By David Poland poland@moviecitynews.com
Can You Feel It?
We are moving into The Dead Zone for movie news.
August is the month of Toronto Film Festival announcements and changes in employment stature. And that
We are moving into The Dead Zone for movie news.
August is the month of Toronto Film Festival announcements and changes in employment stature. And that
amit on: Review: Frozen 2 (spoiler-free)
movieman on: BYOB Fall Back, Film Forward
Christian on: BYOB Fall Back, Film Forward
movieman on: Review: Marriage Story (spoilers only in the broadest sense)
movieman on: BYOB Fall Back, Film Forward
movieman on: Review: Frozen 2 (spoiler-free)
YancySkancy on: Review: Little Women (no spoilers)
Hcat on: Why You Should Be Afraid Of The End Of The Paramount Decree
movieman on: BYOB Fall Back, Film Forward
movieman on: I Should Be Doing Box Office
Review: Little Women (no spoilers)
Why You Should Be Afraid Of The End Of The Paramount Decree
Review: Frozen 2 (spoiler-free)
Review: Marriage Story (spoilers only in the broadest sense)
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” ā 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 ā 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 ā he directed a play that I was going to do as an actor, so we know each other, but he yelled “hi” ā and I’d forgot who he was.
So at my girlfriend Barbara Hershey’s urging ā I was with her at that moment ā 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 namedā” “Yeah, sure ā 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 Iām on the phone with you now, after all thatās 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 didnāt seek to use his position to have sex with anyone. Thereās not a case of that. He wasnāt using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had ā if that were what the accusation involved ā 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. Iām not just being rhetorical. Why is it that you and the other critics, none of you could find the voice to say, āYou know, itās not this, itās thatā? Because ā let me go on and speak further to this. If you go back to the L.A. TimesĀ piece, thatās what it lacked. Thatās 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
Well, let’s all talk about Little Miss Sunshine, then.
I’ll start: It looks good.
Okay, I don’t have anything more to say.
Won’t there be a lot of “World Trade Center” talk (both pro and con) to fill up August? Some people will talk The Art of it; others will talk The Politics. And the discussions won’t be confined to the entertainment sector.
I read the screenplay to Little Miss Sunshine and thought it seemed fairly cruddy; but the movie looks good, so what do I know.
I agree that Snakes on a Plane will get the bulk of the “should we see it or not see it” argument over the next three weeks.
Where Pirates ends up on the Top Ten list…
What’s the big indie movie this year…
I saw United 93, and I’ll see World Trade Center. Hopefully it’ll bring up discussions that comparing these movies is a wasted argument as is comparing other movies about the same topic, rather than on the film’s own merits.
Yeah, and I can’t wait to see “Little Miss Sunshine”. I hope it’s better than “Thank You for Smoking” which I’d put on the funny, but not that funny list.
You can never have too much SoaP! š
Besides that on, looking forward to Miami Vice, Little Miss Sunshine, and WTC (as much as you can ‘look forward’ to a film like that).
Other than that, what else is there to look forward to? Oh yes, IDLEWILD – hopefully it kicks butt.
Don’t hold your breath on that last one.
If anyone is interested, my ComicCon notes on Children of Men, The 300 and Grind House are here:
http://whitearrow.livejournal.com/2508.html
Anyone else read Cal Thomas’s rave review for World Trade Center? He said it’s “one of the greatest pro-guy, pro-America, pro-family, pro-all the other things Cal loves” movies he has ever seen. We’re getting The King here this Friday. I’ve been looking forward to it. Seeing William Hurt and Gael Garcia Bernal in top form is something I will gladly pay for.
I’m all for America and families, but are ‘guys’ really in need of being supported? Last I heard they were doing pretty well.
I think Cal and his ilk believe that straight white males are an endangered species.
Here’s hoping the movie is better than the subtext of his review suggests.
His exact words, just for the record:
“one of the greatest pro-American, pro-family, pro-faith, pro-male, flag-waving, God Bless America films you will ever see.”
Is that Pearl Harbor or WTC??
To his credit, he liked United 93 too…I’m thinking certain elements of it must have slipped through his radar.
Of course Cal Thomas would give a rave to “World Trade Center”. He is a Jerry Falwell crony and an apologist for Bush’s wars.
At least one somewhat-reliable source has said Paramount plans to promote “WTC” heavily to the hard right and the Christian right. In other words, the Limbaugh/Hannity/O’Reilly/Robertson/Falwell crowd — they who are the biggest supporters of Bush.
I guess I just never thought I would see the day when Cal Thomas would rave about an Oliver Stone film.
“Of course Cal Thomas would give a rave to ‘World Trade Center’. He is a Jerry Falwell crony and an apologist for Bush’s wars.”
Yep, the causal relationship is so obvious right there, I’m sure you can reduce it to a mathematical formula or express it in symbolic logic.
Well, at least his description of Thomas is accurate.
Dave, AICN beat you to the punch over the Brando recreation. Like over a month ago:
http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=23646
^^^^I think Mr. Poland knows that…and the point of his post was that his has a higher resolution.
