Where the fuck has this guy been? I miss him. Three Kings and Flirting With Disaster are two of the best movies ever made without question. Anybody know what he's been up to? He's been gone since 1999, I think I'm ready for another awesome movie. You got anything Macguffin?
david o russell is one of my favorite directors. THREE KINGS is such a beautiful film. my friends make fun of me cuz i like a george clooney/marky mark movie. they're idiots!
Quote from: rudieobdavid o russell is one of my favorite directors. THREE KINGS is such a beautiful film. my friends make fun of me cuz i like a george clooney/marky mark movie. they're idiots!
These are probably the same people that are watching "Swimfan." Consider the source!
David O'Russell is a fucking asshole- so I've read. There was a lot of bad press on the making of Three Kings- him and George Clooney getting into a fight (almost). He supposedly was very harsh with the extras. When asked if he would ever work with O'Russell again, Clooney replied "Man, life is just too short." Three Kings is a great film though...
Quote from: Xixax
These are probably the same people that are watching "Swimfan." Consider the source!
but i liked SWIMFAN. from now on if we wanna make fun of someone for liking bad movies, let's use KANGAROO JACK as an reference. example: "man, MAGNOLIA was a piece of shit! i wish they could make more movies like KANGAROO JACK and THE BANGER SISTERS!"
Quote from: ebeaman69Three Kings and Flirting With Disaster are two of the best movies ever made without question. ?
I certainly question that.
Three Kings had it's moments, but it's far from a great film.
Flirting with disaster was kind of funny, that's about it.
Quote from: rudieobdavid o russell is one of my favorite directors. THREE KINGS is such a beautiful film. my friends make fun of me cuz i like a george clooney/marky mark movie. they're idiots!
Marky Mark is fucking awesome, as is Clooney. Who do your friends think they are? Mark and Clooney are probably better looking then them AND, more importantly, could probably kick the shit out of them . Especially Mark, that guy is ripped.
Quote from: rudieobfrom now on if we wanna make fun of someone for liking bad movies, let's use KANGAROO JACK as an reference. example: "man, MAGNOLIA was a piece of shit! i wish they could make more movies like KANGAROO JACK and THE BANGER SISTERS!"
thats a good idea. i used to use xXx alot and some people objected so, using kangaroo jack will make everyone happy.
man, everyone's always shittin on kangaroo jack. i agree, its a piece of shit, i would never watch it voluntarily, but cmon, its a little kid movie for little kids. if i was a little kid when this came out i would cream my fuckin pants over it.
Quote from: Lesterman, everyone's always shittin on kangaroo jack. i agree, its a piece of shit, i would never watch it voluntarily, but cmon, its a little kid movie for little kids. if i was a little kid when this came out i would cream my fuckin pants over it.
DENIED!
kangaroo jack as the reference for shit filmmaking it is (xXx still usable for limited time only)
Quote from: Lesteri agree, its a piece of shit, i would never watch it voluntarily, but cmon, its a little kid movie for little kids.
Apparently not:
The Jerry Bruckheimer-produced movie includes a scene in which heat-dazed crooks Jerry O'Connell and Anthony Anderson spot supermodel Estella Warren, playing a wildlife conservationist, standing before them. As the Washington Post's Desson Howe describes it, "Thinking she's a mirage, [O'Connell] clamps both his hands on her breasts and declares, 'Hey, these feel so real!' " There's also a testicle joke, a wet tank-top scene with Warren under a waterfall, a chase sequence with shotgun fire and a scene where a villain puts a knife at O'Connell's throat and snarls, "I'm going to carve you up piece by piece."
"Spanking the Monkey" is my personal favorite of the David O. Russell canon. Jeremy Davies is absolutely amazing.
Yeah, I loved that movie. I thought it was completely erotic, 'cause his Mom was hot.
Oedipus Complex here I come!
Quote from: ebeaman69AND, more importantly, could probably kick the shit out of them .
Probably the most important thing in life is being able to kick the shit out of somebody. well done.
Quote from: RegularKarateQuote from: ebeaman69Three Kings and Flirting With Disaster are two of the best movies ever made without question. ?
Three Kings had it's moments, but it's far from a great film.
I agree
Quote from: PawbloeOedipus Complex here I come!
Freudian.
Quote from: Duck SauceProbably the most important thing in life is being able to kick the shit out of somebody. well done.
it's true, Alejandro González Iñárritu can kick all ur asses.
Flirting With Disaster was on TV the other day and I wanted to ask where David O. Russell was because FWD was funny. Well...?
Rudin Producing David O. Russell's New Project
In his first film since Three Kings, David O. Russell is moving quickly to mount a comedy on existentialism, says Variety. He's got Mark Wahlberg, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Jason Schwartzman, Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin and Catherine Deneuve lining up to join him. Russell has aligned Miramax and Warner Bros. in a co-production scenario that is still coming together.
"It's an ensemble comedy centering around a married couple," Russell said. "They are detectives who solve existential crises for people. It was an idea of mine that I wrote with Jeff Baena."
Russell hopes to shoot in June in Los Angeles. The film's working title is I Love Huckabee's, employing the symbol of a heart for the word love. The plan is for WB to take the creative lead and foreign territories, while Miramax handles domestic distribution.
Wow, that's an awesome cast! Looks like we have something new to look forward to for next year.
Quote from: GhostboyWow, that's an awesome cast! Looks like we have something new to look forward to for next year.
Hell yeah, I've been wanting to see Jude Law and Mark Whalberg in more comedies. Mark is funny as hell at parts in Boogie Nights...in the parts when he's all coked up with Reed. Jason Schwartzman is freaking great too, he doesn't do enough. Can't wait to see it, hope it shows up on IMDB soon.
EDIT - Cool, looks like it already did show up on IMDB...it's going straight to my must see list. It sucks that it's not coming out this year though. I want more to look forward to between All the Real Girls and Kill Bill.
Also, forgot about Lily Tomlin, I love her too. She worked great with him in FWD.
I hope he uses some of the style he used in Three Kings. That stuff was awesome.
It's about time he's getting back to work. Even PT Anderson and Spike Jonze have released films since 1999.
Three Kings is a truly underrated film
. I just watched it again over the weekend. Watched it w/ the David O. Russell's commentary yesterday.
From the first words of the movie ("Are we shooting?!"), you know you're in for a [anti] war film like no other. It's a jumbled, fucked-up bizarre masterpiece.
It's amazing how much dialogue in the movie is being echoed by news stations right now (coalition, Karbala, diagrams for Iraqi troops on how to surrender, POWs, Nasiriyah, freeing the people of Iraq, Republican Guard, etc.)
Quote from: dufresneThree Kings is a truly underrated film
MOS DEF. When it came out in theaters, I wasnt as into movies and it just looked like a war action movie to me. Of course I was wrong as the movie is thoroughly entertaining and far from being an action movie. I wish Mark would look back at this and BN and see where he is coming from and change where he is going.
Watts, Not Paltrow, Loves Huckabee's
The Hollywood Reporter says Naomi Watts (The Ring) is in talks to join Fox Searchlight's I Love Huckabee's, taking over for Gwyneth Paltrow, who has dropped out of the project. Watts will segue to the film after she wraps production on The Assassination of Richard Nixon with Sean Penn and Don Cheadle, which begins shooting next month.
Written and directed by David O. Russell, "Huckabee's" also stars Mark Wahlberg, Jude Law, Jason Schwartzman, Lily Tomlin, Dustin Hoffman and Catherine Deneuve.
Watts' character will find herself in a love triangle with Wahlberg and Law's characters.
Quote from: tommy_bothQuote from: RegularKarateQuote from: ebeaman69Three Kings and Flirting With Disaster are two of the best movies ever made without question. ?
Three Kings had it's moments, but it's far from a great film.
I agree
I third-agree.
I put David O. Russell way down in my second tier of "interesting" younger/newer directors, along with Quentin Tarantino, Kimberly Peirce, etc., with Wes and P.T. Anderson, Todd Haynes, and Alexander Payne up top. I like
Flirting with Disaster best of all his films, but there was something sort of blah, overall, about
Three Kings. I saw it when it was released and haven't seen it since, though, so I'd be willing to give it another shot someday.
i just rewatched it recently after hating it originally and it prompted me to buy the dvd. give it another shot.
Quote from: MacGuffinWatts, Not Paltrow, Loves Huckabee's
The Hollywood Reporter says Naomi Watts (The Ring) is in talks to join Fox Searchlight's I Love Huckabee's,
After
Mulholland Dr., I'll see anything with Watts. NOT retroactively, however- just now that she can do what she wants. The performance she gave in Lynch's film has got to be one of the most challenging film roles I've ever seen, and she pulled it off so beautifully. One of the first times I can remember being so wowed by an actor's physical and emotional self-molding, I actually considered it a direct part of the film's style. Utterly amazing and wonderful. It's going on 2 years, and I'm still raving about it. I plan to see this one more for Watts than for Russell.
