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Hollywood & Vine
Hosted by Sharon Waxman
Post Style Correspondent
Tuesday, April 24, 2001; 4 p.m. EDT
Hollywood & Vine is a weekly discussion about the inner workings of the movie industry. There is a whole political universe behind how the movies happen, the tug and pull of egos, financial imperatives, a pecking order for privileges as well as genuine creative impulses. Washington Post Style correspondent Sharon Waxman brings Hollywood & Vine Live Online for a discussion about the inner workings of the movie industry. There is a whole political universe behind how the movies happen, the tug and pull of egos, financial imperatives, a pecking order for privileges as well as genuine creative impulses.
Sharon Waxman is online Tuesday, April 24, at 2 p.m. EDT to answer your questions and field your comments on the industry personalities she has met; the movies that are causing a stir and why; trends in the industry and the culture of moviemaking in general.
Below is a transcript.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Sharon Waxman: Welcome all, sorry for the last minute time change. I"ve been hanging out with Jeff Zucker, the new head of entertainment at NBC, in an attempt to chronicle what it's like to be thrown into the crazed world of network prime time. He's a pretty sharp guy, I must say, and he LIKES JOURNALISTS. Which is always a plus in my book. (Many execs tend to hide under the table when we show up.)
Saw a very cool 'Dogma 95' film last night called "The King Is Alive"; it's one of those movies made with no artificial light, or music or sets. Been having peeks at some upcoming summer movies too. Ok, let's see who's got questions...
EraserheadGuy, D.C.:
Re: Your discovery of how little the MPAA movie raters are paid. Have you ever looked at MPAA’s web site? It’s really second-rate and obviously done on the cheap. You’d figure an association that represents the film industry would have a killer web site with great visuals. Sharon, does all the MPAA money go towards paying Jack Valenti’s salary, perks, and travel?
Sharon Waxman: I would be very curious indeed to know where the MPAA's money goes, but I don't believe their records are open to the public. In their angry letter responding to the piece, they claimed that I mistakenly stated that the ratings raise millions of dollars for the MPAA. When we challenged them to prove otherwise, they withdrew the comment. I imagine the money goes to paying Valenti's million-dollar salary, upkeep on that beautiful K street building and the staff. (Of course the MPAA also gets fees from its members as part of its budget.)
Somewhere, USA:
I'm too shy to post because I'm not as good a writer as your regular posters, but do want you to know how much I enjoy your program. It's how I determine which movies I want to see. Thanks.
Sharon Waxman: Shy? Why be shy? The point is to speak out. Be a woman! Be a man! Misspell! Misstate! I do it all the time.
(PS I'm sticking to my guns on Bridget Jones. You may want to know that millions of Americans beg to differ.)
McLean, Va.:
Ms. Waxman, you don´t need to defend
your position on Bridget Jones. Ouch!
The script is a major culprit for a Bridget
portrayed as a ninny silly girl. But still I
was not bowled over by RZ´s
performance. Colin Firth perhaps could
have given his character a bit more
dimension. Hugh Grant, though, gave a
very good show. A thoroughly
professional and talented man. I would
have really liked to have loved this movie.
Now do you have any good stories to
amuse us with today, pretty please...
Sharon Waxman: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Let's see... I got to watch Jeff Zucker prepare for his speech to the advertisers in two weeks, with a 'media trainer.' That was kinda fun. He and his immediate boss Scott Sassa were (curiously) enjoying a good laugh in the morning over the New York Post saying that Scott will be fired for the debacle that the XFL has turned out to be. Zucker's very brass tacks and hard to keep him interested in the interview; you get the feeling that you're boring the guy. Then I left my tape recorder behind. Right behind rear-ending a blonde Russian babe on Sunset who was hysterical. That's my day. (Oh calm down, I barely touched her.)
