James Franco, we need to have a talk.
I know I just posted this as a status on Facebook, but I need to post it here for an actual discussion.
James Franco will be directing adaptations of As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner and Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. Perhaps I'm only upset because Blood Meridian is my all-time favorite novel, and As I Lay Dying, in my opinion, was Faulkner's best, but this kind of irritates me. Especially after that flop of a short story collection he published.
I really don't think he's "there" yet to take on representing two huge literary installments. He's a great actor, that's obvious, but I'm not confident in his own creativity and direction.
Your thoughts?
He directed an indie called The Broken Tower but it hasn't been released yet, so I can't say if it was good or bad. But I agree, starting off with these so early in his career is a stupid move.
No matter how bad the movies are, the books will always be there.
Complaining about it gets you no where and is frankly quite annoying.
Complaining about it gets you no where and is frankly quite annoying.
wait. hold on... okay, I can't even think how to respond to that.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
Complaining about it gets you no where and is frankly quite annoying.
wait. hold on... okay, I can't even think how to respond to that.
how about 'hey subby socks, try taking your own advice sometime'
on topic: how is James Franco even being allowed to direct these adaptations. Who is bankrolling these films? Why is all of Hollywood kissing his ass all of a sudden? He hasn't really proved himself to be of above average talent in any arena, in my opinion. He's a good actor, but he's not a great actor. At least not yet.
Your every other post is a complaint.
I meant specifically remakes and adaptations.
I've been on a lot of film forums full of hardcore film "purists."
You should see the shitstorms that erupt whenever it's announced some old, awful horror movie nobody remembers is getting remade.
It's just... there are no words to describe it...
Exactly. Apparently many people see him as a good investment. I hope he does well, but...I don't know how this is going to play out.
if you think those are gonna be bad i wont discuss THE CONTORTIONIST'S HANDBOOK the movie with you, because as far as i know (and trust me here, i know some stuff) its gonna suck like a hoover canister vac on your dirty uncle's lap
www.triplebeard.com
http://darkroomreview.blogspot.com
“...There are so many ways of being despicable it quite makes one's head spin. But the way to be really despicable is to be contemptuous of other people's pain. You ought to have some apprehension that the man you see before you was once even younger than you are now and arrived at his present wretchedness by imperceptible degrees.”
-James Baldwin
...what.
I just looked it up. 2011 is going to be a bad year for book-lovers.
According to the Wikipedia page for Clevenger, Channing Tatum is set to play JDV.
As in this guy:
Apparently you haven't seen his work in GI Joe.
Let's not forget that girl in Twilight playing Marylou in On The Road. Sometimes movies like these don't really need to be watched.
as in that guy. yeah, but thats not the biggest problem.
there was a clevenger rant a while back where he systematically dissected the script (or at least the one at the time) the film has since been re-opted and craig has been rather quiet, so maybe it's been rescripted, but i still have a sinking feeling about it.
www.triplebeard.com
http://darkroomreview.blogspot.com
“...There are so many ways of being despicable it quite makes one's head spin. But the way to be really despicable is to be contemptuous of other people's pain. You ought to have some apprehension that the man you see before you was once even younger than you are now and arrived at his present wretchedness by imperceptible degrees.”
-James Baldwin
Ta da Hollywood strikes again. Enjoy
I know, just look at the rest of the cast; Sam Riley, Viggo Mortensen, Amy Adams, Steve Buscemi Elisabeth Moss, and Terrence Howard. That sounds like an absolutely dreadful cast.
(Sarcasm font is on)
"The rat inside your brain rules the world."
Citizen Kane SUCKED!!!!!!! True fact.
Alcoholism is the cure not the disease.
In the defense of James Franco, I would like to submit the following:
1. A viral image circulated greatly around the exam time: http://picrocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/James-Franco-Is-Better-T...
2. A fan blogpost found when I googled "James Franco is better than you" http://www.philolzophy.com/post/1549702525/james-franco-man-myth-machine
And lastly:
3. The NY Mag profile: The James Franco Project - Is James Franco for real? http://nymag.com/movies/profiles/67284/
And I'd like to close with asking your esteemed selves to give the man a chance. If he fails, we'll all get together and throw stones at him. (I still might not, but what the heck)
Complaining about it gets you no where and is frankly quite annoying.
I used to believe this, but I can see some one getting peeved if they loved that Blood Meridian book. (As I Lay Dying could probably be remade by anyone at any time.)
Not because he might make it into a bad movie. But because if they liked the book and wanted to see it made into a movie, and a bad movie comes out, it'll be 20 years before it gets a chance to be remade by someone good, if at all.
But for the most part, let him adapt whatever he wants. When I start seeing some actual filmed stuff from it, I'll decide if it stinks or not.
1. A viral image circulated greatly around the exam time: http://picrocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/James-Franco-Is-Better-T...
