Skip to content

Sarah Michelle Gellar Honors Michelle Trachtenberg

Search AI Powered
Human content, AI powered search.

Latest Stories

Benedict Cumberbatch Offers Thoughtful Response To Sam Elliott's 'Power Of The Dog' Criticism

Benedict Cumberbatch Offers Thoughtful Response To Sam Elliott's 'Power Of The Dog' Criticism
VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images; Greg Doherty/Getty Images for Wynn Las Vegas
John Curtis
By John CurtisMar 08, 2022
John Curtis
A novelist, picture book writer and native New Yorker, John is a graduate of Syracuse University and the children's media graduate program at Centennial College. When not staring at his computer monitor, you'll most likely find John sipping tea watching British comedies, or in the kitchen, taking a stab at the technical challenge on the most recent episode of 'The Great British Baking Show'.
See Full Bio

The Power of the Dog is nominated for 11 Academy Awards—the most nominations of any film this year.

Included among its 11 nominations are Best Picture, Best Director for Jane Campion and Best Actor for Benedict Cumberbatch.

The critically acclaimed film tells the story of unruly cowboy Phil Burbank who finds himself forced to face his toxic masculinity and repressed homosexuality after his brother's new wife and stepson begin to live with them on their ranch.

As reported previously, not among the film's fans is Academy Award nominated actor Sam Elliott.

Elliott, a veteran of several Western films, openly criticized the film in an appearance on the podcast WTF with Marc Maron. Elliott derided The Power of the Dog, calling it a “piece of sh*t" and took particular exception to any "allusions of homosexuality" being in a Western.

Cumberbatch addressed Elliott's criticisms as part of The British Academy of Film And Television Awards (BAFTA) Film Sessions.

While never mentioning Elliott by name, the two-time Oscar nominee brought up all the criticisms unleashed upon the film.

"I’m trying very hard not to say anything about a very odd reaction that happened the other day on a radio podcast over here."
"Someone really took offense to—I haven’t heard it so it’s unfair for me to comment in detail on it—to the West being portrayed in this way.”

Cumberbatch emphasized how important it was to tell Phil Burbank's story, as there were definitely men who struggled with those issues during the period the film was set and who face the same struggles today.

"There's also a massive intolerance within the world at large towards homosexuality still, towards the acceptance to any kind of difference."
"These people still exist in our world."
" Whether it’s on our doorstep or whether it’s down the road or whether it’s someone we meet in a bar or pub or on the sports field, there is aggression and anger and frustration and an inability to control or know who you are in that moment that causes damage to that person and, as we know, damage to those around them."

Cumberbatch was hopeful that the lessons taught in the film might have an effect on the way we look at repression and toxic masculinity.

"There’s no harm in looking at a character to get to the root causes of that."
"This is a very specific case of repression, but also due to an intolerance for that true identity that Phil is that he can’t fully be."
“The more we look under the hood of toxic masculinity and try to discover the root causes of it, the bigger chances we have of dealing with it when it arises with our children.”

Cumberbatch's eloquent response received praise on Twitter.







While other's took the opportunity to call out Sam Elliott.




This wasn't the first time Cumberbatch addressed criticism directed towards the multi Oscar-nominated film.

Cumberbatch addressed blowback he received for agreeing to play a gay character.

"I feel very sensitive about representation, diversity and inclusion."
“One of the appeals of the job was the idea that in this world, with this specific character, there was a lot that was private, hidden from view."
"It wasn’t done without thought."
"I also feel slightly like, is this a thing where our dance card has to be public."

Latest News

Pope Leo
Trending

White Sox Fan Pope Leo's Trolling Response To Someone Shouting 'Go Cubs!' Has The Internet Cackling

screenshot of CNN interview of Tim Sheehy by Kaitlan Collins
Donald Trump

MAGA Senator Stunned Into Silence After CNN Host Brutally Fact-Checks Him On Trump Funding Cuts

Tim Walz; Karoline Leavitt
Political News

Tim Walz Offers Perfect Clapback After Karoline Leavitt Makes Bonkers Claim About Democratic Voters

Screenshot from u/Reality_Rose/Reddit
Trending

Thrifter Floored After Finding Poignant Notes From Original Owner Left In Vintage Purses

More from News/lgbtq

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

AOC Has Mic Drop Response To MAGA Republicans Who Try To Mock 'Democratic Priorities'

New York Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez issued a powerful rebuke against President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, pointing out why mocking things like affordable housing and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as "Democrat priorities" ultimately hurts Republicans.

Ocasio-Cortez, speaking during a CNN town hall alongside Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, accused Republicans of refusing to work to end the government shutdown, stressing that the country’s health care system could collapse if Republicans refuse to meet Democrats’ demands in negotiations.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from New Berlin Public Library's 'trust fall' skit
@newberlinlibrary/Instagram

Wisconsin Public Library Has Internet Cackling With Unexpectedly Hilarious 'Trust Fall' Video

When we think of the library, we think of books awaiting us on the shelves—but the New Berlin Public Library in Wisconsin is here to remind us that public libraries contain so much more.

This library in particular contains a "Library of Things," in which the public can access otherwise expensive items for free, like boardgames, learning resources, and even Halloween costumes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dave Taylor
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

GOP Rep. Blames Coordinated 'Ruse' After Swastika Image Is Seen Displayed In His Office

Ohio Republican Representative Dave Taylor demanded an investigation after a swastika image was found on display in his Washington, D.C., office, and blamed it on a "targeted" "ruse."

Politico obtained a photo from a virtual meeting showing a distorted image of the American flag—its red and white lines altered into the shape of a swastika— pinned to what appears to be a cubicle wall behind Angelo Elia, a staffer for Taylor. Beside it hung a pocket Constitution and a congressional calendar. Elia’s involvement in the incident, if any, remains unclear.

Keep ReadingShow less
A kitchen counter with appliances all over it
sink beside window
Photo by Arun Clarke on Unsplash

Everyday Items People Didn't Realize Were Super Expensive Until They Had To Buy Them

As children, we dream of becoming adults.

Living our own lives in our own homes, no longer under the rules and regulations of our parents.

Keep ReadingShow less
deceased family dog named Chop
KFOX14/CBS4

Popular Account 'We Rate Dogs' Unloads On Border Patrol For Killing Family's Beloved Dog During Search

As the internet evolved, certain social media accounts became known for providing wholesome, feel good content, like I Can Has Cheezburger?, The Dodo, and We Rate Dogs. Unsurprisingly, all three focus primarily on animals, offering amusing or heartfelt stories, videos, and memes as an escape from the trials and tribulations of daily life.

But the folks at We Rate Dogs recently took a departure from their usual content.

Keep ReadingShow less