April 26, 2024
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Quote Unquotesee all »
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
Is anyone else fascinated with how Microsoft is pushing the Xbox as the hub for home entertainment? The Minority Report-like menus and apps are wild. It’s already where I go for Netflix and Hulu and they are rolling out more access to services with the next update (HBO GO, UFC streaming, Comcast, ESPN, etc). The new ESPN app is pretty great with split screen viewing, live & recorded programming as well as just highlights and the ability to predict the winners of games and compete with friends(same with UFC fights). I wouldn’t be surprised if the next gen models due next year finally include blu-ray capability and streaming gaming similar to OnLive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svQXBfCjqp0
DP interviewed a whole bunch of people
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNDBp3o80Kw&feature=channel_video_title
biggest suprise was Chloe Moretz but biggest laugh
went to Charlize Theron.
i predicted DP couldn’t get George Clooney but did get
Shailene Woodley .
TIFF has been over for a long time – why not post the rest of the dp/30’s ?
this is just weird
Killing my Clone for Michael Fassbender – 4 min video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-2kxsqGl8c&feature=related
Drunk and nobody’ll answer this anywhere else, but doesn’t it BOTHER any of you swingin’ dicks at ALL watching Jason Segel– nice, funny guy I like a lot, no real issues with him– but watching him on EVERY SHOW the last few weeks with his MUPPETS all DREAMS COME TRUE giddy that he loved the Muppets as a kid (even though that makes NO SENSE, since Muppets are a MID-SEVENTIES-EARLY EIGHTIES thing, and he’s like 30 years old) and now his DREAM HAS COME TRUE to work with the Muppets.
Do any of you guys, CAN ANY OF YOU admit to being a little jealous, a little TIRED of watching CELEBRITY DREAMS COME TRUE? Segel loved the Muppets and now he’s in a Muppet Movie, he’s HAPPY, he’s beloved, he’s celebrated… Does anyone feel this level of contentment anywhere in life? NO, and thus doesn’t it vaguely annoy you watching ONE LUCKY FUCK’s dreams come true after another? When’s MY SHIP gonna come in… I loved Snake Plissken when I was eight, you don’t see me writing for John Carpenter… I had showbiz dreams and aspirations starting in 1981… when I was eight, nine, ten, I was writing (in pencil) little short stories and imagining movies in my head… I’m now just shy of 40 with no hair on my head and a heart condition, and I’m supposed to cheer on JASON SEGEL because it ALL WORKED OUT FOR HIM, because he knew the right people…
Even a dude like McWeeny, Christ, I knew Drew in like 1997 and he was a great dude, but he would be talking about his scripts and his writing… I had the SAME aspirations and the same background just LOVING movies, but he had this GIFT OF GAB I absolutely DO NOT HAVE, he had a writing partner and ins and contacts, and now he’s rich and in the WGA and has worked with Carpenter, and I’m basically in the same EXACT place as I was 15 years ago when I met him.
I don’t know ANYBODY, thus I don’t bother to write or do anything, because if you have NO CONTACTS, you have NO CHANCE, you need to have a POSSE OF LIKEMINDED CONTACTS WHO WILL DO THE WORK FOR YOU, but if you’re working a shit job and have no INDUSTRY FRIENDS, it’s fucking OOOOOOOOOOOOOVER before it starts, and most people in my cluelessness have the good sense to move back to Buffalo or Florida after two or three years, not stick it out for 16 losing hair and gaining weight and NEVER DOING ANYTHING in the business, TRANSCRIBING MOVIES like a BUM for 40k in 1998 then still MAKING 40K in 2011, with no progression in between and nothing to show for it…
Long story short, WHY ARE WE BOWING TO JASON SEGEL, and don’t the junket/critic/frustrated artiste types get sick of watching one lucky kid after another hit the jackpot and you guys just REPORT ON THEM?
It’s enough to make someone slit their wrists. A life without fame is a life not worth living.
Who has ever been happy ONCE IN THEIR LIFE?
