April 30, 2024
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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
This THOR movie is an odd-sounding project. Can anyone explain to me how Kenneth Branagh got a gig directing a big summer superhero movie? And why Natalie Portman would want anything to do with it?
I will say that after about 2 minutes of watching the kid who plays Kirk’s dad at the beginning of STAR TREK I thought he would become a huge movie star, much moreso than Chris Pine.
Five minutes into Star Trek, I actually said to my friend, “I wonder whose son that is.” I thought that performance was awful, so consider me befuddled by his ongoing work.
Returning to the real world …
Universal have re-edited “Bruno” so teenagers in Blighty can legally see it …
Jerry Bruckheimer has his latest uber-expensive project washed out by the wet June that NYC had …
I think Brannagh for Thor is an inspired choice. I love his Hamlet. Not perfect, but its easy to picture what he’s going to bring to the project.
The kid who is playing Thor is also the lead in the remake of Red Dawn. So he’s not going anywhere. At least, not anytime soon.
Saw Pelham 123 tonight.
OK. Neither fish nor fowl. Perfect for DVD entertainment…not necessary to see in the theatre but not really disagreeable either.
I can see how it is underperforming. Probably should have come out in the spring or fall instead.
Travolta is good and Denzel is always on the money. It just lacked a certain urgency.
Also thought the 9/11 subtext was a little dated.
Can’t believe I wrote that.
I’m not sure how Branagh got the gig, particularly coming off of SLEUTH, but I agree with anghus that he’s an inspired choice.
Josh, he came to fame on that illustrious Australian tv soap called Home & Away, a television show that has come up many a time around these parts, I believe. closer each day… home and away…
Thor is a laaaaaaame comic book character. Totally lame. He’s not a superhero, he’s a frigging GOD! I never understood why he was in the Marvel Universe or how anyone could stand him. The only big name Marvel character worse than him is….CAPTAIN AMERICA.
As much as I loved The Avengers comics growing up, I think it’s a horrible idea for a movie. Thor and Cap are the main reasons why. Danger strikes and what? Captain America throws his frigging shield at someone?? OHhhh…look out for the flying shield. Guys a Caucasian Oddjob from James Bond. Lame
No Don you are wrong. Objectively. THOR was CLASSIC Marvel in the 60’s, particularly the spectacular Jack Kirby artscape and some of Stan Lee’s best writing. It’s Norse Shakespearean fantasy drama and just because he’s a God, doesn’t mean he don’t have problems. For one, he’s taken it upon himself to save mankind, tough choice that. And one of my all time favorite comic pages happens in THOR.
Brannagh is perfect if only because he’ll get the tone and language, I hope.
Don: hating on Thor and Cap is like hating on Joe Biden and Obama. Shameful. Absolutely shameful.
Josh: welcome to the minority.
That aside, Thor is a frickin comic book movie period piece. It will be completely different than any other comic book film ever made. Which is why Marvel went outside the box, hired Kenneth, and this is why Nat Portman is doing the film as well. It’s epic and different. Who does not want to see that on a screen?
Josh Massey, I agree with you re: Hemsworth in Star Trek.
Hmmm. Well, I know nothing about the comic, but THOR actually sounds somewhat interesting.
Surprised to hear that, Josh and Jeff. I thought he was really charasmatic, the camera loved him, etc. etc. Guys wanna be him, chicks wanna screw him, that whole deal. Movie star.
He obviously has great bone structure/skin/hair, but I thought his line delivery was stilted and I didn’t buy his emoting.
In fact, not to belabor this, but I’d go so far as to call him the weakest link in the whole cast, which didn’t really bother me because he was just in the one scene.
Actually, I’m a lot more excited about the casting of Russell Brand as The Easter Bunny.
So you guys seriously think a hammer wielding God being directed by the most narcissistic director ever (Branagh)will make a good film? C’mon. C’monnnnnn.
And christian- yes, he is a classic Marvel COMIC BOOK CHARACTER. He works (barely, but that’s my opinion) in the realm of printed page but I have very little interest in seeing a big screen adaptation of it.