Quote from: godardianI like Flirting with Disaster best of all his films, but there was something sort of blah, overall, about Three Kings.
Nope.
There wasn't.
Quote from: MeshQuote from: godardianI like Flirting with Disaster best of all his films, but there was something sort of blah, overall, about Three Kings.
Nope.
There wasn't.
That's the impression I remember when I saw it the day it opened. That's almost 3 years ago. Maybe time to give it another shot.
I gave it a few shots... it's pretty blah...
I actually liked it a little when I first saw it... then I rented it and watched it again and realized there's not much to it... it's just "okay"
Quote from: MacGuffinWatts, Not Paltrow, Loves Huckabee's
The Hollywood Reporter says Naomi Watts (The Ring) is in talks to join Fox Searchlight's I Love Huckabee's, taking over for Gwyneth Paltrow, who has dropped out of the project. Watts will segue to the film after she wraps production on The Assassination of Richard Nixon with Sean Penn and Don Cheadle, which begins shooting next month.
Written and directed by David O. Russell, "Huckabee's" also stars Mark Wahlberg, Jude Law, Jason Schwartzman, Lily Tomlin, Dustin Hoffman and Catherine Deneuve.
Watts' character will find herself in a love triangle with Wahlberg and Law's characters.
Damn, it was so close to a perfect cast. Not that I don't like Watts, I just never have seen her in anything before.
You guys think she is any good? Think she can cut it? I hope so...I might have to rent one of her films. I was getting so used to this film having like, the best cast of next year.
Quote from: ebeaman
Damn, it was so close to a perfect cast. Not that I don't like Watts, I just never have seen her in anything before.
You guys think she is any good? Think she can cut it? I hope so...I might have to rent one of her films. I was getting so used to this film having like, the best cast of next year.
You must not even think of seeing another film until you rent
Mulholland Dr. on DVD. Watts gives the performance of the millenium, so far. It's breathtaking. Her presence, to me, is much more a motivator to see a film than Paltrow's.
She was also, of course, in
The Ring, which is okay, but has nothing on
Mulholland Dr..
Alright, maybe I will try MD. It's on tv a lot.
The only Lynch film that's ever really interested me is The Elephant Man though, I fucking love that. So I don't really know.
Production Begins on I Heart Huckabees
Source: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Principal photography has begun in Los Angeles on the existential comedy I Heart Huckabees featuring an ensemble cast that includes Dustin Hoffman, Isabelle Huppert, Jude Law, Jason Schwartzman, Lily Tomlin, Mark Wahlberg and Naomi Watts.
The film is directed and co-written by David O. Russell (Three Kings). "Huckabees" marks co-writer Jeff Baena's first feature film screenplay put into production.
In I Heart Huckabees, a husband-and-wife team (Hoffman, Tomlin) play detective, but not in the traditional sense. Instead, the happy duo helps others solve their existential issues, the kind that keep you up at night, wondering what it all means...
The entire shoot will take place in Los Angeles and is set to wrap in early September.
god, i cant WAIT for this movie. so clever that its "I heart huckabees" instead of "I love huckabees".
according to new EW, I Heart Huckabees will be released in October.
maybe a premiere at the new york film festival, or toronto?
the trailer looks pretty funny and the cast is amazing. It could be this year's September sleeper.
So that there's an actual purpose for this thread being brought up...you may or may not have heard already that Three Kings will be released again this fall, primarily for political reasons. It will be accompanied by a documentary on the Iraq war (I'm guessing both of them) by Russel, which will be expanded to a feature length extra feature when Three Kings is re-released on DVD after the theatrical run.
That's awesome! Can't wait for that.
Quote from: for petes sakethe trailer looks pretty funny and the cast is amazing. It could be this year's September sleeper.
yeah, i thought it looked intersting, too. Naomi Watts was especially funny and sexy as ever.........i wonder what the shot with 3 of her is all about.
Quote from: bigideas
i wonder what the shot with 3 of her is all about.
it's a tv commercial for huckabees
Quote from: El DuderinoQuote from: bigideas
i wonder what the shot with 3 of her is all about.
it's a tv commercial for huckabees
ok, so i'm in the dark. what exactly is Huckabee's?
Quote from: bigideasok, so i'm in the dark. what exactly is Huckabee's?
Try here:
http://xixax.com/viewtopic.php?t=5490
Quote from: GhostboySo that there's an actual purpose for this thread being brought up...you may or may not have heard already that Three Kings will be released again this fall, primarily for political reasons. It will be accompanied by a documentary on the Iraq war (I'm guessing both of them) by Russel, which will be expanded to a feature length extra feature when Three Kings is re-released on DVD after the theatrical run.
Warner Bros. Rejects Anti-War DocumentaryFilmmaker David O. Russell planned to distribute a new anti-war documentary along with an upcoming Warner Bros. DVD release of his 1999 movie "Three Kings." But studio executives now say his finished documentary isn't what they had in mind, so they're giving it back to him.
The move by Warner Bros. is notable in a year when the Walt Disney Co. cited political sensitivity for its refusal to distribute Michael Moore's blockbuster "Fahrenheit 9/11."
"Three Kings" starred George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube as three American soldiers searching for gold in Iraq during the Gulf War of the early 1990s.
The heads of Warner Bros. rejected the documentary this week, The New York Times reported Thursday, saying it was inappropriate to distribute a documentary about the director's personal political views in conjunction with his 5-year-old drama.
"This came out to be a documentary that condemns, basically, war," Warner Bros. spokeswoman Barbara Brogliatti told the newspaper. "This is supposed to be a special edition of `Three Kings,' not a polemic about war."
Brogliatti said the studio made the decision after seeing the completed documentary, which features interviews with Iraqi refugees and veterans of the current war in Iraq.
The studio expected follow-up stories to the real lives of Iraqi extras and advisers who worked on "Three Kings." Brogliatti said the documentary cost about $180,000 and the studio was planning to give it to Russell to distribute independently.
"It was definitely a surprise and a disappointment," Russell said. "But they are being very gracious and letting me take it back."
That's a bummer. Will it still make it to the DVD?
Quote from: Chest RockwellThat's a bummer. Will it still make it to the DVD?
Probably not. here's (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/02/movies/02film.html) a New York Times article about the whole thing.
And for all the people who avoid clicking on the link because they don't want to sign up...seriously, it's the NY Times for free, it's worth it.
has anyone else hear this rumor that David O Russel supposedly stole the Three Kings script from his writing partner and never gave him the credit for it?
John Ridley wrote the original script and did get story credit, but I think he tried to sue for screenplay credit as well. David O Russell says he completely rewrote the Ridley's script, which was more of a gung ho action film.
More details:
Warners "Kings" Controversy
Three Kings minus one documentary equals a budding controversy.
Warner Bros. has scrapped plans to distribute filmmaker David O. Russell's new anti-war documentary that was supposed to be screened this fall with the rerelease of his 1999 Gulf War flick, Three Kings.
After seeing the completed 35-minute film, titled Soldiers Pay, Warners bosses deemed it too much of a political hot potato to release ahead of the November election. The suits were also concerned that the film could end up violating federal election laws.
"We felt that it's inappropriate to put out a personal political statement and attach it to the film," said Warner Bros. spokeswoman Barbara Brogliatti. "We just felt that this was a personal political view, it didn't have a place."
The $180,000 doc features interviews with Iraqi refugees, human-rights officials and veterans of the Iraq conflict. While it takes an anti-war stance, it avoids taking sides in the presidential race and doesn't mention either candidate.
Soldiers Pay was due to be screened along with Three Kings when Warner Bros. reissued the film to hype the release of a new special-edition DVD. But now, studio execs say they have not only pulled the plug on the doc's theatrical release, but it's unlikely they will include Soldiers Pay as an extra when the disc hits stores.
The decision comes a month after Russell told the New York Times that he thought he "could perhaps make a difference before the election," as well as show "what war does to people."
The remarks didn't go over so well with the studio's legal eagles. They advised Warners brass against releasing Soldiers Pay, saying the filmmaker's lopsided point of view could raise red flags with the Federal Election Commission.
Russell, however, says Warners is overreacting. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the writer-director said the film is "far from a polemic."
"It takes a point of view that questions the way the war went down...but it's not black and white, it's not Michael Moore," he said.
Russell had been pushing Warner Bros. to rerelease Three Kings--a critically hailed dark comedy about three soldiers, played by George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube, hunting for looted Kuwaiti gold after Operation Desert Storm--in theaters given the ongoing conflict in Iraq. He began working on the documentary as part of the value-added material for a new DVD, beginning by catching up with several Iraqis who played extras in the original film.
But eventually he grew more ambitious and included interviews with people outside the frame of the movie, including Democratic California Senator Barbara Boxer--something the studio felt uncomfortable with considering his comment about influencing the election.
