May 18, 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
Wells bitching about SW? Shocking. That’s what happens
when you ride Gary Kurtz’ jock, and believe he had
the best intentions for the franchise over Lucas.
Silly Wells. Who would have thought that leaving
Movie Poop Shoot would be a bad move? At least he
hates LOTR too! HOORAY!
Jeff Wells is much better at writing about celebrity gossip and which starlets are the drunkest than actual movies.
I actually enjoyed reading Wells. Asides from the
times he had to go off on something for no good reason.
Then he left the worst named website ever, and arrived
at a site. A site with some of the worst web design
I have ever seen. It makes me appreciate Poland’s
people. Since, I think She, has had a hand in at
least three very good looking websites.
Wells has his moments. This, not exactly one of them.
Wow, these are just about the two most predictable reviews, based on their sources, imaginable. Wells certainly has a bug up his ass for mainstream entertainment, though he has had gone to bat for Titanic, in the past. And we all just knew that Knowles was not going to give this anything less than a rave.
Although, I have to admit that I was wrong about Knowles’ review in the first Star Wars blog. I actually very much enjoyed his review, he did a fun analysis of the story, which I think is certainly the driving factor with this film.
The consensus from most of the positive and even mixed reviews seems to be that Lucas has not completely gotten his shit together, regarding performances, dialogue, and pacing, but that the story really drives the movie home. I can buy that. L
ook, we all love the LOTR films and I thoroughly enjoyed Return of the King, but on second viewing, that prolonged, poorly edited prologue is just so indulgent and repetitive. (What WAS he thinking during that frollicking-in-Frodo’s bed scene?) It keeps the film from reaching near perfection, but it doesn’t really hurt it for me, since I am glad to have seen this story wrap up. And yeah, that film deserved a lot of awards, but I think we all smirked a little when it won “Best Editing.” Come on!
So if we can give some leeway to Jackson, I don’t have a problem giving leeway to Lucas.
For me, Wells has infinitely more credibility than Knowles. I hate Harry Knowles and his writing/reviews. I don’t always agree with Wells, but I enjoy his writing and value his opinions. Not everyone loves these movies, and why should they have to? We all have to love the same movies? Give me a break.
Agreed, Wells has some personal issues but I’ll take his thought process over Harry Knowles any day of the week. Harry’s reactions remind me of a six year old’s response to their first trip to the toy store. There’s gonna be a few toys in there the kid won’t like, but for the most part they are easily overwhelmed and in love with everything around them, with no critical faculty whatsoever. I don’t know if Wells is right about this particular movie, but he does have a clue.
I’ve never known why anyone takes anything Knowles says seriously. He’s just a fan boy with a website. Martin your discription is perfect. I have always thought he and his followers are a very small but very loud group. They seem to get way more credit for influencing films then they deserve.
I enjoy reading Wells more than I enjoy reading Knowle’s fan boy lunacy these days. Do I agree with Wells? Not all the time, but I don’t agree with Poland either all the time.
Basically when it comes down to it liking or disliking a movie depends on the viewer. Knowles is predisposed to liking this film in the way he is predisposed to disliking anything Clint Eastwood does these days.
He’s a fan who got lucky at the end of the day. I may be more inclined to agree with him than Wells when it comes to the new SW film, but I don’t think he ever brings any critique to the movie that can be called insightful.
Sorta off topic but did anyone read the slant review of Ep. 3? Officially the first review dealing with real world politics…Can’t a movie just be a movie?
As always, the truth is comfortably in the middle of those two extreme reviews.
I’m a pretty unabashed Lucas apologist, but there is something interesting about how things changed when Kurtz left.
I read Wells and I see the opposite of what he says. Hes a snob.
Most years, Jeff Wells’ Top Ten list is very similar to mine. I don’t really see him as overtly snobbish. He doesn’t automatically like everything that is produced for a low budget. He is an educated adult and looks for cinema geared towards his demographic. Knowles, on the other hand, has all the writing ability of a seventh grader. I cringe every time I see a movie ad that features one of his many obnoxious raves. If you really want to get a sense of how easy the fat slob is to please, check out his monthly DVD picks. Rarely a bad word to be said about a great many stinkers.
no argument there. knowles is bought and paid for and his reviews are torture to get thru. not even worth reading anymore cause i don’t really care if father geek bought cracker jacks or popcorn before a show or what C list celeb bumped into u and said hi.
Neither review is a real review of the movie, but more a reflection of what each thought of the SW Franchise before they even saw the movie.
I don’t know Jeff Wells but Harry Knowles has been long past his Sell By date. He Used To (read Years ago) have some interesting geek takes on things, but over time the fat cells have log-jammed his body making his brain no longer function (i.e. he thinks he is ‘His Eminence’). Can he even walk unassisted?
AICN sucks for reviews & web design.
Why is MCN whoring for Ain’t It Cool News? Harry Knowles is an unethical whore in bed with crooks — Film Threat took him apart 2-3 years ago.
Sight unseen, I give this piece of overhyped product 1-2 weeks and then down the chute fast. Episode 3 won’t be enough to save Hollywood from a sorry summer.
The AICN crew did what they wanted to do. They parlayed that site into film deals. Whether screenwriting, producing, directing,etc. They used it and used it well. What I do not like is the hypocrisy they promote since they still deny thats why they started and worked on the site.
They couldn’t be more hypocritical. They want to be treated like journo’s on one hand but on the other want the money, perks, free stuff that come with being fans. Its a no win when you try and straddle the fence.
Please forgive me, Mark, but I lost track of whom you were talking about. Were you describing the AICN guys or Tom DeLay?
i think he was talking about hillary’s campaign which is about to go on trial for real crimes.
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