I never have. ANY SECOND not spent ACTING, FUCKING or being a GOD is a second WASTED.
FUCK EVERYTHING. Poland, get me into SCREEN ACTORS GUILD RIGHT FUCKING NOW.
I think I preferred your NC-17 rant over at HE better. Why you giving DP the watered down stuff?
One other guarantee to not achieving success is to not do anything. The best way to not sell a script is to not write a script. You could also waste all your energy by writing on someone else’s blog.
You mean you have to do things to achieve things? Oh fuck that noise. Seriously, it comes easy to everyone else but the rest of us have to struggle to do… STUFF? That’s it I am retiring like Batman and I WILL FIGURE EVERYTHING OUT OVER THE NEXT 8 YEARS XD!
Lex, I believe your concerns were addressed in a 1939 novel by Nathaniel West. Check it out.
The Walking Dead (SPOILERS) has become such a shitty show. I never expected or hoped for a non-stop gore fest with every episode devoted to blood and guts and head shots. But to call this season slow and repetitive is to call Aaron Rodgers a somewhat effective quarterback. It feels like Sophia has been missing for 3 years. I don’t even remember what she looks like. I can’t remember her ever speaking. Yet week after week people examine the map and talk search strategy and argue about the odds of finding her and whether or not it’s time to quit. Characters keep having the exact same arguments. During episode’s like the recent Secrets, with people debating abortion and acknowledging infidelity, I totally forget it’s a zombie show and briefly wonder if I accidentally stumbled upon a bad soap opera. Not sure I’m going to pick it up again after the mid-season break. The goofy Grimm is more enjoyable than The Walking Dead.
Has anyone here seen The Artist yet?
I agree 100% with Paul. The Walking Dead has been a disaster so far this season. I’m still about 2 episodes behind and I’m not looking forward to catching up as I’ve basically hated every episode I’ve seen this year. The most severe season to season drop in quality I’ve ever experienced.
I didn’t find TWD season 1 to be exceptional, but it was good overall, and the best TV show ever compared to season 2. Is the sudden and severe drop due to the behind the scenes shenanigans that occurred leading up to Darabont’s departure? I’m not at all familiar with the source material. If this is the result of an expanded season, they should have stuck with 6 episode seasons.
I’ve been watching the second season of The Walking Dead on fast forward on my DVR almost the whole time. I kind of did that with a lot of the first season (usually any time the annoying “love triangle” was onscreen), but more like two arrows fast forward on my Comcast box than the four or five I’m clocking now. If I was AMC and my best shows were aging out while new shows like TWD and The Killing were racing each other to see which one could crash and burn faster and harder I’d be a little nervous.
Is The Killing even coming back for a second season? After that finale I can’t imagine ANYBODY is looking forward to more of that show even if you had been a fan.
I thought the first season of Walking Dead was good. A little overdone in parts but generally engaging enough to maintain my interest in what had become a tired and overdone genre. I take it from Paul’s comments that the 2nd season doesn’t improve so I’m seriously tempted to jump ship and stop wasting my time with it.
Also, is it my imagination or have the zombies doubled or even tripled their running speeds this season?
The Killing is coming back because the ratings were good despite the (warranted) viewer outcry. It’ll be interesting to see what the season 2 ratings are after the bad reviews (following the pilot) and terrible season finale.
I’m only watching The Walking Dead because iTunes doesn’t let me watch Boardwalk Empire or Dexter. Those are the shows I want to be watching right now. Since I have to wait, I’m sticking it out with TWD. But my patience for it is wearing very thin.
I thought the first season was painfully average. The second one has been terrible. They stretch out story points to ridiculous lengths, like a daytime soap.
OLD BATMAN YEEAAH
guy with webcam reviews movies …
Spy Kids – something about time
2 minute video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V78oAw6G4I0&feature=channel_video_title
RE: The Artist– did that dog get an award at cannes?
