Posted on 01/29/2005 7:48:01 PM PST by Hildy
Robert De Niro and American Express are being criticized for a new 30-second TV ad airing in the U.S. and the U.K. which includes shots of the now barren site of the World Trade Center. In the ad, directed by Martin Scorsese, De Niro walks through New York, referring to "My East .. my West Side." When he arrives at Ground Zero, he remarks, "My heartbreak." (The spot's tagline is: "My life. My card.") Brand Republic, an online publication covering advertising and marketing, said that the spot is drawing flak for exploiting the 9/11 tragedy.
Sounds pretty tasteless.
Will they do one with Penelope Cruz (Spanish) where she walks through Madrid and stops at the train station?
Well my immediate reaction is that it isn't bad.
Why is it bad for him to say "my heartbreak" as he looks at the wreckage of 9/11? Are we now to pretend that this event and area does not exist? it is valid for public figures to mention, it is valid for commercials, if done tastefully, sounds like this one is tasteful.
Crass, tacky - but if it serves to remind a wide audience of what we stand to lose if we forget that day, I can live with it.
Try this one: http://us.imdb.com/news/sb/
If you knew what AMEX did for (and is doing) NYC in the aftermath of 9-11 you'd sign up now. The spots are no more exploitive of the terrorist attact than the bronze statue of 1st responders is.
Of course, like the libs, some just need to disparage.
I've seen it and I hate it, but only because DeNiro is such a self-indulgent jackass, sort of like an even older version of Sean Penn than Sean Penn.
There was once a time when boundaries of respect were just understood. Now...the envelope is just constantly pushed.
Really? Tell us. I really want to know.
Hmm...I'm not sure if it's completely tasteless.
America is built on enterprise. New York is a shopping, money spending city.
If the ad attracts people - particularly overseas visitors -back to New York, to spend money, while still remembering what happened on 9/11..why not?
I'd like to see the advert on-air to see if I think it's offensive. Normally, I get an immediate 'gut' reaction from something on seeing it, if it's tasteless.
I believe its tasteless. Sure he has the right think of it as his "My Heartbreak" but don't use it to sell a credit card.
I see it all the time. I think it is fantastic.
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