Xixax Film Forum

The Director's Chair => The Director's Chair => Topic started by: gob on November 23, 2006, 04:37:05 AM

Title: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: gob on November 23, 2006, 04:37:05 AM
I was surprised to see upon searching that there's no mention of the Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn anywhere on the board. I have just blitzed through his "Pusher" trilogy and I was blown away by all of the films and think that this is a very talented bloke indeed. He mixes brutal intensity with instinctive character study and pulls it off. With the Pusher films he's effectively the Cassavetes of the Danish underworld.

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.excessif.com%2Fimagescrit%2Fpusher_1.jpg&hash=ea95c17eda451f5635a66a87aa87a7f4229f7a8b)(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kulturaplus.com%2Fslike%2Fsrc%2F2005%2F07%2F28%2Fpusher.jpg&hash=cdbcd9ba2dbbbe72ea8b16329e08005748ddcb0e)(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Feur.i1.yimg.com%2Feur.yimg.com%2Fng%2Fmo%2Fallocine_films%2F20060712%2F01%2F657810381.jpg&hash=0906444b1fef27d35f1b7dad147e4eebba4edceb)

To anyone with any interest in the crime genre I think you should seek these films out - actually any film lover with a strong stomach should seek them out. There is a level of consistency in the acting and the execution of the films that I think is hard to find, especially in gangster films - although this is a different beast entirely and avoids the trappings of the genre.

The performances of the three leads in the three "Pusher" films [ I: Kim Bodnia  II: Mads Mikkelsen III: Zlatko Buric ] are, in my mind, flawless. I was talking to a friend of mine recently after seeing the recent Italian film "Romanzo Criminale", which I didn't particularly like, about why some 'crime epics' can grab you so strongly on an emotional level e.g. "City of God" and why others can't. I think a great deal has to do with the people you're following. All of these characters are multi-dimensional: somehow simultaneously sympathetic and disgusting and most importantly - always engaging. It's also due to the way that Refn creates this very believable and seemingly authentic world. Handheld camerawork to create 'realism' often annoys me but here it doesn't seem contrived, just part of the package. The use of music as well, if I heard the music out of context it would probably just irritate me; in the films it is used to great effect.

Refn crafts the Pusher films very skilfully utilising all elements of cinema to his advantage. I now intend to find his sophomoric film "Bleeder" starring Kim Bodnia of Pusher I and "Fear X" his US effort starring John Turturro (which actually bankrupted him). I'm also looking forward to Valhalla Rising - his Viking epic starring Mads Mikkelsen.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on February 10, 2011, 04:04:39 PM
Ryan Gosling & Nicolas Winding Refn Team For 'Logan's Run'
via The Playlist

Ahhh! This is what Ryan Gosling was alluding to. Let's face it, we didn't give a shit about the "Logan's Run" remake throughout its long development history that saw a number of directors—notably Bryan Singer and more recently Carl Erik Rinsch (who is moving on to do "47 Ronin")—circle the director's chair. But congratu-fucking-lations Warner Bros., you made us sit up and take notice.

Deadline reports that the WB is sealing the deal that will find "Drive" duo Ryan Gosling and Nicolas Winding Refn take on the sci-fi reboot. Yep, our tickets are bought—twice over. Gosling will take on the role of Logan 5, a "Sandman" who is tasked with with putting to sleep those who reach the age of 30, the maximum allowed by the futuristic society. But when his own date of termination arrives, well, he goes on the run.

The film will still utilize the script written by Alex Garland ("28 Days Later," "Sunshine"), which has apparently made the suits at Warner  Bros. very happy. So, Nicolas Winding Refn getting money to play in the studio sandbox? Fuck. Yes. We can't wait to see what the visually ambitious director dreams up for this reboot and with Gosling along for the ride into his first tentpole movie, this will certainly be hugely exciting.

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I'm a huge fan of The Pusher Trilogy and his later projects are all really interesting and daring in different ways. Drive, also starring Gosling, about a stunt man who moonlights as a getaway driver will be released later this year, and after this Logan's Run business is out I'm sure all of you will know his name - he seems to me to be the most promising young(ish) director who could transition to do studio stuff and actually make a mark.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Stefen on February 10, 2011, 05:25:53 PM
Exciting news.

Out of The Pusher trilogy, I only saw II and it was pretty great. Out of all his peers, he's on his way to having one of the most exciting filmographies. I didn't care for Valhalla Rising, but I appreciate the effort.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on February 10, 2011, 06:41:12 PM
Glad you liked Pusher II - give the other two a chance if you have the time. The first Pusher isn't as completley character based as its sequels, something more akin to a movie like Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, whereas Pusher III is almost entirely about the central character's personal despair. If you watch them in order, and actually, if you follow all of Refn's work to the present, it's interesting to see how he started off telling stories with bare-minimum plots he could hang character work on, and slowly evolved to make something like Valhalla Rising, which is so abstract it's practically...well its central character is more of a symbol than a person.

I'm excited to see what he'll do stylistically now that he's going back to making movies that have definite plot elements, but with the technical expertise he's gained over the course of the last decade.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on May 02, 2011, 06:22:07 PM
Luke Evans & Kristin Scott-Thomas Join Nicolas Winding Refn's 'Only God Forgives'
via The Playlist

Just a little bit of a history lesson before we begin: Danish auteur Nicolas Winding Refn had originally planned to shoot "Only God Forgives" before a little project called "Drive" with Ryan Gosling fell into his lap. And while he went off to shoot the upcoming Cannes-competing flick, "Only God Forgives" stayed on his radar and last summer he said that not only did he still plan to make it, he would starting lensing once he was finished up with "Drive." More recently, composer Cliff Martinez—who has scored "Drive"—told us in an extensive interview that while he's tentatively talked to Refn about "Logan's Run," the director was planning another film in between. And it looks like Refn is sticking to that schedule and is beginning to round up a cast.

Cineuropa reveals that Luke Evans and Kristin Scott-Thomas have boarded the film which will be looking for international sales at Cannes. As for the story, it's typically (for Refn) and awesomely out there, centering on a Thai police lieutenant whose rivalry with a gangster sees the two settling their differences in a Thai boxing match. There's no word yet on just who they'll play in the film, though we'd guess Evans will be up for the gangster role.

Production timelines haven't been revealed but we'd guess "Only God Forgives" will roll sometime this summer with Refn following up with "Logan's Run" in late 2011 or early 2012 (previous reports had that film going in the fall, however, Warner Bros. also wants Gosling for "Gangster Squad" which is aiming to shoot this summer as well). Either way, it looks like a bounty on the horizon for Refn fans. "Drive" premieres at Cannes next month and hits theaters on September 16th and we'd wager we'll see "Only God Forgives" sometime in 2012—perhaps with the director back on the Croisette?
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on May 03, 2011, 09:25:46 PM
Model Agyness Deyn Leads Cast Of English Remake Of 'Pusher' Approved By Nicolas Winding Refn
via The Playlist

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi2.blogs.indiewire.com%2Fimages%2Fblogs%2Ftheplaylist%2Farchives%2Fagyness-deyn-pusher-nicolas-winding-refn.jpg&hash=efcc0a23ac279aae95da9f5f352a5230dbd0cd5c)

Before "Bronson" broke him through, those in the know were already hip to Nicolas Winding Refn thanks to his "Pusher" series. The trilogy explored the criminal and drug fueled underworld of Copenhagen with the director's trademark flourish. It put his name firmly on the list of those to watch and helped launch Refn to the position he sits in today where stuff like the "Logan's Run" reboot are now viable options. Cinema is filled with numerous gangster pics but "Pusher" seems to be a favorite. It's already been remade once in a Hindi language version and now the director his putting his weight behind an English take on the material.

Refn is executive producing a remake which will feature an oddball cast toplined by model and newcomer actress Agyness Deyn (she made her feature debut in "Clash of the Titans" last year). Richard Coyle ("Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time"), Bronson Webb ("Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides") and Paul Kaye ("It's All Gone Pete Tong") round out the cast for the film which is now set in London (if the crew of Brit actors didn't tip you off) and will follow the adventures of Frank, just like Refn's original. Luis Prieto—don't worry, we never heard of him either—will direct. The helmer is probably best known for his short "Bamboleho" which won Best Narrative at the first annual Tribeca Film Festival in 2002.

"Pusher was the film that launched my career and to have Luis Prieto direct the remake in London will be an exciting venture. It's a classic tale with strong characters and has an engaging narrative. To see my characters, Frank and Tony in London, one of the most exciting and diverse cities in the world, is an opportunity not to be missed," Refn said in a statement.

As you might guess, we're not entirely thrilled by a remake but with Refn at least weighing in on some level it should be at least interesting. Right? Anyway, we'll keep it in the back of our minds for now as there is much to look forward to. The director has "Drive" premiering in just over a week at the Cannes Film Festival and later this year he'll gear up to lens "Only God Forgives" with Luke Evans and Kristin Scott Thomas.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Stefen on May 17, 2011, 09:07:22 PM
I think it's time we create a Drive thread. It deserves one since it will most likely be one of the our favorite movies of the year.

Do the honors, wilderesque.

I could only get the first clip to play, but it looks great.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Mr. Merrill Lehrl on June 11, 2011, 06:14:19 PM
Been playing Refn catch up.  I'd only seen and been disappointed by Valhalla Rising, although I should perhaps revisit that film when I'm done.  Really enjoyed the bombastic style of Bronson.

But the Pusher films are where he's really shined.  I've watched the first two.  I thought the first was like an Ulrich Seidl documentary.  Its reputation for feeling authentic is justifiable.  But then Pusher II grows in this incredible, exciting way.  Wilderesque is right to say you can witness the growth of Refn through his movies, more so than other filmmakers because he's making such fearless leaps in style.  Pusher II has a lot of poetry, a lot of meaningful cinematic interaction with its protagonist's soul.  It feels like more experiencing the character's life, rather than solely observing like in Pusher.

Pusher III soon.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on June 11, 2011, 06:34:41 PM
Glad you're enjoying them. I see parallels in Refn, PT, and Michael Mann's work in that most of their movies center around characters who dominate their worlds by sheer force of personality, or are (usually tragically) attempting to protect whatever little bubble world or lifestyle they've managed to scrape together for themselves. I don't know if that speaks to the egocentric mindset of the directors or...
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Mr. Merrill Lehrl on June 11, 2011, 06:42:52 PM
Quote from: wilderesque on June 11, 2011, 06:34:41 PM
Glad you're enjoying them. I see parallels in Refn, PT, and Michael Mann's work in that most of their movies center around characters who dominate their worlds by sheer force of personality, or are (usually tragically) attempting to protect whatever little bubble world or lifestyle they've managed to scrape together for themselves. I don't know if that speaks to the egocentric mindset of the directors or...

Fantastic observation.  I don't think it's exclusive to the three you named.  An early example would be Josef von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich, her roles in his films Morocco and Blonde Venus for example.  Doesn't it describe Charlie Chaplin too?
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on June 11, 2011, 06:45:33 PM
Yeah I dig Sternberg, too. I haven't seen enough of Chaplin's stuff to comment, but I'll take your word  :yabbse-smiley:
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Mr. Merrill Lehrl on June 11, 2011, 06:55:22 PM
Chaplin doesn't fit as neatly because he's not aggressively dominating his worlds.  His characters have a false humility or aloofness, this weird thing wherein the world bends for them without them noticing.  You know, they're comedies.

But what about gangster movies?  Pre-noir gangster movies, around the pre-code time.  Funny to think of Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney pushing people around in their worlds and behind the camera are these legendarily tough no-funny-business early Hollywood directors with monocles, goblets of whiskey, and holstered guns.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Mr. Merrill Lehrl on June 11, 2011, 07:06:38 PM
I really like that too but hadn't put it into words.  So thanks.  You see it a ton in literature and I think less in film.

What's the quote from?
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: theyarelegion on June 12, 2011, 12:07:06 AM
can we agree that Pusher III is the best of his trilogy?
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Mr. Merrill Lehrl on June 12, 2011, 06:07:58 AM
Spoiler alert please.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: theyarelegion on June 12, 2011, 10:50:32 AM
Quote from: Merrill Errol Lehrl on June 12, 2011, 06:07:58 AM
Spoiler alert please.

spoiler alert for what?
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on June 12, 2011, 12:10:29 PM
For spoilers.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Mr. Merrill Lehrl on June 12, 2011, 12:34:27 PM
Quote from: theyarelegion on June 12, 2011, 12:07:06 AM
is

Quote from: wilderesque on June 12, 2011, 01:54:30 AM
is

Leave some surprises please.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: theyarelegion on June 12, 2011, 03:33:57 PM
spoiler alert: in my opinion, Pusher III is the best of the trilogy... (really?)
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Mr. Merrill Lehrl on June 12, 2011, 05:30:30 PM
Quote from: theyarelegion on June 12, 2011, 03:33:57 PM
(really?)
no
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: MacGuffin on June 19, 2011, 07:50:29 PM
'Drive' Duo Ryan Gosling & Nicolas Winding Refn To Re-Team For Romantic Comedy
Director And Star Trying To Push Albert Brooks To Write
Source: Playlist

Though his Cannes Best Director winning film "Drive" doesn't hit theaters until the fall, director Nicolas Winding Refn is already lining up a future project with his star Ryan Gosling. In addition to their remake of "Logan's Run," the two have announced plans to make yet another film together, this time a romantic comedy. Refn has already announced the plot of his next film, "Only God Forgives," but recently told the L.A. Times that he and Gosling are hoping to work again on a comedy project in the near future. As if that news wasn't earth-shattering enough for you, Refn and Gosling are trying to persuade "Drive" co-star Albert Brooks to write the screenplay.