Paul, it’s called Side Reel. Seriously, it will change your life, but make sure you have all your anti-virals going so you can watch both of those shows.
Now, I completely disagree with everyone’s criticisms about the Walking Dead. All of you get all sorts of bent out of shape when I do this but here we go anyway: it’s just like the comic. Once they got rid of Frank, Kirkman took over it, and it became just like the comic. The comic is not for everyone like this show, but it’s a show about people dealing with the end of the world. It’s not going to move fast, it’s going to take it’s time, and that’s pretty awesome.
I just keep hoping Michone shows up with Sophie. It’s the only answer that would be satisfying at this point.
Dealing with the end of the world in a deliberate fashion is fine. I have no beef with that. But TWD is just spinning its wheels. It’s not going anywhere. There’s no momentum at all. 4 or 5 episodes devoted to people repeatedly talking about a minor character, looking at maps on car hoods and planning searches and debating said searches and arguing over her survival chances and comforting her mother. Characters having the same arguments week after week. Every episode this season has been nearly the same. Slow is one thing. TWD is not moving at all, not even crawling.
Thanks for the suggestion IO. I will check that out.
The dog did indeed get an award at Cannes. Just heard that on NPR this morning.
Aren’t the Zombies attracted to sound? I would think the last thing the group would want is a baby. Have they not seen the final episode of MASH?
TWD Spoilers
They are. But characters still do stupid shit all the time. Like having sex in a parked car on a country road near the woods in the middle of nowhere, hitting the horn while getting busy. Constantly firing guns on the farm they’re currently staying at (and not always to kill zombies). Lori does mention the dangers of a crying baby during the most recent episode.
Zombies also have a good sense of smell, but Season 2 Episode 1 screwed that up by having them hide under cars. I thought they had to cover themselves with dead blood and guts to mask their living selves?
It wasnt a chicken… It was a baby!
Remember the episide of MASH where they examine the characters dreams? I think that is one of the best half hours of television ever made.
“Is this guy crying about a chicken and a baby, I thought this was a comedy show”
” But TWD is just spinning its wheels. It’s not going anywhere.”
Yeah, it’s gotten pretty damned slow. But what can you expect when AMC cuts the budget and doubles the episode order.
I think we’re lucky it’s not even worse.
That’s true storymark, and yet I feel like a better show would be able to overcome those limitations. Or at least not repeat the same episode week after week.
Whatever happened to Stella Stevens? I just saw How To Save A Marriage (And Ruin Your Life)…an amazing film in so many ways. Yeah, she’s in her early 70’s now, but someone should reinvent her career..I mean, Betty White can’t life forever…can she?
JS Partisan: They have yet to cast Michonne, so she won’t appear this season. But I agree, she will up the coolness factor.
While I agree, TWD is more like the comic, I also agree that they are dragging out the storyline something fierce. Probably, because the next two arcs are going to be really expensive (SPOILERS) with the prison and the governor.
I kinda hope Merle is the Governor.
Why would anyone write a script UNSOLICITED? I wrote/finished three scripts in the mid-90s, got to L.A., tried to find a manager/agent to so much as look at them, and 90% of my query envelopes (dozens, maybe hundreds) came back R.T.S.
If you don’t KNOW SOMEONE, you have ZERO chance, so why bother writing? Nobody’s going to read an unsolicited screenplay if you don’t have an agent or a contact or an “in.”
Fuck Hollywood.
Quick! Before Amazon takes it down! Read these pepper spray “reviews”
http://www.amazon.com/Defense-Technology-56895-Stream-Pepper/product-reviews/B0058EOAUE/ref=cm_cr_pr_btm_link_1?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending
BTW: Haven’t watched The Walking Dead — but I can say Hell on Wheels is pretty dang good so far.
Jesus, Lex, is there anywhere online you havn’t polluted with your latest tantrum? You account for more posts today on my Twitter feed than everyone else fucking combined.
Why would anyone do anything? To not be like you.
Is HELL ON WHEELS doing ok in the ratings?