You are correct Jeff.
I didn’t double check the source video link on AICN and was just going by the fact it’s the same video shown.
er palm. sorry. i’m really on the ball.
WB sent out a version and I decided it was too small to read the copy. They sent me the larger version today. Much better.
I can feel it coming in the air, friday night.
I don’t think I’ll get to see Little Miss Sunshine (I’m in Thailand). They generally only show ‘event’ movies here. It might be released straight-to-DVD. The trailer looks cute and funny.
I will get to see Snakes on a Plane though, quite a surprise. I don’t think Thais know much about it (most can’t read English so the internet buzz wouldn’t work). Perhaps they can sell Samuel L. Jackson here, you never know what publicists will use to draw the crowd. But we’re not a big market anyway.
Miami Vice will rule. I cannot wait to see that movie.
Chucky: “Of course Cal Thomas would give a rave to ‘World Trade Center’. He is a Jerry Falwell crony and an apologist for Bush’s wars.”
Blackcloud: “Yep, the causal relationship is so obvious right there, I’m sure you can reduce it to a mathematical formula or express it in symbolic logic.”
Me: It’s more than a casual relationship. Before he became a pundit, Thomas was indeed a high-ranking individual in Falwell’s Moral Majority. He now downplays that part of his life to make himself appear to be a more mainstream conservative, but those of us who read and can remember what we read aren’t fooled.
I just want to say that I am not interested in the new production deal for Fernando Meirelles, aka the Most Overrated Director on MCN.
After two movies (with international distribution at least), how can he be overrated?
I grant you, I can see the votes splitting on Constant Gardener, although I thought it was terrific. However, with City of God, he made a bona fide classic IMO. Even if you want to dispute that claim, I should think that even its harshest detractors would admit that it’s a fine film.
If you want overrated, try Eastwood.
“Little Miss Sunshine” is having free screenings all over the country this weekend. Check the movie’s website to RSVP for one.
“Me: It’s more than a casual relationship. Before he became a pundit, Thomas was indeed a high-ranking individual in Falwell’s Moral Majority. He now downplays that part of his life to make himself appear to be a more mainstream conservative, but those of us who read and can remember what we read aren’t fooled.”
Cadavra, I never said anyting about Thomas working or not working for Falwell. I was attacking Chucky’s absurd notion that Thomas’ past relationship with Falwell is why he liked the movie. That assertion is as idiotic as saying, “Of course ‘World Trade Center’ is going to be a raving and ranting, mindless, anti-American left-wing screed: Oliver Stone is making it.” There’s no causal relationship there, either, even though lots of thoughtless people tried to impute one. And I meant “causal”, not “casual.” That may be where the misunderstanding arises.
I have seen Little Miss Sunshine, and it’s nowhere near as good as I was hoping or expecting. It has its moments to be sure, but overall it left a bad taste in my mouth.
We’ll see how it does in the box office. I mean, if a good indie movie like A Scanner Darkly can crack the top 10, who knows what will happen with a worse, more commercial indie?
I’m still waiting for The Science of Sleep. That was a great trailer, and anyone who saw Eternal Sunshine can tell you the movie will look spectacular. It may not be as well written without Charlie Kaufman, but the visual wonders should shame anything Pirates can cook up.
“And I meant “causal”, not “casual.” That may be where the misunderstanding arises.”
Indeed. I just assumed it was a typo. Apologies.
I think that City of God is neither a classic nor a fine film, so after two films it’s very easy to call him overrated.
Cadavra: no worries, mate. Causal/casual is always good for confusion. It’s one of the worst that way.
The philosophy department at my college used to have Causal Fridays. They got a lot done.
^ lol
I just read Kevin Smith will be the first guest critic on Ebert & Roeper. Any thoughts?
Personally, I can’t belive Ebert would sign off on this idea. Think about it: there will be two self-absorbed hipster critics on the show. Who will come off as more smug, Smith or Roeper?
Jeff Wells has given us a tacky picture of his disgusting water-boiling pan on his stove.
I’m sure it all has something to do with Film.
Dave, can you do him one better and give us a color close-up of whatever’s probably growing in the bottom of your vegetable crisper?
Self-deprecation has always been a sizable part of Smith’s persona; his recent brittleness is odd. Off-hand, I’d say Roeper will come off far worse, especially as he won’t be feeling inferior to the fellow across the aisle.
Stop the presses! This is big news: Disney’s about to greenlight a new traditional cel animation feature, and have brough back Musker and Clements (ALADDIN, HERCULES) to direct it. For anyone who cares about animation, and especially those who are burnt out on wise-cracking CGI animals (Is it just me, or are the suburban backgrounds in ANT BULLY identical to the ones in OVER THE HEDGE?), this couldn’t come at a better time. Discuss.
That’s great news.
I had been noticing that both OTH and AB used fat exterminators as their bad guys.
That’s a real good question. Who will be more smug Roeper or Smith.
I don’t see how Smith can be smug considering his claim to fame now is that he wrote a Superman script that Jon Peters made loony suggestions for.