What’s the story on film director David O. Russell? Early in his career, he had a reputation for being one of the worst people to work with in Hollywood. But now the stories about him have disappeared.
Did Russell mellow out in the last few years? Or do people now look the other way because he’s become more successful?
From what I’ve heard, he’s a more pleasant person nowadays. I’ve even heard that Clooney has backed off his “I will NEVER work with him again” policy.
In my personal opinion, I think this may be a case for “personal demons make for good art”. His early films from his asshole days were all very interesting and had his personal mark upon them. I Heart Huckabees is one of my favorite movies ever.
His more recent movies have been very well crafted and entertaining, but not all that interesting in my opinion.
It kind of feels like he’s been doing penance for Nailed, a film that sounds like it could have been awesome but the entire production collapsed and was pulled into his personal downward spiral.
Anyway, it seems his demons have been exorcised and that he is genuinely a happier person nowadays.
The first I heard was about Three Kings. He took the screenplay, rewrote it and did not give credit to the original author. Also, Clooney claims he screamed at extras on the set and Clooney will not work with him again.
Anyway, I just want to point out a great coincidence that I pointed out during the Academy Awards.
John Ridley, who originally wrote Three Kings, won the Oscar. He sued David O. Russell(the “writer” and director of the movie) who claimed sole credit for the Three Kings script.
Following this, who is nominated for Orininal screenplay? David O. Russell. But wait! There’s more! Who won original screenplay? Spike Jonze…who starred(yes, acted in)…Three Kings.
In about 10 minutes, 3 people from 3 kings were involved in the Oscars. Weird.
Interesting. I believe that Ridley was involved in a controversy with Steve McQueen about authorship of 12 Years a Slave, too.
And, Russell’s 2008 film “Nailed” was just released under the title “Accidental Love” and was put together without his input. Apparently it sucks and feels like what it is, an unfinished film.
The financing on Nailed apparently got withdrawn while the movie was in production. People weren’t being paid and eventually the production was shut down. Apparently somebody was able to edit the footage that had been completed into some kind of finished movie.
Nailed was another example of Russell’s personality issues. He argued with James Caan to the point where Caan quit the movie. Jake Gyllenhaal was reportedly also unhappy during the filming but he stuck it out until the production shut down.
Have you watched the freak out footage from the set from I Heart Huckabees where he just rants and screams at Lily Tomlin and Dustin Hoffman?
According to the story, he physically assaulted Clooney and Clooney beat the crap out of him.