So far I’ve recorded the first two, forgot to record the third, haven’t watched any of it, probably will throw in the towel on even trying shortly…
IE, how I treat absolutely every show, though somehow I watched all of LIGHTS OUT. In a weird way, when something gets canceled, it’s a RELIEF, so I don’t have to devote six years of my life to watching dramatic television, which takes a yeoman’s effort to pay attention to, ’cause when I’m at home, I’m usually drunk or whacking off, and I can’t focus on television.
Hell on Wheels is doing about 3.5 million an episode, if it holds on to the audience it will be second only to Dead. Lights Out barely inched above a million veiwers an episode so its cancellation was not much of a suprise.
Now who knows what would happen without the Dead lead-in but it would be very suprising if Hell wasn’t picked up for a second year.
Plus: Hell on Wheels may represent the cutting edge of a new trend. No kidding: Right now, there are something like a dozen different Western series being proposed for next season. Including one for HBO about Doc Holliday — and Ron Howard is supposed to direct the pilot.
Here’s something I did not see coming in the box office race this week…I know it’s still early, but Arthur Christmas is getting some good reviews thus far, equaliing Hugo. Who’d a thunk it. Could bode well for it’s long term prospects.
I usually get free passes to kids movies about once a month from HopeKids (my youngest is in a wheelchair), and this month the movie they picked is Arthur Christmas. So while I would love to see the Muppets (loved Kermit with Seth on SNL) or Hugo (I read the book to my kids) in theaters, I’m glad Arthur’s getting as positive reviews as the others. That tracking article compared Arthur to Polar Express as far as box-office model, and I would think the studio would be thrilled if it had Polar’s legs.
Given that I still see things like Prancer and Santa Claus the movie pop up on cable channels over the holiday, I am sure that even if it underperforms at the box office Arthur Christmas will eventually break even in the years to come.
Be a man.
Go see RAMPART this weekend.
bless your wee one krillian, sorry to hear that
(arthur christmas is rather lovely, chokka with uk stalwart voice talent)
watched take shelter 2011 .
acting is good..
the ending made it into a tv movie.
now i forced myself to watch an indie movie now i want
free tickets to tintin . a major blockbuster.
somebody hook me up with free tickets.
I think this season of the walking dead has been very strong. Paul MD just out of curiosity, what do you like? It seems like you hate absolutely everything. You gave Boardwalk Empire shit when it premiered and then Game of Thrones and now the walking dead. I know you don’t like fanboys but you don’t have to hate every geeky movie or tv show.
The acting was good in Take Shelter but was pretty underwhelmed by the film as a whole. At least I didn’t leave the theater grumbling like I did after wasting my time on Martha Marci heaven have Mercy on ME. I sat there wondering if I didn’t have a damaged sense of self for not walking out of there. People saying “oh, I’d never let that happen to me. I’d leave the first sign of abuse.” Oh yeah, really? Cuz you stayed ’til the end of this screening. I know I wasn’t the only one who got in free, either.
watching Jessica Chastain in Take Shelter she look a lot like Emma Roberts.
Jessica Chastain has the Debt and the Help coming out
on dvd on the same day ..dec 6.
she’s everywhere and yet not Jennifer Aniston famous.
is the Liz Olsen for Marth or M4 worth it ? oscar worthy yes ? no ? will Streep / Miren and other old
actors take over and get those nominations ?
Kirsten Dunst and Carey Mulligan probably want oscars too.
Woman Attempts to Sell Her Modern Warfare 3 Obsessed Husband on Craigslist
http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/woman-tries-to-sell-husband-addicted-to-modern-warfare-3-on-craigslist/
Monco, how is Boardwalk Empire a fanboy show?
I had no idea that saying this season of The Walking Dead (something echoed by many others here) is disappointing would mean I hate all TV shows. Monco, I’m really not sure where you’re getting that from. I am a fan of Boardwalk Empire and in this very thread said I wish I was watching it (can’t because I use Apple TV). Loved season 1, something I’ve said before here. I also said above that I am a fan of Dexter. Though I believe Game of Thrones got off to a slow start (partly because I was totally unfamiliar with its source material and found it hard to digest at first), I ended up really liking it. B+ overall. I said as much here in the past.
