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
Summer starts earlier each year. Hard to get in the right frame of mind when the snow is still melting in Milwaukee.
Harry Spider Pirate midnight, Shrek matinee saturday. Knocked up Away from 13 Evan Die Hard Rat Evening. Stardust ‘spray Larry rescue transformers simpsons; bourne Jane.
And those are just the ones i’ll see in theatres. Looks like a good summer covering all bases, mega events, big comedies, intimate dramas, even a musical and neil gaiman.
Nah/Meh: Evan Almighty, Shrek 3, FF2, Hairspray, Chuck & Larry
Hmmm: Die Hard 4, Stardust, Bourne
Yes: Pirates 3, Ocean’s 13, Ratatouille
Hell Yes: Spiderman 3, Knocked Up/Superbad, Simpsons
I’ll see it, but have no real enthusiasm for Spidey 3. The others were overrated piffle. Am looking forward to several of the other summer movies, including the two big May ones.
This will likely be the biggest year Harry Potter ever has in regards to media saturation. Everything else is just white noise to me.
Pirates: its fresh. it feels like I just saw 2. I want to know how it ends.
Oceans 13: one can hope the magic of 11 is rekindled.
Children of Men: oh, never mind. I am just trying to cause trouble!
The Bourne Ultimatum is the only summer movie I’m looking forward to…and it will probably be the best.
Considering the good early reviews of Spider-Man, I’ll be there with bells on (*bells sold separately). The other two have been the perfect popcorn comicbook movies done right, so I’m eager for more.
The whole idea of it kinda make me shrivel up… like a spider on a hot stove.
I’m very curious how the “Bourne” trilogy raps up. MUCH more than Shrek, or Spidey, or Pirates.
Knocked Up I here is very funny.
A long time Simpsons Fan I am, and see the movie I will.
I hated the first Spider-Man, and loved the second. I’m getting first film-vibes from this one.
The only summer releases I’ll make sure to see during the opening week are Knocked Up, The Bourne Ultimatum and Live Free or Die Hard (mainly because the first film is one of my favorites of all-time, and I’m a sentimental sucker.)
Live Free or Die Hard’s trailer had me. ….. then came the KEVIN SMITH cameo.
PASS.
Spider-man – eh
Georgia Rule – no
Shrek – eh
Pirates – eh
Knocked Up – yes
Ocean’s – okay
Fantastic 4 – no
Evan Almighty – eh
Mighty Heart – okay
Ratatouille – yes
Die Hard – eh
That’s show I feel about May and June
The early word:
Spiderman 3 – Fantastic
F4 2 – So bad it will make you cry
Tranformers – better than it has any right to be
Im psyched as hell for Spidey 3, and 4, 5, and 6 if theyll do them.
She’s high.
Yeah, Bourne is the only must see film of the summer. The rest are blah.
The thought of three more hours of Pirates makes me want to gouge out my eye with a grapefruit spoon.
I’ve been excited about Michael Bay films before…then I see them. So I’ll wait on Transformers. Though the trailer is really good.
Both the Pirates trailer and Shrek 3 trailer don’t give me much hope.
S3’s release date is fairly soon, but where is the early word on FF2 and Transformers coming from? Have people actually seen a finished cut of either one? Or is it just a case of Moriarty hanging out in the editing room and then writing about how totally awesome it looks? I grew up playing with Transformers but I have zero nostalgia for it and hate Bay with a passion, so I am staying far, far away.
Pirates 3 looks awesome. Does Pirates 3 count as one word or two? Since it’s a title, we should consider it just one word. 23, 24, 25.
With the exception of Bourne, all of the sequels look like lesser cousins to their predecessors (some like “Live Free or Die Hard”, many MANY times removed). I’m really hoping “Knocked Up” lives up to some of the hype and I’m praying there’s a movie this summer that isn’t so danged “ho hum, same old thing with a new number after it”. If ever a season needed a sleeper hit, it’s gotta be this one.
Forget these tentpole movies.
PLEASE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF COSTNER.
Forget these tentpole movies.
Pledge allegiance to THE FLAG OF COSTNER.
The Flag of Costner being what – MR. BROOKS? Having sat through it twice now, I’d say that’s a flag that deserves to be folded and put away for a long time, if not outright burned. And Costner is the least of that film’s problems.
SUmmer starts in May? Well I am including non-blockbusters too
Hell no/Feh…Evan Almighty, Knocked up, F4, Nancy Drew, georgia rule
maybe/unsure…Hairspray, 1408(John Cusack in a movie often means…I dunno…he’s cute & stuff but alot of his movies are Bad), Bourne
Yeah…Rattatouille, SImpsons, Paris, je t’aime, Paprika (if it ever gets shown outside a Fest), Pirates (if it isn’t 170+ minutes), Ten Canoes (cuz I luv Rolf de Heer), La M
and i want to see Spidey even though i don’t like Dunst much
When will Kirsten get her frakkin teeth fixed? Does she still have the implants installed from Interview With The Vampire? James Franco’s hairline is receding faster than Ice Cube’s street rep, but I have to say that Tobey Maguire always looks dodgy during photo ops. He’s like Dick Cheney but with less evil.
