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
So, it’s a movie about Amelia Earhart, which does NOT focus on her great (and historic) accomplishments? Unbelievable.
They’re all in there… they just don’t stick in any emotional way.
I know a lot about the Amelia Earhart story, and would be very interested in almost any version of that story told on film, EXCEPT this kind of lame romantic Oscar grab nonsense.
Hey, if it’s not some culture-clash romance where the free-spirited young Indian gal wants to be with a dude from another caste/race/culture, but her traditional parents want her to marry a nice Indian boy, then it’s got a leg up on Nair’s 100,000 other terrible movies.
Also: Swank tends to give me a boner in 50% of her movies, and in the other 50% she’s usually mugging or doing some cornpone accent or cutting her hair short. This looks like a NON-boner Swank movie.
VIVA LA REAPING!
Here’s how it could have been a good film: Swank is an asshole with everybody as she climbs to the top of the flying business, until one day as she fly across a dangerous part of Africa there is a storm that destroy her plane in mid-air. The fall breaks her ankle and death will be certain but she’s discovered by a tribe of Pygmies. She lives with them bitching and screaming for hot coffee until one day she realize she have to be nice with people because its the right thing to do. She opens her eyes and sees all the love around her that she ignored, all the broken hearts. She takes the journey back home, fighting tigers and elephants, just in time to prevent his husband to marry her best friend girl. Climatic ending at the church, confusion and tears. They kiss the end.
Sounds good, I’ll agree with the others and say that it should have been directed by Michael Bay.
This review has me thinking one thing: stay away from the theater this weekend, and instead settle down with THE RIGHT STUFF on DVD… a movie I can watch over and over again for the rest of my life without ever getting bored.
But going back to Amelia… I think people would find an adaptation of the novel “I Was Amelia Earhart” more entertaining — seeing how it’s so much conjecture about her surviving her “final” flight, going all castaway on a remote island, having torrid jungle sex with her navigator… who wouldn’t watch that?
The first clue should have been:
FEMALE DIRECTOR ALARM!
(BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ)
is that the sound of you electric-shaving your pubes to make yer willy more noticeable?
Oh snap I just got zinged by Zoe Bell.
No, it’s the sound of another woman FAILING. Which is always funny.
Wait, this is as boring as Out of Africa (which is the second worst BP winner of all time, just behind Broadway Melody)?!
damn, I was still considering going.
and in a way I sort of should go, because boring films are much much easier to watch in a theatre than at home.
What a brilliant thought … somebody whacking off to a piece of Oscar Bait that’s become a shoo-in for the Razzies.
“Amelia” is godawful, but I don’t think it’s as boring as “Out of Africa.” It’s shorter, for one thing, and it does contain some stuff that’s fun to ponder: Swank’s teeth, McGregor’s bizarre accent, the fantastic but little-used Mia Wasikowska and Cherry Jones.
Chucky, what is it with your obsession over other people masturbating?
jeffmcm, what is it with your obsession over analyzing other people’s posts? So tiresome.
Someone has to make this joke. So here it goes. What’s the problem with an obsessive masturbation habit? COME ON! I’VE GOT NEEDS, PEOPLE! I’VE GOT NEEDS!
Hey, LexG – two points for you:
1. The Hurt Locker is the best film of the year, so far, and directed by a woman – it will OWN your ass!
2. Try not to judge Mira Nair too harshly – with regards to your desire for more and more boners, may I point you to Kama Sutra, one of the best pieces of mainstream software filmmaking of the past 20 years.
Hey, LexG – two points for you:
1. The Hurt Locker is the best film of the year, so far, and directed by a woman – it will OWN your ass!
2. Try not to judge Mira Nair too harshly – with regards to your desire for more and more boners, may I point you to Kama Sutra, one of the best pieces of mainstream softcore filmmaking of the past 20 years.
Hey, LexG – two points for you:
1. The Hurt Locker is the best film of the year, so far, and directed by a woman – it will OWN your ass!
2. Try not to judge Mira Nair too harshly – with regards to your desire for more and more boners, may I point you to Kama Sutra, one of the best pieces of mainstream softcore filmmaking of the past 20 years.
Sorry, triple post. By the way, saw Paranormal Activity, last night – WOW! Best horror film since 28 Days Later – well acted, well shot, just pure scary. Now, this is coming from a fan of Blair Witch and I can see why that film pissed off so many with its slowbuild. But sorry, this film delivers the goods.
Yes, the ending is a bit cheesy, but it all works!
