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
~yawn~
Chucky, you have to admit Potter 6 has a lot going for it:
The director of State of Play (tv), the writer of Wonder Boys, and a cast full of Oscar luminaries such as Broadbent, Gambon, Bonham-Carter, and Rickman. Come on, that kind of pedigree has to get you excited. It’s also produced by David Barron, who is a longtime Branagh collaborator on his classics Hamlet and Othello. David Heyman co-produces, and he is box office gold with such hits as Yes Man and I Am Legend. Still not excited?
The HP series isn’t that exciting, unless you’re a big fan. There are talented people involved, but somehow each movie always feels like less than the sum of their efforts — it’s all tamped down in deference to the Absolute Power of the HP plot. Heaven forbid things be cut, after all. (And yes, I know that a good deal of minor trimming has happened.)
But really, Gambon is solid (but not amazing) and everyone else seems to be along for the ride but not bringing anything special. The only film in the series that actually felt different and more energetic than the others is AZKABAN, which I gather is the least favorite of the diehard fans because of the liberties taken.
So no, it’s not that exciting. It’s solid but uneventful.
“The director of State of Play (tv), the writer of Wonder Boys, and a cast full of Oscar luminaries such as Broadbent, Gambon, Bonham-Carter, and Rickman. Come on, that kind of pedigree has to get you excited.”
If it were anything other than a Harry Potter movie, then yeah, that’s a tantalizing prospect for sure. But it isn’t. It’s still a Harry Potter movie, and of all the things Harry Potter movies excel at, UNDERUTILIZING talent is right at the top of the list. Rickman’s been in I don’t know how many of these now and he STILL hasn’t had a breakaway, knock-the-popcorn-off-your-lap-through-the-back-wall moment.
I think the moral is: top-notch talent likes to cash paychecks too.
Hey, Chucky says this movie is sure to bomb because the VERY NAME ITSELF is like “hey, if you liked Harry Potter, here’s another one!” Can you GET any more BLATANT with NAME CHECKING???!!??
Also, the adults aren’t supposed to get huge moments in these movies. It’s not about them.
Haters: I fell asleep in the 3rd Harry Potter. That cured me of any plans to see the 4th, 5th, 6th, etc., etc.
“Haters”? You’re crazy.
The HP movies lost their charm after #2. However, I can’t pass up a Goth Alan Rickman. When he points his wand at me speaks all stern-like, I get excited. No sarcasm intended…As a moviegoer, I love me some Alan Rickman when he’s dark.
And I thought #3 was the only good one.
oh lota, you broke my heart there just a little,
‘azkaban’ has charm oozing out every orifice!
for example, from about 2:20 in:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmE06ZiW8QQ
the reflection in the water, those dragging talons, the score that makes my heart soar as high as harry & buckbeak! beauty
(couldn’t agree more about rickman, tho, by grabthar’s hammer)
Azkaban is a well-made movie and I love Sirius Black…but despite the better directed film perhaps…the kids were not that magical to me, less innocence or something. and the movies, like the books, are really about the kids.
i also didn;t like all of the explanations and telling not showing when the kids see Sirius for the first time, then Lupin walks in…then SNAPE…then oy vey! Too much talking.
I didn;t hate it, ne’er worry.
fair enough, beauty and the eye and all that
they’re all pretty kool, doods O_Ob
$150 million 5-day would be splendid. The midnight sellouts appear to be exceeding all previous installments.
martin: Your response to Chucky was funny, but I might as well be the know-it-all who points out that Gambon, Bonham-Carter and Rickman have never been Oscar-nominated.
I like the Potter films. I’ve read only Goblet of Fire, after seeing the first 3 films. Might go ahead and read Deathly Hallows after I’ve seen Half Blood Prince.
Columbus’ films are kinda terrible. Azkaban is incredible, and the ones after that have been above average and a fine way to spend a couple of hours. That’s all I have to say, really.
Carter – Best Actress in a Leading Role for The Wings of the Dove (1997).
Today on the hot blog: hatred of the Harry Potter films. Later: a new review from David, that takes place while he’s on the shitter. Much later: Lex discusses his love of vagina, and his desire to kill himself like a chump. That’s all here today on the Hot Blog. A sub-division of Goldman Sachs.
That was funny, IOI.
I’ll confess, and not necessarily proud of the fact that I have yet to see a Potter film. I am not opposed but I was thinking I needed to see the early installments first. Like bills, they’ve kinda mounted up on me in neglect. I know I should at least see the first one but can anyone tell me which would be the must sees on the list from that point on?
Was Azkaban by the ones who were relative unknowns and then broke out w/some big hit or Oscar nom film after it? Maybe that describes everyone but I vaguely remember hearing one install was a little more out of its shell and that dude blew up after it. Am I getting too much second hand smoke or does it sound familiar? I should prolly see whatever one that one was.
well, i enjoyed ‘half blood prince’ far more than yates’ ‘order of the phoenix’, which fell quite flat for me, lacking in heart, menace, humour, charm and emotion. so a shout out for kloves as returning scribe, welcome back man, you were sorely missed.
kloves does an admirable job of simplifying and adapting what is a very long, very dense novel for the screen, capturing the flavour of ‘HB prince’ in a way that ‘phoenix’ COMPLETELY missed the mark imho. consequently, yates does a more assured job this time out bringing this better-constructed story to life, hitting some fine notes along the way with well-considered perfs and moments of humour, horror and pathos, anchored by: a subtle, mature turn by radcliff, now largely resigned to harry’s fate; broadbent’s pompous yet well-meaning and regretful slughorn; and most surprisingly, a tormented turn by felton as draco malfoy that succeeds in giving the film a deeper layer and some palpable conflict as harry shadows malfoy, trying to thwart his unknown mission, while malfory struggles with his destiny. this is the most effective element in the film as far as i’m concerned.
while the movie does lack a bit of punch and has a certain meandering quality to it – like crossing a long bridge knowing there are more, longer bridges ahead so you need to pace yourself – it’s an enjoyable way to find out about the boy riddle leading up to his becoming the genocidal, fractured soul that is lord voldemort, revealed through the time travels of harry and the terribly groovy dumbledore (i particularly liked the visual manifestations of the wispy memories in the pensieve) and amidst the yearnings of horny teens and quiddich. not bad at all, looking forward the ‘the hallows’ (pity the conclusion of that two-parter is years away, it seems so long to wait)
They’re fantasy movies for little kids. Take them for what they are. As far as serials go, you can pick up later on and still have a reasonable idea as to the backstory. I wouldn’t watch 8 hours of Potter just to make sure I could follow the new one if I hadn’t already.
One factor that might work against HBP: since the IMAX openings are delayed two weeks because of the fucking giant fucking robots movie, some folks (including yours truly) will wait.
‘They’re fantasy movies for little kids.’
martin, that’s a rather dismissive thing to say. the HP movies, like them or no, are not made for wee tykes. they are fantasy-adventure produced for a ‘family’ audience, and ‘half blood prince’ is aimed SQUARELY at teens with angst (the huge cinema i saw it in was packed to the gills with a diverse audience from kids thu to gaggles of teen girls, teen boys in gangly wolfpacks, and adults without any kids)
Tofu: Thanks for the correction. Guess I didn’t have Oscar’s entire history memorized after all. Bonham-Carter’s nomination was well-deserved.
Triple Option, Azkaban was by Alfonso Cuaron.
$20 million gross for midnight screenings. Not bad.
$22 million, even. Wow-wee-wow wow wow.