A24 4,348 Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 It's too much of a story movie. I know what lies behind the door now. Next!Your holy water tricks have no effect on me ...Oops ... wrong franchiseAlex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 William Friedkin has always come off as a complete cunt to me, especially after what he did with THE FRENCH CONNECTION Blu-Ray release (not consulting DP Owen Roizman) - plus throwing Lalo Schifrin's rejected score for THE EXORCIST out in the parking lot, two days into the recording sessions. This interview does little to change that.As for his choices of films? Predictable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,348 Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Everyone who predicted 'Z' is a liar. Sorry. Also, where were the often cited clichés like the Kubricks or the Spielbergs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 I meant predictable for Friedkin, considering the kind of filmmaker he is. Both Z and THE BATLE FOR ALGIERS were hugely influential in their time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,251 Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 William Friedkin has always come off as a complete cunt to me, especially after what he did with THE FRENCH CONNECTION Blu-Ray release (not consulting DP Owen Roizman) - plus throwing Lalo Schifrin's rejected score for THE EXORCIST out in the parking lot, two days into the recording sessions. This interview does little to change that.As for his choices of films? Predictable.To be fair, the latest release of The French Connection fixed all those issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 The first Blu of The French Connection had a very controversial color grading, which made it look like a modern film rather then a 70's one.It's the way he always wanted it to look! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightscape94 965 Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Friedkin later tried to blame Fox for the first blu transfer, saying it wasn't what he signed off on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 I'll never forget what Friedkin said.The Blu-ray of The French Connection is the best print that’s ever been made of that picture, because of the process itself. Owen was not invited to be involved in the making of the Blu-ray or the DVD or the print… it was never my intention to make a dirty or grainy print of The French Connection or to pepetutate it in the new medium. The colours are Blu-ray because the Blu-ray laser reads closer to the disc… the colour is richer. The film loosk a little colder. But that’s because of the nature of the process and my taste… it is by far the best print ever made of The French Connection… [Roizman] happens to be wrong. You’re hearing this from the director of the film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 I'll never forget what Friedkin said.The colours are Blu-ray because the Blu-ray laser reads closer to the disc the colour is richer. The film loosk a little colder.Senile old bugger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,348 Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Heheheheh, when Ridley Scott did exactly the same with the Final Cut of Blade Runner, the whole world cheered. Did Ridley Scott consult Jordan Cronenweth? No siree Bob, he didn't! And when asked about it, Scott or the FC's spokesman and producer Charles de Lauzirika says the film has never been properly color-graded and that the 'new' (colder) tint is how Ridley wanted it to be in 1982. It's the modern times, my friends! They now have the (digital) technology and they will use it! Fashion and trends do play a role. It's the same for the remastering of music but that doesn't seem to be a big problem for most people.Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 It is when it's loud and compressed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Not surprised to hear Friedkin's a KKK apologist, either. THE FRENCH CONNECTION for all its strengths (including Don Ellis's sublime score), is racially problematic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 I thought he was just applying it to the context of the time it was made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 No, that would be fine. Friedkin decided to go a bit further, preceded by the shopworn 'in this politically correct age...''I'm not racist! Some of my best friends are black, but..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Not surprised to hear Friedkin's a KKK apologist, either. THE FRENCH CONNECTION for all its strengths (including Don Ellis's sublime score), is racially problematic.It's what makes it feel realistic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Does showing racism on film always mean the director/writer/actor is himself a racist? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,251 Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 The racism in the film is discussed by Hackman in the special features. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Is he also a Friedkin apologist? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koray Savas 2,251 Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 He justified it, so I guess so! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 He was in Missisipi Burning, which depicted racism too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Does showing racism on film always mean the director is himself a racist?If there's no challenging viewpoint, the director is complicit in propagating an ideology, intentionally or not. Watching this interview, I can't help suspect that Friedkin is at least sympathetic to certain racist ideas (some perhaps biological/genetic) on African-Americans and crime. Edit: MISSISSIPPi BURNING is 10 times more repugnant, though I've never been an Alan Parker fan. One of British cinema/advertising's dullest exports. Sure, Adrian Lyne and Tony Scott were hacks, but at least they had style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Bastard 7,782 Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 But Friedkin is an arty Hollywood guy. Racism doesn't exist in Tinsel Town! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,348 Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Does showing racism on film always mean the director is himself a racist?If there's no challenging viewpoint, the director is complicit in propagating an ideology, intentionally or not. Watching this interview, I can't help suspect that Friedkin is at least sympathetic to certain racist ideas (some perhaps biological/genetic) on African-Americans and crime. Like with so many anti-heroes of the seventies, the character (Popeye Doyle) is racist because he's flawed. He's not politically correct, he's not perfect. He's just human. And as we learned from watching the news, in the real world, cops can be very racist. Creating a "challenging viewpoint", which means the movie itself will eventually condemn its own characters, is nothing but morally preachy and belittling to the audience. The best movies leave it to the viewer to be judgemental or not, to approve or to disapprove, or to form our own opinion.Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,399 Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 I disagree with Sharky. There's no requirement for a director who depicts racism (or any prejudice) to have a challenging viewpoint as a part of the narrative. Much of film and characterisation is about observation, about showing the reality. You sound a little self-rightous here Shark. Do you get offended on behalf of others? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkissimo 1,973 Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Depends who the other person is. I tend to be one who sticks up for others, not in a patronizing sense, just helping out the underdog. I've always identified with Thomas Hardy's Jude Fawley. I'll have to agree to disagree with you and Alex on this one. I'm not asking for Sesame Street, just something a bit more self-aware. In that sense (although it's the weaker film), I prefer Frankenheimer's sequel. It places Doyle in a situation where his prejudices are confronted head-on. The delirium/confession scenes are some of the finest from Hackman's career. Should've been nominated for an Oscar. Hlao-roo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corellian2019 386 Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Not surprised to hear Friedkin's a KKK apologist, either. (when did that happen?)Just my two cents: in this case, for all the racism spewed by "Popeye" Doyle in the film, I think we can rest assured that William Friedkin is not sympathetic to racist ideas on African-Americans and crime. In fact, during this recent Q&A he mentions inviting more women, Afro-Americans, and radicals to participate in the Academy Awards ceremony he produced, culminating in the anecdote about Richard Pryor staring at the camera and saying no black man had ever won an Oscar for anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon Hill 4,234 Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Radicals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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