Refn told the Times, "It's a romantic comedy set in New York, which seems like a great place to start." He didn't give any other details, but this might be a terrific idea considering the positive buzz Gosling is getting for his first real comedic performance in this summer's "Crazy, Stupid, Love." However, it may all just be a kernel of idea right now. "We're doing a comedy, and Albert Brooks promised he'd write the screenplay," Refn he also said. "Well, that's not exactly true. But print it and we'll make it true."

"We're definitely going to do a comedy, and we're trying desperately to get [Brooks] to write it," Gosling clarified. Brooks hasn't yet commented on the project, but considering his performance in "Drive" is already getting talk of an Oscar nomination, hopefully he'll be just as eager to get back to work with Refn.

Refn's previous films, like "Valhalla Rising" and "Bronson," have been rather dark, but have given him plenty of respect among critics and significant attention within the industry. A romantic comedy is not the type of genre you would expect the director to go after, but the same could be said for Gosling who will hopefully impress us as a Lothario-turned-tutor opposite Steve Carell in "Crazy, Stupid, Love." With any luck, this could be the start of a wonderful, regular artistic collaboration between an auteur like Refn and one of today's most talented actors.

"Drive" hits theaters on September 16th and with "Only God Forgives" set to shoot later this summer.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on June 20, 2011, 03:19:18 PM
Nicolas Winding Refn Wants To Cast Christina Hendricks As His 'Wonder Woman'
via The Playlist

Warner Bros. has been hoping that the void left by the imminent end of the "Harry Potter" franchise would be filled by the stable of DC Comics characters they own: "The Dark Knight" is already a billion-dollar hit, and any number of similar characters are in various stages of development, including a new take on Superman, "Man Of Steel." But things didn't get off to a good start this weekend, with the filmmaking-by-committee of "Green Lantern" severely underperforming, and looking unlikely to make its money back theatrically.

However Warners may have a savior on the horizon. Danish auteur Nicolas Winding Refn, who's made serious waves in the last few years with films like "Bronson" and "Valhalla Rising," has made no secret of his desire to direct a film based on the third of DC's 'big three' characters, "Wonder Woman," a character who, remarkably, has never starred in her own movie, and is best known from a 1970s TV show. Refn started talking up his genuine desire to bring magic lassos and invisible jets to the big screen last year, saying "I would say that Wonder Woman is probably something that, to me, would be not just a satisfaction, but almost a [catharsis], and I was born to make it." And now, the director seems to have picked the actress he'd like to wear the bulletproof bracelets.

Vulture was at the LA Film Festival premiere of Refn's Hollywood debut, the Ryan Gosling thriller "Drive," and talked to the director about "Wonder Woman." The helmer pointed to "Mad Men" star Christina Hendricks, who has a supporting role in "Drive," and told the site that "If I get to do it, she's going to be it." Hendricks seems to want to do the project as much as Refn, saying in an interview last year that "I've been wanting to wear that outfit my whole life ... I had Underoos — I had Wonder Woman Underoos."

Of course, right now, this is all optimistic talk: there's no deal in place for anyone, and no "Wonder Woman" big-screen project formally in development at Warners. But things are looking a hell of a lot more likely now than they were a year ago. Refn's playing the long game on this one, confessing that he took "Drive" partly to boost his bankability with studios, saying that "I have this dream concept: I want to make 'Wonder Woman' as a feature. And I thought in order get to access to that I should probably become a bit more Hollywood-friendly." Furthermore, the helmer's already signed on for his first tentpole, looking likely to direct Gosling in a remake of "Logan's Run," at, yes... Warner Brothers.

Furthermore, the allegedly awful "Wonder Woman" TV show that Ally McBeal creator David E. Kelley was working on never got past the pilot stage, which can only help matters. It's clear that Refn is serious about his dream project, and, with early word on "Drive" being that it's both an artful noir and a crowd-pleasing action-thriller, we reckon that the studio are seeing the director as a more plausible candidate with every passing day. Whether they feel the same about Hendricks is another question, but Chris Hemsworth has proved that you don't have to be an A-lister to star in a successful superhero flick, and she'd certainly be a great choice.

We happened to talk to Refn on the red carpet ourselves, and he spilled the beans both on current and upcoming projects. The director revealed that his main inspiration for "Drive" was James Sallis' source material, telling us that the book "is about the concept of the mythology of cinema. I thought that that was interesting to do a movie about that in Los Angeles, which essentially is the capital of illusions. So it became my own kind of movie about films."

We also asked him about his next film, "Only God Forgives," a Bangkok-set noir starring rising star Luke Evans and Kristin Scott-Thomas. The director told us "It's going to be in Asia, it's going to be hot, and it's going to be a lot of fun. It has a lot of violence and a lot of red colors." Why red? "Because I'm color blind." After that, he confirmed that he would direct "Logan's Run," with the Gosling/Refn bromance continuing on that film: "Ryan Gosling and I are married for a long time."

With all that in mind, plus another Gosling project, a romantic comedy potentially penned by Albert Brooks, in the pipeline, if he does get the "Wonder Woman" job he wants so much, it may be a while off just yet. In the meantime, you'll be able to judge the director's action chops for yourselves when "Drive" hits theaters on September 16th.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: squints on June 21, 2011, 11:57:32 AM
Quote from: wilderesque on June 20, 2011, 03:19:18 PM
looking likely to direct Gosling in a remake of "Logan's Run," at, yes... Warner Brothers.

I didn't know about this and I'm really disheartened. I have dreamed of remaking Logan's Run forever. A shot for shot remake starring Matt Berry. Oh well.... :(
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: RegularKarate on June 21, 2011, 12:02:57 PM
Quote from: squints on June 21, 2011, 11:57:32 AM
I didn't know about this and I'm really disheartened. I have dreamed of remaking Logan's Run forever. A shot for shot remake starring Matt Berry. Oh well.... :(

but the Logan's Run remake is a Hollywood legend.  It's been in the works for over 20 years, passed around from director to director.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Sleepless on June 21, 2011, 12:52:13 PM
Suddenly very interested in this guy. I've got the Bronson DVD but was only able to get half-way through on my first viewing. Is it better to watch it drunk? I saw the clip from Drive that's online and fuck that looks good. I was expecting a generic car chase movie, but that shit was tight yo.

Have mixed feelings about Logan's Run. I don't think it should be done. How can you remake the sexiest movie ever?
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: squints on June 21, 2011, 04:22:35 PM
Quote from: Sleepless on June 21, 2011, 12:52:13 PM
Have mixed feelings about Logan's Run. I don't think it should be done. How can you remake the sexiest movie ever?

By putting Matt Berry in it! I'm serious here people!
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Kellen on July 22, 2011, 05:09:11 PM
Drive trailer (http://www.ign.com/videos/2011/07/21/drive-red-band-trailer?show=HD)
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: squints on July 22, 2011, 05:14:41 PM
Welcome to the party, Kellen. (http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=11543.msg307325#new)
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Pozer on August 26, 2011, 11:21:45 AM
finally saw Pusher. number one only so far. damn this guy is good. his characters, his music cues. nothing new to say, i'm late to the party. wilderesque is the first person i seen talk about Refn so thanks to wilderseque.

documentary feature on the DVD that follows him trying to work the financings for his next films after going bankrupt after making three films is real good.   

cant wait for II & III to get here. anyone know how to get Bleeder in the Americas? course i've only checked netflix for i dont leave the house too much these days.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Reel on August 26, 2011, 06:24:36 PM
Quote from: Pozer on August 26, 2011, 11:21:45 AM
anyone know how to get Bleeder in the Americas?

well, if you can't find it you can always rely on it being downloadable: http://thepiratebay.org/search/bleeder/0/99/0 (http://thepiratebay.org/search/bleeder/0/99/0)

I caught some of Valhalla Rising, pretty gruesome. I don't know if I'm interested in seeing the rest of that. What has he done besides 'Drive' that doesn't have subtitles? I'll watch that.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: 72teeth on August 26, 2011, 07:27:39 PM
Fear X with John Turturro... never seen it, or anything by NWR, but Drive is currently tied with Melancholia for most anticipated film, so i got some catching up to do...
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: The Perineum Falcon on August 26, 2011, 07:42:41 PM
Quote from: Reelist on August 26, 2011, 06:24:36 PM
Quote from: Pozer on August 26, 2011, 11:21:45 AM
anyone know how to get Bleeder in the Americas?
I caught some of Valhallia Rising, pretty gruesome. I don't know if I'm interested in seeing the rest of that. What has he done besides 'Drive' that doesn't have subtitles? I'll watch that.
Bronson, which I love. But if you see that, you should watch Valhalla shortly after.

Does anyone have a clue as to when his films will be available on BluRay?
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Reel on August 26, 2011, 08:01:52 PM
Quote from: 72teeth on August 26, 2011, 07:27:39 PM
Fear X with John Turturro

Quote from: The Perineum Falcon on August 26, 2011, 07:42:41 PM

Bronson, which I love. But if you see that, you should watch Valhalla shortly after.


ok, thanks guys! Jeez, he's got quite the filmography. I thought he was a young'n.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: squints on August 26, 2011, 08:03:12 PM
Quote from: 72teeth on August 26, 2011, 07:27:39 PM
Fear X with John Turturro

had no idea he did that. i hated that movie.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Reel on August 26, 2011, 08:47:16 PM
ok, well scratch Fear x, Bronson it is! ( better title anyway )

I don't know why, but outside of Spike Lee/Coen Bros films, I just don't like John Turturro.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: 72teeth on August 27, 2011, 12:04:48 AM
What about Quiz Show!?
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: theyarelegion on August 27, 2011, 03:29:59 AM
I really liked his Pusher trilogy set in Copenhagen (especially the last one), they're good movies with great performances...
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: MacGuffin on September 03, 2011, 11:30:14 PM
Carey Mulligan To Star In Nicolas Winding Refn's Sex Thriller 'I Walk With The Dead'
Source: Playlist

If you need an indication that the colorful A-list cast of Nicolas Winding Refn's hotly-tipped genre noir "Drive" got on with the Danish filmmaker like a house on fire, look no further than Refn's next few projects for proof. Shooting next, the Bangkok-set neo-Western "Only God Forgives" will also star lead "Drive" actor Ryan Gosling (alongside Kristin Scott Thomas), the "Half Nelson" actor is also developing a "Logan's Run" remake with Refn, and there's even been talk of a romantic comedy for the duo that would be written by "Drive" heavy Albert Brooks.

Add one more to the pile. At a ceremony on Saturday that took place at the Deauville Film Festival in France where Refn was accepting an award for Ryan Gosling, the director said he's found the lead to his gestating sex thriller, "I Walk With the Dead," the female lead of "Drive," Carey Mulligan.

Details of "I Walk With the Dead" are scarce. Refn first revealed the existence of the project in an interview with The Playlist in 2009 while doing the press rounds for his meditative Viking epic, "Valhalla Rising."

And apparently the film already has its financing from French investors. "I've always wanted to make a movie with lots of sex," he told us at the time. "So I wrote this story called, 'I Walk With the Dead' and it takes place in Miami and it's just going to have a lot of sex in it. I have two films that are getting made with French investors and one is 'Only God Forgives' and one is 'I Walk With the Dead.' "

During the same conversation, the filmmaker, who made a splash in the U.S. in 2008 with his stylish prison film "Bronson," revealed that he was also set with Channing Tatum to star alongside Harrison Ford in the Paul Schrader-penned project, "The Dying of the Light," but the deals fell apart "over a weekend" a few months earlier.

