There is really no question that "Hollywood" makes a few good films each year, a fair few average or mediocre products and a whole slew of drek.
Nor would we disagree, on the whole, I think that there are lots of good 'foreign/indy/art' films each year, though more than a few are also crud.
I would suggest there are more good films in the latter group than the former.
In part because there are simply more non-hollywood films made each year, than hollywood films made each year.
Probably a 3 to 1 margin (excluding Bollywood), conservatively.
Beyond that, I think a higher proportion of non-hollywood films are better because by and and large they are more creatively driven as opposed to consumer-tested w/focus groups.
I don't hate happy endings, but I do viscerally dislike neat, pat, highly improbably endings that have the same feel as a segue on CTV local news from a bloody murder scene to the weather......"Well speaking of Bloody, it was a Bloody hot day today..."
Ick!
The phony factor makes one gag!
My objection though is not so much that Hollywood makes too much laughable crap, as that this is often the only practical choice at the local cinema.
I live near downtown, so the Cumberland, Varsity or Bloor aren't too big an ordeal to get to; though the Royal is a bit more of a pain.
But God Forbid you live in the suburbs, as your chance of seeing anything interesting playing, even at the 30-screen AMC in Vaughan are not good at all.
And even for those in the core, so many good films are confined to the Carlton which has small screens and terrible sightlines. You're almost better waiting for the DVD.
I realize not everyone going to a movie wants their brain exercised, but I refuse to believe that there are no intelligent people in the suburbs (this board proves different).
They too should be able to choose real movies made by people with talent, and not just the dull schlep coming out of H'wood.
If only Alliance had built out the national art house circuit they proposed. Five Toronto area cinemas, at least one in every city over 250,000 offering real cinema 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
But alas......