They can’t even get Hulk right and he’s got bonafide human issues and super powers. And yeah, I know Thor as human has a walking problem and his walking stick becomes the hammer when he bangs it on the ground and shouts “by the power of Odin.” Just writing that made me LOL. Like that’s gonna play in the multiplex.
Oh Don, there are sooo many contenders for the ‘Most Narcissistic Director’ crown. Branagh might be in the top 20 but not in the top 5.
Does Thor really bang a walking stick on the ground and say “by the power of Odin?” Ha ha, I hope someone has the good taste to rewrite that.
What will play is a widescreen battle of Gods and Monsters. Is 300 that different?
But “300” was a “period piece,” Thor the Marvel character exists in modern times. Not only that but after reading Thor’s wiki page…he eats golden apples to regain his strength?!?!
AND when he gets super mad;
“Thor is also capable of entering into a state known as the “Warrior’s Madness” (“berserksgangr” in Norse), which will temporarily increase his strength tenfold.”
This thing is gonna be a tough sell to say the least…
Don, do you think that every comic is not re-adapted to film? A teenager gets bit by a radioactive spider and spins webs in a costume? It’ll never work…
A few people seem to have turned up to Harry Potter at midnight: http://bit.ly/132W3h
Spiderman is an icon. Thor is a comic fans hero. The ONLY reason a Thor movie is being made is so Marvel can play keep up with the franchise when they make their ill-fated “Avengers” movie.
Look, I LOVED the Avengers comic as much as anyone, but bringing that group to life is a tough sell. X-Men works because there was a main enemy (Magneto and mankind) but who is the Avengers arch enemy?? Red Skull? Puh-leeze.
If I’m wrong, I’ll admit it, but that bird ain’t gonna fly.
Re: Don – I’d be right there with you on Thor as a comics fan hero only, but then I thought that exact same thing about Iron Man and no longer really question the marketing of a Marvel tent pole.
Hell, if someone told me they were prepping a Beta Ray Bill movie for 2013, I could only act shocked for a couple of minutes and then nod in acceptance.
But I still think it’s cool that they not only worked Thor, but also Daredevil into one of those Bixby/Ferrigno “Hulk” TV-movies.
I thought Iron Man could do well…a guy in a cool robot suit isn’t that hard of a sell, really. But a God with a giant hammer? I think it’s destined for medicore dollars.
And they’d better hope IO doesn’t pass away by the time Avengers comes out because they’re going to need the millions of dollars he’ll be giving them by seeing it over and over. It’s going to be expensive and no one will care.
Thor will be huge. It has the chance to pull people into the theatre that regularly would avoid a freakin comic book movie. Only people on this block would be so asinine to believe otherwise.
Do not even get me started on the goofiness of no one caring about the Avengers. It’s the AVENGERS. You folks are not the audience, and if you think it requires me to get all Multiplicity to make it succeed. Well, really, you still do not know a fucking thing about a fucking thing.
Oh yeah asshole: stop wishing death on me.
Who wished death on you? I said they should hope you don’t die…that means someone out there hopes you stay alive!
I think I’m closer to the average audience than a lot of people who post here, in terms of what I go to see. And I don’t care about the AVENGERS, no matter how many caps you use.
Ant Man! He can like….SHRINK!
Thor! He’s got a HAMMER and gets mad and goes berserker!
HULK! They can’t franchise him so throw him in the mix!
Iron Man! What did he do to get stuck in this crapper waiting to happen?!
Cap’n America! DUCK! Here comes my shield! p.s. Super Soldier formula is currently known as steroids!
Nick Fury! Yay! Sam Jackson isn’t played out at alllll.
Avengers…..disassemble!!!
O mighty Thor bring me a god with a big hammer and protect us from the wiles of J
OK, with all due apologies to Nicol D and his fellow travelers: Has anyone seriously thought about how the idea of a comic book movie about a GOD will play among the Dittoheads, the Christian Right and the Fox Noise contingent?