At the time, Refn indicated to us that placing "Drive" at the head of his queue suddenly didn't change anything as funding was in place so he could make the two films whenever he saw fit. Now with the addition of Mulligan as his female lead in "I Walk With the Dead," we imagine he's beginning to take the first steps in making this picture a reality. More details as we get them.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: polkablues on September 04, 2011, 01:54:32 AM
Quote from: MacGuffin on September 03, 2011, 11:30:14 PM
Source: Playlist

During the same conversation, the filmmaker, who made a splash in the U.S. in 2008 with his stylish prison film "Bronson," revealed that he was also set with Channing Tatum to star alongside Harrison Ford in the Paul Schrader-penned project, "The Dying of the Light,"

Okay, the way that's written, it's saying that Refn was going to star in the movie alongside Tatum and Ford, and I'm pretty sure that's not what they were trying to say.

I should have just stopped reading at
Quote from: MacGuffin on September 03, 2011, 11:30:14 PM
Carey Mulligan To Star In Nicolas Winding Refn's Sex Thriller

Because I was sold at that point.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on September 20, 2011, 01:35:45 PM
This (http://tinyurl.com/3f7v5cz) is a pretty nice write-up for the uninitiated.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on October 31, 2011, 12:52:18 AM
Refn's top ten Criterions (http://www.criterion.com/explore/164-nicolas-winding-refns-top-10)

For the love of fuck, Criterion, put The Pusher Trilogy on blu.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on December 13, 2011, 01:00:03 AM
New 40 minute interview (http://youtu.be/5Vv0E_-Fi5g)
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Reel on December 13, 2011, 04:30:24 AM
Quote from: wilderesque on December 13, 2011, 01:00:03 AM
New 40 minute interview (http://youtu.be/5Vv0E_-Fi5g)

Great Fucking Interview!!! I love this guy.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on March 30, 2012, 08:28:18 PM
Nicolas Winding Refn Talks Making 'Only God Forgives' & Considers Tokyo Setting For Horror 'I Walk With The Dead'
via The Playlist

The film is one that once again finds Refn boldly moving into a new territory, in a script that his star Ryan Gosling has already said is the "strangest thing" he's ever read. The story centers on Julian (Gosling), who has lived in exile in Bangkok after killing a cop ten year ago. With his brother, he runs a Thai boxing club as a front for the family's drugs smuggling operation run by his Florida based Mom, Jenna (Kristin Scott Thomas). However, his brother gets into hot water when he murders a prostitute, and the cops call on retired cop Chang -- aka The Angel Vengeance -- to weigh in on the matter. And things get considerably sticky and bloody from there.

Shooting in Thailand has invigorated the Refn, who is clearly in awe of Bangkok. "I love this city. Sometimes it feels like the sets of 'Blade Runner,' " he said. "I could eat Thai every day, buy lots of toys, robots, movie posters. Yesterday I found two original posters for...'Godzilla.' Sublime." The director all took time to address the depature of Luke Evans, who was originally slotted for the lead role. "From the beginning, I had the idea of a thriller produced as a western, all in the Far East, and with a modern cowboy hero. I was lucky, Ryan Gosling has accepted the role when Luke Evans withdrew. He preferred to star Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit'...Luke Evans' agent has probably done him a great service."

Refn's film are remarkable in many ways, but perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of his productions is that the director chooses to largely shoot chronologically. It's a practice he used on "Drive" and that he continues with this film. Working quickly, he eschews storyboards and notes, and often edits scenes the same day he shoots them (not unlike Steven Soderbergh). "I hate the idea that the film is over before we started shooting," Refn said. "I spent whole nights finding places in Bangkok. Especially in Chinatown, where most of the film unfolds. We saw dozens of nightclubs, each more kitsch than each other, the walls covered with carved paneling, thick velvet, with flowers in colored plastic gueulardes, erotic statues or classic gold...they give me ideas for scenes. It's like the neon lights in the streets, forming strange perspectives. No one realizes that once on site. Then I decide, and always by instinct."

But that's not to say he leaves his other movies behind as he shoots. Refn explains to Liberation that one scene in particular will mirror the strip club sequence in "Drive" where Driver confronts an assailant with a hammer and a bullet as the dancers look on in horror. "Only God Forgives" will feature a sequence in which Chang assaults a man in front of a dozen young women. "...There I had to find something else, then I did the opposite. They close their eyes, like dolls in a toy store, while a horrible thing unfolds before them," Refn explains about how he flipped the scene around.

And for what's next, Refn confirms it will be the horror movie/sex thriller "I Walk With The Dead," which will reunite him with "Drive" co-star Carey Mulligan. The details of the story are under wraps for now, but Refn reveals he's already eyeballing potential settings. "We signed a deal with [producers] Gaumont and, for distribution, Wild Bunch," the director said. "In essence, we make two films for the price of one. The budget for 'Only God Forgives' is $3.5 million. We exceed [that] perhaps a bit, but really not much. The second film is a horror movie...'I Walk With the Dead.' We'll turn to Los Angeles or Tokyo."

But for now, Refn is busy with "Only God Forgives" and editing as he shoots means he's working fast, and as he recently teased, we could be seeing the film as early as the Venice Film Festival this fall.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Reel on March 30, 2012, 08:50:14 PM
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flix66.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F03%2FOnly-God-Forgives-set-5.jpg&hash=e25b53fad99b30b89408c0373ecb1632c98b7eb5)

What's Gaspar Noe doing there, supplying Ryan Gosling with Pain pills?
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on April 18, 2012, 08:01:21 AM
Nicolas Winding Refn Producing A Prequel To '80s Cult Horror Flick 'Maniac Cop'
via The Playlist

On top of a directorial career that's going from strength to strength, Nicolas Winding Refn has been getting into the producing game of late backing the remake of his original pic "Pusher" and an Icelandic crime-drama titled "Black's Game" -- both of which will be unveiled this year. The Dane has now set up a teaming with horror-specialist duo William Lustig and Larry Cohen, and will be producing a prequel to their 1988 high-concept horror-actioner, "Maniac Cop."

The original centered on the idea of a brutal murderer on the streets of New York City dressed in a police uniform, with a young cop, his girlfriend and the detective in charge setting out to solve the mystery. Despite poor critical reception, two sequels were also born including a 1990 follow-on and a 2008 reboot.

While Lustig was careful to note that deals were not "100% signed off on but pretty close," he added that the project was "going to be more a prequel than anything else, I am really excited to come back to this world especially since Nic is going to be a part of it. Nic has been talking to us about it for a while now and I had an idea that would work so we're going to do it." Writer-producer Cohen also added that the latest chapter will maintain the noir-ish comic book feel of the first three but will have "a bigger budget than the others have had."
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on May 31, 2012, 06:23:40 PM
Nicolas Winding Refn May Direct The 'Button Man: The Killing Game' For DreamWorks
via The Playlist

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FHgMwd.jpg&hash=82c01fc8e1de580840709c1124169284dd0e664b)

Nicolas Winding Refn, the arty genre director of "Drive," "Bronson" and "Valhalla Rising," is apparently planning a few chess moves ahead. And again, he's dabbling with Hollywood and major studios. The Danish filmmaker, already adapting a remake of "Logan's Run" for Warner Bros. is in talks to direct an adaptation of the graphic novel,  "Button Man: The Killing Game" for DreamWorks.

Written by Arthur Ranson and John Wagner (who created the Judge Dredd graphic novel character), "Button Man: The Killing Game" centers on a former mercenary named Harry Exton, who is recruited into a game in which retired soldiers are sponsored by wealthy investors -- called "Voices," because they're only heard on the telephone -- to face off against each other in fights to the death.

"Moneyball" producer Michael De Luca is one of the men shepherding this project. In development since at least 2008, scribes like Hillary Seitz ("Insomnia," "Eagle Eye") and Barry Levy ("Vantage Point") have both written on this thriller.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: MacGuffin on June 20, 2012, 02:55:41 PM
Gaumont International TV To Do 'Barbarella' Series With Martha De Laurentiis, Nick Refn
Source: Deadline

After bringing Hannibal to the small screen with an upcoming NBC series, Gaumont International Television and producer Martha De Laurentiis are looking to do the same for another iconic character, Barbarella. GIT, the U.S.-based production and distribution arm of European feature studio Gaumont, is teaming with De Laurentiis and Drive director Nicolas Refn for a TV series that will be based on the character created by Jean-Claude Forest in a graphic novel and made famous in the 1968 sci-fi movie staring Jane Fonda as a sexpot tasked with finding and stopping the evil weapons inventor. Refn will direct and executive produce the series alongside De Laurentiis, whose late husband Dino produced the 1968 movie. Co-executive producers are Jean-Claude Forest's son Julien Forest and Hollywood Comics principal Jean-Marc Lofficier.

Refn called Barbarella "one of the ultimate counter-cultural characters." Added GIT CEO Katie O'Connell, "We are thrilled to have secured the rights from the Forest estate and are thrilled to be pairing the bold visceral style of Nicolas Refn with the pop culture icon Barbarella." In addition to Bryan Fuller's Hannibal starring Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen, GIT also is producing the upcoming Eli Roth series Hemlock Grove starring Famke Janssen and Bill Skarsgard for Netflix. Gaumont is producing two of Refn's next feature films, including Only God Forgives starring Ryan Gosling. He is with WME, Annonymous and Independent Talent Group. Dino and Martha De Laurentiis originally acquired film rights to Barbarella in 2007. Dino was working on a feature Barbarella remake before his 2010 death; the project attracted a slew of directors and young actress but ultimately didn't take flight.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on June 24, 2012, 03:33:05 PM
Blake Lively To Be Directed By Nicolas Winding Refn In A Gucci Short Film

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FVsMRa.jpg&hash=78ee8cfa79184ed7fc1b728fba58f11d8ceedc74)

Blake Lively will star in a new Gucci short film directed by Drive helmer Nicolas Winding Refn. The project will be for the upcoming Gucci fragrance titled Gucci Premiere, which Lively will be the face of. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of details about the short other than it has already been shot and it is said to be somewhat similar to The Lady Dior short film series that Marion Cotillard has been a part of over the last couple of years. The short film will be presented at a special event at the Venice Film Festival on September 1st.

Source (http://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/blake-lively-directed-nicolas-winding-refn-gucci-short-film)
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on October 25, 2012, 11:09:26 AM
Ryan Gosling Off Nicolas Winding Refn's 'Logan's Run'
via The Playlist

Is the magic already gone between Ryan Gosling and Nicolas Winding Refn? Will "Drive" and "Only God Forgives" be the only record of their bromance that captivated the cinematic world? This much is certain: Gosling will no longer be starring in the long-developing "Logan's Run" remake.

The news comes from a tweet by Variety's Justin Kroll, without any other context, so allow us to speculate. We'd wager that this is being viewed as a big tentpole picture for Warner Bros., and to be fair, for all his popularity, Gosling still isn't quite at the level to open a movie to big numbers. He has mostly been a player in indie movies or prestige projects, and his dalliances with mainstream fare for WB ("Crazy Stupid Love," "Gangster Squad") are essentially ensemble pictures that surround him with bigger names. Simply put, he hasn't led a $100 million movie on his own, and as studios are ever more wary, they might want a more bankable, internationally friendly name. That's one theory.

The other might be that with Gosling gearing up his directorial debut "How To Catch A Monster" next spring, it essentially puts him out of the game for about a year, and WB might be wanting to move a bit faster on the project. Whatever the reason, a Gosling/Refn sci-fi picture isn't happening. And we should stress, the two still appear to be on good terms, so it's not like they had a falling out. "I will give him advice if he wants me to. I told him if he wakes up in sweats at 5am on the morning of shooting to call me," Refn recently told the Evening Standard, talking about Gosling's first time behind the camera.

As for "Only God Forgives," it looks like it won't be at the Rome Film Festival as one of the surprise pictures as some have speculated. Refn tells French outlet JDD (via The Film Stage) that he will be "fine-tuning" the picture through December. And while an early release date of April 4th for Denmark has been reported, those international bows tend to be malleable, and we wouldn't be surprised if that shifts as Refn and the Weinsteins (who are releasing the picture through their Radius shingle) figure out the best way to position it. A return to Cannes? Berlin maybe? Hopefully, we'll know soon.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Pwaybloe on October 25, 2012, 12:07:46 PM
The theory of Gosling being tied up on his directorial debut is much more likely than the laughable idea he doesn't have enough star power to carry the movie. 

Winding Refn will be ok without Gosling.  It's just a little disappointing that he's not available for such a necessary and important remake of a necessary and important movie. 
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: squints on October 26, 2012, 05:04:28 PM
This is perfect!

Ahem...