2. A fan blogpost found when I googled "James Franco is better than you" http://www.philolzophy.com/post/1549702525/james-franco-man-myth-machine
And lastly:
3. The NY Mag profile: The James Franco Project - Is James Franco for real? http://nymag.com/movies/profiles/67284/
And I'd like to close with asking your esteemed selves to give the man a chance. If he fails, we'll all get together and throw stones at him. (I still might not, but what the heck)
:D
It's like the high school quarterback always just happening to get straight A's before the big game.
Do you think any rules were stretched when he was going to school for him to achieve that? How many times was he allowed to turn something in a day or two late?
Also, I'd want to know exactly what courses he took. He could have a doctorate in Basketweaving for all I know.
It's impressive, yeah, but it's a very superficial impression.
I know, just look at the rest of the cast; Sam Riley, Viggo Mortensen, Amy Adams, Steve Buscemi Elisabeth Moss, and Terrence Howard. That sounds like an absolutely dreadful cast.
(Sarcasm font is on)
Its really pretty interesting. They're throwing Kristen Stewart and Kirsten Dunst in there with some pretty amazing actors. That doesn't happen a lot. Or at least I don't notice when it does. Viggo Mortensen is absolutely one of my favorite actors. I'm sort of intrigued to see how this will play out.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
I'm much much more eager to see what HBO made out of A Song of Ice and Fire. It's a series and it premieres in April I think. So far, the cast look quite what I've pictured in my head reading the books, plus it's HBO so I have a good feeling about it.
I was just talking about this last night. I must say though, I don't like the casting choice for dany.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
I was just talking about this last night. I must say though, I don't like the casting choice for dany.
Yes, only mistake. She's like 12? in the first book, and the actress looks well in her twenties. Cersei and Ned Stark are the best options as far as I'm concerned.
I was just talking about this last night. I must say though, I don't like the casting choice for dany.
Yes, only mistake. She's like 12? in the first book, and the actress looks well in her twenties. Cersei and Ned Stark are the best options as far as I'm concerned.
that and she obviously has a dark complexion and a blonde wig. Dany is supposed to be very fair. I always pictured her as someone like Dakota Fanning.
Jaime looks pretty good too. Though Alexander Skarsgård would have been perfect. Not that that would be possible.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
Whatever happened to Todd Field doing the Blood Meridian movie? That actually sounded pretty good.
I know, just look at the rest of the cast; Sam Riley, Viggo Mortensen, Amy Adams, Steve Buscemi Elisabeth Moss, and Terrence Howard. That sounds like an absolutely dreadful cast.
(Sarcasm font is on)
That sounds like an amazing cast, minus Twilight girl (I don't remember her name). I'd like to see Elizabeth Moss is more things, because I love her in Mad Men. And Steve Buscemi...just yes. Yes yes yes.
I would watch gay porn if Buscemi was in it.
This is why we can't have nice things.
It would be quirky, character-driven gay porn...
This is why we can't have nice things.
ha!
I don't know. I kind of have faith in him here. Until he fucks up on the directing front, I won't give him shit. His short stories on the other hand. Anyway, I wonder if he'd cast himself? He is a really great actor, and he hasn't done anything awful either. Not that I can recall. I think he's relatively away from the spotlight. And, unlike a lot of Hollywood actors, he seems to be a genuine artist. Someone that appreciates and loves the art form of film.
As far as all of his graduate programs go, well, let's just say, I'm sure plenty of rules were broken for him. People barely have time to live life around doing an MFA or phd, let alone doing both, plus whatever else, plus filming movies. It's a joke if anyone believes he did it the hard way like everyone else.
Directed by the Cohen Brothers.
"The rat inside your brain rules the world."
Citizen Kane SUCKED!!!!!!! True fact.
Alcoholism is the cure not the disease.
Directed by the Cohen Brothers.
The Cohen brothers could direct two hunks of white dog shit and a chew toy and win an Oscar for it.
Directed by the Cohen Brothers.
The Cohen brothers could direct two hunks of white dog shit and a chew toy and win an Oscar for it.
And they'd deserve it.
"The rat inside your brain rules the world."
Citizen Kane SUCKED!!!!!!! True fact.
Alcoholism is the cure not the disease.
Directed by the Cohen Brothers.
but then he would have to die.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
Directed by the Cohen Brothers.
but then he would have to die.
How exactly would he die? I just hope to god it isn't what I'm thinking.
"The rat inside your brain rules the world."
Citizen Kane SUCKED!!!!!!! True fact.
Alcoholism is the cure not the disease.
i don't know how, that would be up to the cohen brothers, thats just what they tend to do with him, kill him off.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
So if the Cohen brothers ever directed a live action South Park we know who would play Kenny?
"The rat inside your brain rules the world."
Citizen Kane SUCKED!!!!!!! True fact.
Alcoholism is the cure not the disease.
exactly.
"I'm glad I live in the GPS era. In a different century, I would've set off to visit the other side of the village and wandered off into the mountains and been eaten by a carnivorous plant. Or discovered the Americas."
-LaJessica
It's the freakin COEN brothers.