I’m currently enjoying American Horror Story and Grimm. In the past on this blog, I have noted that I am a big fan of Justified, Friday Night Lights, Breaking Bad, The Wire, Mad Men, Parks & Recreation, Arrested Development, The Sopranos, Undeclared, Freaks and Geeks, 30 Rock, Luther, Six Feet Under, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Deadwood, Twin Peaks, and more. That’s more than 20 shows. I’ve also seen some but not all of Treme and really like what I’ve seen. I got behind on Lost and haven’t finished it but I’m definitely a fan. Is that a sufficient list for you? The idea that I “hate every geeky TV show or movie” is ridiculous and completely inaccurate. It indicates that someone really isn’t very familiar with my tastes. You should be now.
Boardwalk Empire is one of the best shows on television. Though a lot of the plot threads feel wildly separated. I love the stuff with Chalky White and the grab for power by Jimmy has been interesting. But it feels like a lot of things are simmering on the back burner.
But the show is like nothing else on television. It’s a very dark show that doesn’t have a single character with an ounce of morality. The closest thing you have to an honorable soul is Richard, the guy with half a face.
I don’t know how accurate of the portrayal of this era is, but its a very difficult show in terms of character and circumstance and feels like something truly original.
It’s funny. My two favorite shows on television right now are Boardwalk Empire and American Horror Story, and the shows couldnt be more different. One is a very slow burn about the politics of sin and compromise. The other is an absolutely insane piece of pulp that throws so much crazy at the screen each week that it’s difficult to keep up.
FREE LEXG!
Bring back The Lexman!
I agree: FREE LEX! Apparently people love his ranting. YAY!
Monco, I agree with you about TWD’s strong season but while Paul is not a favourite, he has never ever come across as haters of TV. It’s good to know some folks love Broadwalk Empire in here. Nucky Thompson is tremendous in every single way and any show that employs Kelly Macdonald, is alright by me!
Kristen Stewart model ..200 + pictures .
a few you might actually like .
http://forum.phun.org/showthread.php?t=824053
top movie aweards can be bought ? DP did do a dp/30 with her..hmmm and she never came back.
Consulting Firm Sues Lionsgate, Says It Got Nicole Kidman Her Oscar Nod for ‘Rabbit Hole’
“The suit claims that it was to receive $12,000 a month through the end of February 2011, plus $5,000 for each major Academy Award nomination in the major categories, and $2.500 for any guild-related award nomination.”
http://www.thewrap.com/movies/article/lions-gate-sued-over-nicole-kidmans-rabbit-hole-award-nominations-33018
very cool 2 minute video … some scary scifi stuff going on and its not made by Roland Emmerich
Brinicle ice finger of death filmed in Antarctic
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/15835017
Lex, I wrote 6 unsolicited screenplays in the early 2000s. I sold all but one.
IO: Looks like The Human Torch is back. Something else to be thankful for, right?
What do you mean I’m not a favorite? I’m offended. And I totally agree, Boardwalk Empire is a great show. I loved the first season and I can’t wait to see season 2.
Mental note: when done with current screenplay, get to know Anghus.
That’s HUGE, anghus! Congrats, after the fact. What genre(s)? You don’t have to say the title but did any get made and are any still alive? Indie or studio? Any repeat buyers?
All indie. Never to a studio. 2 repeat buyers. 4 of them have been produced.
The other two are dead for now. I had optioned another one last year but the company had creative differences and the whole thing went to hell.
The only “active” script I have out there right now is the one im making myself which is a total “calling on favors” low budget independent.
My favorite new show of the season is HBO’s “Enlightened.”
(Trivia note: The last two eps were directed by Jonathan Demme; the previous one by Nicole Holofcener.)
