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
Well these do seem quite legitimate, and I applaud the courage to put DiCaprio up there twice, which is completely deserved.
You’re always going to have a few missing pieces, but these seem to have covered most of the critical consensus bases.
Not to beat a dead horse, but as I mentioned when the BFCA came up before, I still think it’s sad that the critics take time out to acknowledge Best Family Film, two genders of Best Young Actor, Best Original Song and Best Soundtrack, but not Editing, Cinematography, or two distinct Writing categories. I’m still waiting for DP’s response on that one.
These people need to get their fucking priorities straight because, despite the quality of the nominees, they look like they’re aiming for the lowest common denominator with these categories.
Holy s***, I did not know that was Will Smith’s _kid_ in Pursuit of Happyness.
Unfortunately, that makes the movie into much more of a vanity project for me, and I have a harder time taking it seriously.
So which were the docs that were sent to the membership?
“So after Dreamgirls, Letters From Iwo Jima, The Departed, and The Queen… pick one…
Babel
Blood Diamond
Little Children
Little Miss Sunshine
Notes on a Scandal
United 93”
I’m not sure why you’re still so insistent about Letters when Babel and Little Miss Sunshine received more nominations. It’s obvious that more people (not critics) who’ve seen those movies like them. Very few people have seen Letters and it’s just the critics who are raving. I think there’s a better chance of it being Dreamgirls, Departed, The QUeen, Little Miss Sunshine and then either Babel or Letters.
Wow, actor and actress nominations look almost identical to my choices on the Gold Derby. So does director. I think the BFCA is dead-on with their choices though I expect the Academy to go with Leo/Departed over Blood Diamond. I’m not at all all surprised to see both Adriana and Rinko nominated (again showing love for Babel as does its acting ensemble nod).
There seem to be a few main themes from all the awards and nominations of the past three days, with these awards reaffirming most of the earlier ones
*Letters from Iwo Jima has probably jumped into the top 5 for now, and Little Miss Sunshine may have temporarily fallen out after than stiffer than expected competition from Half Nelson in the indie category.
*Forest Whitaker has solidified a shrinking lead over Peter O’Toole in the actor’s race (keeping in mind Fonda missed early awards in 1981), while Ryan Gosling has gone from a “maybe” to a lock in that category.
*Helen Mirren has delivered the knockout punch to all competition other than Judi Dench in lead actress.
*The best supporting actor’s race is a tossup…though Brad Pitt, once thought to be a major contender, looks to be out
*Hudson remains the solid frontrunner for supporting actress. Catherine O’Hara’s candidacy looks legit for a nom. at least, while Vera Farmiga looks shaky. Shareeka Epps may have grabbed a surprising edge over Abigail Breslin if a younger candidate is nominated.
*Happy Feet is probably the frontrunner for best animated feature, and An Inconvienient Truth looks unbeatable for doc.
*RIP World Trade Center, The Good German’s Flags of Our Fathers and Pursuit of Happyness’s best picture campaigns. United 93 is officially revived
Best Pic frontrunners:
1. Dreamgirls
2. The Departed
3. Letters from Iwo Jima
4. The Queen
Contenders for the 5 slot:
Babel
LMS
United 93
Notes
Little Children
Hanging by a thread:
Pan’s Lab???
Half Nelson???
I just realized Brad Pitt gets a producer nom for “The Departed.” That will help to have his name on the ballot, no?
And I am STILL trying to figure out why “Little Miss Sunshine” is in this discussion at all. It was a cute movie, but that’s it – cute.
“*The best supporting actor’s race is a tossup…though Brad Pitt, once thought to be a major contender, looks to be out”
Yeah, this is the biggest shame to me because Pitt was very good in Babel, delivering a couple amazing moments. I’m thinking the Academy might pick him over some of the others just to get him to show up, and you know that the HFPA might do the same.
I still don’t understand why everyone’s quickly jumping on the “Letters frontrunner” bandwagon just because David and Kris Tapley are insistent. If it gets a BP nomination, it will be in the fifth slot, not the third or fourth. It’s chances have only been elevated by the NBR/LAFC wins because that will get more Academy voters to make an effort to see it before nom deadline, but it still has a long road against a lot more typical BP candidate…and remember, BP usually coincides with SAG ensemble and Producers Guild awards… do we *really* think they’ll go with this over Little Miss Sunshine? LMS may have been “cute” but a lot of people loved it and Fox Searchlight is doing everything they can to remind people of that (screeners, postcards, little yellow VW buses).
Let’s think with our finely-tuned analytical minds, people, not our hearts or our dicks, as seems to be very much the case this season.
Jesus fucking christ.
I suspect that at the BFCA awards night (they’re still having one right?) whoever hosts will make more delightfully scripted comments about how great they are at predicting the Oscars, as if it’s their only reason for existing.
Weren’t sure what DiCaprio perf would be nommed for Oscar? Expand the category to six and nominate BOTH! In fact, expand most categories to six and that way there’s a greater chance at being able to say they predicted 5/5 with Oscar.
I do, however, give props on having a Soundtrack, Family Film and Young Actor/Actress category.
“whoever hosts will make more delightfully scripted comments about how great they are at predicting the Oscars, as if it’s their only reason for existing.”
Well, David is a member.. though I don’t believe he writes the intros/script for the host, which I guess will be Joel Siegel again.
Is it just me or does it look like a lot of these categories will match the Oscar noms 5/5? Best Actor (dropping one Leo), Best Actress, and Best Animated Feature look like the best Oscar bets right now. And the Best Director nominations line up with how I’m thinking Oscar’s Best Picture and/or Director will shape up.
Whatever happens, if Gosling gets a nomination, I will be pleased….that guy is fantastic, it would be well-deserved…
I finally saw CARS last night…and I just don’t see what the hype was all about…it just dragged and dragged, cliche after cliche…I didn’t really dig it at all…
The only glaring ommision from these nominations is Michael Sheen for Best Supporting Actor for “The Queen”… he was every bit as strong as Helen Mirren.
Hey, aren’t Babel and Sunshine the ONLY two films to
make the NBR, AFI and BFCA lists? Love across the board can only mean one thing to me. These are the two films that are solid locks – everything else is up in the air!
Letters also made both lists.
Letters also made all three lists.
I’m just glad to see Keke Palmer from Akeelah and the Bee acknowledged at all. Call me crazy, but Akeelah And The Bee is hands-down, my favorite film of 2006. I stupidly missed it in theatres and recommend that anyone who did the same give it a rent when they get the chance. It’s easily one of the best underdog sports movies ever and has one of the best endings of that genre in ages (at least since Tin Cup).
Scott Mendelson
What is the point of the BFCA awards? Who cares what a bunch of junketeers think will be nominated for Oscars?
Babel, Letters and Sunshine – made the NBR, AFI and BFCA lists. I stand corrected. Thank you, Kris.
Grandcosmo, the BFCA care how well they predict the Oscars.
And I think that the BFCA may be playing their hand a bit early…Joel Siegel and Jeffrey Lyons both raved about the movie on their networks in the last 24 hours, both mentioning Murphy and Hudson’s Oscar chances. (And we know that David’s a fan.) So I figure that Dreamgirls, Hudson and Murphy are in the bag for the BFCA, and probably Merrin/Whitaker for the lead actors.
And I think that the BFCA may be playing their hand a bit early…Joel Siegel and Jeffrey Lyons both raved about the movie on their networks in the last 24 hours, both mentioning Murphy and Hudson’s Oscar chances. (And we know that David’s a fan.) So I figure that Dreamgirls, Hudson and Murphy are in the bag for the BFCA, and probably Merrin/Whitaker for the lead actors.