Thursday, June 19, 2008



Ok, let's talk film. I want to know what the Coen Brothers are thinking when they think of making a film. Because I don't think they use traditional Hollywood lingo. They have a new film, its called Burn After Reading. The title reminds me of an old play called Burn This. It was written with that title because the author of the play (Burn This), he hated it passionately after he wrote it. So he wrote BURN THIS on the top of each page and then set it aside to burn it. Well apparently someone else read it before the kiss of flame, loved it and made it into a play.



I don't know if this follows the same story. I don't know yet. But it very well may be the same concept. Which brings me to my first point, if you are a screenwriter, or any kind of writer, you always hate what you write. I know I do. I look back at these blogs and I say, "That is crappy". I do everyday. But honestly, I have been writing for so long, that I have more crafty writing sessions than bad ones. The bad writing I do is there, but I just write honest and open. I don't think you can go wrong from there.

So back to the Coen brothers. What do they think when they decide to make a movie? I will tell you what they think of. Here goes? Are you ready? They think of emotional impact. Yes, they think of the response the audience will have when they make the film. Did you see No Country For Old Men? Do you know how great that film is? My God was I blown away about how insanely good it is. LOVED that film. Fargo? How amazing of a film is that? Frances McDormand, one of Coen's wife, is incredible as the pregnant Sheriff. Would a pregnant Sheriff NOT played by Angelina Jolie be marketable? No.


But still, as a writer, you always hate what you write. And the stuff you think you write the best is the stuff that is not the best. That happens to me the most, the stuff I covet in my work is the stuff that is actually mediocre and the stuff that I gloss over is the best. I ALWAYS run into that.



So, the Coen Brothers are so twisted, they want to entertain you with something you have never seen before. Like Anton in No Country or the DUDE in Big Lebowski. Yes twisted I say! Why? Because they don't want to bring you an old TV show or Old Novel. I know crazy! There are people out there who want to make ORIGINAL film!
Total insanity.

Ok enough with that. Coen Brothers rule. They new film which I just saw a preview of on ET looks really good.

This weekend its the showdown of two major comedies with two major stars. We have Mike Meyers and Steve Carrell at the Box Office. I see a lot of journalists and bloggers making a big deal about this. I think this is a no brainer. Get Smart will make way more money that The Love Guru. Why? Because Steve Carrell is more family friendly than Mike Meyers. Simple as that. PLUS! Strange as it may sound, we know that Get Smart seems more novel than The Love Guru. As strange as it sounds its true. And this is just because of its starts. Steve is never than Meyers. We kinda know what to expect from Meyers now, Raw, crazy, hit or miss humor. With Carrell, he doesn't have s Schick. He just kinda stands there and he is hilarious.

If the Box Office is legendary this weekend. If Get Smart makes 60 mil this weekend. If Steve Carrell gets knighted, AND if Get Smart is a good movie. (sniff, sniff) Then I smell sequel. But, do you know what kind of pressure that would put on the Studio. They would have to make a good sequel. They would have to duplicate this success. And now this idea is twitching with me. They may have to duplicate this success. Get Smart just may be really good and profitable. Seriously that would be a nightmare for the studio. Until Tomorrow, let's talk film

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