Richard Kelly has lost it

[praxis1966]

I don't know if there are any indie film fans here, but I just feel the need to vent. I finally got around to watching Pi and decided to check IMDB to find out what, if anything, the film's director/writer Darren Aronofsky has been up to lately. While there, I decided to see if another one of my favorites, Richard Kelly, was up to. For those of you who don't know, he made a stellar feature directorial debut with Donnie Darko a couple of years ago, a dark little film noir flick starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Drew Berrymore, Noah Wylie (the baby-faced guy from ER), and Patrick Swayze (yeah, I know he sucks, but it was still a good movie).

Come to find out, he's in pre-production on a new movie slated to for release in 2006. However, my excitement soon turned to exasperation when I found out that the movie, Southland Tales, is a musical comedy starring The Rock, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sean William Scott, and Kevin Smith. I mean, it's bad enough he's making a musical, but could the cast be any more fucking random? What the hell was he thinking? Who in their right mind is going to lay down 10 bucks to go see two hours of a pro-wrestler, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Steve Stiffler, and Silent Bob sing and dance for two hours? I just don't know what the world is coming to anymore.

Southland Tales IMDB Page (http://imdb.com/title/tt0405336/combined)

[YKTMX]

:huh: It's only in development, maybe he'll have the sense to bail before it goes any further.

Though, to be honest, the idea of Kevin Smith and the Rock singing does intrigue me.

[praxis1966]

Well according to the IMDB message boards The Rock has a pretty decent voice. Someone also posted that Sarah Michelle Gellar won't be doing her own singing. Who knows about the other two? In any case, anybody who's seen the movie Evolution knows that Sean Williams Scott has a terrible voice, although I suppose he could have been singing out of key on purpose.

[Sir Aunty Christ]

Well when you consider that he's writing and directing (like he's done with all his previous films) I think he's sussed this out. It's not like someone's said to him, "Here's the script, here's the camera and, oh yeah, here's The Rock."

As you said, Patrick Swayze being in Donnie Darko didn't make it a bad film.

Sounds an interesting project. He may pull it off or he may not. If he doesn't, sure there's always next time.

[YKTMX]

Swayze's performance was genuis - the best in the film.

[Clarksist]

You like Darron Aronofsky? Pi and Requiem for a Dream are truly two AMAZING films. Beautiful films and a beautiful director.

Richard Kelly's Donnie Darko kicked ass as well. And I think that the comedy could be funny (remember the hypnotize scene in Darko?).

As for The Rock, SMG, and Stifler. Bleh.

[praxis1966]

Love Aronofsky. I think the early part of this century might well prove to be like the late 60s early 70s director-wise (recall that Spielberg, Howard, and Polanski all started directing back then). Aside from Aronofsky and Kelly, you have to consider Wes Anderson and Christopher Nolan. Nevermind the international directors, the names Ang Lee and Peter Jackson come to mind.

Anyhow, I just don't know if Kelly can pull this whole thing together. IMDB also has him saying it's going to be sort of a cross between Andy Warhol and Philip K. Dick, whatever the fuck that means. It's ballsy, I'll give him that, but there's also room for huge failure. In baseball they call it the sophomore slump. That is to say, the rookie effort comes out huge but the second go round leaves quite a bit to be desired. In other words to me it looks like this could be Kelly's Mall Rats. It's almost needless to say that I'm really skeptical at this point.

[Urban Rubble]

In other words to me it looks like this could be Kelly's Mall Rats.

I'll never understand why people say things like that. Mallrats was my favorite Kevin Smith film.

[YKTMX]

Agreed. I think most "die-hard" Kevin Smith fans are the same, they all prefer Mallrats. But still, the move did damage his career because it bombed so badly at the BO.

[praxis1966]

I guess I'm not 'die hard' then. I mean, I love everything else he's done, from Clerks to Jersey Girl. I really didn't hate Mallrats, but I didn't like it either. I give it a C+; passable, but not great.

[themaskedavenger]

Originally posted by Urban [email protected] 2 2005, 07:56 PM
Mallrats was my favorite Kevin Smith film.
Mallrats Forever!

[Xvall]

I initially thought you were talking about R. Kelly's stupid soap opera.

[Hegemonicretribution]

I can think of plenty of people that would pay to see that movie. A famous wrestler: Well there are plenty of teenage fans, Sarah Michelle Gellar appeals to many who have blood somewhere other than their brain. It could succeed, mores the pity.

I think film has been sold out more than music, and I am not appreciating what is coming through on the literature front, what happened to the arts?