Giving Credit Where Credit's Due.

All right, I've talked about this before, but it needs to be said. Something's rotten in the state of Hollywood. Writers are run-over. Few people even know what a producer does anymore. Stars are receiving credit for the writing of films. Directors are receiving credit, only when you know there names, otherwise they may as well be writers (which many of them are).

So now, I will examine a few innocent, albeit insipid comments your average movie-goer may make after a film.

"That movie was really funny! Will Ferrell is so funny!"
Who's Getting Credit: Actor
Who Deserves It: Writer, Director, Editor, and lastly, Actor

Let's take a look at how a comedy gets made, shall we? First, our writer (or writers) hash out a screenplay, revise it and rethink it, until it's ready for shooting. At this point, the production may already be doomed if the script sucks. Now, the producer sets up the film and well, produces. This has little effect on the ultimate outcome of most comedies, it can be fairly inept or completely immaculate, and it will make little difference. Now, it's our director's job to get the best performance possible out of our actor. Of course, there has to be a good actor in there in the first, place, who can deliver lines as required, and pull proper facial expressions. Now it falls to the director again to pick the best take. It then goes to the editor, who can end up mucking things up if he messes up the timing by cutting too much out, or leaving to much in. This is typically overseen by the director though. Another giant responsibility also falls to the director, deciding which portions of the film will end up on the cutting room floor, and which ones will make it to the silver screen. However, he doesn't get the final say. Usually, a film will be test-screened with audiences, and if there's a particular portion they don't like, it may well be cut. This, along with bogus money grabs, is the reason for all the "Director's Cuts" floating around these days. So, let's recap. Writer writes good script, director gets it done well, actors act well (funnily), director picks best stuff, editor keeps mojo, director cuts fluff, audience shove their stupid faces in it.

"That movie was lame. Michael Bay is a hack."
Blametaker: Director
Responsible: WRITERS, Director, Actors, Producer

All that really fell to Michael Bay was getting the good performances, setting up interesting shots, pacing the film, and cutting the fluff. Even if he failed at all of these (which he has done before) most of the responsibility still falls to the writers.