Yeah, regular people knew Spiderman, Batman and Superman. They don’t know Thor, and most likely if you described him, he’d be laughed at. Is he that much better than He-Man? A guy who says a catchphrase and then transforms into a glistening god with a magical weapon?
But I do think it would be a mistake to underestimate Captain America. While he is sort of nerdy, I don’t think in concept he’s so much worse than Wolverine. If they do him right and completely change his outfit and maybe ditch the shield, he’d be all right.
If they cast John Hamm as Cap, I’ll buy it in a heartbeat, shield or not.
Will Uma Thurman return when they remake The Avengers, or are they choosing someone else for Emma Peel?
I’m almost as excited for this one as I am for the new Dirty Harry remake of Dead Pool. Welcome to the jungle, bitches!
People said IRON MAN was a low tier Marvel hero too. Fact is, name recognition doesn’t mean as much as making a good film. Build it and they will come.
Excelsior!
I leave to fail at COMMITTING SUICIDE for a week and this blog goes all BORING AS FUCK?
THOR sounds fucking stupid, AVENGERS is fanboy bullshit, and this COMIC BOOK ERA CANNOT END SOON ENOUGH. Unless they’re gonna do another PUNISHER movie, because PUNISHER RULES.
THOMAS JANE IS GOD.
Which brings me to my main point:
Why isn’t THOMAS JANE more consistently awesome on screen?
Dude was TODD MOTHERFUCKING PARKER in BOOGIE NIGHTS, one of the ALL-TIME great movie psycho cokehead maniacs, in a performance so indelible I can quote it down to the syllable. Why has NOBODY ever used TOM JANE in this capacity since? He’s OK as a bland leading man with that Hair Club For Men mid-length haircut, but for 12 years I’ve been waiting for this crazy motherfucker to bust out with another amped-up, 1984-haired, walrus-stached bit of insanity, but he’s always kinda generic and dull in some straight man role.
Get this guy a fucking STACHE back and have him wielding guns and doing eightballs in some Mann/Scott/PTA/Fincher/Aaraonofsky shit… not dicking around MEDIUM or THE MIST or SWEETEST THING.
Long as I got the floor (ie, it’s 0330 and everyone’s all tucked in in their booties and nightcaps)…
Anyone watch the season premiere of ENTOURAGE, the MOST IMPORTANT SHOW OF ALL TIME?
I should just do a weekly VIDEO REVIEW of each week’s ENTOURAGE, because it’s just that important:
Can we PLEASE STOP with the ruse that KEVIN MIDGET CONNELLY is some pussyhound squack-attacker, with his 4’9″ frame and BOGUS AS FUCK NEW YORK ACCENT and the fact that he’s a MALE REDHEAD (the ULTIMATE sign of DOUCHE)… Oh, wait, what’s that? He was an official member of the Leo/Tobey “posse”? Never mind. Fucking SUUUUUUCKS knowing this dude’s MY AGE, looks 16, and has been in SAG since ROCKY V in 1990, which apparently wasn’t holding cattle calls in Backwoods PA when I was in 11th grade. Winner, K-CON, loser Lex G.
Also, this shit about OH VINCE DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO BE ALONE. FUCK THIS. Being ALONE doesn’t just RULE, it’s the GOLD STANDARD OF LIFE. I go days, weeks without speaking to people beyond workplace banter and the occasional email from friends and exes I’m not ambitious enough to see in person.
HAVING FRIENDS is a sign of a weak mind, the mind of a person WHO CAN’T BE ALONE WITH THEIR OWN THOUGHTS.
Just as people over 23 who have roommates are MENTALLY DISTURBED, people who regularly get phone calls from “friends” are overgrown children who haven’t settled into the fact that ALL OF HUMANITY is HUMAN GARBAGE and every single person on this planet is a PIECE OF SHIT, the sooner the nonexistent GLOBAL WARMING burns us into the core and kills us all, the better off we all are, because LIFE = MISERY AND BULLSHIT, everyone on earth is a corrupt, lying, shit-talking venal asshole and the only people with ANY integrity are fellow MISANTHROPES who shack up with a stack of porn and a crate of BEAM, not GIVING A FUCK if they live or die at any given second, TM ONYX.
