It shows how out of it I was in trying to be in it, acknowledging that I was out of it to myself, and then thinking, “Okay, how do I stop being out of it? Well, I get some legitimate illogical narrative ideas” — some novel, you know?
So I decided on three writers that I might be able to option their material and get some producer, or myself as producer, and then get some writer to do a screenplay on it, and maybe make a movie.
And so the three projects were “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” “Naked Lunch” and a collection of Bukowski. Which, in 1975, forget it — I mean, that was nuts. Hollywood would not touch any of that, but I was looking for something commercial, and I thought that all of these things were coming.
There would be no Blade Runner if there was no Ray Bradbury. I couldn’t find Philip K. Dick. His agent didn’t even know where he was. And so I gave up.
I was walking down the street and I ran into Bradbury — he directed a play that I was going to do as an actor, so we know each other, but he yelled “hi” — and I’d forgot who he was.
So at my girlfriend Barbara Hershey’s urging — I was with her at that moment — she said, “Talk to him! That guy really wants to talk to you,” and I said “No, fuck him,” and keep walking.
But then I did, and then I realized who it was, and I thought, “Wait, he’s in that realm, maybe he knows Philip K. Dick.” I said, “You know a guy named—” “Yeah, sure — you want his phone number?”
My friend paid my rent for a year while I wrote, because it turned out we couldn’t get a writer. My friends kept on me about, well, if you can’t get a writer, then you write.”
~ Hampton Fancher
“That was the most disappointing thing to me in how this thing was played. Is that I’m on the phone with you now, after all that’s been said, and the fundamental distinction between what James is dealing with in these other cases is not actually brought to the fore. The fundamental difference is that James Franco didn’t seek to use his position to have sex with anyone. There’s not a case of that. He wasn’t using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had — if that were what the accusation involved — the show would not have gone on. We would have folded up shop and we would have not completed the show. Because then it would have been the same as Harvey Weinstein, or Les Moonves, or any of these cases that are fundamental to this new paradigm. Did you not notice that? Why did you not notice that? Is that not something notable to say, journalistically? Because nobody could find the voice to say it. I’m not just being rhetorical. Why is it that you and the other critics, none of you could find the voice to say, “You know, it’s not this, it’s that”? Because — let me go on and speak further to this. If you go back to the L.A. Times piece, that’s what it lacked. That’s what they were not able to deliver. The one example in the five that involved an issue of a sexual act was between James and a woman he was dating, who he was not working with. There was no professional dynamic in any capacity.
~ David Simon
Does Columbia WANT Closer shut out of acting nominations? If they would run each actor in seperate categories, esp. if they put the big names, Julia and Jude, in the lead categories, then they are nearly assured of at least two noms for Natalie and Clive.
Much as I like Mark Ruffalo, I don’t really think he will have a chance for BA in that movie.
You forgot another male lead: Don Cheadle in Hotel Rwanda.
I’d love to see William Sadler nominated.. He’s got to be one of the best, but underused actors around..
What about Peter Sarsgaard? After just missing a deserved Supporting Actor nod last year for SHATTERED GLASS, he’s following a brilliant funny-sad turn in GARDEN STATE with an already-talked-about role in KINSEY. Surely he’ll be nominated for one of those (KINSEY, most likely).
Who would have thought Lowell from Wings can win an Oscar?
I love Paul Giamatti. Top notch actor, and one of
the best revelations ever brought about because of
Howard Stern. However, I hope Poland goes into a
little more detail when it comes to Sideways, because
the trailer makes it look like another emotional-detached
film from Alexander Payne. No offense to anyone who
likes Payne’s work, but I have had all the emotional
detachment on film I can stand. Hopefully the movie
does not fit this description, but the trailer
did absolutely nothing for me except give me that
same chilly feeling all Alexander Payne films seem
to give.
Also, with Closer, Sony might as well go with this
angle, because does anyone see Julia getting any
love from this film? Jude Law? If anyone gets
any love from this film it will be Portman (Someone
had to have had loved her in Garden State enough
to make this a Broadbent like nomination) and Owen.
Who pretty much does this whole acting thing flawlessly.
For some reason, the trailers really sell this point
by making it look as if Portman and Owen carry the film
dramatically, and Law and Roberts in particular, are
there just to help box office.
just don’t see closer being a “closer” and winning awards. julia doesn’t inspire confidence and clive owen isn’t exactly an electrifying performer.
How could you all possibly forget the sensitive understatement of Richard Roxburgh in VAN HELSING?