Russell, who was informed of Warners' decision earlier this week, said he was taken aback and disappointed by the studio's reaction.
The flap over Russell's doc comes months Disney dumped Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 because the Mouse House was concerned about appearing partisan, much to the dismay of its Miramax unit, which backed the film.
The studio ended up selling Fahrenheit back to Miramax honchos Bob and Harvey Weinstein, who teamed with Lions Gate and IFC to distribute the film. The controversy helped propel the movie into the box-office stratosphere and made it the top-grossing documentary of all time.
Hoping to avoid a similar fiasco, Warner Bros. said it will allow Russell to seek a new distributor for his film after it recouped its initial costs.
"If we wanted to censor somebody, we would've said fine, we'll take it and throw it in the vault. We didn't," said Brogliatti. "David asked that if he could release it and...put it out [himself]. We said, 'Yes.' "
Russell said he's pleased to have the opportunity to release Soldiers Pay and is considering various avenues of distribution--including via MoveOn.org or other Internet site, or perhaps on a cable network like HBO--in the hopes of getting it out before the election.
"It was definitely a surprise and a disappointment," Russell told the New York Times. "But they are being very gracious and letting me take it back."
Russell, whose credits also include the 1994 incest-themed indie hit Spanking the Monkey and the quirky comedy Flirting With Disaster, recently wrapped I Heart Huckabees for 20th Century Fox, a project that is drawing some early Oscar buzz.
i just found out Spanking the Monkey was filmed in my town
Quote from: meatwadi just found out Spanking the Monkey was filmed in my town
That's cool, wad.
Director Russell's Anti-War Film Finds Distributor
Film director David O. Russell's anti-Iraq war documentary "Soldier's Pay" has found a new distributor in independent film company Cinema Libre Studio after Warner Bros. balked at sending the movie to theaters or packaging it in a DVD.
In a statement, Cinema Libre said it will release Russell's movie in theaters along with "Uncovered: The War on Iraq" as a political documentary double bill.
Cinema Libre said the films compliment "each other with strong arguments about the consequences of the war and the lies that were told to get there."
"Uncovered" was made by documentary filmmaker Robert Greenwald, and attempts to deconstruct President Bush 's case for invading Iraq. It has been playing in theaters since mid-August.
Russell's 35-minute film, which was made with Tricia Regan and Juan Carlos Zaldivar, was set to be shown in theaters with a rerelease of Russell's fictional Gulf War movie "Three Kings" from Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. film studio.
It also was supposed to be part of the "Three Kings" DVD package, but Warner Bros. decided against releasing it out of concern it might put the studio in violation of U.S. election laws during this presidential election year.
Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Times quoted a Warner spokeswoman as saying the studio did not think it was appropriate to attach "this polemic to an entertainment piece."
Movie Director Russell "Receives Threatening Email" From Journalist
Director David O. Russell has allegedly received a threatening email from his long-term enemy, movie journalist Sharon Waxman, vowing to ruin him in her new book. The New York Times movie industry reporter and the Three Kings director have been feuding since Waxman wrote a scathing magazine profile of Russell on the set of his latest film I Heart Huckabees, falsely claiming the material was for her book Rebels On The Backlot: Six Maverick Directors And How They Conquered The Studio System. Russell's anger was exacerbated when she tried to obtain photographs of him and George Clooney for the tome - he sent her an email threatening legal action if she attempted to use the pictures, reports website Pagesix.Com. Waxman's email response reportedly read, "Having your attorney call me? How Hollywood of you...and for a Zen Buddhist yet. I think you'll regret your nasty behavior when you read the book. But that'll be way late in the day. I've obviously given you too much credit for being a classy human being, not the jerks I deal with all day long in this industry."
What is she going to do? Prove that his brilliant films actually, in fact, suck? Good luck Sharon.
he didn't want to do her. his films didn't want to do me. i did 3 kings tho. i can relate.
she is fat. forget what she says..
Quote from: UncleJoeyWhat is she going to do? Prove that his brilliant films actually, in fact, suck? Good luck Sharon.
no i think she was just going to talk about how he acts like an asshole when he is onset.
if this hasnt been mentioned, his documentary Soldiers Pay, will air on Sundance Channel in the next week or so before the election.
I dont think people really give a shit about what filmmakers do. You could molest a little tiny baby boy and then make Jeepers Creepers and people would still see it. Aside from involving urine, I don't see how she could ruin his career.
I wonder who the six directors are besides Russell -- perhaps the two Andersons, Alexander Payne, Spike Jonze and Sofia Coppola?
Quote from: StefenI dont think people really give a shit about what filmmakers do. You could molest a little tiny baby boy and then make Jeepers Creepers and people would still see it. Aside from involving urine, I don't see how she could ruin his career.
Yeah, that's what I was getting at. I mean, you can rape a 13 year old girl, flee to Europe and still win an Oscar. As long as your work is strong, nothing else really matters much.
Quote from: UncleJoeyI mean, you can rape a 13 year old girl, flee to Europe and still win an Oscar. As long as your work is strong, nothing else really matters much.
Hey man, it was CONSENTUAL!
Interview in Empire:
http://www.empireonline.co.uk/site/features/interviews/interviews.asp?IID=175
Vince Vaughn Joins New Comedy
Source: Variety April 1, 2005
Variety reports that Vince Vaughn has joined a new comedy from David O. Russell. Russell will write and direct the film for Universal Pictures:
Vaughn will play the wiseass host of a radio call-in show whose life gets turned upside down when he starts becoming his callers.
Russell started with a pre-existing U script by David Cohen and Tony Lord but changed it dramatically. Russell and U are developing the pic as a commercial laffer, which will likely get a far wider release than his previous comedies, "I Heart Huckabees" and "Flirting With Disaster." "This ain't no 'Huckabees'; there is no question, this aims to be more accessible," Russell said. Russell said his original intention was solely to take a page one rewrite job offered him by U vice chairman of worldwide production Mary ParentMary Parent and veepveep Damien Saccani. Russell changed his mind by the time he'd finished.
"I was so tickled by it, I thought, Gee, maybe it would be fun to make this," he said.
As opposed to some of Russell's more quirky and independent fare, the movie is designed to be a big, commercial comedy with his "sensibilities," Russell said.
Russell, who met Vaughn for the first time at the Festival de Cannes in 1996 when the director was promoting his "Flirting With Disaster," said the actor follows in the tradition of a certain type of humor.
"There's Walter Matthau, there's Bill Murray and there's Vince Vaughn. I think it's a certain lineage of comedians," Russell said. "The guys are funny being who they are. They don't put on some kind of broad character, usually. It's very natural, it's very authentic. It's maybe a little bit depressed, but in their depression or their groundedness, they're funny. It's not like they're a drag to be around; they're funny in their depression in some way. I would say Vince is a bit more manically entertaining."
Russell said that the movie has roles for two female comedians as well as a female "discovery role."
An early fall start date is being eyed.
Russell Teams with Lieb for FX Dramedy
Source: Variety
David O. Russell is tackling television for the first time, teaming with Josh Lieb ("The Simpsons") for an hourlong dramedy set up at FX via Sony Pictures Television.
Pariah partners Gavin Polone and Jamie Tarses will executive produce the untitled project, a sort of "Upstairs, Downstairs" set in a Los Angeles country club. Russell (Three Kings) is set to direct the pilot; he'll co-write and executive produce with Lieb.
Tarses said the Russell-Lieb concept "takes the idea of a traditional soap opera and turns it on its ear" by using the setting of a country club to explore the idea of class in America.
"It's David O. Russell, so it's very funny, but underneath it all are very real issues about the American dream, what it is and how does money equate to happiness," Polone told Variety.
Quote from: MacGuffin on September 18, 2006, 01:40:38 AM
Josh Lieb ("The Simpsons")
Wtf? He co-wrote like 1 episode.
I hope showcase or something picks up the show for Canada so I can see Russel's work on a weekly basis.
Pair team for teen comedy
It's 'All About' Russell, Blum
Source: Variety
David O. Russell and Jason Blum are teaming to produce teen comedy "All About Me" for New Line.
Script will be penned by actress and tyro scribe Jenna Lamia.
Story revolves around a high school student in the drama department who wants to be famous -- and will do just about anything to get there.
Tracy Underwood at Blum's Paramount-based Blumhouse Prods. exec produces.
Among his projects, Russell is tackling television for the first time, teaming with Josh Lieb ("The Simpsons") for a hourlong dramedy set up at FX via Sony Pictures Television.
Though still early in the development process, TV show is described as an "Upstairs, Downstairs" set at an L.A. country club. Russell will direct the pilot, which he'll co-write and exec produce with Lieb.
"All About Me" reunites Russell and Blum, who are producing "Rex Mex" for Par.
Maybe you guys have already seen this...if not, then you're in for a show.
