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
An absolute must-see on a giant screen for those a little jaded with cinema at the moment.
Don’t settle for a screener with the giant Zentropa through the middle of the pic, it won’t work for you. The most exhilarating, hypnotic confounding and deeply problematic work this year. People who think it’s one big prank, maybe don’t realize just how complex and mixed-up Von Trier actually is. The man has issues. This is not a joke.
The opening shower scene with slow-mo testicle to labia bounce really is a thing to behold.
DP I really like these keep them coming. Can we please have one with Drew? Is that even possible. I think some friction would be good for the mix.
Please take this from one dad to another who knows how tough it is to keep off those pregnancy pounds. This is a bad angle for you. You are quite the gentleman to give Kim the best seat in the frame, though I suspect she’s attractive from any angle.
Yes, JBD… terrible angle… bad choice of shirt… wish I could blame baby daddy weight gain, but I can’t… a mistake I won’t repeat.
I look forward to inviting Drew, though I don’t know that we will have as much friction – if he does it – as you might like. We disagree very intensely on very specific things, but I find that our tastes can be quite similar.
Dave and Drew went at it on G4 one time, I think it was for Watchmen. Not really all that much friction, if anything Drew came across as passive aggressive I suppose in his disagree with Dave’s dislike of the film, but overall not anything close to a real argument. You’d need to get thoroughly opposing viewpoints like from a Friedman, Finke, or maybe Wells (though his taste is not often far from David’s).
Anyway I’m starting to watch this one, surprised to see that everyone is a fan of Antichrist. Would have been more exciting if say Michael Medved was a dissenting opinion.
We looked for a hater of the film… couldn’t find one in LA…
Not surprising that there are lots of Anti-christ fans in LA.
Also, Kim’s left shoulder is hot.
Are you using the Avatar font on the bottom?…
Not to get off topic, but Mutiny don’t you think this font is much better than the generic one they used in the trailer? It’s kind of like originally they were promoting with the “tech” appeal, and with the trailer they’re going for a more romantic font. Tech one is better IMO, and more Cameron-y:
http://www.megaplextheatres.com/showtimes/posterImages/10001781.jpg
And here’s the lamer one they’re currently using:
http://www.filmofilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/avatar_poster.jpg
Is the first one legit? Or is that one of the billions of fan-made one-sheets? I don’t recall seeing that one.
sorry to go OT, last post on this. MC yeah I think it’s legit, here’s another one:
http://tinyurl.com/m387bo
I think Avatar should have a hand-drawn opening title sequence like in Almost Famous.
What is with the OCD about fonts?
Whew. Thank you, David. I was afraid of, well, you know…
And yeah, you and Larry should have switched spots for this framing.
I don’t mind this font – reminds me of collegiate sports logos, which is totally irrelevant but kind of amusingly so.
Sorry will take it to BYOB.
I finally watched the rest of it, good SMF but a little drier than last time, and still hasn’t convinced me to see Antichrist. I’m a morlock, I’d have preferred a SMF on H2/FD. That being said, I imagine Lex will be fully satisfied.
Damn, this is pretty spoiler-heavy. It is a round table I suppose, but still…a movie that won’t be in theatres until Dec?
I’m planning to catch this at TIFF in 2 weeks and was just looking for some opinion. If I knew you were going to be getting into spoiler territory, I probably would’ve waited.
Sorry, jackfly… should have posted a notice… just did… I do think it’s a 3 or 4 viewing movie… will be interested in how it plays for you.
No worries. Can’t wait to see it now and be part of the discussion…
I don’t have time to watch this yet, but Antichrist is a good MOVIE. As a cinema-going experience it sure as hell beats something like The Young Victoria or Taking Woodstock which I’ve seen these past two days.
Despite the lack of LOU FROM CADDYSHACK, this actually might be my favorite SMF yet; Doubly strange since it’s about a movie I haven’t seen and which isn’t the current week’s big hype movie.
But really enjoyed the discussion of how generally dispassionate critics process and often reject in-your-face movies that make them feel something; With so many of the “proper” critics coming from that removed hard-journalism perspective, this has always been a pet frustration of mine too — that they can be so confounded and repulsed when a movie forces them to off of their emotionless playbook.
On a lighter note, how awesome is it that the addition of a ballcap turns LARRY GROSS into BOB “SUPER DAVE” EINSTEIN? Even the voice is a ringer. (Gross rules.)
Poland continues to be wrong about HOSTEL II, but I don’t know how anyone could find HOSTEL I “boring.” That opening act of awesome sexist fratboy cluelessness was some of the funniest shit ever.
I know there’s an expectation from some that I’d comment on Kim Morgan in the predictable way, but again, she’s just a really cool personality and good, passionate writer and critic. She’s also friends of friends apparently, and believe it or not, in my everyday I don’t go around making lecherous comments about “real” people…
All that said… her giant, expressive hands are kind of awesome.
Lex, you’re back? Were you ever really away?
‘anti-christ’ is lame verging on unintentionally amusing. maybe i’d see it again if somebody paid ME, just to mock the ridiculously obvious symbolism, lack of any fear-factor, and LvT’s rather cliche chick issues
All of von Trier’s movies are comedies, why would Antichrist be an exception
Both of those are fan-made posters, Martin. Fox released no official promotional materials until the last few weeks.
Interesting that the fan made posters in are some ways better than the “real” ones. Usually I hate fan posters, but in this case they have some stronger elements than the kind of blandish pro ones.