April 19, 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
Does anyone know when Little Children is opening beyond the coasts? I live in Phoenx and haven’t seen a single poster or trailer in theatres…are they waiting for Oscar noms?
November 10th in Montreal, which must mean that’s at least the Top 40 markets in North America.
Re – the Halloween screenings. Avoid at all costs. I went to the Nightmare On Elm Street screenings, expecting to see a fresh print used to make the new DVD. Instead we had the actual DVD, beamed onto a theatre screen using a computer. It was fuzzy, poorly framed, with out of sync sound, and a terrible experience all around. I left after thirty-minutes and got my money back. The same company that did the Nightmare screenings is sponsoring the Halloween ones. Be warned.
Scott Mendelson
David, this is late but did you ever do a review for The Prestige?
This is going to cool any “Eddie Murphy for an Oscar” talk:
http://www.meetnorbit.com/
I got to admit that I was laughing out loud on that Norbit trailer.
I sure hope Norbit has some twists and turns, because I was bored about halfway through that trailer.
That’ll make a killing. Just wait and see. People seem to like Eddie dressing up in fat suits.
Thanks, Dire. I was about to admit the same.
Martin Lawrence does it, not funny. Eddie Murphy does it, I laugh. Plus, the actual Norbit character reminded me of “Bowfinger,” so there’s good will there.
I think Norbit helps. Even if the movie’s bad, doesn’t it only strengthen the comparison to Peter Sellers?
Hell, if “Little Miss Sunshine” is a serious Oscar contender, maybe they should push “Norbit” up to December 25th. You never know.
So anyone going to see Saw 3 this weekend? Curious to know what the vibe is like.
I’m not much of a horror fan, but I’ve been fairly impressed with the “Saw” movies. Not that I’ll be running out to the theater, but I’ll definitely see it as soon as it hits Netflix.
I’m a horror fan and I will only grudgingly see Saw 3 because the other horror movies now playing have been so uninspiring.
I despise the Saw movies, but for the same reasons as jeff I will probably see it.
Interesting. I have seen Saw III and while I can’t really review it yet, I do think that people who enjoyed the previous two movies will like parts of it.
That sounds like the faintest of praise, Edouglas.
I have no doubts about that EDouglas. The Saw series has some incredibly rabid fans who think they are among the best horror movies ever made.
It is. 🙂 Put it this way, I hated the first movie but liked the last movie and this one falls somewhere in between, so if you loved the first movie and hated the last movie, I expect this to be the same 🙂
I can’t help noticing that the new Citibank credit card commercials appear to be inspired by “Borat.” Indeed, I wonder if, by the time Fox finally releases the movie, some people will think it’s a rip-off of the TV spots.
If Saw III features the actual torture and murder of Leigh Whannell I’ll be first in line. Otherwise. . .probably not.
saw the film tonight
Leigh is in it in a flashback sequence shot specially for the film- he’s just a dead body in the tub from the first one
Leigh is a kind and gentle boy, grateful and surprised for his success
Argen you are an unconscionable and revolting douchebag
I am Jeff Well’s Ego!
I actually think Norbit will help. Once again shows his versatility (even if most of it is with the help of make-up/effects).
http://semen-jazz.blogspot.com/
Has anyone else noticed that John Cameron Mitchell’s Shortbus is playing on more screen (and grossed over $200,000 more) than Todd Field’s Little Children.
I’m incredibly happy for Shortbus that it is nearly at $1mil, but holy crap what did New Line do to Little Children? It’s average is already at $7500 after only 3 weeks.
I just found the person I’d love to see co-starring in my dream version of SAW III.
He is SpamEgoCan’tSpellForShit and he’s a waste of space by any name.
Whannell should be surprised. He’s written nothing but garbage and is a lousy actor and is very successful. More power to him, but pardon me if I can’t stand seeing a complete void of talent hit the bigs. Screw him.
Got the “Reds” DVD.
It’s even better than I remembered. Diane Keaton should be making two films per year. A remarkable actress. I am really impressed by the vast scope and epic sweep and the commitment of actors playing characters who are committed to their politics.
Now, I wish someone would release a complete Bertolucci “1900.”
The link to the forbes article off the main page had a link to halloween masks. If you haven’t planned it out yet, you, too can be Borat.
http://www.forbes.com/static_html/halloween/2006/borat_sagdiyev.html
Unfortunately, Diane Keaton hasn’t done work like she did in REDS since…well, I can’t say it was since REDS itself, but it’s been awhile.
She’s still adorable, but she’s pretty much a caricature of herself now, with all those “Annie Hall” tics. She’s doesn’t act so much anymore as play Diane Keaton. That’s what a movie star is asked to do I guess, but it’s gotten pretty old for me. I guess that’s the same problem a lot of folks have with “Jack.” In REDS, both give really tremendous subdued performances…great film…but it really is too dang long, ugh.
Just learned that the Bertolucci “1900”…perhaps at 5 hours, 15 minutes…will get its DVD release on Dec 5.
I despised Reds when I saw it back in 1982.
Of course, I was nine at the time, so that probably had something to do with it.
I see where “Superman Returns” went over $200,000,000 thanks to its long stay in the “cheapo dollar-fifty grind houses.” I guess that is still not considered an achievement and that it will still lose a lot of money.
I really want to see Reds, but if it took that long to release the DVD in the USA I find it hard to believe we’ll be seeing down here within, oh, 1 or 2 years.
When Diane Keaton showed up at the Oscars (or Globes?) recently dressed as Annie Hall it was sort of creepy and disturbing more than anything else.