Laura Dern is giving a career performance, and Robin Wright’s brilliant guest turn a few weeks back deserves awards recognition as well.
Sadly, the ratings are in the crapper so it probably won’t get a second season. If not, it’ll live in cult immortality like Lisa Kudrow’s great, under-appreciated (at least while it was on the air) “Comeback.”
Also love “Boardwalk” which really seems to be coming into its own this season. Michael Pitt deserves more props than he’s getting for superbly anchoring the show as much as Buscemi. (I’d love to see Pitt, Leo DiCaprio and Emile Hirsch cast as brothers in a movie someday.)
Very much enjoying–much to my surprise–AMC’s “Hell on Wheels.”
I grudgingly watched the pilot figuring it would just be a pallid knock-off of the late, great “Deadwood,” but it really is its own beast.
“HOW” is making up for the long slog that is season two of “Walking Dead.” Can’t say that I’m sorry it’s going on hiatus after next weekend’s ep.
Still digging “Horror Story,” and (speaking of under-appreciated) HBO’s wonderfully droll, ineffably witty “Bored to Death” (aka “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Zach Galifianikis”).
watched the albert noobs movie trailer … why isn’t Tyler Perry’s Madea in this ?
overall this movie seems boring and made for super old
people.
coming soon to a theatre near you: ‘the hatfields and the mccoys’
starring michael pitt, leo dcap and emile hirsch as the merciless hatfield brothers vs. cole hauser, josh lucas and matthew mcconaughey (sp) as the murderous mccoys.
moneyspinner
(re: movieman’s comment, in case that seems…random)
anybody watching man up! on abc . its a comedy about
families .. lame stories.
i don’t find it funny – one of the actors is also the creator ..
http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/man-up
I’d greenlight that movie, Leah.
Or what about a remake of “The Long Riders”?
Either would be fine, whatever gets Leo on a horse. Honestly, how can you be a male movie star for a decade and a half without ever having appeared on horseback, just seems unnatural.
Leo was in Quick and the Dead!
Sure he was in a western but he just walked around in it. I know its just some sort of goofy OCDness but nothing quite as cinematic as a dashing movie star galloping around.
Well, isn’t that why Leo is making Django Unchained?
sanj, Man Up! was cancelled. I watched one episode; it was terrible.
Quick & the Dead has one of the coolest hindsight casts ever assembled. Man, I wish Gene Hackman would do just one more movie.
Good call Joe, now if Keanu saddles up in 47 Ronin that will be almost everyone (though he might have ambled around in Dangerous Liasons?)
Anyway the source of this foolishness was a rewatching of the Untouchables a year ago and just loving the raid at the bridge. My first thought was ‘damn did anyone ever look as cool on horseback as Costner used to?’, and then of course once I thought about it not only were there plenty of examples but I was suprised that almost every male star had at one time slid through the frame on horseback.
It would actually make a nice Oscar montage. You know, if they ever need to find something to fill the time.
Has Sean Penn ever been on a horse? Kevin Spacey? Al Pacino?
I’ve never given this “all actors appear on a horse” theory any thought before… Surely more actors than not have never been on horseback; They don’t make any westerns anymore, and most actors like to do gritty urban stuff…
For years, I have said that some actors are so firmly associated with “modern” — i.e., 20th and 21st century roles — that it’s difficult, if not impossible, to imagine them as characters in another era. The example I always use: Everyone agrees Al Pacino is a great actor, right? Well, OK, close your eyes and try to imagine Al Pacino on a horse.
Also: For decades, I have heard directors and actors joke about other actors who swear up and down that they’re master horsemen in order to get cast in Westerns — and then wind up embarrassing themselves, or worse, when they actually have to ride. It’s always been that way. Pay close attention to the outlaws in Edwin S. Porter’s The Great Train Robbery when they try to mount their steeds to make their escape. One of them, I swear, looks like he need a frickin’ stepladder.
doesn’t Clint Eastwood have a monopoly on westerns ?
like back in the 70s he did those horse films with big guns
JL: All this Pacino on a horse stuff just brought back terrible flashbacks of Hugh Hudson’s REVOLUTION. To quoth Poland: OY.