That being said, I will watch Spiderman 3 at an IMAX theater because Topher Grace is my boy. He’s going to be this generation’s Rene Russo.
Can I ask the smart people on here a question.
Will The Simpsons be a fine summer hit or will it become a phenom?
I remember being asked 5-6yrs ago about what film would be a license to print money – my gold ticket answer was The Simpsons. Now I’m not so sure.. it’s the classic adage will you pay premium to see what you can get for free.
So what are your boxoffice estimates please oh sage ones?
$35-50 million for The Simpsons.
Nah/Meh: Shrek 4, Pirates 3 (sorry, but I actually dozed off during the last one), Rush Hour 3, Chuck and Larry,
Hmmm: Transformers (Bad Boys 2 WAS watchable), Fantastic Four (first one sucked, but Silver Surfer looks cool), I Could Never Be Your Woman (Where has Michelle Pfeiffer been?), Harry Potter, Lucky You (love Curtis Hanson, love poker), Evan Almighty (love Steve Carell, hated Bruce Almighty)
Yes: Knocked Up (but why does it have to be 2 hours long?) Ocean’s 13, Ratatouille, Live Free or Die Hard (nostolgia), 28 Weeks Later (adding Robert Carlyle almost makes up for losing Boyle), Spiderman 3 (loved 2, but something feels a bit off)
Hell Yes: Simpsons (such a long time coming), Bourne Ultimatum (triple thanks – great franchise, getting Greengrass the attention he deserves, AND saving the Bond franchise)
Simpsons is a really tough movie to predict. It’s easy to see the phenomemon and think that it could do $50 mil in the opening weekend, easy. But how many times do we fall into this trap, overestimating the appeal of a 2D animated TV adaptation? Spongebob and Southpark movies did well, but still underperformed.
HOWEVER, we are talking Fox, here – this studio has confounded expectations for so many summers in a row – Fantastic Four, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Day After Tomorrow, Devil Wears Prada, Dodgeball, Planet of the Apes, Big Mama’s House, the first X Men – all of these films significantly exceeded expectations with their openings.
I will never underestimate the marketing department at Fox – no doubt in my mind they will run with this thing. I’m predicting a $40 mil opening, but a quick fade ending up just above $100 million.
Wow, NEXT summer just got very interesting – Ed Norton is playing the Hulk!
We’re talking a real generational shift in the action category. You’re going to have Harrison Ford pushing retirement as Indy and Stallone grizzling as Rambo…..surrounded by Robert Downey Jr., Ed Norton, and Christian Bale as comic book heroes.
What’s next? Ryan Gosling as Hellboy?
Am very much looking forward to Spiderman 3, despite the trailer not exactly enthralling me. But I said the same about Spiderman 2 and I pretty much reckon that’s one of the best superhero films every made. I honestly don’t remember much at all about the first Spiderman though.
HELL YES! Ratatouille, Bourne 3, Hairspray and The Simpsons Movie
Very yes! Pirates 3, Spiderman 3, Transformers (sorry, I was a transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles kid so I need to see this one)
Yeah, I guess! Stardust, Oceans 13 (although 12 was bad), Knocked Up, Harry Potter 5
Only if I’m with a large group! Die Hard 4, Rush Hour 4, Evan Almighty, Shrek 3, Fantastic 4, 28 Weeks Later (no Boyle? ugh)
No! Chuck and Larry
Plus all the smaller pictures that I may or may not see depending on mood/trailers/availability/etc.
“Ten Canoes (cuz I luv Rolf de Heer)”
Lota, I hope you’re not disappointed. I wasn’t. Very fun. I’ll be interested to see how this is marketed over your way though. Will they say it won “6 Australian Academy Awards” like I’ve seen before (we have the AFI, not an Academy)
RE: Spidey 3 — I’m excited to see Venom as a live-action character, even though I suspect Raimi will off him fairly quickly. I’ve always wanted to see him in a movie, and the technology’s finally right for it. And I always love Thomas Haden Church.
Similarly, I’m psyched to see a live-action Silver Surfer. The movie may suck, but it’ll still be cool just to see that. I have to say I’m a little disappointed Doug Jones’ name isn’t even on the poster.
Transformers looks sick, I’m def waiting for that one the most, also because it had the most room for improvement. I mean, expectations are pretty low to “meh” for any Michael Bay movie, so this one has a shot to be better than anyone expects. And that sweet trailer and the TV commercials really are not saying otherwise. More than meets the eye, my friend. More than meets the eye (very contradictory statement for any Bay film)
Question:
Does the Spider-Man franchise contain the absolute worst looking SFX of all the big modern franchises? My biggest problem with the films is that the least interesting moments are those that actually involve Spider-Man.
