By David Poland poland@moviecitynews.com
Sony Summer Dates
The Lords Of Dogtown – 6/10
Fun With Dick and Jane – 6/24
Bewitched – 7/8
Stealth – 7/29
Deuce Bigalow: European Gigalow – 8/12
April 20, 2024
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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
Is the Lords of Dogtown really necessary after the excellent documentary from last year?
Fun with Dick and Jane, again necessary? I’m not a big Jim Carrey fan, however on the upside Judd Apatow. Hmmmm.
Bewitched, could Will Ferrell be due for a dud? I’m not sure if I want to see this one.
Stealth, I haven’t seen Jerry Bruckheimer’s name anywhere near this and I do like action movies plus W.D. Richter and Rob Cohen I might have to give this one a look.
Deuce Bigalow, um well the first one was funny.
Between the Hot Button rundown of summer releases and the Hot Blog updates with additional info…all I can say is…I can’t wait to hear what the indies and the dependents are offering. With the *possible* exception of the redundant Dogtown, that Sony slate looks fairly atrocious.
I’ll give Dogtown a try because the docu was pretty damn good.
I think Will Ferrell already had his dud – “Anchorman.” Not only was it not that funny, but while I’m sure it made a profit, it should have done far more box office than it did.
since when is a comedy that cost 26 million to make and grossed over a 100 mill worldwide and will probably double that on video, considered a dud?
get ur head out of ur arse
bicycle bob, did Anchorman really cost only $26 million to make? I remember reading that the budget was around $50 million or so. And I do think its domestic box office was disappointing. No one really expected Dodgeball to make more money here. But, I agree, it certainly wasn’t a dud.
don’t have the exact figures (maybe david can help) but i did read and saw the production logs and it said 26 million for anchorman. which would mean a solid hit. especially with the dvd sales coming up.
Anchorman looked like a disappointment in comparison to Dodgeball, but the movie still did something like $85 million. I really doubt that when Dreamworks signed on they expected to do even that much. Plus a ton more on DVD. Anchorman is the sort of movie that comes just BEFORE a dud. I never saw it, but it did a solid $85 mill on Ferrell’s name alone. Word of mouth was not so great, which down the line hurts his next film.
What word of mouth? All I hear is how great it was. Its not made for people over 50. Come on now. Even Pep’s Mom liked it.
At least my mom didn’t drop me on my head like yours did to you. Intentionally. 75 times.
Hmmm. Not much Christmas spirit in THIS area.
Pepper, you are the most bitter person to post on this site. On every subject. No every person. Maybe you need to wake up on the right side of the bed or get laid. Would that help your disposition?
Really sorry about my part in it. It’s just that when I checked in earlier, I saw that Mark woke up this cheery morning and, in the spirit of the holidays, took it upon himself to goad me all over this website.
Blue Stealer –
Thanks for your generous advice but, really, I’m not feeling bitter at all. Maybe just a little tired because, in fact, I did get laid last night. Four times. And she was soooooo good! Please thank your mother for me.
Pepper: Lay off the mother remarks. You’re better than that.
You’re right, Joe, and much appreciated. I promise: No more mother retorts.
Don’t worry about Pepper. Its her time of the month.