiers. This is not in dispute. Her body was then doused with kerosene and set afire. Again, not in dispute. In addition to other family members, her 7 year old sister was shot in the head.
The soldiers lied and tried to cover it up. As usual, the mainstream media gave this story very little attention. Mark Cuban makes a film to highlight this tragedy and Wick Allison points out that the award winning flick is not a money maker, while others call him unpatriotic. You can only shoot so many messengers before you have to accept the truth.
Why not see it for the sad story it is? Is the rape and murder of a young child only tragic if it happens in Highland Park?
Jack Jett
Gwoyn, you may be confusing Islamic and Islamist.
My son was with the 3/1, so I’m a little sensitive to propaganda
That being that, I believe depalma and cuban just got the one-fingered salute from US audience. However, throw some Arabic subtitles on that puppy, and it’ll make a dandy recruiting film, maybe even pull down a couple of bucks, if indeed admission is not free.
Huh?
Gwyon, there is a difference.
Perhaps you are mistaking the discussion of inherent problems of *Islamism* with condemnation of all *Islamics*.
You can expect this film to be very popular among Islamists, count on it.
Steve
Are you sensitive to the propaganda that George Bush promoted a war against Iraq to retaliate for 9/11? How about WMD’s?
Are you convinced that this rape and murder did not happen? What propaganda could you be talking about????James Izzard
Steve, don’t try to obfuscate. I addressed something you said. Now, seemingly unable to argue the point, you’re trying to scamper off on a tangent.
Good point, Steve. The terrists are having one hell of a time luring recruits these days. The question they most frequently get is, But isn’t America the good guys?
This film will do a great, great deal to help their recruitment efforts. I suspect, just as you incisively suggested, that Mark Cuban plans to do just that by foregoing profits when the film is shown in the Middle East. If we don’t win in Iraq, it will be the fault of Mark Cuban, Michael Moore, et al, for undermining the Bush administration’s profoundly competent leadership.
Jack Jett, Gwyon and their simple-minded ilk don’t “get it” that this is a battle of Good vs. Evildoers, much as one sees in comic books. They condone making propaganda films for Al-Quaeda — all because the terrists just need “understanding” and a “hug.” Sigh!
Jizz, I have no interest in left wing boilerplate, but the facts are that the previous administration’s rhetoric was even more heated than this administration’s irt Saddam.
As for the rape and murder – it was a story that just had to be fictionalized and exploited, wasn’t it? It probably made depalma feel better about himself, that’s what’s important.
The American people see through it though, and that’s why the film raked in the “big” dollars.
And why this marine dad will never spend a penny on anything to do with cuban, or depalma. KMA.
Gwyon, your point was unclear. If you are suggesting this country is rife with anti-muslim rage, then you must be looking very hard to see it.
My assumption was that you did not know the difference between Islamic and Islamist, so of course when people speak ill of Islamism, you may have believed it is condemnation of the whole Muslim world.
I’ll type this slowly, Steve. You implied that this country’s “rich elites” are afraid to speak ill of Islam for fear that they be murdered. But there is an entire portion of our nation’s “rich elite” that is devoted to doing just that. Among them: The Family Podhoretz, The Family Kristol, Anne Coulter, Michelle Malkin, John Gibson, David Horowitz, Dan Savage, Glen Beck, Jonah Goldberg, etc.
“If you are suggesting this country is rife with anti-muslim rage, then you must be looking very hard to see it.” —Steve
Pfft!
People are only enraged at Muslims if and when they go to Six Flags. Shucks, I would hardly call that “hysterical.”
Daniel…
I think you are taking the piss out of us and I must say you are excellent. I consider myself the king of pratical jokesters but you had me going big time. I think the Six Flags comment gave it away.
Very funny stuff…really…serously fun and funny.
Gwyon….you are right on..but do you mean
Michael Savage instead of Dan Savage? If I am correct Dan is a gay writer who with his partner have adopted two Muslim children.
I could have my Savages mixed up.
I am sure that Steve is very concerned for his son and doesn’t want to think that his battle was for naught.
Steve, I hope you son is home safe and in one piece and if not, I hope he will be.
Whatever our differences, we can agree that your son’s safety is a priority…James Izzard
You’re right, Jizz. I meant Michael Savage, not Dan.
Wick says
“One lesson I might impart to you is to refrain from joining the tiny leftist, hate-America claque that is, unfortunately, a part of it.”
Wick..do you mean the anti war element of our society? If so, you are way off base with the word “tiny”. Last time I checked it was about 70 percent of Americans were against this war. This doesn’t mean they hate America. You are smarter than that.
I would be interested in hearing from your employees and see how they feel about this war.
Would you allow them to comment?
Jack Jett
Gwyon, it is apparent I am correct, you are unaware of the difference between Islamic and Islamist.
Daniel. I’m sure that this anti-Muslim-day group is as representative of Americans on the whole as the Marines depicted in depalma’s piece are representative or the USMC.
Jizz: You are correct in terming this a battle, not a war. And the tide does appear to be turning. And thank you for the sentiment, but he has already returned. He is very concerned for his mates however.
I might mention that he believes that very few people here actually aware of what is happening in Iraq due to an irresponsible media.
Steve, that distinction is a red herring. It has nothing to do with your original point; moreover, it could only serve to weaken it. Do you not see that?
Gwyon, my original point stands regardless of the other issues introduced.
For lllustration, let us revisit abu ghraib.
The NYT ran this on the cover 20-plus times, lots of graphics.
However they, like all US media, declined to illustrate the news reports of the “cartoon riots” with the actual cartoons which led to the rage.
In both instances, Muslims would be outraged, correct?
The only difference being where that outrage would be directed.
Publication of the abu ghraib photos would increase tribal anger at the Marines in theatre of war.
Publication of the mohammed cartoons would direct fundamentalist ire at the staff of the NYT.
When Cuban backs a film which insults radical Islam, I’ll revisit my positon.
Steve
I would love to understand your argument, however, to be honest, you don’t make a lick of sense.
The main thing is that your son is safe and sound and you can enjoy Thanksgiving with him and many holidays to come.
The same is not true for Abeer Qasim Hamza, who this story is really about.
These men(?) raped her, killed her, burned her body and killed her family. That is not an American, it is a murderer.
Jack Jett
Jack-
This is not a movie about murderers, it is a movie about Marine Murderers.
A story according to depalma “must be told” in order to “rub our noses in it”
That suggests a narrative, a POV.
I have my own, which is a kid, 5 years USMC, Sargeant, Veteran of Timor, Yemen, Iraq, all the resorts.
This kid busted his ass for Muslims, he risked his life, they killed his friends, but he fought for them, his friends died to free people, not to provide a story line for depalma.
So I have my POV as well.
I unfortunately don’t have billions of dollars to make movies, but I am assured that those Marines I hold in respect have done more to change the world than depalma
In my experience, Marines are exemplary people
The part of my response you did not understand was to support that some decry atrocities rather selectively.
You cite the anti-Islam hysteria here in the US with general references to those who address it. There is a confusion.
The recently released crime figures do not support this notion of hysteria, but in all places muslims are dominant, there is continued dysfunctionalism, and the majority of our wars in the past 20 years are *in defense of Muslims*.