Take, for example, the error-laden review of Guillermo del Toro's excellent The Shape of Water, which was published by The Observer on December 19 before being quickly edited. Written by veteran film critic Rex Reed, the piece mistakenly credited the film to "Benecio Del Toro."
Of course, that mistake alone is a cruel gift that keeps on giving — not only did Reed credit the flick to an actor that had nothing to do with it, but he also misspelled the man's first name.
Outside of that, Reed said that Benicio was from Spain, which makes it confusing as to whom he was even referring. After all, Benicio Del Toro is from Puerto Rico and Guillermo del Toro is from Mexico.
As if that weren't enough, Reed also referred to Sally Hawkins' character as being "mentally handicapped" in the film. He also failed to credit the film's co-writer Vanessa Taylor.
Read reactions and screenshots from the mishap below, including a response from
Thanks to Indiewire for the tip.
so rex reed's review of @shapeofwater calls sally hawkins' mute chacter elisa "mentally handicapped", credits benecio del toro (who has nothing to do with the film) as dir/writer instead of guillermo del toro and doesn't even bother crediting vanessa taylor, the co-writer pic.twitter.com/OSMaSJsSna
— dilara (@marioncotilards) December 20, 2017
Wherein Rex Reed calls Guillermo del Toro Benecio del Toro, refers to him as being from Spain, and calls the mute lead character mentally handicapped. Dumbfuckery at its finest. https://t.co/3PQ5eI6zCo
— Ted Geoghegan (@tedgeoghegan) December 20, 2017
What an honor it would be to get a bad review from Rex Reed. Alas Benecio (sic) can enjoy it for now...
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) December 20, 2017
Oh, and, apparently, Benecio (sic) is from Spain.Which, obviously, I am not.
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) December 20, 2017
When you think Guillermo del Toro is Benicio Del Toro and you also can't even spell the incorrect name correctly. pic.twitter.com/DjlEDLIMMP
— John Squires (@FreddyInSpace) December 20, 2017
he even misspells "Benicio" while mistaking benicio del toro for guillermo. he's a long-established critic, and i can only assume this review wasn't edited: https://t.co/8hcRtu6Ahh
— Gavia Baker-Whitelaw (@Hello_Tailor) December 20, 2017
like think about how many young, talented film critics are out here with new perspectives and who know the difference between, say, guillermo del toro and, i don't know, benicio del toro and who don't also misspell the name that was wrong to begin with, like, just as an example
— mi burrito sabanero (dj laz remix) (@soalexgoes) December 20, 2017
Rex Reed misspelling "Benicio del Toro" while mistakenly giving him credit for Guillermo del Toro's film elevates this fuckup to the realm of conceptual art
— Charles Bramesco (@intothecrevasse) December 20, 2017
"Among my favorite films this year is WONDER WOMAN, the latest release from [glances at palm] Barri Jenkins"
— Charles Bramesco (@intothecrevasse) December 20, 2017