Wow. Seems like Frank feels he learned a few things hanging around on the set with Robert Rodriguez and Zack Snyder. "Uhm, actually" you say, pushing up your nerd glasses, "Frank Miller was credited as a director on Sin City."
Sure. Whatever you say.
I like Frank Miller's writing work. Mostly. [I'll forgive him for Robocop 2 and 3, which--ironically--Encore was showing this last weekend as part of some geek-gasm. Everybody's gotta eat, and it sounds like he wasn't pleased with the interpretaion of his script.] His art is great, and has spawned a ton of imitators. But, while Frank has had some great moments as a hired gun (cf. and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Daredevil: The Man Without Fear), I think he's at his best when he's building his own house, as opposed to when he's painting someone else's. Just look at Sin City or 300. Those move beyond mere graphical novels and become works of literature. He and Will Eisner were friends, though, so the emotional connection might move Frank to produce some really great work.
I think he'll find that being a Film Director--all alone and without someone of Rodriguez's chops there to do all of the hard stuff--is a lot messier than being a writer. When you're director, there's no one else to blame; the buck stops with you, regardless of any other problems the project may face.
At least there's a decent cast...
I like The Spirit, but I'm not sure that the darker aesthetic where Frank Miller does his best work is the right milieu for The Spirit. Will Eisner threaded his pulp-noir with a vein of high camp, and I don't know yet if Frank Miller can do camp in a way that does honor to Eisner's material.
I want Will Eisner's The Spirit. As Frank Miller's The Spirit, I'm not sure it will be as good. And it would surely be a shame to tarnish a legacy like Eisner's and a character like the Spirit.
Check out some production photos at TheMovingPicture.net. See Sam "Bad Mother Fucker" Jackson in funny clothes! See Scarlett Johansson do her best Enid impersonation! See Eva Mendes photocopying her butt! (Seriously.) Hurry! Before they get yanked by the studio!
Finally, Frank, I love and respect you. I only ask that you reassure me of one thing.
You're not the Dream Master, are you?
1 comment:
"being a film director... is a lot messier than being a writer." *citation needed*
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