FUCK VINNIE CHASE, and FUCK E. THE DOUCHE sliding his pole to SLOAN (HOTTEST CHICK EVER, SQUACK ATTACK FRONT TO BACK), and super, double, TRIPLE fuck this shit where that HIRSCH IN ALPHA DOG looking FAT DWARF TURTLE is pulling MEADOW SOPRANO, all putting her sudsy feet up on his MAN-RACK.
I HATE EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS PLANET AND I FANTASIZE ABOUT KILLING MYSELF WITH EACH FUCKING BREATH.
I hope EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU fails at EVERY FUCKING THING you ever try. And YOU WILL, because LIFE IS BULLSHIT.
I got a blowjob last night.
Perm: Well, I hope you said “Thank you” afterwards.
Fuck no!
Well, Perm, that’s just rude. And, worse, ungrateful. I always say “Thank you” after I get a blowjob.
She should thank ME. I put chocolate on it!
As far as *those* Avengers go, Uma was a lifeless Emma, Wrecktum even tho she looked good in a leather suit.
Perm & Joe, you guys are taunting Lex, but I suppose he deserves it for wishing that people fail at all attempted endeavors.
Lex if you try to do something maybe you will succeed but you don’t succeed by giving up and cursing everyone else. I got lotso $ committed to projects yesterday (still need more..anyone got any money?) but I only got it by getting off my butt and doing something Lex.
“OK, with all due apologies to Nicol D and his fellow travelers: Has anyone seriously thought about how the idea of a comic book movie about a GOD will play among the Dittoheads, the Christian Right and the Fox Noise contingent?”
I figure they’ll all be worn out after protesting Percy Jackson and the Olympians. It’s okay to an extent if us adults indulge in this kind of thing because we can recognize this as fantasy and fiction, but-according to some people-kids are blank slates who can’t think for themselves and will be corrupted by every piece of media and must be held hostage from these works in order to be saved of this filth that suggests there are multiple gods, Mount Olympus, and all that (Even in a movie that is one giant flight of fancy). It’ll be less than The Golden Compass, of course, but don’t be surprised if some people try to make a big deal out of this.
“HAVING FRIENDS is a sign of a weak mind, the mind of a person WHO CAN’T BE ALONE WITH THEIR OWN THOUGHTS.”
Thanks for sharing with all of us anyway.
Ugh….Rod Lurie continues to skull fuck Sam Peckinpah as casting and plot is revealed for his remake of “Straw Dogs”
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006041.html?categoryid=1238&cs=1
UGH.
The mere fact that the lead character is now a Hollywood screenwriter is reason enough to pre-judge this movie as awful. The whole point of the original was that Dustin Hoffman was a math nerd. To judge from modern movies, ‘Screenwriter’ is one of the most common types of jobs, after ‘government agent’ and ‘cop’.
Prove me wrong, Lurie!
That motherfucker is a pool movie.
“I got a blowjob last night.”
What was his name?
BURN.
Also, Kate BOZworth is GREAT, even if her face looks different lately than it did in Blue Crush for some reason and she now has a bogus British accent in interviews.
Anyway, I’m sure that campy song-n-dance douche JAMES MARSDEN can show-tune the home invaders to death in this version.
Marsden blows.
Lex hates the gays!
There’s only one person who Lex really hates. And we know who it is. All the time.
“Ex football hero”?”
Yeah, this is gonna suck. It will be fun to watch Jeff Wells try to defend it because Lurie’s his pal.
Changing topics: anybody think Branagh will cast himself as Odin?
God, I hated his Hamlet. Every scene goes to 11. I think he’ll be PERFECT for a bombastic comic book movie.
branagh shoulda just cast himself in every role, that would be the ticket
Branagh already cast Brian Blessed (‘Hamlet Ghost’) as Odin.
Wells is already on the take for it…he was even so kind as to offer his casting choices to Lurie. Neat :-/
Wells is giving casting tips for Thor? So who is Vinessa Shaw gonna play? 🙂