On What Would Tyler Durden Do dot com (www.wwtdd.com)
There is an article headlined, "Hollywood is a Magical Place" with a video of an on-set verbal argument between Lily Tomlin and David O. Russell on the set of Three Kings. He ends up pushing over a light, kicking the desk, and throwing papers everywhere.
Sorry if everyone has already seen this and I'm just behind.
And, for the record, I understand movie making is stressful work.
http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=5490.msg241502#new (http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=5490.msg241502#new)
BAM!
Quote from: grifpo on March 20, 2007, 01:17:09 AMAnd, for the record, I understand movie making is stressful work.
no more stressful than any other job. and that's no excuse.
it's far more stressful than many other jobs. but still less than others. surgery seems like it would be.
one time my surgeon called me a fucking cunt.
Quote from: Hedwig on March 22, 2007, 07:46:36 PM
one time my surgeon called me a fucking cunt.
Shouldn't have killed his mom, dude.
Quote from: squints on March 20, 2007, 02:23:18 PM
http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=5490.msg241502#new (http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=5490.msg241502#new)
BAM!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I posted the David O. Russell/Lily Tomlin flipout story/video first, right?
Yeah, sure, ok. I only have 3 posts so far...wait 4 posts, I'm low on the xixax ladder, but the BAM is unnecessary.
Doesn't the guy that posted the story after me deserve the BAM?
Quote from: grifpo on March 22, 2007, 09:23:46 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I posted the David O. Russell/Lily Tomlin flipout story/video first, right?
No.
First instance: http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=5490.msg241452#msg241452
You'll be hard-pressed to scoop mac or mod, so don't take it personally.
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fen%2F4%2F43%2FElzar.JPG&hash=b94c1bd872ee6596b01ebfb56d1b38caf88a8e2c)
is that gay goro
gayro
Russell going to D.C. for Gore's 'Hill'
Source: Hollywood Reporter
David O. Russell is adapting and is attached to direct the Washington comedy "Sammy's Hill" for Columbia Pictures and Red Wagon.
The project, based on Kristin Gore's inside-the-Beltway novel, centers on a young woman who tries to balance a job as a congressional aide on Capitol Hill while searching for the right guy. Gore is the daughter of former Vice President Al Gore. Russell is working closely with Kristin Gore, Dave Jeser and Matt Silverstein on the screenplay.
Red Wagon's Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher are producing.
"It will do for Washington, D.C., what 'Talladega Nights' did for race car driving," Wick said. "We are going for a bold, subversive comedy, and David O. Russell is one of the most original voices working in comedy."
The book, which at times has been labeled chick lit after it hit shelves in 2004, would seem an unlikely fit for the mercurial director. Nevertheless, the material is rife with satirical elements akin to "Thank You for Smoking" and "Election."
Sony's Matt Tolmach and Rachel O'Connor are overseeing for the studio.
Rachel Shane is shepherding the project for Red Wagon.
Russell has generated industry buzz lately after unauthorized outtakes from the set of 2004's "I (Heart) Huckabees" made the YouTube and Internet rounds, depicting a heated exchange between Russell and Lily Tomlin, one of the film's co-stars.
In addition to "Huckabees," Russell's helming credits include "Three Kings," "Flirting With Disaster" and "Spanking the Monkey."
Quote from: MacGuffin on March 30, 2007, 01:12:29 AM
"It will do for Washington, D.C., what 'Talladega Nights' did for race car driving,"
What exactly DID Talladega Nights do for race car driving?
made it funny.
filmed it from several different camera angles. made will ferrel appear to be involved in it.
Gyllenhaal in bed with Biel for 'Nailed'
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel are attached to star in the risque political satire "Nailed." David O. Russell is attached to direct and co-write the screenplay with Al Gore's daughter, Kristin Gore.
Biel would play Sammy Joyce, a socially awkward small-town receptionist who has a nail accidentally shot into her head by a clumsy workman, eliciting wild sexual urges.
The uninsured Joyce goes on a crusade to Washington to fight for the rights of the bizarrely injured. She meets an immoral congressman (Gyllenhaal) who takes advantage of her sex drive and capitalizes on her crusade as Joyce heads into her own career in politics.
Red Wagon Entertainment ("Jarhead") and Persistent Entertainment ("Southland Tales") are slated to produce the project. Preproduction is set to begin in two weeks, aiming for a January start date for principal photography.
Neither star has a signed contract for the film, which is being presold by IM Global at the American Film Market. Their commitment could depend on juggling other features: Gyllenhaal recently was set to star in Doug Liman's untitled Moon project for DreamWorks and Jim Sheridan's "Brothers" with Tobey Maguire for Relativity Media. Biel is slated to star in and produce the crime thriller "Die a Little" for United Artists.
Reps for IM Global and CAA, which handles both stars, did not comment.
Russell is no stranger to politics. He started as an 1980s political activist before directing the prescient Gulf War drama "Three Kings."In the spring, he was adapting and attached to direct a feature version of Gore's autobiographical Washington-based novel, "Sammy's Hill," for Columbia Pictures and Red Wagon.
James Caan leaves 'Nailed'
Dispute with director David O. Russell to blame
Source: Hollywood Reporter
NEW YORK -- James Caan has left the political comedy "Nailed" after a dispute with director David O. Russell led him to storm off the set, and it all seems to have centered on a cookie.
The trouble started Wednesday on the first of Caan's two days of shooting the role of a U.S. speaker of the house who chokes to death on a cookie. Russell asked him to cough as he choked, but Caan argued that the character couldn't cough and choke to death at the same time.
Russell suggested that they shoot it both ways, but the actor expressed distrust that his version would be considered and left the South Carolina set. A spokesman for Caan wouldn't confirm or deny the specifics of what happened but said with a laugh that there were creative differences and the departure was amicable.
Producer Douglas Wick said the discussion was "part of an ongoing creative conversation between the actor and director" and that Russell has behaved professionally throughout the shoot.
Caan's part is being recast. The shoot began April 15.
"Nailed" stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Jessica Biel, James Marsden, Catherine Keener, Tracy Morgan and Olivia Crocicchia in the tale of a woman who gets a nail lodged in her head and travels to Washington to fight for better health care.
Russell and Caan have reputations for on-set battles. The director had well-documented differences with George Clooney (in which the two came to blows on the set of "Three Kings") and Lily Tomlin (in heated verbal exchanges on the set of "I Heart Huckabees" as seen last year on YouTube).
Production resumes on 'Nailed'
SAG shut down filming due to pay dispute
Source: Variety
When ThinkFilm Intl. pitches its slate at Cannes this week, the indie will confront an added obstacle: its seemingly wobbly financial condition.
ThinkFilm Intl. is part of U.K. sales company Capitol Films, whose owner David Bergstein is a key investor in the indie comedy "Nailed," starring Jessica Biel and Jake Gyllenhaal, which was shut down Friday by the Screen Actors Guild due to a lack of funds on deposit to pay its actors. Though the film has since resumed shooting, Bergstein's problems with SAG have sent ominous signals to the creative community. Capitol has been losing staff at a great rate over the past couple of months.
Nick Hill, the co-managing director, ankled a few weeks ago, leaving Peter Naish in charge. Sales director Sofia Neves recently took a new job as director of worldwide sales and distribution at HanWay Films.
In April, development head Ed Clarke left to go to Kudos Pictures in the same role. ThinkFilm Intl. sales topper Eve Shoukroun and Capitol business affairs exec Maya Amsellem have left to start an unnamed new venture.
Lawyer Hannah Leader, survivor of the original Capitol, is expected to leave when her contract expires at year's end. Leader and Naish are en route to Cannes.
Bergstein didn't respond to a request for comment.
ThinkFilm's newly promoted prexy Mark Urman will be in Cannes looking at movies, going to meetings and answering a lot of questions. But it doesn't look like he'll be buying.
American distrib ThinkFilm is known to owe substantial amounts to media outlets, among others. The company was going to announce the acquisition from Senator Entertainment of "White Male Heart" this week, but then canceled its press meetings.
Further problems emerged last week when ThinkFilm execs suddenly discovered there was no money for Friday newspaper ads for Helen Hunt's much-hyped Toronto pickup "Then She Found Me." The following day, SAG pulled the plug on "Nailed," telling members not to work due to the lack of required funds in accounts designated to pay the film's actors.
No shoots had been planned for the weekend and production resumed Monday on the political comedy -- directed by David O. Russell from a script he co-wrote with Kristin Gore -- after SAG received the necessary funds. The DGA also received assurances that its members would be paid for the pic. Financial insecurity has not prevented Russell from continuing to demand as many as 50 takes from his actors.
"Screen Actors Guild has now received adequate financial assurances that its members will be paid their wages for work on the production 'Nailed,' " SAG said Monday. "Our members are free to return to work on this production."
Capitol and ThinkFilm Intl. have a significant presence at Cannes. They've scheduled 10 screenings this week for five pics including romantic drama "The Edge of Love," with Cillian Murphy and Keira Knightley; romantic comedy "The Last Word" with Ray Romano, Wes Bentley and Wynona Ryder; and supernatural thriller "Aparecidos."
