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David Cronenberg

Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 12:12 am
by Guest
Well finally a trailer for Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method has been released:
http://youtu.be/664eq7BXQcM

The film still doesn't have a release date yet (at least in the US), but will probably be late 2011 in order to make a push for the oscars. Personally, I was underwhelmed by the trailer, but given that Cronenberg is one of my favorite directors and Mortensen one of my favorite actors I'm hoping that Cronenberg is just giving us a little bit and will blow us away with the actual film.

Anyway, not caring much for Freud and his psychology I am more interested in Cronenberg's next project: an adaptation of Don DeLillo's novel Cosmopolis. Has anyone read this novel? The premise sounds awesome to me:
It is an April day in the year 2000 and an era is about to end. The booming times of market optimism -- when the culture boiled with money and corporations seemed more vital and influential than governments -- are poised to crash. Eric Packer, a billionaire asset manager at age twenty-eight, emerges from his penthouse triplex and settles into his lavishly customized white stretch limousine. Today he is a man with two missions: to pursue a cataclysmic bet against the yen and to get a haircut across town. Stalled in traffic by a presidential motorcade, a music idol's funeral, and a violent political demonstration, Eric receives a string of visitors -- experts on security, technology, currency, finance, and a few sexual partners -- as the limo sputters toward an increasingly uncertain future.


This film is already shooting, maybe even near the end of shooting, but my biggest problem with it is that Robert Pattison is playing the main character. Now I've only seen Pattison in The Goblet of Fire, so I have really no idea what kind of actor he is, but being that he is a face of the Twilight franchise, I have kind of avoided film starring him. On the other hand, I feel that in order for Cronenberg to have picked him he must have been impressive in an audition. I am excited though about Paul Giamatti being in the film, but because I have not yet read the novel I'm not sure how big of a role he will have.

Re: David Cronenberg

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:35 pm
by Mentaculus
David Cronenberg is a personal idol, so I can't wait for any of his movies to come out, no matter how subpar the trailers might be (and actually, I don't watch trailers, so I am not one to judge).

My opinion of Robert Pattinson is not high (I've seen a couple of those Twilight things, unfortunately), but if anyone can church him up, it's Cronenberg. I have high hopes.

Re: David Cronenberg

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 11:26 pm
by Guest
jacobb1313 wrote:David Cronenberg is a personal idol, so I can't wait for any of his movies to come out, no matter how subpar the trailers might be (and actually, I don't watch trailers, so I am not one to judge).


I guess I shouldn't really judge it by the trailer anyway. I've actually liked Cronenbergs newer stuff as opposed to his body horror (as awesome as some of his body horror is). His average isn't as high as other directors for me, but I've seen more of his movies than most of the others and there were a few of his films I didn't care for (Crash, Naked Lunch).

Re: David Cronenberg

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:12 am
by Pickpocket
Looks like Oscar bait but still looks decent to me. Fassbinder is possibly the most interesting actor working today so because he's in it my interest spiked a little.

Re: David Cronenberg

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:15 am
by ayall
I haven't seen to many of his films, other then a History of Violence which i thought was decent but nothing great.

This trailer seemed pretty good as far as set/costume design and cinematography. I think it could be a very interesting story with a possibility for a great script (Christopher Hampton).... if properly executed with great acting, it could be a hit.

I'll be looking forward to checking it out.

Re: David Cronenberg

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:48 am
by Guest
Pickpocket wrote:Looks like Oscar bait but still looks decent to me. Fassbinder is possibly the most interesting actor working today so because he's in it my interest spiked a little.


It does seem a bit over dramatic and the most likely to attract the Academy's attention of his films, but I think with Cronenberg this one may not seem as straightforward as the trailer makes it look.

I've only seen Fassbender in Inglorious Basterds (and 300, but I can't even remember him in that movie), and he was very good in that small role, so it will be interesting to see him in a bigger role.

Re: David Cronenberg

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 4:09 am
by Guest
ayall wrote:I haven't seen to many of his films, other then a History of Violence which i thought was decent but nothing great.

This trailer seemed pretty good as far as set/costume design and cinematography. I think it could be a very interesting story with a possibility for a great script (Christopher Hampton).... if properly executed with great acting, it could be a hit.

I'll be looking forward to checking it out.


I love a History of Violence. It is in my top 10 movies of all time, that is how much I love it. That probably freaks a lot people out, but I think it is one of the most underrated movies I've seen. I love the performances (especially William Hurt), I loved how Cronenberg builds the suspense, and I love the ending. I think everyone has a film that they like a lot more than the consensus, and for me that film is A History of Violence. You should check out Eastern Promises. It is pretty good (not as good as A History of Violence IMO, but it has a great performance from Viggo Mortenson and Vincent Cassell is really good too). And if you like body horror, Cronenberg definitely has some good ones to choose from (The Fly, Scanners, Existenz).

Now back to A Dangerous Method, yeah the set design should be interesting. I think the script will be really good, judging by my favorable opinion of Hampton's script for Atonement. I think the acting will be very strong. Viggo Mortensen is one of my favorite actors (my average for him over 8 films is 87.38 thanks in part to LOTR, A History of Violence, Eastern Promises, and The Indian Runner). Fassbender hasn't had many huge parts, but I think this might be a great so called launching pad for him (of all main actors in the film I think his performance has the greatest chance of garnering critical acclaim and I haven't even seen the film). And I've liked Knightley in pretty much everything I've seen her in. And then there is Cassell, who had good roles in both Eastern Promises and Aronofsky's Black Swan. It is definitely one of my most awaited films.

Re: David Cronenberg

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 4:45 am
by Pickpocket
dougied89 wrote:It does seem a bit over dramatic and the most likely to attract the Academy's attention of his films, but I think with Cronenberg this one may not seem as straightforward as the trailer makes it look.

Yeah, I can definitely see this happening.


dougied89 wrote:I've only seen Fassbender in Inglorious Basterds (and 300, but I can't even remember him in that movie), and he was very good in that small role, so it will be interesting to see him in a bigger role.

Check out Hunger (2008).

Re: David Cronenberg

Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 6:48 pm
by Guest
Pickpocket wrote:
Check out Hunger (2008).


I watched it. It was decent. Fassbender was great. Obviously he didn't say much, but that scene between him and the priest was the best in the film IMO, but the physical commitment he made to the role is amazing. It was hard to watch for me though especially the hunger strike parts.

Re: David Cronenberg

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 8:59 pm
by Guest
Well I've just finished reading Don DeLillo's Cosmopolis. It wasn't the best book I've ever read, but it wasn't a waste of time either (especially given its 200 page length). I can see Cronenberg doing some good things with it. I am still very worried about Robert Pattison being cast as the lead character (especially because the success of a film adaptation will largely hinge on him) , but if Cronenberg saw enough in him to cast him, I guess I should have a little faith. I can say I will be extremely looking forward to Paul Giamatti's performance as Benno Levin, one of the more interesting and important characters in the book. Rumor has it that the film will be released in late 2012 (I've most frequently seen December of 2012).
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