Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
I gotta say, I'm more impressed by Francis Coppola these days that I expected to be. He's one of those guys you can never count out, no matter how many times he makes JACK or GARDENS OF STONE, because he always manages to find some way to do something else that proves he's still relevant.
His famous "10 under $10 million" deal at MGM/UA meant that he got to produce a slate of ten films, each of them for less than $10 million total. So far, Zoetrope has finished CQ, Hal Hartley's film, NO MONSTERS ALLOWED, a twisted take on the BEAUTY & THE BEAST tale that is currently going through title changes, the Sundance premiere PUMPKIN, and Victor Salva's JEEPERS CREEPERS. It was a few weeks back that details leaked about LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL: JEEPERS CREEPERS 2, which Zoetrope views as the tentpole that will allow them to take risks on other material.
Material like Joel Schumacher's long-rumored production of ON THE ROAD, with a script by the acclaimed novelist Russell Banks (THE SWEET HEREAFTER). As long as it's Joel working in his low-key TIGERLAND/FLAWLESS mode, I'm cool with that.
It also means material like MY DARK PLACES, based on the unnerving autobiographical piece by James Ellroy about his inquiry into the murder of his own mother, which Robert Greenwald (STEAL THIS MOVIE, the immortal classic XANADU) is set to direct.
But most importantly, as far as I'm concerned, it means material like Bill Condon's KINSEY. I am a big fan of this script and this filmmaker, and it's about time someone grew the balls to give the greenlight to this smart, uncompromising look at one of the most revolutionary and controversial thinkers in the history of sexual politics in America. As this one comes together, I'm going to be keeping a close eye on casting news. It's going to take a fearless and ferocious actor to play the title role, and whoever ends up being brave enough to do it earns major respect in my book. That respect also extends to Myriad Pictures, the company that is partnering with Zoetrope on this production slate. Hats off to all who helped make this deal happen, and here's hoping the films it produces live up to their potential.
"Moriarty" out.