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fia.media-imdb.com%2Fimages%2FM%2FMV5BMTgzMjQ0NTc5Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMDc0MDYwOA%40%40._V1._SX214_CR0%2C0%2C214%2C314_.jpg&hash=c82221f4e69561fa9a5b631d8474fe1ff4f2c975)
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on December 07, 2012, 03:59:45 PM
Nicolas Winding Refn Teams With Denzel Washington For 'The Equalizer,' 'Only God Forgives' Hits May 23rd
via The Playlist

We can't quite say we saw this coming. As Nicolas Winding Refn puts the finishing touches to his "Drive" follow-up, "Only God Forgives," many had assumed that he would move on to his "Logan's Run" remake with BFF Ryan Gosling. But the actor recently departed the project, and one perhaps suspects that Refn's lost his taste for the film as a result, as word's been very quiet on it late. But it looks like the director's next film will be a studio movie after all, rather than "I Walk With The Dead" with Carey Mulligan. But it won't be "The Button Man," a thriller set up at DreamWorks, and it won't be "Logan's Run."

Instead, Refn's teaming up with a major A-lister, taking the helm on Sony's remake of 1980s TV series "The Equalizer," which will star Denzel Washington. Back in the summer, he was one of a number of directors mentioned in connection with the project, along with Pierre Morel, Gavin O'Connor and Gareth Evans, and Refn beat them all, along with F. Gary Gray, to the gig.

The series, which starred Edward Woodward, focused on a man who works as freelance "fixer" in order to make up for his dark past, and the film started out as a possible team up for Paul Haggis and Russell Crowe, before moving on to a script written by "The Expendables 2" writer by Richard Wenk (ruh-roh...). It's been a priority at the studio for a while, having been set for a 2014 release for a while now.

Oh, and "Only God Forgives" seemingly now has a May 23rd release date, so we could well be looking at a Cannes premiere for the film. "The Equalizer" hits theaters on April 11, 2014
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on January 09, 2013, 04:36:15 PM
Nicolas Winding Refn Exits 'The Equalizer' With Denzel Washington
via The Playlist

Collider reports that Sony wasn't able to close the deal with Refn to have him direct "The Equalizer" starring Denzel Washington. Based on the 1980s TV series which starred Edward Woodward, the story focuses on a man who works as a freelance "fixer," as he tries to atone for his dark and mysterious past when he worked for an outfit known as The Company. The project has been brewing for a while now, with Paul Haggis and Russell Crowe once set as director and star.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on March 04, 2013, 07:28:48 PM


Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on May 31, 2013, 11:12:06 AM
Nicolas Winding Refn Reportedly Working On An Adaptation Of Alejandro Jodorowsky & Moebius' 'The Incal'
via The Playlist

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FYPvK97A.jpg&hash=2f6bf26d1faa211439fc05c0c9d109e02af8f150)

When we caught up with Nicolas Winding Refn at the Cannes Film Festival last week, he remained coy on his future projects. This sexual thriller "I Walk With The Dead" with Carey Mulligan is "looking very good," he's "supposed to read a script" for "Button Man," he's still developing a comedy with Ryan Gosling and working on the TV series "Barbarella." But it seems that's not all Refn is brewing behind-the-scenes, as he's also tackling a project conceived by his pal Alejandro Jodorowsky.

France Inter (http://www.franceinter.fr/emission-le-journal-de-cannes-nicolas-winding-refn-la-violence-comme-affaire-esthetique) also talked with Refn on the Croisette, and while they don't provide a direct quote, they do report that he's working on an adaptation of Jodorowsky and Moebius' comic series "The Incal." The original six book series launched in 1981 and is set in a dystopian future, detailing the battle over the powerful Incal crystal. The comic series is notable in that it followed the collapse of Jodorowsky's "Dune," and utilizes some of the similar designs that Moebius had created while working on the movie. (The forthcoming documentary "Jodorowsky's Dune" goes into more detail about that, and you can read our report on that flick right here (http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/5-things-youll-learn-from-jodrowskys-dune-from-nicolas-winding-refns-thoughts-the-original-cast-more-20130524)).

It would certainly make sense for Refn to be taking this on; he's close with Jodorowsky and even dedicated "Only God Forgives" to him. However, further details on "The Incal" are scarce, and it's not clear if this is set up at a production company or studio, or if Refn is just working on it by himself at the moment. But it's not the first time an adaptation has been attempted, as animator Pascal Blais tried in the 1980s before the endeavor was abandoned. In 2011, he tried again but it's not clear how far he got with it. You can see results of both those efforts below (via Films Actu (http://cinema.jeuxactu.com/news-cinema-l-incal-le-film-par-nicolas-winding-refn-20623.htm)).

So will "The Incal" let Refn scratch the sci-fi itch that is currently not being fulfilled by the stalled "Logan's Run," which his bro Ryan Gosling exited last fall? We'll see, but it's promising stuff.

Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on June 21, 2013, 01:06:47 PM
Nicolas Winding Refn Says He's Making A 'Valhalla Rising' Sequel Set In Tokyo
via The Playlist

When we last sat down to talk to Nicolas Winding Refn, he spoke about a project he was developing that would be set in Tokyo. He mentioned a fondness for the Yakuza, suggesting that this film would find him re-visiting a crime underworld similar to that in "Only God Forgives" and "Drive." But no one could have guessed it would be... a sequel to "Valhalla Rising"?
We spoke to Refn on the eve of the North American premiere for "Only God Forgives" and he revealed that project was a re-teaming with "Valhalla Rising" star Mads Mikkelsen, saying they had, "talked about revisiting the [One-Eye] character from 'Valhalla Rising' again to kind of complete... because there's a similarity between 'Valhalla Rising,' 'Drive' and 'Only God Forgives.' But in a way I had this idea of Mads Mikklesen to go back to the origins of this character. But make the movie in Tokyo."

When asked how this could be a sequel, Refn cryptically said, "Tokyo is a world onto itself." This didn't seem to clear up exactly how One Eye could emerge from the early Viking era to modern day Tokyo, so when pressed, Refn teased that the film was, "About the future..."

While Refn begins work on the "Barbarella" television series, it's possible this could be his next film after "I Walk With The Dead," as he's long spoken about his affinity for Tokyo. Whatever the case, it would be impossible for us to not get excited at the thought of "Valhalla Rising 2: Tokyo Drift."

"Only God Forgives" hits theaters July 19th.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on June 24, 2013, 11:08:33 AM
Nicolas Winding Refn Talks 'Barbarella' & Reveals How Alejandro Jodorowsky Convinced Him To Leave 'Logan's Run'
via The Playlist

Few filmmakers have quite the crowded dance card that Nicolas Winding Refn boasts. Speaking to The Playlist on the eve of the North American premiere for "Only God Forgives," Refn seems deeply pleased by having attached himself to so many projects, each one sounding more exciting than the last (particularly the mooted "Valhalla Rising" continuation). However, Refn's next project is a detour into television, with the series "Barbarella," which he describes, in typical Refn fashion, as "the ultimate fetish."
"Sci-fi television is still a very undiscovered medium," he says of production company Gaumont's offer to spearhead the show. "'Barbarella' is what 'Barbarella' wants to be for every given generation. By just making a movie, it would take out the possibilities."

Surprisingly, Refn's passion for the series came from a more familiar place: apparently the rumors of Refn's involvement in a "Wonder Woman" movie were one-sided. "I certainly still am dreaming of doing 'Wonder Woman,' and also because my special favorite Wonder Woman is Christina Hendricks," he says. "But it seemed like an impossible dream, and that's why I switched my attention to 'Barbarella.' Because 'Barbarella' came at a time when I was very vocal about wanting to do 'Wonder Woman,' and not getting very far with it." When the offer came to get behind "Barbarella," Refn recalls thinking, "Damn, that's even better. But also I have daughters, and I want to make a movie that shows that women are more powerful than men."

As for his involvement in the show, expect it to be active. "I would probably like to [direct] all of them," he plans. "But realistically with a schedule for these types of shows, it might be difficult. I would definitely do the beginning and the end." Refn is certainly thinking ahead in what looks like a fairly ambitious slate. As he's said before, he's still looking to do the Carey Mulligan thriller "I Walk With The Dead" as his next feature. "'Only God Forgives' is part of a two-picture deal, so contractually that has to be my next picture," he explains. His post-"Barbarella" efforts involve two more films (one of which would be "I Walk With The Dead") before Refn promises, "And then I would like to make one giant science fiction film."

Enter "The Incal," which recently surfaced as a project Refn was working on. The famous graphic novel from Alejandro Jodorowsky (to whom Refn has dedicated "Only God Forgives") is an epic, universe-spanning science fiction story very much derived from the unused concepts Jodorowsky and company planned for the infamous unmade version of "Dune." Though Refn has flirted with a number of big budget studio genre pictures, it appears that "The Incal" is the one that has taken precedence. Describing it as "the ultimate graphic novel," Refn explains, "It all came down to 'Logan's Run.' When I pulled out of 'Logan's Run,' it was the decision that if I was gonna make one of these mega-blockbusters, I would control the material."

Refn explains how the hyper-expressive Jodorowsky is the one that gave Refn the courage to avoid the big blockbuster sinkhole. "I called Jodorowsky in Paris and he says to me, 'What is this shit in Hollywood, why?'" Refn says, launching into an impassioned Jodo impersonation. "And I thought I was being yelled at! 'You must not let your vision be destroyed!' And I was like, I know, I know, I was wrong. 'You have to stay true, or else I'll not like you anymore!' He's like ninety, but he has the mind of a comet. So I said, I would like to do 'The Incal,' and he was like, 'That... you will HAVE!'" Originally it seemed like Refn's hopes for "The Incal" were merely a pipe dream, though he hints, "Actually it may happen faster than I anticipated."

Refn is also active as a producer, lending his guidance to a project he was originally going to direct, "The Dying Of The Light." Written by Paul Schrader, who is now going to direct the film himself, the project apparently came apart for Refn when Harrison Ford wanted to change the script, but Refn is back in the mix saying, "I'm a huge fan of Paul Schrader. I have made myself completely available to whatever Paul needs." Refn is also still producing a remake of "Maniac Cop" with the original film's director Bill Lustig, suggesting that the delay on this project had to do with a rights issue. Refn says, "Right now, we're just going through writers and getting the script ready, and we hope to go make it in the future. [Lustig]'s a very underrated director. His films are very influential still, and it's a great privilege to be able to work with him. We're taking it one step and a time, but very soon we will find a director and they will make it his or her movie."

With this schedule comes the possibility of some films falling by the wayside, some for practical reasons, others creative. It seemed like the latter when Refn left action-thriller "The Equalizer," cryptically referring to a subpar product. But Refn still holds a torch for the film's star. "I would love to make anything with Denzel Washington," he raves. "To me he can read the phone book and make it interesting, he has an incredible gift. But things happen for different reasons. And sometimes you realize that God has plans, and you may not know what the outcome's gonna be." When pressed for details, Refn could only offer, "It was not the right combination at the right time. The tradeoff was... not good enough."

Meanwhile, it seems pretty clear that graphic novel adaptation "Button Man" would be the odd picture out in this lineup. "It's hard for me to really talk about that right now, because it's at a stage where they're writing the script," he says, noncommittally. "Right now in the scheme of things, I don't know when I'm gonna have time to commit to it. So it's a project to me that I think is terrific, I have a tremendous amount of respect for the producers, but it's hard for me to put it in any kind of calendar." But he cautions that it could all change tomorrow, winking as he notes, "Remember, the greatest part of a mystery is not knowing the answer."

"Only God Forgives" opens July 19th.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Lottery on June 24, 2013, 07:03:42 PM


Now before Reelist posts a picture of Refn and 'You snooze, you lose', I always thought the Incal would make for an incredibly ambitious and interesting film. Though there would need to be a lot of tweaking for it to be palatable for a wider audience.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on July 19, 2013, 04:47:26 PM
Refn stops by the Criterion closet.



Hope this means The Pusher Trilogy, Bleeder, and Fear X are coming.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on September 30, 2013, 12:36:28 AM
Interview: Nicolas Winding Refn On Sci-Fi And The Genius Of JODOROWSKY'S DUNE
via Twitch Film
by James  Marsh

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Ftn9TXpC.jpg&hash=8f1e4f0c83492b4463f624e230bc1accc662dc26)

A few months ago I was lucky enough to spend a couple of hours talking with Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn. While the bulk of that interview was about his latest directorial effort, Only God Forgives, for another publication (which you can read online here (http://issuu.com/veritefilmmagazine/docs/verite_july_2013)), we also spent a few minutes discussing his involvement in Frank Pavich's incredible documentary, Jodorowsky's Dune. With that film's double win at Fantastic Fest last week, where it won both the Audience Award and the Best Documentary prize, now seemed the perfect opportunity to share this brief discussion, which covers Refn's relationship with Jodorowsky, his involvement in the film and his future science fiction projects.

Twitch - I recently saw JODOROWSKY'S DUNE, which of course you're in, and I wanted to talk to you a little bit about Alejandro Jodorowsky and his work. ONLY GOD FORGIVES is dedicated to him. Can you talk a little bit about what he means to you as a filmmaker?