Also, DJANGO has some spaghetti western qualities, but it’s Waltz and Foxx who are going to be on horses. Leo is basically playing James Mason’s role in MANDINGO and, yes, is probably going to seem as miscast as that sounds. Gravitas isn’t really his thing.
Actually, Revolution is the exception that proves the rule. LOL.
And, mind you, I am one of the very few people I know who actually paid to see that one during its limited theatrical run. While I was at a junket in L.A. As far as I know, it never played theatrically in Houston.
JL: There is, apparently, a “director’s cut” of REVOLUTION on DVD that is supposed to be, at least, coherent. Tempted to revisit it, but not sure if I’m masochistic enough. Whatever happened to Hugh Hudson, anyway? Has any acclaimed Oscar-nominated director, save, perhaps, his Brit contemporary Roland Joffe, fallen so far, so fast?
Well, I can think of at least one other flame-out who dived into obscurity quicker… and stayed there longer…
http://www.movingpictureblog.com/2011/08/rip-silvio-narizanno-1927-2011.html
ha, you can direct movieman, make the leap, i’ll design it for ya (i always thought mcconaughyouspellit, josh lucas and cole hauser should play sibs, they’d make good hillbillies)
‘u-turn’ is a bit of a western set modern-day…i know one actor who lied about being able to ride in order to get a plumb role and he was rubbish when he started out, so i bet it happens a lot
Leah: By any chance, are you talking about Hugh Jackman? He once told me that when he auditioned for a role on the Snowy River: The McGregor Saga TV series in the mid-1990s, he, ahem, slightly exaggerated his skill as a horseman. He got the gig — but, he said, other characters in the show had to remark that his character had been away from the outback for a while, and maybe had gotten a tad rusty as a rider…
Yeah Westerns aside, The Muppets needs to get some nominations. It’s that wonderful even if it’s just a screenwriting nom, that movie is a fucking masterpiece of awesome, and will hopefully get a little dap from the Academy.
not hugh joe, but apparently fibbing about one’s skills to get a job is an epidemic!
(nobody will go with me to the muppets, stupid kids. and the prospect of going alone seems creepy)
Years and years ago, at a preview screening of A Muppet Christmas Carol — a great film, by the way — a youngster saw me siting in a aisle seat, and asked: “Are you Santa Claus?” I put my my finger to my lips and whispered to her: “Shh! Yes! But don’t tell anyone! I’m on vacation!” I must have convinced her, because she smiled and ran off without a word.
that’s funny. has io heard that story or is he just on the same joeleydonyousanta-lookingmutherfucker page? (a muppet christmas carol is aces, my favourite muppet movie by far – new one sight unseen – and caine is priceless)
He does look like Santa Claus or the Santa Claus for the Texas region!
history stuff thats kind interesting .
The Umbrella Man – the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Errol Morris explores the story behind the one man seen standing under an open black umbrella at the site.
6 minute video
http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/11/21/opinion/100000001183275/the-umbrella-man.html
Joe’s Santa story is the coolest and most disarming thing I’ve heard all day. That’s truly awesome.
leydon – cute story and a reminder that years and years ago (while much thinner and enjoying a resemblance to chris reeve) , i was standing in a supermarket check-out line when a little kid asked if i was superman…the look on his face when i said ‘yes’ and he was going to spoil everything by talking about it was a golden moment… that said, a couple of weeks ago, i got primo service at the ‘sls hotel’ because the valet thought i was alec baldwin….still not sure how i feel about that…
as marcella says in ‘grosse pointe blank’, “it’s just as if everyone had swelled” (what happened to george armitage)
woo hooo. google is promoting this doc on youtube.
life in a day – full documentary totally free.