Rumors have emerged that Capitol's financial uncertainty may also delay or derail a pair of projects in pre-production including "Mary, Queen of Scots" starring Scarlett Johansson.
The tipping point of Bergstein's current financial problems may have been last month's departure of ThinkFilm president Jeff Sackman along with the shuttering of the company's Toronto office. Sackman ankled because he wasn't getting the support he needed; potential lawsuits have been threatened on both sides.
Jessica Biel, Catherine Keener Praise Director David O. Russell, Decide Not To Punch Him
It's probably fair to say that more people know David O. Russell as the hothead narcissist George Clooney punched, than as the gifted filmmaker who directed George Clooney in "Three Kings." But, then, that's what happens I suppose, when you also a) verbally abuse a beloved actress in your movie to the point of inciting a mental breakdown and b) make a movie without the money to finish it.
But while the fate of that movie, "Nailed," may be called into question, the behavior of Russell can't be, stars of the flick told MTV News, painting a very different picture of the director than what's appeared in most recent stories.
"He's wonderful," Catherine Keener said.
"I love him," co-star Jessica Biel echoed. "He pulled such a bizarre cool interesting performance out of everyone. It was quite an interesting experience. David was amazing."
What'll be equally interesting, no doubt, is how the final film, a political satire Keener called "a screwball comedy" about the adventures of a brain damaged waitress in Washington D.C winds up, given the massive delays and stoppages in production.
"That was the only really sh–ty part. The shutdowns were killing us," Biel said.
But if there's a silver lining, it's that the stoppages have inspired an attitude of perseverance in the cast, Keener insisted.
"This felt like it was happening despite all of the obstacles," she said. "It felt like us against the man. We were like — you cannot shut us down!"
'Grackle' has director circling
David O. Russell eyes Matthew McConaughey's comedy
Source: Hollywood Reporter
David O. Russell is in negotiations to helm "The Grackle," Matthew McConaughey's Southern-fried comedy that's set up at New Line.
The New Orleans-set comedy centers on a barroom fighter who helps clients settle legal disputes with his fists.
"The Grackle" was a spec-script sensation for former lawyers Mike Arnold and Chris Poole several years ago and attracted studio interest before selling in a bidding war to New Line for an amount said to be in the seven figures.
After the initial frenzy in the summer of 2006, some thought a director would quickly follow, but news on the project leveled off before firing up again earlier this year.
Gus and Mark Gustawes are producing "Grackle" along with McConaughey.
The project represents one of the first New Line titles to move ahead after the studio was folded into Warner Bros. earlier this year.
Russell is known more for quirky comedies such as "Three Kings" and "Flirting With Disaster." His latest project is "Nailed," The Capitol Films take about a small-town waitress in Washington, D.C. which recently wrapped.
McConaughey stars in New Line's upcoming "The Ghosts of Girlfriend's Past," starring opposite Jennifer Garner in the tale of a bachelor haunted by past loves.
David O. Russell finds 'Silver Linings'
Weinstein Co. taps director for adaptation
Source: Variety
HOLLYWOOD -- David O. Russell is attached to direct "The Silver Linings Playbook: A Novel" for the Weinstein Co.
The "Three Kings" helmer is also adapting the screenplay, which is based on Matthew Quick's debut novel.
Story centers on a down-on-his-luck former high school teacher who has just been released from a mental institution and placed in the care of his mother.
Tome was published in September by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Project marks the first time Russell has worked with Harvey and Bob Weinstein since 1996's "Flirting With Disaster," which was released by the brothers' former label, Miramax.
Russell most recently directed the Jessica Biel-Jake Gyllenhaal starrer "Nailed," which endured a troubled production due to money problems with the film's financier Capitol Films.
David O. Russell to direct 'Aaron'
Fox 2000 taps helmer for romantic comedy
Source: Variety
David O. Russell has signed on to direct the romantic comedy "Aaron and Sarah" for Fox 2000.
"Milk" producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen have come on to produce.
Story centers on a nerdy guy and a popular girl who meet as freshmen and, over four years of high school, four proms and one funeral, become friends and eventually fall in love. Husband-wife team Chad Gomez Creasey and Dara Resnik Creasey penned the screenplay.
Project had been in development at Rogue under its previous title, "B.F.F.," but Fox 2000 picked it up in turnaround last year.
Beau Bauman and Jesse Israel are producing.
Film, which is described as in a similar vein to John Hughes' teen comedies, is a departure for Russell, who typically deals with modern existential angst ("I Heart Huckabees," "Flirting With Disaster") and politics ("Three Kings," the upcoming "Nailed"). Last month, Russell attached himself to helm "The Silver Linings Playbook: A Novel" for the Weinstein Co. He is also adapting the screenplay, which is based on Matthew Quick's debut novel.
All of the sudden, David O Russell is collecting upcoming projects at a Guillermo Del Toro-esque rate. Is he actually planning on directing all these movies?
I admire his dabbling into existentialism in I ♥ Huckabees.
Your dabbling into sentences is admirable. Now you should move on to paragraphs.
Quote from: Just Withnail on May 19, 2010, 05:14:20 PM
Your dabbling into sentences is admirable. Now you should move on to paragraphs.
great to see you posting again (big fan of Borin Hood and also what you tried to do here) but i think you'll live to regret this (http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=6799.msg292030#msg292030)..
Glad to be welcomed!
But shit...I'm kinda glad it fell on it's face, as looking through my posts I discovered I myself haven't posted more than two lines each, since 2007.
David O. Russell Gives Up on 'Nailed'
Source: Cinematical
After the brilliance of I Heart Huckabees, I've been holding out hope for two years that David O. Russell and Nailed would find a way to move beyond its many production woes and head to the big screen. Things looked dim last year when reports said that key scenes were missing and the project had been abandoned. But it couldn't be the end. There had to be a way for O. Russell's vision of a woman who suffers a nail to the head, begins to have wild sexual urges, and hits Washington to fight for the rights of the bizarrely injured, to get to the big screen.
We were almost there -- the filmmaker had been in talks to finally get the movie finished -- but now that dream has come to an end, and it's moving to new hands.
The Hollywood Reporter posts that O. Russell has ended his involvement with the production after negotiating to finally finish the film. Here's where things get interesting: The director was talking with Ron Tutor, the man getting ready to buy Miramax from Disney. If you've followed his Hollywood trajectory, he was working with David Bergstein, the head of Pegasus Studios, which included Capitol Films and THINKFilm -- the studios making Nailed. After all of the monetary mess, Tutor distanced himself from Bergstein and started discussions with O. Russell to finally get through the remaining scenes and finish the film. The talks broke down, and the filmmaker says:
This has been a painful process for me. The multiple production delays and stoppages, which were caused by David Bergstein and preceded Ron Tutor's direct involvement with me, have now spanned two years, and the circumstances under which the film would now be completed are much different on several fundamental levels than when we embarked several years ago. I, unfortunately, am no longer involved in the project and cannot call it 'my' film. I wish Ron Tutor well.
Financier Tutor, meanwhile, said:
Russell conducted himself like a perfect gentleman. I understood his position. It really didn't have anything to do with him but with others, and we just reached a point where I couldn't do what he wanted. But it was a decent negotiation between the two of us. No lawyers. No idle threats, just two people trying to clean something up, and we couldn't get there. It was surprising and disappointing, but I understood.
It sounds like an unfortunate turn of events, but there's a little more to it. The "others" who Tutor blames for the failed agreement are producers Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher. In a statement issued today, they said: "We have been informed that we will be unable to stay involved with the movie Nailed unless we agree to make concessions that are unfair, unprofessional, and detrimental to the movie." Sources say those concessions are cutting their fees in half.
It certainly seems unfair to be asked to halve your pay by a man whose previous partner had a myriad of shut-downs because no one was getting paid by the company. Now Tutor is looking to find a new director and get Biel and Tracy Morgan back for the required reshoots. With that, we might just see some actors get brassed off at the new Hollywood player as well. He says their contract allows for free reshoots.
But me, I'm out. Nailed isn't Nailed without David O. Russell.
That's a shame, this guy needs a comeback like Cameron Crowe needs a comeback. It's sort of embarrassing now to think that he was once spoken of in the same breath as PTA and I guess other people who also didn't amount to shit (Wes Anderson, Alexander Payne).
At least he didn't punch anyone out this time.
David O. Russell won't find gold with 'Drake's Fortune'
Source: Los Angeles Times
Video game junkies and fans of throwback adventures might have been at the very least amused, if not intrigued, by the idea of David. O. Russell taking on "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune."
As we wrote in May, the auteur was being considered for the director's chair on the Sony video game adaptation, which would have offered the prospect of the man who gave us the dark comedy of "Spanking the Monkey" and "Flirting with Disaster" rolling his sleeves up on material that had a lot in common with "Romancing the Stone" and the Indiana Jones franchise. (The game is about a descendant of Sir Francis Drake fighting his way to treasure and romance on a mysterious island.)