Washington, D.C.:
I saw "Amores Perros" Saturday, an incredible movie, and then read your interesting interview with the director, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, in the Sunday Post--that interview was such a treat. Thanks! On one hand, the director has received criticism in Mexico for his harsh portrayal of Mexico City. On the other, he feels that the American movie "Traffic's" portrayal of Mexican corruption was typically American and stereotyped. For an American movie, I thought "Traffic" moved some distance away from a monolithic view. But I could appreciate a Mexican's take on things--especially his argument that Mexico is just a conduit for delivery of drugs to its consumers up north. Again, it was great to see the movie and then to read that interview the next day. Since the movie's just opened, I won't give a lot away, except to say, that, ironically, just like "Traffic," I found the story of people on the edge of things, or, struggling for a few of the basics of life, so much more compelling than the other stories. Not that the other stories weren't well done or didn't have something to say. It certainly isn't easier at the bottom, but maybe it is actually more interesting!
Sharon Waxman: Thanks for that. I also thought 'Traffic' took a more complex look at the issue, Mexico included, than Inarritu wanted to give it credit for. I mean, there IS corruption in the Mexican police, he's the first to say so; a lot of those story lines seemed basd on things I'd read in the news.
On the other hand, I"m sure I'd view it differently if I were Mexican. And I too loved getting a realistic view of daily life in Mexico for once, especially Octavio's house, sharing it with his mother and married brother. A reminder of how fortunate we are just a few miles to the north...
Arlington (where else), Va.:
Well, Sharon, got to ask how you feel about the Cruise breakup. which was weirder, hearing Tom saying to a group of cable kids that his mother told him to be kind to others or the fact that he divorced his wife a month before her prenup kicked in? I think it's her saving the DNA to prove baby was his. Yuk.
Sharon Waxman: God I really need to bone up on my latest Tom and Nicole dirt. I have no idea about this stuff and learn it all from you and standing in line at the grocery. Hasn't she just given a bunch of I-am-woman-I-will-survive interviews to the glossies? She's gonna have to deal with it - unfortunately for her - since she has a huge movie opening this summer, Moulin Rouge, and the press will want to know.
As for Cruise, I've concluded that he is unknowable.
Boston, Mass.:
Hello Sharon,
Saw BJD last weekend and loved it. Its a romantic comedy for Pete's sake, why take it so critically. I thought RZ was refreshing in it. But I don't understand why people are making such a fuss about her weight, she is not overweight by any standards.
P.S.: Can I look forward to any new movies this year for T. Cruise?
Sharon Waxman: Um, okay.
Cruise, hmmmm: he just finished cameron crowe's 'vanilla sky,' and is now doing, i believe, 'minority report.'
Also - word around town is that they're looking likely to settle the strike, by some time early next week.... heard it here first.
Laurie:
What's not to like about journalists? Jeff Zucker always got along with Bryant Grumbel, he can get along with anyone. All kidding aside, as a cancer survivor, I would think that his outlook/attitude is a lot different than a lot people. Do you think he is anything like Brandon Tartikoff? When can we expect to see this profile in the very pages of our Washington Post?
Sharon Waxman: Funny you should mention it, I hear a lot of people mention the word 'Tartifkoff" around him. I never met Tartikoff myself, so I can't really say how similar they are.
What's for sure is he's very bright, very energetic, and has a good sense of leadership, which the place seemed to be lacking. He's also willing to try new stuff, although he did grrrr revert to network executive form by moving my favorite show, West Wing, to 8:00 - why o why? - to forcefeed unexpecting viewers his new show, The Weakest Link.
Profile's skedded for shortly after he presents fall sked to advertisers in May.
D.C.:
Who directed "King is Alive"?
Sharon Waxman: Some completely unknown Scandinavian (Danish, I think) named Krtistian Levring, who was an original signatore to the Dogma dogma. The movie's good, about staging King Lear in the desert as a group of travellers in Africa wait to be rescued from an abandoned town, or to die of hunger and thirst.