Well, there's a personal friendship between us, which is very strong. On a professional level, I think his influence in pop cinema is still very unappreciated. You can say that without El Topo there would be no modern pop cinema. In the same way his inspiration for science fiction movies leads back to an unproduced film called Dune.

The imagery, conceptual art and ideas that were coming out of that project were fantastic. I was fascinated to see how much of it was carried over and seaped into subsequent films, most obviously Ridley Scott's ALIEN.

Oh yeah, but the same thing for El Topo. If it wasn't for El Topo a lot of people wouldn't be around. It was the first midnight movie phenomenon that wasn't a revival. It was a new film that caught on with the future of cinema and created this phenomenon that later led to many magnificent films. But it's also that the extremeness of El Topo in a way influenced all us making films from El Topo on.

It really stays with you, it's incredibly surreal and profound, anarchic and even silly at times. I think to get away with being all those things simultaneously is nye impossible today.

It's very hard, because of course it's very hard to capitalise on that financially, because it's some unsecured territory. But at the same time, the need for it is more enormous than ever.

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You claimed in JODOROWSKY'S DUNE that you were one of the few people to have "seen" DUNE because of the way he talked you through his vision and that huge book of ideas and concept art. If the stars ever aligned and someone offered you the opportunity to pick up the reins and adapt Jodorowsky's vision of DUNE, would you do it?

I would make - with the inspiration of that night - my own interpretation. I would do something different with it. Because the thing is that they made Dune, David Lynch made his version, SyFy channel made their version, they've been trying to make a new version for ages, so it's almost like Dune is too easy now. Too many examples exist. I happen to really love the David Lynch version. I love all the surrealist filmmakers: Lynch, Bunuel, Jodorowsky. I would put Gaspar Noe in that category.

I read that when you were making DRIVE you consulted Gaspar Noe on how to cave a head in on-screen.

That is true. I was very intrigued in how Gaspar had done the head-smashing in Irreversible for my head smash in Drive. I really love his films and showed them to Tom Sigel, the cinematographer on Drive, to show him some of the madness I would like to capture in our movie. I think he was a little horrified! I still think Gaspar's head smash is better, but I was able to get them kissing before he smashes the head, so my scene goes in different directions.

I understand that ONLY GOD FORGIVES is part of a two-picture deal you have?

Yes, I have another film in the works, but right now I'm really concentrating on my TV show, Barbarella, to see if I can get that off the ground.

Well I can't wait for you to embrace science fiction to see what you do with BARBARELLA.

It's interesting when you say that because in a way science fiction has always been my favourite genre, or horror films, but horror have more to do with the fantastique.

Do you think that's why you are reluctant to do a science fiction film yourself? You're afraid of tainting the genre or not living up to your favourites?

No, it's just I have to find the right idea. I have to find "it". And I've learned that if I stop seeking it, it will reveal itself.

How's it coming along?

Very well, I'm very happy. We're still writing it. I would love to do it for a number of seasons, at least, I have a number of ideas that would see it through a number of seasons. But however you plan for something, I can tell you one thing - it's not going to happen. There's a great story that basically goes like this: How do you make God laugh? You tell him your plans.

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Frbk9frj.jpg&hash=046f2702707ba0ccb2b43e29edf523efc2a5058a)

That's funny because one question I have written down here is: Do you consider yourself an optimist?

I think you have to. When you have children you have to be an optimist, you have to hope that you are bringing your children into a good place. Artistically, having been around to witness the birth of the digital revolution I have nothing but admiration and optimism for the future of creativity and I wish I would live another 100 years just to see where things are going. The speed of how it's all changing is fantastic. Who would have thought 20 years ago primal information would basically change every dictatorial rule in the world? It wasn't going to be a gun, or a war or an invasion, it was going to be the Internet that changed our society.

Ironically, something that connects everybody together.

Yeah, and only for the better. I think that would have been a pretty mind-blowing discussion...if you had it 20 years ago. But it's that fear of failure we live in that we shouldn't be afraid of. But we need to try it to understand it, because in the end it is so important. Movies like El Topo, nobody makes movies like those anymore. Gaspar Noe does, but he's one in a billion, and I think Cinema has a much higher purpose than just entertaining us, it should inspire us as well. Making those kinds of films it's not about what to do, you almost have to figure out what not to do. So it's like important that you erase the recipe of success every time you have it, like you erase the residue of disaster every time.

LOGAN'S RUN is dead, right?

It's dead as dead can be. It's a great shame but I realised a couple of things. I was so in love with the original that I think I was disillusioned by the fact that if I made a remake I would be closer to the original, I would be part of the original more than any other, and I realised that that was a lie. That was illusion. It wouldn't be like that. And also if I was going to make a $100 or $200 million movie, and trade off my creative freedom for that price, it needed to be something that was going to outweigh that loss. Because at the same time I'm very lucky to be able to make the films I make, and to exchange that for a larger canvas really needs to feel like the right swap. Logan's Run just wasn't it at the end. But I was able to take one of my ideas and put them into Barbarella, like Dune, I stole a little bit from what didn't happen and put it into something else. That way the trade-off wasn't so significant. But I think that maybe those kind of things only work if you stumble and fall.

Whenever I meet younger filmmakers, and I hate to say this now because it makes me feel so old, I say "You know what? Stumble and fall as much as you can as fast as you can, make all the mistakes in your first couple of movies because when that's when you're going to learn what not to do." That is gonna make you understand what I didn't understand. I was 25, Pusher was out and it had worked, and I was told by a more experienced filmmaker "Do it your way", which I completely misinterpreted. I thought he meant keep your control, you're the man, stick with everything and fuck everyone else. It wasn't until much later n my life that I understood he was saying something else to me. And that's why I always say stumble and fall and thank god if you ca do it as fast as possible, do it when you're young, not when you're old. Because it's harder to come back from. And then steal everything you can. Make it your own, that's what everyone else does. Just don't be afraid to admit it.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on January 20, 2014, 07:54:27 PM
'Barbarella' Series Project Lands At Amazon
via Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: Gaumont International Television's Barbarella has been set up at Amazon Studios, which has taken in the pilot script penned by feature writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (Skyfall). I hear search is underway for a showrunner in anticipation of a pilot pickup. Barbarella is based on the character created by Jean-Claude Forest in a graphic novel and made famous in the 1968 sci-fi movie staring Jane Fonda as a sexpot tasked with finding and stopping an evil weapons inventor. The project, which has been in the works at GIT for a year and a half, is executive produced by Nicolas Refn (Valhalla Rising), who had been attached to direct, and Martha De Laurentiis, whose late husband Dino produced the 1968 movie. GIT has two other series – Hannibal on NBC and Hemlock Grove on Netflix — with a third, Narco, eyeing a green light at Netflix. Amazon Studios has five drama and comedy pilots in the works following the launch of its first original series, comedies Alpha House and Betas. Purvis and Wade are repped by UTA and Casarotto and Neil Meyer; Refn by WME.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on March 14, 2014, 11:34:31 PM
Publicity package for Fear X (http://www.vervepics.com/docs/fxnotes.pdf) which includes interviews with Refn, John Turturro, Hubert Selby Jr., DP Larry Smith (Eyes Wide Shut), and Brian Eno
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: MacGuffin on May 15, 2014, 06:56:25 AM
Nicolas Winding Refn In Talks To Helm Sony Haunted Hotel Pic 'The Bringing'
Source: Deadline
   
EXCLUSIVE: Nicolas Winding Refn is in early talks to direct The Bringing, the horror movie spec by Brandon and Phillip Murphy that Sony Pictures acquired in a competitive bidding battle in February. Matt Tolmach is producing with First Born Films' Daniela Cretu. This is the one that got the town whipped into a frenzy partly because its catalyst was a widely circulated video of a young woman who displayed erratic behavior in an elevator at the Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles, the place where such killers as Richard Ramirez called home at one time or other, and where numerous suicides have occurred. The woman, Elisa Lam, was found dead in the water tanks at the roof of the hotel. The script has nothing really to do with that that tragedy but it created a germ of an idea focusing on a man investigating a death at the hotel, and the nightmare he stumbles into.

Refn must have seen the video, because while the director of Drive, Valhalla Rising and Bronson is usually courted for projects, he sought this one out. From his Copenhagen home, he is a horror connoisseur who badly wants to make a terrifying film. This sounds a bit like The Shining, where Stanley Kubrick has similar aspirations, and turned Stephen King's novel in to the standard for movies about haunted hotels. If the deal making works out, Refn will get his chance to make one too. It was an easy sell for Sony, all big fans of Refn. Sony production president Michael De Luca and Rachel O'Connor are steering the pic. Refn is repped by WME, Anonymous Content and Independent Talent. Here is another look at the video that captured the zeitgeist:

Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Garam on May 15, 2014, 09:48:20 AM
Definite Fear X territory. Creepy video. Glad it's just the catalyst for the film and not the base, cause that would feel a bit callous. Refn doing horror would for sure give Shining a run for its money for 'reddest movie ever made'.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Axolotl on May 15, 2014, 10:09:15 AM
Quote from: Garam on May 15, 2014, 09:48:20 AM
Refn doing horror would for sure give Shining a run for its money for 'reddest movie ever made'.
Cries and Whispers already won.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: MacGuffin on June 06, 2014, 09:14:20 AM
Nicolas Winding Refn Announces 'I Walk With The Dead' As His Next Film
Source: Playlist

When we last spoke to Nicolas Winding Refn, last year at Cannes following the premiere of his divisive "Only God Forgives," trying to get any information out of him about his brewing horror film "I Walk With The Dead" was a challenge. And when it was reported last fall that the project was bringing on a screenwriter, we figured it was probably a bit of way off. But now over seven months later, Refn has announced the picture will be his next, and we couldn't be more excited.

The director made use of his infrequent Twitter account to drop the news, so what do we know about it? Well, writer Polly Stenham says it's an "all-female horror" and one that hopes to recalibrate the opinion of those that think Refn doesn't care much for the women in his films. "He's got a lot of stick for doing films some people think are violently misogynistic," she said. "So he approached me with the idea of doing something different."

As for the plot, no exact details yet, nor is it certain that "Drive" star Carey Mulligan, long said to be attached to the project, is still on board. But the movie will shoot in Los Angeles, though at one time, Refn was considering Tokyo (where he's also plotting whatever "The Avenging Silence" is). Either way, a new Refn film for 2015? If that's the plan, sounds good to us.

https://twitter.com/NicolasWR/status/474889947632398337
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on June 13, 2014, 03:22:00 PM
Nicolas Winding Refn Reportedly Drops Out Of Directing Horror 'The Bringing'
via The Playlist

It sounds like Refn's already dropped out as talks and negotiations stalled.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on September 01, 2014, 10:49:15 PM
This is the first I've heard of this doc..

Cliff Martinez to Release Score for 'My Life Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn'
By Alex Hudson
via exclaim.ca

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Cliff Martinez has come a long way since his days as a drummer for Captain Beefheart and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Now a prolific film score composer, his latest project is writing the music for My Life Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn.

The film is a documentary directed by Winding Refn's wife, Liv Corfixen, and it follows the Danish-born filmmaker during the making of last year's Only God Forgives. Martinez wrote the music for Only God Forgives, as well as Refn's much-loved Drive, so it's appropriate that he scored the documentary too.

The film is already out in Denmark, and the soundtrack is available in a couple of international territories (such as the German iTunes).

Neither the film nor the soundtrack have a North American release date just yet, but Film Music Reporter notes that we can expect the latter to arrive through Milan Records (http://www.milanrecords.com/home/home.php). The tracklist is below.

My Life Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack):

1. Cliff Martinez - "Pan to Me"
2. Cliff Martinez - "Shouldn't Be Too Worried"
3. Cliff Martinez - "Bring in the Cows"
4. Cliff Martinez - "Breaking the Waves"
5. Cliff Martinez - "Hands"
6. Cliff Martinez - "You Can't Spend Two Hours"
7. Cliff Martinez - "Shadows"
8. Cliff Martinez - "But I Love You Anyway"
9. Cliff Martinez - "Destroy Something"
10. Cliff Martinez - "Fireworks Went Off"
11. Julian Winding - "Disconnected"


Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Lottery on September 01, 2014, 11:16:10 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QpsfxR_tLQ
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Reel on September 02, 2014, 01:06:27 AM
I can only read the title with Borat's accent
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on October 18, 2014, 02:40:43 PM
Review: 'My Life Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn' Reveals the Sad Story Behind 'Only God Forgives'
By Eric Kohn
via The Playlist

The director of "Drive" learned the hard way that lightning doesn't always strike twice. This is his story.