In the last few weeks, Russell, the studio and producers (Charles Roven of "The Dark Knight" fame is one) had been negotiating for Russell to come aboard. But the parties haven't been able to come to terms so they're going their separate ways, sources say. Producers and the studio are going back to the drawing board. They'll look for a new director -- and first they may even look for a star or two to join the project. (With the male and female co-leads, it's essentially a two-hander, so expect the casting process to be involved.)
What all this means is that even the faintest hopes that "Fortune" could be a 2011 movie -- Sony at one point had even thought about fast-tracking it for a release next summer --- have been extinguished. The studio wasn't immediately available for comment.
Russell, who recently walked away from the stop-and-start production drama of indie dark comedy "Nailed," has no hard greenlight for a new movie but does have a few projects in the hopper, including a dramedy with Vince Vaughn about a traveling salesman and his daughter, "Old St. Louis," that he's eager to get made and which could soon move forward. As for those trying to make a movie about treasure-seeking adventurers, they'll need to keep looking.
David O Russell Signs On To Direct Video Game Adaptation 'Uncharted: Drake's Fortune'
Source: The Playlist
It's been a busy few weeks for director David O. Russell. With his comeback film "The Fighter" on its way, and looking set to be a major player in the awards season, he's leaping on and off projects like a man possessed. He was reported not so long ago to be considering the Jim Carrey comedy "Under Cover," and it was reported only a few days ago that, along with star Natalie Portman, he'd dropped out of "Pride & Prejudice & Zombies" in favor of the comedy "Old St. Louis," with Vince Vaughn and Chloe Moretz, which is set to shoot next March. Now, the maverick director, who seems to become less and less of a maverick as time goes on, has signed on to another project that he'd been linked to, one that, not so long ago, it seemed that he had turned down. Columbia Pictures announced last night (via Coming Soon) that Russell had signed on to write and direct the tentpole "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune," an adaptation of the blockbuster Playstation 3 game. The game focused on Nathan Drake, a descendant of Sir Francis Drake and a treasure hunter, as he searches for the lost treasure of El Dorado, with the help of a journalist. Russell was reported to have been offered the project, the first draft of which was written by "Conan" scribes Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer, back in May, but by August negotiations were said to have fallen apart. Clearly, whatever the sticking point was, it has been resolved, as Russell will rewrite Donnelly and Oppenheimer's script, and direct the film. Columbia president Matt Tolmach said in a press release that "David is a tremendous choice to take on this film. He's equally adept at combining all the classic elements involved in this property: great character development, strong comedy and amazing action sequences. He has a brilliant vision for this material and we know he will bring his original, unique voice to this adaptation." We certainly hope so, because we're not wild about this announcement. The list of good movies made from video games currently stands at a big fat zero, and the derivative nature of "Uncharted" —basically Indiana Jones meets... no, just Indiana Jones —doesn't suggest anything groundbreaking. Having said that, Russell will hopefully be able to bring something fresh to the genre —among its many qualities, "Three Kings" also managed to be a kick-ass action film, so it's not entirely new territory for the filmmaker. But between this, the rather conventional trailer for "The Fighter" and the not-hugely-promising-on-paper "Old St. Louis," we rather pine for the filmmaker who could get something as bonkers as "I Heart Huckabees" made. There's no word on a start date for the project —Sony were once fast-tracking it for a release next summer, but that certainly isn't happening. If the rumors of filming in March are correct, we imagine that "Old St. Louis" will come first as Russell works on the script. Fans of the game, start your fantasy casting now! (n.b. anyone who says the words "Fillion" and "Nathan," in any order, is sadly deluded.). And note according to the LAT, O. Russell has officially passed on "Under Cover" so we can wipe it off his long-list of potential projects.
I'd rather see a documentary on David O'Russell than this movie based on a video game about Sir Francis Drake's descendant who blah blah blah...
Fox Searchlight Eyeing David O. Russell For Russ Meyer Biopic
via The Playlist
David O. Russell really has had one hell of a comeback year. Garnering an Oscar nomination for Best Director this year for "The Fighter" and riding a wave of critical acclaim, Russell has been picking up projects left and right over the past six months or so (and those are just a few of many he's got cooking in various stages).
Deadline reports that he could be adding one more to his plate if the deal goes through. Fox Searchlight is looking to buy a pitch package with Russell directing a biopic about Russ Meyer, the maker of B-movies like "Super Vixens" and "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!." Meyer started making his exploitation films in the '60s, right at the beginning of the sexual revolution. He was a jack of all trades—he wrote, directed, produced, financed and often distributed his own films—and placed beautiful women with big breasts in central roles. His story would undoubtedly be a fascinating and very colorful one.
The script will be written by Merritt Johnson, a talented television writer of the award-winning HBO miniseries "Temple Grandin" and many episodes of their brilliant "In Treatment." He also wrote the screenplay for "Lovelace," one of the two biopics in production about the porn star Linda Lovelace (this one, not the Lindsey Lohan/Malin Akerman one). Johnson has grown in favor as a screenwriter after serving as Russell's assistant on "Three Kings."
Fox Searchlight is still trying to work out the deal, so nothing is set in stone yet. They first have to secure the rights to Jimmy McDonough's biography "Big Bosoms and Square Jaws: The Biography of Russ Meyer, King of the Sex Film." So yet another iron in the growing fire for David O. Russell with still no firm word on what will come next for the helmer.
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I really hope this happens.
David O. Russell Vacates The Director's Chair For 'Uncharted'
Source: The Playlist
What is going on today? Is it the upcoming Memorial Day weekend that has director's want to clear out the projects they no longer want to do? After all, how fun is it to enjoy a BBQ with some nagging movie project in the back of your mind. Just moments after it was revealed that Albert Hughes bounced from "Akira," Deadline reports that David O. Russell has left the director's chair for "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune." The move comes as a bit of surprise considering how much heat had built up around the project. As recently as February, the director was saying he liked Scarlett Johansson (whom he nearly made aborted "Old St. Louis" with) for the role of Elena in the movie that already had Mark Wahlberg, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci linked to the film. In December the director said the script was halfway done but if we were betting men, we'd wager another project has taken a much bigger priority for Russell. A few months ago, we caught up with the director at the ACE Eddie Awards and he said, "I'm working on 'Drake's Fortune' right now. I'm really digging it, I think the story's coming together in a really intense cool way, and I also have a project with the Weinsteins called 'The Silver Linings Playbook' and I might also work on something at Universal called 'Two Guns' so those are the things I'm looking at right now, I might also do something called 'Cocaine Cowboys' with Mark Wahlberg so there's lots of things we're looking at." With Mark Wahlberg recently joining "The Silver Linings Playbook" and kickstarting that long gestating project back to life, we'd guess that Russell is now putting his full attention on re-teaming with his frequent collaborator and "The Fighter" star and that the video game adaptation has lost his interest. Frankly, we're kind of glad. It seemed like an odd mainstream move for the director and after the awards season heat and box office success of "The Fighter" he likely finds himself in a similar position as Darren Aronofsky and "The Wolverine" in no longer needing the validation of a big studio film. Of course, what he goes to next is not confirmed but as far as educated guesses goes, we'd put our money on that one. Of course, he's been liked handful of projects recently including the aforementioned "Cocaine Cowboys" and biopics of Russ Meyer and politician Buddy Cianci. As for 'Uncharted,' the movie is still in the works and a new writer will be found to get new draft of the film in shape.
Quote from: MacGuffin on May 26, 2011, 04:43:13 PMWhat is going on today? Is it the upcoming Memorial Day weekend that has director's want to clear out the projects they no longer want to do? After all, how fun is it to enjoy a BBQ with some nagging movie project in the back of your mind.
The Playlist needs a proofreader.
Oh, pretty much every other article at The Playlist has some grammatical or spelling problem, and most of them need to be edited in general. I think they just have to write so many a day that the first drafts are published immediately.
I'm pretty happy about this (the news, not the Playlist's editing regimen). I love Russell, but his vision of the movie sounded awful.
Quote from: matt35mm on May 26, 2011, 05:11:08 PM
I think they just have to write so many a day that the first drafts are published immediately.
Yes, it's mainly one guy who has to write 20+ of these a day and (for the most part, if it's breaking news) get them up as soon as possible. Longer pieces/features get more time to edit/refine but breaking news, yeah. It's a jungle out there.