I'm mad at Hollywood right now because I just learned who is playing the lead in Water For Elephants. And I'm upset. It's Robert Patenson, or however you spell his fucking name. I loved that book.
"A celibate clergy is an especially good idea, because it tends to suppress any hereditary propensity toward fanaticism." -Carl Sagan
"Am I cruel? Probably. Is she an idiot? Yes." -jane s.
He's also playing the lead in Cosmopolis.
But thats being directed by Cronenberg and he's fucking Cronenberg. Also Twilight stared Michael Sheen, Dakota Fanning, Anna Kendrick, and Cameron Bright, so when actors like these give dull, droll, boring, and just bad performance. Either the director or screenwriter is a hack or in the case of twilight the source material isn't worth the paper its printed on. Can Robert Pattinson act? I don't know, he hasn't been in a role that required him to.
"The rat inside your brain rules the world."
Citizen Kane SUCKED!!!!!!! True fact.
Alcoholism is the cure not the disease.
I don't see the Contorsh HBook being a good movie because it didn't read like a movie, IMHO. So much of the narrative was stuff going on in the dude's head, and a film of voice-over narration just doesn't do it like a page of text does.
"They sold you hippies grunge, hip hop, now liberty activism."
These actors can't give anything but bad performances. That's why they're in movies like Twilight. Bad source material and poor directing breeds shitty performances, true, but there's only so much you can even get out of 'actors' like those you mentioned.
These actors can't give anything but bad performances. That's why they're in movies like Twilight. Bad source material and poor directing breeds shitty performances, true, but there's only so much you can even get out of 'actors' like those you mentioned.
Have you even seen a movie with Michael Sheen in it? That guys fucking brilliant, he plays Tony Blair better than Tony Blair. Anna Kendrick was pretty damn good in Up In the Air. Cameron Bright was the best child actor until Chloë Moretz took the spot. Dakota Fannin have been in a few stinkers and its still in the open whether she can can transition into a successful adult actress. How the fuck can you say that these actors only give bad performances, have you even seen any of them in a movie?
"The rat inside your brain rules the world."
Citizen Kane SUCKED!!!!!!! True fact.
Alcoholism is the cure not the disease.
Have you even seen a movie with Michael Sheen in it? That guys fucking brilliant, he plays Tony Blair better than Tony Blair. Anna Kendrick was pretty damn good in Up In the Air. Cameron Bright was the best child actor until Chloë Moretz took the spot. Dakota Fannin have been in a few stinkers and its still in the open whether she can can transition into a successful adult actress. How the fuck can you say that these actors only give bad performances, have you even seen any of them in a movie?
Have you?
Michael Sheen has been in a lot of pretty bad films (Underworld series, anyone?). He's been good in a few things - I'll give you Frost/Nixon and The Queen, and maybe Blood Diamond, but generally I feel he's not a great performer. He has a tendency to melodrama, but that may be the result of poor direction.
Dakota Fanning I think is pretty much awful in everything, but I'm not sure she's been given a chance to do much else. She was entirely unconvincing in The Runaways, as was Kristen Stewart. Maybe the worst piece of casting I've seen in the past few years.
Anna Kendrick is just another girl with a pretty face. I doubt she's going to have any kind of lasting career except perhaps if she goes back to doing musical theatre.
If you want good Michael Sheen watch British productions, most American films waste his talents. The first time I saw him was in Kingdom of Heaven (directors cut) and he made his limited role memorable. Check him out in The Damned United and then tell me he can't act.
I actually enjoyed The Runaways, and felt Dakota did a fine job, Kristen Stewart not so much. The problem with her is that what do we have to judge her as an actress? Push? Twilight? I haven't seen a film where the only problem was her and I'm not going to prematurely judge her when I really have nothing to judge her with.
As for Anna Kendrick, Up In the Air. Thats all thats necessary to prove you wrong.
I noticed you failed to mention Cameron Bright. Can't find anything wrong with him can you?
"The rat inside your brain rules the world."
Citizen Kane SUCKED!!!!!!! True fact.
Alcoholism is the cure not the disease.
He's hardly done anything of merit. He's hardly even old enough to have done anything of merit. There's nothing to say about him.
You need real talent to succeed in musical theatre. Not necessarily the kind that translates to film though.
That said, I haven't the foggiest fucking clue who Anna Kendrick is.
This is why we can't have nice things.
She wasn't all that great in Up in the Air. If anything the fact that Clooney was in that and was great is why it shed any light on her whatsoever.
But you called him a bad actor and Know you are refuting your claim. Keep your fucking story straight.
"The rat inside your brain rules the world."
Citizen Kane SUCKED!!!!!!! True fact.
Alcoholism is the cure not the disease.
Has he directed anything else? Sometimes not so great actors make a damn great director, just look at Ron Howard or Ben Affleck. But to do either of those as a directorial debut is just plain stupid.
"The rat inside your brain rules the world."
Citizen Kane SUCKED!!!!!!! True fact.
Alcoholism is the cure not the disease.