33000 comments.
http://www.youtube.com/lifeinaday?feature=inp-gh-lif
here’s the dp/30 with only 250 views .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpWf2bJFx9k
What’s with that Terrence Davies quote on the sidebar? That’s kind of a holiday downer, no? Celibate for 30 years??? I don’t know what he says in the larger interview, but isn’t the ENTIRE POINT of being a director that you’re rich, powerful and have people throwing themselves at you? How can someone be a film director and be “celibate for 30 years”?
That’s a terrifying thought.
The point of being a director would be to direct movies, TV, or even plays. Everything else seems to either come and go, but never forget it’s about CREATING something, man! CREATING SOMETHING!
If this guy didn’t want to have sex for 30 years then he probably has a very good reason for it. If not, then that’s plain weird. Just plain weird.
A possibly nearsighted McDonald’s cashier once mistook me for Pierce Brosnan. Then the very next day a guy at the bank asked me if I was “that actor.” Not sure if he meant Brosnan though. But if he did, I suppose it’s possible that for at least a few days back then I did indeed resemble Brosnan.
a 1 hour audio podcast with Jenny Wade ..tv actor
pretty funny …
http://www.nerdist.com/2011/11/nerdist-podcast-143-jenny-wade/
the dp/30 with Shailene Woodley – she really likes Alexander Paynea and is one of her top 5 buman beings.
DP didn’t ask which movies of Alexander Payne’s she didn’t like and what other 4 human beings are her favorite.
DP keeps missing out on basic questions ..i’m sure most
of these basic questions take 1 minute or less to answer.
i want Larry King to yell at DP for not asking
basic questions like Larry does.
movie critics – does it suck when people make comments about interviews you’ve done and they are right ..and you can’t fix the interview cause they left and you can’t get another interview for like 6 months and by then you’d forgotten about the interview you did.
true story.
i was on the subway and there was a girl who looked 95% like Anne Hathaway .. but she didn’t have her trademark super bright red lipstick so it wasn’t her .
why can’t i ever meet an actor who rides the subway.
i want to see an oscar winner ride the subway for a few hours and celebrate with real people. DP make that happen. do a special dp/30 inside a subway … where real people can talk to some huge big name actors.
too bad fox searchlight didn’t make muppets movie.
DP would have access to like a dozen muppets and ask
them hard hitting questions….and somehow gonzo and DP would end up in a fight and one of them would get thrown
off a hotel balcony.
DP – put up the rest of the TIFF dp/30’s .. why the delay ?
I can only process and post so much content per day, sanj.
I would expect another 40 or so DP/30s before the end of the year. Some will probably be from TIFF.
DP – even with 40 dp/30’s coming up i still feel your missing out on all the good actors .. Crazy Stupid Love
had more than enough big time actors but the breakout was
Analeigh Tipton – no dp/30 .. movies move fast and then you forget about the smaller roles … you probably missed
at least 50 smaller actor roles ..
how come none of dp/30 ever end up on the real movie studio sites like fox / wb and the rest . are they too lazy to link to you ? or some sort of conflict of interest . they
do link to a lot of other interviews actors have done
there’s not enough doc updates on stuff that actually matters – New Orleans – mountain top minings – gasland
any of that stuff get fixed up ?
after you do a dp/30 you should give out a coupon to actors so that their actor friends get a free dp/30
quickly .
i’ve probably seen 90% of the dp/30’s this year ..
Jennifer Lawerence is my favorite dp/30 interview
but Carey Mulligan is so good at doing interviews ..
so easy answering hard questions . i wnat Carey Mulligan on MCN doing movie stuff and i expect
Jessica Chastain to get another 2 dp/30 before
the end of the year . she’s everywhere .
2 actors i thought would come back – Mila Kunis and
Natalie Portman – aweome dp/30’s but they never
came back . so they just did these to get awards and
they punk’d you ..they got their award and they never
have to come back .
finally DP – get the dp/30 studio open 24 hours a day .
get more people that way try a few dp/30’s at 4 AM