It's no big secret that both success and failure tend to mess with the minds of artists working in the public eye. Filmmakers, faced with critical and commercial expectations beyond their control, often fall into this uneasy camp. So it's no surprise that, in the documentary "My Life Directed By Nicolas Winding Refn," the Danish filmmaker comes across as heavily self-involved and terrified of failure. Those qualities are intensified by the timeline of the movie, directed by the Refn's wife Liv Corfixen, which finds Refn high on his popularity and on the brink of hitting a wall.

But that's not the only issue at stake. As the title hints, Corfixen's proximity to her subject makes her vulnerable to his domineering tendencies as well.

Chronicling the production history of her husband's poorly received followup to his smash hit "Drive," the widely reviled, ultra-bloody high art pastiche "Only God Forgives," Corfixen finds her husband in the exact state of mind that one might expect — nervous about his next move and obsessed with his quest for perfection. Unlike other non-fiction entries based around misconceived film productions — "Lost in La Mancha," the story of Terry Gilliam's unfinished "Don Quixote" treatment, and the "Apocalypse Now" chronicle "Hearts of Darkness" chief among them — Corfixen's insightful hourlong portrait takes a far more personal view of its subject.

That's ultimately to the credit of the movie's delicate, focused approach, which explores both Refn's neurotic state of uncertainty and its impact on his marriage. Corfixen doesn't touch on the bigger picture of the movie's failures, but conveys a degree of intimacy with the topic usually buried by sensationalist headlines.

"I'm worried about repeating myself," Refn says early on, in the midst of hauling his wife and young children to Bangkok for a six month shoot. There's a certain wearisome cliché associated with watching the director whine about his aspirations time and again, but Corfixen's diary-like approach to the proceedings give her husband's frustrations a down-to-earth quality. Spotted in a reflection early on, Corfixen's presence behind the camera adds an element of meta commentary to the story, which extends beyond the gradual disappointment of the production to touch on Refn's warring passions: On the one hand, he's a committed family man, who squeezes in time to entertain his children and speak tenderly with his wife in between stressful production meetings; at the same time, his self-mythologizing tendencies threaten to overwhelm his priorities.

In one telling scene, "Only God Forgives" star Ryan Gosling pays a visit to Refn and listens as the director launches on a meandering explanation of his vision for the movie's excessive violence, going so far as to equate it to sex. Refn's insistence on reaching for a colorful metaphor transforms into a performance itself, and Gosling calls him on it, turning to the camera and smirking. "You get all that?" he says, and Refn's pained reaction shows the extent to which he's trapped by his own ambition.

The global popularity of his previous collaboration with Gosling hangs over each scene, intensifying the shadow of imminent bad days ahead. "I don't want to be the 'Drive' guy forever," he says. Refn's limited ability to contemplate his legacy registers as more melancholic than deranged, and his egotistical desire mainly seems petty. Shuttling between locations, losing his temper on set and babbling about his intentions back home, he constantly digs himself a deeper grave and then, in the movie's perceptive final moments as the bad reviews stream in, essentially lies in it.

Though it's not a detailed peek behind the scenes, "My Life Directed By Nicolas Winding Refn" does include some intriguing moments involving the overall production struggles that Refn endures in order to make his distinctly non-commercial film. By virtue of his wife's first-rate access, we witness Refn's need to hustle every step of the way: He asks Gosling to join him for a special "Drive" screening so they can collect a $40,000 fee to boost their limited budget; on set, he struggles to explain his trying approach to narrative, which includes a baffling decision during one bit to have his actors move in slow motion. Coaching Kristen Scott Thomas' through her memorably gory death scene, Refn announces his desire to "make it dirty, unique, never-seen-before and violent."

Such empty, freewheeling concepts help to explain the confounding project that eventually came out of the experience: "Only God Forgives" was Refn's attempt to go the extra mile and challenge viewers with the antithesis to the crowd-pleasing aspects of his previous outings. But he's never fully capable of finding clarity to match his drive.

Corfixen's filmmaking technique is largely straightforward, but when she relies on a contemplative score and pauses to watch her husband's expression as the production slowly moves beyond his grasp, "My Life Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn" manages to both pity and reject his hubris. When he reaches the finish line and concludes that the outcome "isn't good enough," as rage fills his eyes, it's clear that no matter what the rest of the world thinks, Refn is his own worst critic.

While this observation speaks volumes about the pressures of the industry, it's certainly nothing groundbreaking — despite the novelty of witnessing a dud in the making, Corfixen gives us few surprises. It's only when she digs into the impact of her husband's commitments on their marriage that the movie suggests a more profound subtext. In an idiosyncratic exchange with the filmmaker Alejandro Jodoworsky — for whom Refn expresses his admiration in the recent documentary "Jodoworsky's Dune" — the cult Chilean director reads Corfixen's fortune and digs into the profound challenges of living in the service of another creative mind.

She's the only one with the ability to see beyond his insecurities and inject a voice of reason into his life, but it comes at the expense of her own stability. "Why do they have to be so mean?" Refn says after reading a voracious takedown of his movie by Hollywood Elsewhere blogger Jeffrey Wells. "In a way," she responds, "you asked for it." Corfixen puts the movie's failings in a better context than any of the pans preceding it. The ironic outcome is a movie more insightful than the project at its center.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on November 03, 2014, 12:03:45 PM
Nicolas Winding Refn's Female-Led Horror Now Titled 'The Neon Demon,' Will Shoot Next Spring
via The Playlist

THR reports that the movie, previously referred to as "I Walk With The Dead," is now titled "The Neon Demon," it will be Refn's next film, and production will start in the spring. While Polly Stenham was attached to write the script at one point, the trade said that Mary Laws, a first-time screenwriter out of Yale, has co-written the project with Refn. The story will find the director returning to Los Angeles to tell a story that he describes as "a horror film about vicious beauty." Longtime collaborator Cliff Martinez will score the film. Philippe Le Sourd (Wong Kar-Wai's "The Grand Master") will be the DP.

But what about Carey Mulligan, who has also been linked to the project for ages? Well, she's not mentioned, and when we chatted with Refn earlier this fall, all he would offer about her participation is, "Sometimes a mystery is better left unsolved until you see it. Or else what are you going to talk about?"
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Kellen on November 03, 2014, 01:48:09 PM
Dope!  I was wondering whether or not his horror flick was going to happen.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on January 06, 2015, 05:03:07 PM
Elle Fanning Is Nicolas Winding Refn's 'Neon Demon'
via The Playlist

For a while, Nicolas Winding Refn's "The Neon Demon" (formerly known as "I Walk With The Dead"), was long on talk, but short on action, thought that has all changed recently. In November, Refn officially announced it as his next film, Cliff Martinez and Philippe Le Sourd (Wong Kar-wai's "The Grand Master") signed up to score and lens the film, respectively, and a spring shoot was penciled in. And now, casting has begun.

Though Carey Mulligan was long attached to the movie, Elle Fanning has now stepped into the picture in the lead role. No plot details as of yet, but previously, "The Neon Demon" was described as "a horror film about vicious beauty" set in Los Angeles. Check out the director's tweet confirming the news below.

QuoteDear Friends - Yes it's true, @ElleFanning will be a super cool wonder woman in THE NEON DEMON. #ellefanning #theneondemon

— Nicolas Winding Refn (@NicolasWR) January 6, 2015
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on February 05, 2015, 12:01:18 PM
Casting: Keanu Reeves & Christina Hendricks Join Nicolas Refn's 'The Neon Demon,'
via The Playlist

You might not remember, but a few years back, Nicolas Winding Refn looked to team up with Keanu Reeves for "Jekyll," a modern retelling of "Jekyll and Hyde." That project fell apart over scheduling issues and other reasons, but it looks like they've kept in touch and found something else to collaborate on.

Reeves, "Drive" star Christina Hendricks, Jena Malone, Bella Heathcote, and Abbey Lee have all joined Elle Fanning in "The Neon Demon." For now, the lid is on the plot details, and all we know is that it's a female-driven horror flick. Refn has once again tapped Cliff Martinez to score the picture, with DP Philippe Le Sourd ("The Grand Master") lensing. Production starts on March 30th.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Reel on February 05, 2015, 06:34:49 PM
Not keanu.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Something Spanish on February 06, 2015, 07:51:30 PM
Whoa
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on February 07, 2015, 05:30:59 PM
Found through Criterion Forum, via The AV Club (http://www.avclub.com/article/keanu-reeves-and-christina-hendricks-join-nicholas-214839):

QuoteKeanu Reeves and Christina Hendricks have joined the cast of the presumably highly stylized and extremely violent horror flick. The duo will join 16-year-old lead Elle Fanning and Max Max: Fury Road's Abbey Lee, cast as the ringleader of a group of "vicious" and "maniacal" models.

and


Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Mel on February 09, 2015, 10:39:31 AM
Nicolas Winding Refn in conversation with Gaspar Noe
At the Danish Film Institute. 2014. The two directors discuss their work methods, current state of the film industry and their future projects. Space Rocket Nation is the production company of the acclaimed director/producer team of Nicolas Winding Refn and Lene Borglum.

Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on February 18, 2015, 02:10:52 PM
My Life Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn will be released February 27, 2015 - theatrical and VOD
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on March 04, 2015, 11:43:56 AM
Liv Corfixen and Refn talk My Life Directed... (http://soundcloud.com/filmlinc/20-liv-corfixen-nicolas-winding-refn)
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on May 13, 2015, 12:25:58 PM
First images from Neon Demon

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FOUNr5fb.jpg&hash=2cd23aa13b7c5d22adb224d86d2283e793db8558)

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Expected to be completed by early 2016
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on May 21, 2015, 02:59:53 PM
Nicolas Winding Refn Presents Series Is Releasing The 'RoboCop' Soundtrack On Vinyl
via The Playlist

A certain type of vintage genre score has rightfully earned its place in film music pantheon —think the haunting pulsations of John Carpenter, the woozy dreamscapes of Tangerine Dream, the throbbing disco-synth anxieties of Giorgio Moroder —and that atmospheric spirit as such is currently being channeled by filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn. The director recontextualized the Pet Shop Boys for a new generation with his bruising psycho prison film "Bronson"; he's turned throwback synth artist Johnny Jewel into a kind of modern rock star in the field thanks to his "Drive" score (the film's star Ryan Gosling has turned into a devotee too); and he's also helped transform Steven Soderbergh-collaborator Cliff Martinez ("Only God Forgives," "Solaris") into one of the most sought after modern film composers.

While Refn is creatively indebted to the mondo-exotica genre films of the '60s, '70s and '80s and their soundtracks, the filmmaker has used his recent cache to shine a spotlight onto forgotten or less remembered film scores. With Milan Records, he's launched the Nicolas Winding Refn Presents (http://milanrecords.com/tag/nicolas-winding-refn/) series.

The series so far has released the Cho Young-wok score from "Oldboy," and Disasterpeace's excellent electro score for the indie horror/thriller "It Follows" and coming up is Refn's own "Bronson" soundtrack in a vinyl edition, as well as a reissue of the original soundtrack to Paul Verhoeven's "Robocop" with music by Basil Poledouris. The soundtrack will be released on 2xLP with artwork by Jay Shaw on July 17th.

"The soundtrack is so strong, and it's so borderline camp," Refn told the The New York Times about his affection for the movie and its music. "But at the same time, it's so symphonically dark and humoristic. ['Robocop' is] a wonderful intersection of European filmmaking with very strong Hollywood thematic commercial abilities. It's one of the great films to come out of Hollywood."

A tease for what's next? Refn says his next film "The Neon Demon," to be scored by Cliff Martinez, will be sonically influenced by '70s proto-synth punks Suicide,  junkie punk Johnny Thunders, and gauzy '90s pillowgaze band Cocteau Twins, as well as Moroder.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Lottery on May 21, 2015, 07:53:07 PM
Quote from: wilder on May 21, 2015, 02:59:53 PM
Refn says his next film "The Neon Demon," to be scored by Cliff Martinez, will be sonically influenced by '70s proto-synth punks Suicide,  junkie punk Johnny Thunders, and gauzy '90s pillowgaze band Cocteau Twins, as well as Moroder.

Excellent, excellent. Just like Martinez's previous work with Refn.

His OGF score was fantastic, and he did it with such a simple setup.
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Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on May 22, 2015, 09:52:19 PM
My Life Directed By Nicolas Winding Refn coming to DVD (http://www.amazon.com/Life-Directed-Nicolas-Winding-Refn/dp/B00USBLVTU/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1432251807&sr=1-2&keywords=my+life+directed+by+nicolas+winding+refn) on May 26, 2015
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on June 04, 2015, 03:18:36 PM
Nicolas Winding Refn Says 'The Avenging Silence' Might Be A Spy Movie
via The Playlist

For the past few years, one of the projects Nicolas Winding Refn has been talking about is "The Avenging Silence." He's never delivered much in the way of concrete details, likely because he's still probably sorting it out, but the only thing he had previously been specific about is that the movie would be set in Tokyo. Well, he's recently revealed a bit more about his approach and a possible genre the movie could fall into.