Geoff:
I think the difference between South Park and Spongebob is that those two are cable 2D cartoons. Simpsons is a network TV show, has been around for a long time, and appeals to kids and adults (whereas SP was aimed at adults and Spongebob at kids).
They definitely waited a little too long, now that the show is less popular than it used to be, but I still think it’s pull in some serious cash. Even old fans who hate the show now will probably shell out a few bucks to see if some of the old writers can recapture the early season magic.
Amblinman, I agree that the effects in the first Spiderman aren’t high-quality, but they really stepped it up for the second one — all of the technical stuff in the second one is a lot better (effects, action sequences, etc.).
It’s never going to be a series known for its cutting-edge effects like Star Wars or The Matrix or Jurassic Park (and indeed I was a little underwhelmed by the Sandman stuff I saw in the first trailer), but I think Spiderman is more like X-Men — solid effects being enough in service of a compelling human story. Few “effects movies” have truly amazing effects work on their own — I would even argue that the LOTR movies were more about quantity than quality. (King Kong, though, was a few steps above for me.)
Finally! A summer just chalk full of yummy goodies with just a few “icks” stuck in there! I just wish they weren’t coming out so close together… it’s going to make it real difficult to see them in English, will end up having to catch a few dubbed… ugh!!!
My MUST sees: Spiderman, Priates, Ocean’s 13, HARRY POTTER!!!! (and then will devour book 7) ;o), Shrek, Bourne
and… The Prestige! not out here (Belgium) yet! *shock*
Oh, and I highly reccommend if it shows up your way: La Vie en Rose!
Jesse’s right for the most part, but I just wish they could spend a little more time, money, and energy on the Spidey swinging scenes. Heck, I’d prefer wire work on them. The coolest thing about Spidey is his ability to swing through Manhattan, and the film takes me out of that visceral experience with such a cartoonish looking CGI. My only quibble with both films.
Jessie,
I appreciate where you’re coming from, but my problem really isn’t a need for a cutting edge effects film. I don’t think the X-Men films are a good analogy – Singer was pretty smart about where and when to use FX and was mostly successful. The same isn’t true here. While I wholeheartedly agree with you that the kinetics of the second film were better choreographed, they didn’t look a dime more realistic than the first one. The fights between Spidey and Doc Ock might as well have been Roger Rabbit style animation.
THAT is my biggest gripe with the Spider-Man franchise. What’s the point of “bringing something to life” if it doesn’t in any way look real? Why do the Transformers, y’know – robots that become cars and vice versa, look far more convincing than any single Spider-Man shot that doesn’t involve him just standing there?
I guess “convincing” is the word I was looking for. Anytime action breaks out in a Spider-Man film, you can see the seams. For films that cost as much as they do, you’d figure they could do better.
Here, I’ll put it this way:
Do you doubt for a second if, say, James Cameron had been making these films (something I dreamt about happening since the early 90’s…sigh) the effects would look as unconvincing as they do?
They look convincing to me.
I haven’t watched Spiderman 2 in awhile, but my recollection is that the blending of live-action and animation in the Spidey/Doc Ock stuff is better. At very least, it’s far more convincing than the stuff in Spiderman 1 — I remember a shot where they tried to put Peter Parker’s face on the CGI body leaping through the air when he first discovers his powers… really bad stuff. Maybe the sequel stuff isn’t completely seamless, but I think the basic requirements — make Spiderman out of Tobey Maguire (or any flesh-and-blood actors) — are actually a lot harder than the much-ballyhooed all-CGI characters in live-action movies. (In this sense, you’re correct that the X-Men movies don’t really compare.) So if the transition is a little bumpy, I accept it and move on and enjoy the rest of the scene.
I dunno, if Cameron was making these movies, maybe you’d have a more realistic Spidey effect, but they’d cost $600 mil instead of $300 mil, and they’d come out every eight years instead of every 2-3… so I try not to dwell on it (as great a job as he could’ve done).
Lemme guess Amblinman…it looks like a videogame to you?
The effects in the first movie were suspect in a couple of places. However, they were (for their time and still) amazing in the second one (twice the budget does wonders).
Sure, you can tell in a couple of scenes that Spidey is CGI, but I call bullshit on anyone who tells me that he did in every scene or that the effects don’t work in context. The actions scenes in S2 were just great looking hyper-kinetic thrill rides, expertly made. In fact, I would nominate the train fight in S2 and the 100 yard Dash in “The Incredibles” as the two best staged and executed action scenes of the last several years.
Thrice,
Yeah, I know – “it looks like a videogame” is so cliched and blah blah blah. Well, some things are funny because they’re true.
You can call bullshit all you want, but the fight scenes in S2 probably have more in common with The Incredibles than you’d care to admit. If you actually read my posts instead of engaging your geekboy missle defense shields, you’d see my criticism had nothing to do with the choreography of action, but the look of it. There’s a difference. The kinetics are fine, but both look like animated films. For The Incredibles, that’s not an issue. See if you can guess why.
P.S. “hyper-kinetic thrill rides”? Jeff Craig called, and he wants his movie review back.