Detroit:
Speaking of Dogme 95, I've always wondered how the film Zentropa could ever be seen as anything but passionless art for art's sake. It seemed to be more thrilled with creating beautiful images than telling a story. After looking over Dogme 95 principles. No 8 of their manifesto claims that "Genre movies are not acceptable." However, Zentropa is all genre, all art-house imagery with very little visible humanity. Well, just thinking, you reminded me of how much I loathed that film. I don't mind beautiful images (who does? and after all, I loved Il Conformista), but images without heart...well, that's not a movie for me.
Sharon Waxman: Ok, don't kill me, but I"ve never seen Zentropa. I've never even heard of Zentropa. Now don't go whining about how clueless I am, and why do they even have me on this beat, etc. etc. - why don't you just tell me about the movie. And then I promise to agree with you.
20906:
Hi Sharon! So what are the adult (not teen age sex crap) movies coming out? Anything worth seeing this summer? What do you recommend avoiding this summer (other than unrefrigerated potato salad)?
Sharon Waxman: Good joke!
And don't you consider Planet of the Apes an adult movie?
Seriously, I don't know if there are many adult movies coming out this summer. Moulin Rouge, which is supposed to be a difficult to categorize musical, is a summer release. There's a grown-up sci-fi comedy called Evolution with David Duchovny. There's America's Sweethearts (Queen Julia, Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Cusack) - I don't have a good feeling on my gut on this, though I don't have much information. There's Pearl Harbor, of course, and there's a bunch of small arthouse films, but nothing that looks likely to bowl me over.
Toledo:
I'm with you, Sharon, on Bridget Jones (at least I think so). Please the whole idea makes me rather ill. I don't really enjoy watching filmmakers humiliate women (or men) for that matter. Didn't read the book either. Never even picked it up.
Sharon Waxman: You go. Girl.
Laurel:
Is it just me, or is there a new trend toward toward including disgusting scenes in mainstream movies. I haven't actually seen these pics, because the reviews revolt me, but apparenty Joe Dirt, Tomcats, Freddie Got Fingered, See Spot Run and Monkeybone all contain scenes that would make me do something that belongs in those films.
I have to wonder if this is somehow related to the backlash against violence in films (i.e. substitute some other kind of shocking content)?
Sharon Waxman: No, it's you.
How can you not have noticed this 'trend'? More like a pandemic? Many feel that Freddy Got Fingered hit the lowest low possible. But then, there's always someone who will surprise us.
I don't know why this trend got started, or even why people think this stuff is funny. I haven't met a person yet who htinks Tom Green is funny. Truly. The idea was to appeal to adolescent humor - a time of life when people are typically fascinated by bodily secretions and other biological matters - but it's gotten to be a weird sort of one-upmanship, and the studio executives have no idea where to draw the line themselves.
Vapid gossip question:
I think Cameron Diaz is adorable (I'm a female actually) and she seems extremely down to earth and friendly. Is the buzz in Hollywood that she's friendly but maybe not that bright? What's the latest on her?
Sharon Waxman: I love these questions.
I'm sure that Cameron Diaz is absolutely sweet, down to earth and friendly.
Does she have any reason not to be? Let's see - she's gorgeous, rich, famous. She's ahead of most of us on most scores. (Now Bridget JONES, on the other hand... just kidding, just kidding.)
Dupont Circle:
"Planet of the Apes," huh? How's that workin' out?
I hear they've changed pretty much the whole story, so I don't get how they can keep around all the symbolism and political satire of the first one. Have you seen it, Sharon?
Sharon Waxman: Haven't seen it, just a trailer. All I know is they are promising that it is a completely different movie, a la Tim Burton, and they considered even changing the title because of that. Should be interesting.
I did see about 20 minutes of "Final Fantasy," an animated movie they've been working on for about four years, which stars computer generated characters that look near-human. quite cool. i don't know how the movie will do, but it cost about $115 million, so it will certainly look fantastic.
D.C.:
Good for you for holding your ground on Bridget Jones; so few critics seem to have any backbone. Pauline Kael would be proud (and she'd probably agree with you on BJD).
Sharon Waxman: That's the first time, and the last, anyone will ever put me and Pauline Kael in the same sentence. I bet SHE saw Zentropa.