"It's basically a character that appears in my other movies that will now appear again. Having done 'The Neon Demon,' which was predominantly women protagonists, the character that Mads [Mikkelsen] plays in 'Valhalla Rising,' Ryan [Gosling] plays him in 'Drive' or Vithaya [Pansringarm] in 'Only God Forgives,' I want to make a new movie with that character," he explained to Collider.

Currently writing the script for the film, Refn also reveals what kind of movie it might be. "I would love to do like a spy movie, something like that," he teased. But bear in mind, a "spy movie" from Refn could mean anything.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on August 01, 2015, 05:38:12 AM
Nicolas Winding Refn announces debut book release The Act of Seeing
via Flickering Myth

Acclaimed Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn (Bronson, Drive) has announced the release of his debut book The Act of Seeing. Coauthored by FrighFest curator and renowned horror expert Alan Jones and trawls through Refn's unique collection of rare American film posters as it explores his which shows us Refn's earliest visual connection with movies, stemming from a childhood spent wondering the streets of Manhattan, obsessing over art house posters that decorated the outside walls of the elusive movie theatres he was too young to go in to.

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FDoLsuxS.jpg&hash=56b633e027e0764d7f06ec51aa12ed09b3a37cf3)

Nicolas Winding Refn: The Act of Seeing - Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Nicolas-Winding-Refn-Act-Seeing/dp/1903254795/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438425272&sr=8-1&keywords=the+act+of+seeing+refn)


This ridiculousness from Amazon:

QuoteFor the first time Nicolas Winding Refn, writer, producer and director of the PUSHER films, BRONSON, VALHALLA RISING, DRIVE, ONLY GOD FORGIVES and THE NEON DEMON, trawls through his unique collection of rare American film posters to unfold ways the viewer validates and actualises the presentation of key images into their own personal reality. From the vintage visuals of SPIKED HEELS AND BLACK NYLONS, OBSCENE HOUSE and ALICE IN ACIDLAND to THE TWISTED SEX, TORTURE ME KISS ME and ZERO IN AND SCREAM – to name just a few of the tantalizing film titles showcased – the controversial Danish icon constructs a whole new way of looking at the key artwork and shameless hyperbole thought up in the back alley gutters of the exploitation industry. The masterfully overblown promises and alluring tag-lines were dubious attractions solely devised to persuade the ravished sight to suppress the cool head of reason and tempt it to sit in a dark auditorium to watch other people's lurid lives shockingly unravel. Now the celebrated filmmaker makes complicit voyeurs of us all by editing his exceptional collection of little-seen and vivid front-of-house displays into an extraordinary creation to match the observation sensations explored in his own pioneering screen work. With comprehensive historical context provided for each poster and every production detail meticulously overseen by Winding Refn himself, this book encapsulates everything he has knows about eyewitness confrontation on a heart-felt journey into the art and act of seeing. This lavish quarter bound volume has unpredented production values including silk covered boards and a cloth bound gold embossed slipcase. Nicolas Winding Refn: The Act of Seeing is the first book from the new NWR imprint from FAB Press, a collaboration with cinema's most exciting contemporary talent, Nicolas Winding Refn. It is Nicolas's wish to produce books that focus on iconic rebels in the entertainment industry, presenting to the world high-end art books of the finest possible quality.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on August 05, 2015, 11:33:17 PM
Nicolas Winding Refn Talks Poster Book 'The Act Of Seeing' (http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/nicolas-winding-refn-talks-poster-book-the-act-of-seeing-plus-check-out-great-one-sheets-chosen-by-the-director-20150805)
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on September 28, 2015, 05:51:27 PM
John Hyams To Direct Nicolas Winding Refn Produced Remake Of 'Maniac Cop'
via The Playlist

"Right now, we're just going through writers and getting the script ready, and we hope to go make it in the future. [William Lustig]'s a very underrated director. His films are very influential still, and it's a great privilege to be able to work with him. We're taking it one step and a time, but very soon we will find a director and they will make it his or her movie," Nicolas Winding Refn said over two years ago about the brewing remake of "Maniac Cop" that he was producing. And not not much has been heard about it in that time, but it looks like the redo of the cult classic has some new life.

Twitch reports that John Hyams is on board to direct the project, with the filmmaker himself confirming the news on Twitter. Hyams is probably best known for directing "Universal Soldier: Regeneration" and "Universal Soldier: Day Of Reckoning," which have found approval from fans of that franchise. Meanwhile, Ed Brubaker will be penning the script, and while early word was that this will be a prequel to the 1988 film, it seems to be a straight up redo now.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on November 04, 2015, 05:21:47 PM
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: cronopio2 on December 01, 2015, 04:58:56 PM
i was there!
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on January 29, 2016, 11:18:00 PM
Nicolas Winding Refn Teaming With James Bond Scribes Purvis & Wade On New Project
via Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: Nicolas Winding Refn is teaming with James Bond scribes Neil Purvis and Robert Wade on a new feature project that the Danish filmmaker will direct. It is still early days, and details are being kept under wraps about the plot other than it will have an Asian setting with both thriller and action elements. Winding Refn is developing and producing the project with his longtime partner Lene Borglum through their Space Rocket Nation banner.

Collaborating with Purvis and Wade, who specialize in upmarket, smart and commercial fare, would seem to indicate a desire by Winding Refn to return to a more mainstream space. The no-punch-pulling director burned himself into Hollywood's conscience with his ultra-cool and uber-violent Drive in 2011. Even though he'd already established himself as one of Europe's elite genre aesthetes prior to that with his classic Pusher trilogy, it was that Ryan Gosling vehicle — with its mix of retro and ultra-modern sensibilities — that seemed to mark his card as a major A-list stylist. Instead, his follow-up, Only God Forgives, again with Gosling, felt like a misstep. That film, set in Bangkok's underworld, was gorgeously shot but esoteric to the point of, well, pointlessness.

Refn's latest, The Neon Demon, follows an aspiring model who moves to Los Angeles only to find her youth and vitality devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has. With a cast including Keanu Reeves, Elle Fanning and Christina Hendricks and its Hollywood setting, it returns the director to the milieu that delivered his commercial success to date.

Purvis and Wade are one of the UK's premier writing teams. The duo have event TV series SS:GB, starring Sam Riley, about to go into production. The drama is set in a UK conquered and occupied by Germany during World War II. The title refers to the branch of the Nazi SS that controls Britain. They also co-wrote the latest Bond Spectre, the sixth 007 installment they have worked on.

The duo and Winding Refn previously collaborated on the TV adaptation of sci-fi femme epic Barbarella, which is set up at Amazon Studios. Winding Refn is repped by WME and Independent Talent Group. Purvis and Wade are repped by UTA and Casarotto Ramsay and Associates.

Refn is also producing a remake of 1980's cult pic Maniac Cop through Space Rocket Nation with Borglum. John Hyams directs that project, which is set to go into production in the summer.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on April 06, 2016, 07:18:22 PM
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FdRYh4WN.jpg&hash=17a38d97cdb8695b48dee578ef91b2b84d943819)

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F9MeyVVy.jpg&hash=8bfd09abd96633ca0e779aea61be0c37eedfa63d)

The Neon Demon sees Elle Fanning as an "aspiring model who moves to Los Angeles, where her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has."
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Reel on April 07, 2016, 04:11:42 PM
that first one is on some serious Argento shit. Love it!
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on April 07, 2016, 04:27:43 PM
Quote from: wilder on March 06, 2016, 11:38:22 PM
Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on October 14, 2015, 12:09:11 PMNice! Let's earmark this one for the poster awards.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Reel on April 07, 2016, 04:48:50 PM
The dingy/blurriness of the text and background makes it look like a VHS box


(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FdRYh4WN.jpg&hash=17a38d97cdb8695b48dee578ef91b2b84d943819)
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on April 07, 2016, 06:11:48 PM
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FKa4gFqD.jpg&hash=0d5563f02c3f7f99e3244a07cbaa710e79a653d9)
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on April 20, 2016, 02:42:40 PM
Nicolas Winding Refn Lines Up To Italian Noir Cop Series 'Les Italiens,' Netflix Reportedly In Talks For The Show
via The Playlist

For years now, Nicolas Winding Refn has been attached to a TV reboot of "Barbarella," which is set up over at Amazon Studios but has yet to get going. But he's not giving up on the small screen, and he's got another project brewing, one that's both surprising and intriguing.

Variety reports that Refn has been tapped as the showrunner for an Italian noir series titled "Les Italiens." Based on the book series by Enrico Pandiani, the show will follow an all-Italian group of policemen working in Paris' Quai des Orfevres headquarters, and their tough and violent inspector, Pierre Mordenti. Sounds like gritty stuff, and getting the ball rolling will be Refn, who will direct the first entry in the series, then take the reins as showrunner for the 8- to 10-episode first season.

Netflix are reportedly in talks to pick up the show, and given their huge international reach it sounds like a good fit. No word yet on when this might roll, but let's hope it doesn't get stuck in development hell.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on May 23, 2016, 06:40:03 PM
Nicolas Winding Refn To Produce LA-Set Remake Of Giallo Pic 'What Have You Done To Solange?' – Cannes
via Deadline

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FU3WaElz.jpg&hash=ffdfea446b906498b465261e9a5b0cb94ad8c705)

What Have You Done To Solange? is rounding out a trio of classic horror remakes being undertaken by Nicolas Winding Refn. The 1972 giallo film was originally helmed by Massimo Dallamano and produced by Fulvio Lucisano. As with the upcoming re-dos of Maniac Cop and Witchfinder General, Refn will produce but not direct. His Space Rocket, in which he's partnered with Lene Borglum, is teaming with Lucisano and his Italian International Film on the project.

Much as with Witchfinder, on which he's partnered with Rupert Preston, Refn is teaming on Solange with a longtime collaborator in Lucisano who has released all of his films in Italy. He also produced 1965's Planet Of The Vampires, a restoration of which Refn presented in Cannes last week. The Danish filmmaker tells me he'd been eyeing Solange for some time, and he and Lucisano had recently talked about hooking up on a remake. But it was the day after the Planet Of The Vampires screening that they decided to officially move forward.

Loosely based on the Edgar Wallace mystery novel The Clue Of The New Pin, What Have You Done To Solange? is set at an all-girls school where a killer is on the loose. Gym teacher Enrico Rosseni, who has been sleeping with one of his students, becomes a suspect and sets out to find the real killer. Ennio Morricone scored the original.

Refn calls it an "absolutely incredible Italian giallo movie. One of the great, great horror films from the period." The giallo genre began in Italy in the mid 60s and rose to popularity in the '70s. Films are often characterized by mystery, horror and eroticism. Dario Argento and Mario Bava are among the names most associated.

The addition of the title to Space Rocket's slate, Refn tells me, is part of a "continuing renewal of genre movies, and bringing them to a new audience. I've really cherry-picked films that I think have a strong potential to be reinvented and also something that is artistically out there."

Overall, the roster of remakes is also part of a desire on Refn's part to bring more independent genre movies back to LA. Maniac Cop, which is the first in a trilogy, and Solange will shoot locally. Refn says, "We produced Neon Demon very successfully in Los Angeles for a very minimal price and it was a great experience for everyone. It's such a shame that the city doesn't have more of those kind of productions because there's such a need for it to keep the independent industry alive."

Development on Solange begins today; Refn took preliminary meetings in Cannes to start talking about directors and writers for the $5M-$10M budget pic. They won't necessarily be first-timers; "There's no written law, just who's best and right for the job. Open season as always," says Refn.

As for going into production, Refn says it'll be whenever it's possible. That's the main challenge since he's planning his next directorial effort for next year. "This has to fall in between even though I'm only producing," he says.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on May 25, 2016, 05:15:37 AM
why not

Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on October 07, 2016, 04:33:23 PM
Bleeder restoration trailer

Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on January 11, 2017, 02:57:34 PM
Synopsis Revealed For Nicolas Winding Refn's 'The Avenging Silence'
via The Playlist

A former European spy accepts a confidential mission from a Japanese businessman exiled to France to take down the head of the most treacherous Yakuza boss in Japan.

But it's in the extended synopsis where the story gets truly fascinating, as it looks like once again, Refn will have (as the title suggests) a protagonist who doesn't say much at all:

The spy was one of the leading spies in Europe. An injury inflicted to his vocal cords during a failed mission six years ago left him mute, forcing him to leave his profession. Now, six years later, he is sought out and put on confidential assignment by a former Yakuza, now a retired Japanese businessman in exile in France, to track down and kill the head of the most dangerous Yakuza family in Japan.