Angelina Jolie Reportedly Circling David O. Russell's 'The Silver Linings Playbook'
Source: Playlist
With David O. Russell officially dropping out of "Uncharted"—and despite the numerous other options on his plate—the director now appears to be moving full steam ahead on his long in the works film "The Silver Linings Playbook." Russell's BFF4Life Mark Wahlberg joined the film last month and he may be joined by one of the biggest actresses around town. JustJared reports that Angelina Jolie will be meeting with Russell this week about the film, so nothing is official, but if they're correct, clearly she's at least intrigued. The plot involves Pat Peoples (Wahlberg), a former high school teacher who, after being released from a four-year stint in a mental institution, moves back in with his mother; he then seeks to remake himself in the hopes of reconciling with his ex-wife. Back in December Bradley Cooper and Anne Hathaway were briefly linked to main the leads, but Cooper as obviously been replaced with Wahlberg (not that he was ever confirmed) and Hathaway seems unlikely at this point. But don't get too excited just yet. Like another other A-list actress, Jolie surrounds herself with options before choosing anything. With "Salt 2," "Maleficent," "Churchill And Roosevelt" and "Cleopatra" all in various stages of development, timing will likely be factor. Jolie and her partner Brad Pitt tend to stagger their scheduling so they're never both away from their army of children. Not to mention that Jolie is likely still in post-production on her directorial debut "In The Land Of Blood and Honey" and we would guess she'll be on the festival circuit in some capacity this fall. All that said, with Russell proving himself to be a director who can earn Oscar glory for his actors, you can expect other big names actresses to be in the mix. No word on when this will gear up, but if Russell can get the pieces in place, a latter half 2011 start isn't out of the question.
David O. Russell Working On Action-Drama With Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura Called 'Mission'
Also Circling Disney's 'Maleficient'; Director Confirms He's Been Talking To Angelina Jolie, Plus Robert De Niro For 'The Silver Linings Playbook'
Source: Playlist
Update: Ahh, so this was the one of the "several projects" that David O. Russell was talking to Angelina Jolie about. According to THR, now that Tim Burton has dropped the project "The Fighter" filmmaker is one of the director's "circling" the Sleeping Beauty project "Maleficient." Russell never met a meeting he didn't like, so we're sure he's interested, but knowing his creative differences with studios, we would bet this one is not going to stick. The many things one has to love about colorful, sometime mercurial, director David O. Russell ("The Fighter," "Three Kings") is that not does he not discriminate stylistically (see a body of work that also includes loopy comedies like "I Heart Huckabees" and "Flirting with Disaster"), his is ideologically nonpartisan; meaning: he'll take an indie project, a studio tentpole, a mainstream film, pretty much any film that comes down his way if it interests him, regardless of any "indie-film" baggage. In a THR piece about why Russell parted ways with Sony on their live-action adaptation of the video game "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune"—we get it already, creative differences—the 'Fighter' director added one more project to his ever-growing list. Apparently he's now working with producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura on a project called, "Mission." "It's very cool," Russell told THR. "It's sort of an action-drama." The producer of such gems like "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" and "Shooter," di Bonaventura might be slightly below Akiva Goldsman on the scale that judges dumb, bland action pictures (of course they worked hand in hand on 2005's forgettable "Constantine"), but clearly Russell works on whatever project excites him, pre-judgements aside. We'd try and guess what the di Bonaventura project is, but with over 40 films in development, that might be a project for another night. And yet there's more. So Russell's next project is hopefully the Weinstein Company's long in-development "The Silver Linings Playbook" which will star Mark Wahlberg (the re-team will be their fourth collaboration). But more actors may join the fold. "I was just speaking to Mr. [Robert] De Niro about that today," he revealed. De Niro of course, being one of the actors that was circling "Drake's Uncharted," so it appears that they at least still want to work together. There's also been rumors that Angelina Jolie has been in discussions for the female lead, and in a separate interview with Vulture, the filmmaker revealed that he has been in talks with the "Salt" actress. "You know, Angelina would really be awesome," he said. "I think Angelina would love to be in it, but I don't know if that'll happen because of some conflicts in scheduling and other stuff. But I love her and I've loved talking to her about several projects ... I think that she's a loaded weapon and ready to be deployed." So sounds like Jolie and ' Silver Lining's Playbook' may not happen, but there's clearly mutual interest at hand. What about that Buddy Cianci biopic? He's still interested. "That's such an amazing project," he told Vulture. "That guy is such an amazing character" —and though that film may be a ways off, I have somebody in mind who I'd like to play him. Guess who is famous who is a youngish movie star who looks a little bit like Buddy Cianci? Good luck! That's a homework assignment for you." We'll leave the guessing to you on that one. As always, take all Russell projects with a pinch of salt. It's not that he's lying or even exaggerating, but his career path is already littered with a litany of film gigs he was supposed to have directed and many fell through for some reason or another ("The Grackle," "Pride & Prejudice & Zombies," "Aaron & Sarah" and "H-Man Cometh" are just a small example of those that never came to be). For those that are trying to keep score, well, good luck. His current laundry list includes an Untitled Ice Cube project, "Old St. Louis" and "2 Guns" both set as vehicles for Vince Vaugh, a Russ Meyer biopic called, "King Of The Nudies"; the list goes on and on. Apparently Russell's script for "Uncharted" is being ditched in favor of a rehaul by other writers (probably tells you how out of synch he and Sony were vision-wise). Frankly, we're just glad we can cross one off our to-watch list.
David O. has too much time...
he is no longer a quirky delight either.
Quote from: 72teeth on June 15, 2011, 02:18:51 PM
David O. has too much time...
he is no longer a quirky delight either.
For his sake, he's now working. He had 6 years of trying to continue his filmmaking identity and got nowhere. I understand your concern because at best, he's a good director who knows what are good projects to direct. The Fighter is fine and the film hit its low ceiling in every way I could imagine it doing. It will be more interesting how his future progresses because he did try to take on a gaming movie and fully revamp it and he got shot down by studio and producers. Even though he's working from the inside of Hollywood now, I still think the best qualities of his assholishness could be in play.
Quote from: The Gold Trumpet on June 15, 2011, 02:26:44 PM
Even though he's working from the inside of Hollywood now, I still think the best qualities of his assholishness could be in play.
I hope so... i always wanted him to be the wildcard, dangerous filmmaker that everyone makes Von Trier out to be...
Huckabees was great.
Quote from: Jeremy Blackman on June 15, 2011, 02:47:23 PM
Huckabees was great.
as is Flirting with Disaster and Spanking the Monkey! With those 3, he had one of the
most distinct careers, it was awesome... and i guess The Fighter (good movie, don't get me wrong, just a bit run-of-the-mill) only makes his repertoire all the more prolific, but it just feels less personal, and that's what i loved best about him, every film was his, undeniably...
Even Three Kings, a more "serious" movie than those three, is full of quirky delights, and is very distinctly his own.
O shit! How can i forget Three Kings!!!
...man, i miss O. Russell.
Warner Bros Mobilizing Colombia Hostage Drama 'The Mission,' Courting David O Russell And Brad Pitt
BY MIKE FLEMING | Deadline
EXCLUSIVE: In the wake of Osama Bin Laden's killing by a Navy SEAL team, Hollywood is suddenly obsessed with politically-charged fact-based mission movies. Momentum is building on one of those at Warner Bros, The Mission. David O Russell is circling the picture and the studio is courting Brad Pitt to star. This could all happen very quickly.
The picture is basically the methodical six-year mission planned by American and Colombian covert operatives to free 15 hostages from the Colombian jungle. The hostages included three Americans and Ingrid Betancourt, once a candidate for President of Colombia. The script is by Peter Landesman. Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Scott Z. Burns will produce with McLarty Media, the showbiz consulting arm of D.C.-based international advisory firm McLarty Associates.
The hostages were held by the Colombian guerilla group FARC from between six and 15 years. It was a nightmarish existence as the hostages were moved around the jungles, often cruelly chained to trees at night by their necks. The central focus of the film isn't the ordeal of those hostages but rather on Operacion Jaque, a covert effort involving numerous governments, diplomats and intelligence services and a vast network of spies, military advisers and soldiers plus high-tech surveillance measures. Nobody would confirm that Pitt was at all involved, and I'm not sure he'll be set, but I am convinced they are talking. The studio wants this to happen quickly, and Russell is also considering The Silver Linings Playbook with Mark Wahlberg. Pitt is busy shooting World War Z. Let's see how this one plays out.
^ we've all seen this movie before and we know this version of its probably gonna suck I could be wrong
David O. Russell Set to Direct 'American Bulls**t'
The director of "The Fighter" and "I Heart Huckabees" is in the early stages of tackling the true story of a Congressional sting that was set up in 1980 by "the world's greatest con man."
Source: THR
David O. Russell is attached to direct American Bullshit, a crime drama set up at Son being produced by Atlas Entertainment's Charles Roven and Richard Suckle.
Written by Eric Warren Singer, American tells the true story of the FBI's 1980 undercover sting operation of Congress, dubbed Abscam, which was created by "the world's greatest con man" to root out corruption. The script was in the top 10 of the 2012 Black List.
Russell is only attached at this point and moving forward may depend on casting the project's two main leads.
