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
I’m hearing a totally mixed word on Mr and Mrs Smith. Some love it. Some dispise it. Guess I’ll have to see for myself. But I can’t think of one movie with Jolie in it that I really like. And I think shes a good actress and a smoking babe.
One of my earliest film memories is watching Mrs robinson get down and busy with little Dustin hoffman
people and corporations using the press to further their own needs???? how dare they. so shocking
Probably the safest call of the summer. The Honeymooners will bomb.
Don’t doubt Cedric. He can surprise ya. The man has talent
I would not be surprised if “Honeymooners” takes the No. 2 or No. 3 spot for the weekend.
Why’d they bother naming a movie the Honeymooners and aim it at a demographic that has likely never seen nor heard of the Honeymooners…and probably wouldn’t care if they had?
The genuis of movie studio executives. I’m looking forward to the Leave it to Beaver with Lil Bow Wow.
Alas, we’ve lost another ace character actor. This time: Dana Elcar, best known for TV (Baretta, Black Sheep Squadron, MacGyver) but also great in movie supporting roles (especially “The Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid”). He died June 6 at age 77.
i remember him from macgyver. hes been battling problems for a long time
I enjoyed Mr. & Mrs. Smith. I found it entertaining, and while the idea and the principals made for greater potential than what we ended up with, I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a failure.
Before it is too late; I vote that the Jessica Alba photo be made a fixture at this blog. All in favor say “Aye”.
I’m all the way in the Caribbean and I am vividly aware of The Honeymooners. So why does Pastepotpete believe that because a movie targeted at a black(sorry for use of the word black, but African American can never ring true with me. Hey what would you call Charlize Theron.) yes…black audience, that they won’t know of the source material.
I think thats a tad condescending. Last time I looked, black folk watched TV in that era too.
And forget that era, what about reruns on cable that expose you to a whole new demographic of viewers. Humour is humour, black, white, indifferent.
However, I personally am not impressed with the Honeymooners trailer, even though I thought Cedric was a bright spot in Be Cool.
Black folks do know what The Honeymooners is. But they remember some black and white show from the 50’s. I don’t think most of young america knows what the show was about anyway.
I don’t know why they didn’t just make it and pretent it wasn’t a remake of the show because plenty of other movies do it!
On Mr. & Mrs. Smith, i LOVED it. I think it was the geniune chemistry between the leads, the excellent performance by Angelina Jolie (who for the first time in ages really seems to be relishing a role with a poisonous sting in her side pocket – er, if that made sense), the quite un-PG-13 violence (for a PG-13 Summer action movie starring a couple of hot people it’s man-on-man fight scenes were quite rough and hotheaded), the slighly sadistic humous (love the quick shot of Angelina driving her car into Brad’s) and the energy of it all.
Sure, it’s all ludicrous and outrageous but, seriously, it’s a Summer actiong movie – would you expect any less?
Haute Tension looks good, but will probably get around $6mil, unfortunately.
Friday’s Estimates
1) MR. AND MRS SMITH – $18.6 million
2) MADAGASCAR – $5 million
3) LONGEST YARD THE – $4.4 million
4) STAR WARS: EPISODE III – REVENGE OF THE SITH – $4 million
5) ADVENTURES OF SHARK BOY & LAVA GIRL – $3.9 million
6) CINDERELLA MAN – $2.9 million
7) SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS – $2 million
8) HONEYMOONERS – $1.8 million
9) MONSTER-IN-LAW – $900,000
10 LORDS OF DOGTOWN – $700,000
… And High Tension doesn’t even make the Top 10. Mr. And Ms. Smith can go anywhere from here on out.
I honestly don’t think that I’ve ever seen any of Mr. Poland’s reviews being so… Off. The flaws are easy to spot, yes, but to say that the movie isn’t fun? Too broad, too broad.
The audience at last night’s screening ate it up like Yogi to a picnic basket. EVERY joke worked. EVERY action move impressed. There must have been an understanding beforehand that this was to be a FUN movie, but maybe not one that could be savored. My only serious complaint was the ending sequence, where common sense was totally thrown (blown?) out the window, and it became lazy.
Liman’s perfectionist stance is interesting to hear about, but like Mr. Poland… I’m just not seeing why he needed such control.
When did I say African American? Or black?
Well, are you?
can we finally stop seeing cedric the unentertainer movies now? and can we put a stop to his remaking classics?
Bob: Outside of “Honeymooners,” what other “classic” has Cedric the Entertainer remade?
Cedric is signed onto the college classic, Back to School. The remake of the Rodney gem. Let me repeat. No one can do Rodney.