Afraid of flying, our spy anonymously boards a cargo ship headed for Tokyo. An onboard explosion sinks the ship and our spy finds himself washed ashore on a life raft in southern Japan. As a mute, our spy must silently journey through Japan seeking 4 clues – symbolizing conquest, war, famine, and death – which will guide him to the unknown location of the Yakuza boss. Meanwhile, the Yakuza boss, known for his 2004 mass slaughter of Yakuza members who had turned against him, is believed to be plotting to reenter the Japanese underworld after living in his own surreptitious world in the mountains, void of all technology. This way of life becomes an obsession for the Yakuza boss. Rumors spread that he had committed suicide years ago but escaped prisoners from his hidden camp told stories of his plan for a comeback. Now rival Yakuza families suspect he is forming a master plan to return, a plan that unburies the most infamous story of Yakuza betrayal.

Our spy finds himself on an existential journey through Japan in search of pieces to the puzzle that will lead him to a confrontation with the ultimate Yakuza boss in a terrifying conclusion.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Lottery on January 11, 2017, 07:52:02 PM
Sounds really fun. I wonder if this one will star Mads Mikkelsen.

http://underthegunreview.net/2013/06/21/holy-sht-nicolas-winding-refn-announces-valhalla-rising-sequel/
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on February 08, 2017, 06:54:27 PM
Nicolas Winding Refn Is 'Too Old To Die Young' At Amazon
via The Playlist

While "The Neon Demon" might've died in theaters, only Amazon knows how it did on their service, but this much is clear: they want to stay in the Nicolas Winding Refn business. The streaming service which is nipping at the heels of the dominant Netflix is eager to add high profile filmmakers to their roster, and giving them the budgets and freedom they need seems to have attracted talent ranging including Woody Allen, Whit Stillman, Jill Soloway, Todd Haynes, Jim Jarmusch, Park Chan-Wook....you get the idea. And if you have that creative space, why would you leave?

That must be part of the thinking for Refn who has been given a straight-to-series order for "Too Old To Die Young" from Amazon. The show which he is co-writing, producing, and will direct, is said to be in the vein of the director's "Pusher" trilogy, and will follow drug dealing Danish criminals in Los Angeles and their "existential journeys from being killers to becoming samurai's in the city of angels." Well, that's certainly on brand for Refn.

Production on the ten-episode "Too Old to Die Young" will get underway this fall in L.A., and I would presume with casting and likely a lot of pre-production still to happen, it means his brewing feature "The Avenging Silence" will have to wait.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on March 27, 2017, 05:46:52 PM
Miles Teller To Star In Nicolas Winding Refn's Amazon Series 'Too Old To Die Young'
via Deadline

Miles Teller (Whiplash) is set as the series lead for Amazon's upcoming original drama series Too Old to Die Young, from Nicolas Winding Refn.

Written by Refn (Neon Demon, Drive) and Ed Brubaker (Captain America: Winter Soldier, Westworld), Too Old to Die Young explores the criminal underbelly of Los Angeles by following killers' existential journeys in becoming samurai. The entire series will be directed by Refn.

Teller will play Martin, a police officer entangled in the world of assassins.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: Sleepless on October 18, 2017, 07:51:16 PM
Introducing byNWR (http://www.bynwr.com/)

Sources: Playlist (https://theplaylist.net/nicolas-winding-refn-streaming-20171018/), Variety (http://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/lumiere-festival-nicolas-winding-refn-new-streaming-platform-bynwr-1202591239/), Mubi (https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/rushes-bynwr-she-s-gotta-have-it-remake-manny-farber-amy-adams)

TLDR: Nicolas Winding Refn launching free curated film streaming service. Launching February 2018. First quarter will be exploitation films from the American South. Second quarter will focus on lesser known works from American independent cinema. MUBI is partnering with the Danish director to premiere these newly restored movies on our platform before they are available on byNWR.com. Films included in these first 2 quarters include The Nest of the Cuckoo Birds, Shanty Tramp, Hot Thrills and Warm Chills, Night Tide, Spring Night, Summer Night, If Footmen Tire You, What Would Horses Do?, The Burning Hell. Highlights from Volumes 3 and 4 will be announced later this year.

If you want to get a free month of Mubi, here's my affiliate link. (https://mubi.com/t/web/global/14cz5r7)
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: jenkins on October 18, 2017, 08:29:29 PM
a classic ad

Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on January 05, 2018, 05:41:40 PM
Quote from: Sleepless on October 18, 2017, 07:51:16 PM
Introducing byNWR (http://www.bynwr.com/)

Sources: Playlist (https://theplaylist.net/nicolas-winding-refn-streaming-20171018/), Variety (http://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/lumiere-festival-nicolas-winding-refn-new-streaming-platform-bynwr-1202591239/), Mubi (https://mubi.com/notebook/posts/rushes-bynwr-she-s-gotta-have-it-remake-manny-farber-amy-adams)

TLDR: Nicolas Winding Refn launching free curated film streaming service. Launching February 2018. First quarter will be exploitation films from the American South. Second quarter will focus on lesser known works from American independent cinema. MUBI is partnering with the Danish director to premiere these newly restored movies on our platform before they are available on byNWR.com. Films included in these first 2 quarters include The Nest of the Cuckoo Birds, Shanty Tramp, Hot Thrills and Warm Chills, Night Tide, Spring Night, Summer Night, If Footmen Tire You, What Would Horses Do?, The Burning Hell. Highlights from Volumes 3 and 4 will be announced later this year.

If you want to get a free month of Mubi, here's my affiliate link. (https://mubi.com/t/web/global/14cz5r7)


This arrived in my inbox today:

(https://i.imgur.com/pj05CPr.jpg)
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on January 07, 2018, 05:07:19 AM
This never turned out to be anything more than a promotion but I wish it were real.

Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: jenkins on January 15, 2018, 01:29:23 PM
last night he moderated a Jodorowsky Q&A at the Egyptian. i only didn't go because Holy Mountain isn't an example of how i'm a fan of Jodorowsky.

so i googled their backstory and google worked like it should. here's Jodorowsky saying Refn saved him from film depression



Refn dedicated Only God Forgives to Jodorowsky, oh that's right. here's the article that reminded me (http://www.indiewire.com/2013/06/nicolas-winding-refn-talks-barbarella-reveals-how-alejandro-jodorowsky-convinced-him-to-leave-logans-run-96686/) and a quote from it

QuoteRefn explains how the hyper-expressive Jodorowsky is the one
that gave Refn the courage to avoid the big blockbuster sinkhole. "I called
Jodorowsky in Paris and he says to me, 'What is this shit in Hollywood, why?'"
Refn says, launching into an impassioned Jodo impersonation. "And I thought I
was being yelled at! 'You must not let your vision be destroyed!' And I was
like, I know, I know, I was wrong. 'You have to stay true, or else I'll not
like you anymore!' He's like ninety, but he has the mind of a comet.

wilder's post of that article (http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=9365.msg326454#msg326454). i guess the news was the Q&A, kind of minor news, really i remembered things out loud oh okay sure.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on March 01, 2018, 10:58:33 AM
First images from Too Old To Die Young, which may not premiere until 2019. Refn is also posting production videos on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pg/TOTDYTV/videos/?ref=page_internal) (log in to view...they're long, like 45 min to an hour)

(https://i.imgur.com/MPHH8CT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dgITg9y.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/EaeMWHu.jpg)
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on July 05, 2018, 06:34:03 PM
Refn's streaming service, byNWR.com (http://bynwr.com/), is launching later this month, for free.

Quote from: The Guardian(https://i.imgur.com/3COtWP2.jpg)

Over recent years, I've bought and had restored scores of old movies as a hobby. I wondered what to do with them. Then I realized I should share them for free, so I set up a website where they could be streamed. There's no catch; you're not being sold anything. Take it or leave it.

Why these particularly movies? I knew director Curtis Harrington, who passed away in 2007, so Night Tide (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ6-ZcVzzIQ) was a very personal choice for me. Curtis had been so disappointed with his career, and yet he had made what I consider to be one of the most important films of the pre-counterculture movement. And the film was rapidly disintegrating because of the condition of the negative. I had to rescue it. It reminds me of a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale: it's almost naively adolescent in its expression of falling in love, being obsessed with something delicate and fragile.

Bert Williams' The Nest of the Cuckoo Birds (https://letterboxd.com/film/the-nest-of-the-cuckoo-birds/) proves a movie can be the impossible, lonely burden of just one person. Bert's name appears in the credits more than even mine is in my films – and I admire such obsession and megalomania. Maybe, like Bert, you only need to make one movie in your life. Bert – an artist who created the outrageous poster for the film – decided to paint on film instead of a canvas. Cuckoo Birds is a strange, singular example of an unidentifiable genre, because it's a bit of everything: horror, sex, melodrama.

(https://i.imgur.com/9RjLdcw.jpg)

Ron Ormond's The Burning Hell (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpeOd03gqxc) is a fantastic marriage of extreme propaganda and lowest-common-denominator pandering. It's so aggressive in selling you the Bible, it's practically an attack on your senses. Yes, it's laughable, maybe even terrible, but this only serves to make it more unique. It's almost an installation art piece. And some might consider the star of the show, Reverend Estus Pirkle, to be a bit of a Trump precursor.

Dale Berry's Hot Thrills and Warm Chills (https://mubi.com/films/hot-thrills-and-warm-chills) is a prime example for the argument that art doesn't have to contain a single drop of good taste. My fetish for Berry is so great that I not only bought all of his films, I bought all of his clothes – a collection of Nudie western suits. Low-budget regional cinema fascinates me. These were movies made by people who had no ideas of what a film was supposed to be, and feel more as if they were made for the people at the bar on the corner or the cafeteria down the street than for Americans at large.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on October 17, 2019, 11:11:33 AM
'Maniac Cop' TV Series Reboot From Nicolas Winding Refn Picked Up By HBO & Canal+
via Deadline

Maniac Cop, a TV series reimagining of the cult classic film franchise from Nicolas Winding Refn and John Hyams (Black Summer, Universal Soldier: Regeneration), has been greenlighted by HBO, which will carry the event series in North America, and by Canal+, which has taken French rights.

The series makes the first production for byNWR Originals, ab independent studio launched by Refn as an offshoot of his byNWR.com Web site. He and Hyams will executive produce and direct.

Set in Los Angeles, Maniac Cop is told through a kaleidoscope of characters, from cop to common criminal. A killer in uniform has uncaged mayhem upon the streets. Paranoia leads to social disorder as a city wrestles with the mystery of the exterminator in blue – is he mere mortal, or a supernatural force?
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on April 01, 2020, 04:55:18 PM
June 2, 2020

US blu-ray premiere from IFC Films

(https://i.imgur.com/nhTzfDE.jpg)
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on April 28, 2020, 03:20:17 AM
Laurent Duroche's 2012 documentary NWR is back online. Watch before it gets pulled again.

Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on April 26, 2021, 02:53:09 PM
The Pusher Trilogy is coming to the Arrow Video Channel (https://www.arrow-player.com/) in May
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on July 22, 2022, 06:39:56 AM
Netflix Unveils Details of Nicolas Winding Refn's 'Copenhagen Cowboy'
Variety

Netflix has officially announced that it has boarded "Copenhagen Cowboy," a poetic neon-noir series by Nicolas Winding Refn, the Danish filmmaker of the "Pusher" trilogy, "Drive" and "The Neon Demon."

"Copenhagen Cowboy" is a thrill-inducing series set in six episodes about a young heroine, Miu (Angela Bundalovic) who travels through Copenhagen's criminal underworld. The six-episode drama filmed in Denmark. Production has now wrapped. The show will launch globally on Netflix later this year.

The series stars Angela Bundalovic, Lola Corfixen and Zlatko Buric. Additional cast includes Andreas Lykke Jørgensen, Jason Hendil-Forssell, Li Ii Zhang, Dragana Milutinovic, Mikael Bertelsen and Mads Brügger among others.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on May 15, 2023, 02:17:50 AM
Touch of Crude (https://www.prada.com/us/en/pradasphere/special-projects/2022/touch-of-crude.html), a 20-minute short film he made for Prada last year
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: WorldForgot on May 15, 2023, 04:02:31 PM
Goddamn. How does he make trance hypnosis seems so effortless. I know I'm a sucker for psychedelia and Numan-esque synths but sheesh. That was very fun.
Title: Re: Nicolas Winding Refn
Post by: wilder on July 06, 2023, 12:00:03 AM
The Pusher Trilogy is coming to blu-ray (https://shop.umbrellaent.com.au/products/pusher-trilogy-collectors-1996-2004-2005) from Umbrella Entertainment (Australia) in September 2023

(https://i.imgur.com/mZsWGfv.jpg) (https://shop.umbrellaent.com.au/products/pusher-trilogy-collectors-1996-2004-2005)