I know it’s not polite to say this but I will NEVER understand how Swank won 2 Oscars. I know how and why she did but is there another multiple Oscar winner who has been in more crap? Or, I should say, just doesn’t seem like she belongs in movies?
Geoff, obviously HURT LOCKER and the AWESOME Kathryn Bigelow are exceptions to the rule. It’s in my top 2 or 3 for the year… and Near Dark, Blue Steel, Point Break and Strange Days are some all-time classic shit.
“Jennifer’s Body” had a chick director and it’s also in my top 5 for the year. I even said a few weeks back I perfectly enjoyed Barrymore’s roller chick movie… I usually like Jane Campion movies, too. And I like Kim Peirce. So obviously there’s a touch of theater involved in the shtick, but for the most part, like all generalizations, it’s GENERALLY TRUE.
“jeffmcm, what is it with your obsession over analyzing other people’s posts? So tiresome.”
Excuse the fuck out of me for actually thinking about what other people are posting. Chucky is an insistent idiot; therefore, he should be exposed as an idiot. Sorry if you feel he should be treated otherwise.
“Best horror film since 28 Days Later”
Sorry to sound like Jeff Wells, but this kind of comment automatically renders you suspect.
EOTW, you make a good point about Swank – I always have found her kind of overrated, too, beyond her amazing work in Boys Don’t Cry. Still, such a unique role and movie.
But let’s not single her out for Oscar winners starring in crap – need I point you towards the careers of Michael Caine and Gene Hackman? Love both actors, but they have been in a TON of crap. And let’s take a look at the recent output of DeNiro and Pacino – they should almost be forced to give those earlier Oscars back.
And JeffMCM, I am not a horror buff nor I do I probably see more than a couple of true horror films a year. But I really don’t think you can be so dismissive of any one who praises 28 Days Later – the film obviously has a very devoted following (as does the sequel) and I can confidentally say it’s probably one of the more influential horror films of the past decade.
In the 80s, it seemed like Hackman and Caine would do just about anything for a paycheck. Hell, they were in some of my student films. All I had to do was spring for some pizza and a few six-packs.
Is it possible, in this PC day age,
for an actor to write it into their CONTRACT that they’ll be PAID IN VAG?
I know I’m repeating this hilarious material, but if I was an A-list star, I’d forego cash and just ask for payment in VAGHINE.
Remember in BORAT when those dudes said it would rule if you could have HOT CHICKS as slaves?
FUNNIEST SHIT EEEEEEEVER.
Geoff, sorry about that earlier comment, I was in a bad mood when I wrote it.
JeffMCM, it’s quite alright – I was not really that offended, but thanks for the thought. I’ve been in my share of bad moods too, recently.
Might be asking for further ridicule on this one, but Seven Pounds has just started on cable rotation and sorry, I think it’s an excellent film.
It’s far from perfect, the Rosario Dawson (though she gives an excellent performance) is written a little too precious, but the movie packs a wallop. I do not get the hatred for this film – Will Smith is probably the reason, but he does a really nice job, too.
i think jeff’s hatred for ’28 days later…’ is about as legend as LYT’s love for ‘saw’. life is a rich tapestry
ROSARIO DAWSON = SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKIN’!
28 Days Later is a great movie. I must suspect anyone who hates that movie and likes the horrible, stupid sequel. At least the first one had atmosphere, character, and a story that mattered. The sequel was a cheap “churn ’em out” piece of trash, not that much removed from Saw 5.
I don’t hate 28 Days Later – I just think it’s mediocre, and therefore overrated. 28 Weeks Later, on the other hand, is a near-masterpiece in my mind because it has more interesting characters, greater control of tension, more interesting stakes, and one great joke.
I do kind of hate Danny Boyle though.
is it his alarmingly large forehead/skull? that sort of freaks me out
(renner rules ’28 weeks’)
McDouche, you’re a bitch.
Leah, you’re old by woman standards.
I think the fact that there weren’t any characters of note in 28 Weeks Later is what killed it for me. They’re just people to run around, I didn’t get much of a feel for them. I honestly don’t see a real difference between that and a horrible sequel like Hills Have Eyes 2. They’re just an excuse to make people run around as the camera shakes a lot with the crazy shutter speeds, and then you have the dumb ending setting up a sequel. Thanks, movie! As a filmgoer, you know how I hate actual endings!
I thought the relationship between the two siblings, and their dad, was stronger than the miscellaneous hipsters of 28 Days Later.