The director earned an Oscar nomination for his most recent film, 2010's The Fighter. His next project, the Bradley Cooper-Jennifer Lawrence comedy The Silver Linings Playbook, is due in the fall. Other credits include I Heart Huckabees and Three Kings.
David O. Russell's latest turn: New England city politics
Source: LA Times
The very busy David O. Russell has another story to occupy his post-"Uncharted: Drake's Fortune" time: He's officially involved with a biopic about longtime Rhode Island mayor Buddy Cianci that will be produced by the New York-based production company of Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal ("Little Fockers," "Being Flynn").
Based on Cianci's elaborately titled "Politics and Pasta: How I Prosecuted Mobsters, Rebuilt a Dying City, Advised a President, Dined With Sinatra, Spent Five Years in a Federally Funded Gated Community and Lived to Tell the Tale," the new untitled biopic tells of the 21-year mayor who — oh yes — went to jail for nearly five years on racketeering charges after a career rooting out corruption in his New England hometown. Cianci has had more lives than a bungee-jumping cat; there's even talk he will run for public office again.
About a year ago, Rosenthal had mentioned informally that she'd like Russell to come aboard the film. Now it's official. According to his arrangement with the producer, he'll direct but won't write, Rosenthal said, though he will have a hand in the script too.
Since he parted ways with Sony's "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune," Russell has been making use of his spare time. Most recently, he signed on to a 1980s story about an FBI sting that exposed congressional corruption -- even as he finishes cutting "The Silver Linings Playbook," his fall relationship movie that stars Jennifer Lawrence, De Niro and Bradley Cooper.
The Cianci film also marks a further turn for Russell, who, after hitting it big with "The Fighter," has moved from oddball comedies to more hard-boiled and dramatic material; witness, also, his development of a Russ Meyer biopic (though Cianci's larger-than-life personality will ensure his film subjects remain colorful).
Rosenthal has been developing the Cianci movie independently at Tribeca Films, the company she and De Niro run, but says that she is close to a financing deal.
As she prepares for the Wednesday kickoff of the 11th annual Tribeca Film Festival that she co-founded, Rosenthal has kept up her prolific producing efforts. She's working with English producer Graham King on the upcoming Freddie Mercury biopic starring Sacha Baron Cohen, a spinoff of sorts from her long-running West End musical "We Will Rock You."
And Rosenthal has shepherded and executive produced an hourlong television series, "NYC 22," a sidewalk-wise cop story that debuted on CBS on Sunday night.
One passion project, however, may not enjoy the same success. Fans of "Lombardi," the long-gestating football film from writer Eric Roth about the Green Bay Packers head coach, has had little forward progress. Rosenthal sounded pessimistic when asked if the film could be going in front of the cameras any time soon.
"As a producer I feel everything should be made for a price," she said of the movie, which requires significant period sets and costumes. "But a lot of the numbers I've heard [from financiers] are simply way too low."
whatever resulted from this guy pervin on his transgender niecephew?
Chriiiiiiistian??
Quote from: Pozer on April 17, 2012, 10:10:12 PM
whatever resulted from this guy pervin on his transgender niecephew?
Film executives agreed that they too would've "pinched that titty" and all was forgiven.
CBS Buys Legal Drama Written By Danny Strong, Directed By David O. Russell And Produced By Robert De Niro
BY NELLIE ANDREEVA | Deadline
EXCLUSIVE: Game Change writer Danny Strong, The Fighter director David O. Russell and Oscar winner Robert De Niro have teamed for a legal drama series inspired by a famous New York father/daughter lawyer duo, which has sold to CBS. The project hails from De Niro and Jane Rosenthal's Tribeca Prods. and CBS TV Studios. Strong is writing, Russell is set to direct, with the two executive producing alongside De Niro, Rosenthal and Diane Nabatoff. The drama is inspired by the father-and-daughter defense attorneys Murray and Stacey Richman. It will center on a fictionalized version of the Richmans' Bronx firm, where clients as notorious on the street as they are on Page Six.
In the almost 50 years of practicing law, Murray Richman, nickname "Don't Worry Murray," has worked for clients ranging from hip-hop stars like Jay-Z to the upper echelon of the Genovese and Lucchese crime families to former NY Governor Eliott Spitzer's escort procurer. In addition to his cases, Murray is famous for his courtroom quips, like "I love a murder trial — one less witness to worry about" and "I'll be brief... I'm already short." (He is 5'6″). Below is documentarymaker Errol Morris' video interview/portrait of Murray that provides a glimpse into his background, philosophy, personality as well as some of his cases. In it, Murray boasts about winning an acquittal for a client who had stabbed a guy to death seven times by convincing the jury that the victim kept "backing into the knife." Stacey Richman, a star attorney of her own, has a clientele that includes Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Ja Rule, Scout Willis, Kid Cudi and Freekey Zekey.
This marks the pilot writing debut for actor-turned-writer Strong who switched to writing with the HBO movie Recount. It was followed by HBO's Game Change, both earning him Emmy writing nominations. Strong made his feature writing debut with Lee Daniels' upcoming The Butler. The CBS drama would make the TV directing debut for O'Russell, an Oscar nominee for The Fighter. The project stems from Tribeca's overall deal at CBS TV Studios, which already has yielded a series on CBS, last season's NYC 22. The company's Berry Welsh will serve as a producer on the new project. Strong, O'Russell and Tribeca are with CAA.
Louis C.K. in Talks to Join David O. Russell's Next Film (Exclusive)
The Emmy winner joins a cast that already includes Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner and Amy Adams.
Source: THR
After conquering TV, Louis C.K. is tackling the film world's A-list of directors.
The multihyphenate, who recently starred in Woody Allen's upcoming comedy Blue Jasmine, is in talks to take on a key role in David O. Russell's next project, an untitled film formerly dubbed American Bullshit.
The period drama, which already stars Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner and Amy Adams, begins production next month.
The Sony Pictures film is being financed by Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures.
Based on a true story, the film centers on con artist Mel Weinberg who worked with the FBI in a far-reaching corruption case that stretched from Atlantic City to Washington, D.C. Eric Singer (The International) wrote the screenplay.
Louis C.K. who took home multiple Emmys in September for his TV work, is up for best performance by an actor in a TV series musical or comedy for Louie at this weekend's Golden Globes.
Soapy Drama From David O. Russell & Susannah Grant Gets ABC Series Order
BY NELLIE ANDREEVA | Deadline
EXCLUSIVE: David O. Russell is coming to television. ABC has given a straight-to-series 13-episode order to a drama project from the American Hustle writer/director and Erin Brockovich writer Susannah Grant. The series, developed by CBS TV Studios and studio-based Timberman/Beverly, is an upstairs/downstairs soap set at a private country club. Russell and Grant co-wrote the story, with Grant writing the teleplay. The two are executive producing with Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly; CBS Studios is co-producing with ABC Studios. This marks the first TV series for Russell, the hottest filmmaker at the moment with rare back-to-back Best Picture Oscar nominees — American Hustle this year and Silver Linings Playbook last year accompanied by best writing and directing nominations both times. Russell is on a streak, with his previous film, The Fighter, also earning a Best Picture and Best Director nominations in 2011.
The ABC drama also marks the first series for an outside broadcast network for CBS Studios in its first season opening up its development to broadcast nets besides siblings CBS and the CW. Grant previously created and executive produced the CBS/CBS Studios supernatural medical drama A Gifted Man. This is Timberman/Beverly's fifth on-air series, joining Justified, Elementary, Unforgettable and Masters Of Sex. Straight-to-series orders have been on the rise at ABC, including Mistresses, the upcoming Black Box as well as Secrets & Lies, which is now casting. Russell, Grant and Timberman/Beverly are with CAA.
David O. Russell's 'Joy', Likely Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Set for Christmas 2015
It was reported earlier this year that David O. Russell and his American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook golden girl, Jennifer Lawrence, were looking to reteam once again on a film titled Joy and now Fox has set the film for a Christmas Day 2015 release. Lawrence isn't confirmed for the role just yet, though she was Russell's first pick earlier this year.
The story follows the life story of Joy Mangano (Lawrence), a struggling Long Island single mom of three who became one of the country's most successful entrepreneurs with her self-wringing Miracle Mop invention. Russell rewrote the script, which was originally penned by Annie Mumolo, one-half of the Bridesmaids screenwriting duo.
No word on when filming will take place as Lawrence is currently working on The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 and Part 2 and will once again play Mystique in X-Men: Apocalypse as well as her attachment to Gary Ross's new adaptation of East of Eden.
Curious if anyone saw Accidental Love aka Nailed?
I saw the bizarre artwork on Redbox, had no clue what it was and eventually used a free rental on it.
It has some interesting flourishes. The sex scene is unique. Maybe one has been filmed that way before, but I can't think of one.
Maybe because it was never fully completed, the editing makes it feel New Wave at times.
Looking a few pages back, I wonder what happened to The Grackle?