Detroit:
Zentropa, a Swedish film from 1991, also known as Europa and directed by Lars von Trier. As far as I could tell, a train travels through Europe during WW2. Filmed in color and black and white. Train crashes into the water. Highly praised by even Leonard Maltin. I did not find it a pleasure to watch. I figure most people haven't seen it, so no criticism from me!
Sharon Waxman: Thank ya.
New York, N.Y.:
Sharon--
What's the buzz on the upcoming summer season? Any films that are worth seeing? Any films we should probably ignore?
Sharon Waxman: I would bet money on 'A.I.,' the Spielberg movie. Not on Jurassic Park 3, which he did nOT direct, I'm sure it's derivative. I saw "The Mummy Returns" the other night - don't ask, it was a shmooze-yr-source kind of evening - and it delivered on the dim promise that it held out.
Oh! I forgot! Remember how we were dissing 'Tomcats' last week, and I told you about this sort of funny 'Animal' movie with Rob Schneider that Joe Roth's company is making? Remember? No?
Well never mind. Anyway, a senior exec at the company just told me that they've just greenlighted a Paul Thomas Anderson movie starring (hold onto yr hats) Adam Sandler. I'm totally not kidding. It's a comedy, albeit by the guy who made 'Magnolia' and 'Boogie Nights' and also stars Emily Watson. Now that should be interesting.
Downtown D.C.:
I've come to realize the reason I'm a fan of some major movie stars is because their personal lives stay out of the magazines, so I don't know much about them, just their roles, and can just create them in whatever image I want. (George Clooney is an example, and Harrison Ford used to be one.) Is that because they're discreet or is that because they have smart publicists (and are smart enough to listen to them)?
Sharon Waxman: George Clooney HAS no personal life. He just serial dates beautiful women and insists that he doesn't want to have kids. Harrison Ford is a long time smug married (to talented screenwriter Melissa whats-her-name) and nests in Montana or something like that, so he's out of the tabloid circuit.
Arlington, Va.:
Acccording to the Drudge Report, Robert Downey, Jr. was arrested again today for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Will it ever end?
Sharon Waxman: It just isn't the same if a week goes by without Robert Downey Jr being arrested.
He was picked up last night after midnight 'under the influence,' a misdemeanor (story just broke on CNN too); picked up from the station-house by his parole officer. Sigh.
Boston, Mass.:
Love your stuff, Sharon, especially that piece blowing the roof off the MPAA.
What's with all this talk about a Bridget Jones sequel? All it takes is a $10 million opening to spur this kind of a response from the studios? What about "Is there a good story to tell to warrant a sequel?"
Sharon Waxman: You have obviously been smoking something funny. That has NOTHING to do with why sequels get made. You ought to know that by now, for shame.
(Did you really hear talk of a sequel? Now I'm really in trouble...)
Rockville, MD:
Re: Zentropa
Perhaps Zentropa did not adhere to Dogma 95 principles because it was made in 1991, four years prior to the Dogma 95 signing.
Sharon Waxman: I think Dogma 95 was signed in 1995. Maybe that's why they call it Dogma 95.
Washington, D.C.:
Now, Sharon, you must be spending too much time with the Hollywood aristocracy to have never met SOMEONE who thinks Tom Green is funny. Granted, I don't know anyone who will be spending 8 bucks to go watch Freddie Got Fingered, but you have to admit that the bits involving TG's parents are hilarious. I'd rather watch TG than some mediocre actor who takes him/herself way too seriously.
Sharon Waxman: No. I really haven't met anyone who thinks TG is funny. I even watched that SNL thing with him in it. But I'm happy to include your views in our little community here. We like diversity. We embrace it, even.
Fairfax, Va.:
If the looming WGA strike comes to pass, how will day-to-day life in Hollywood change? Who will be most affected, and how?
Sharon Waxman: As I say, the latest word is they're probably going to settle. But if they don't, it will affect every aspect of life out here since so much is tied in to the entertainment industry - so not just actors, but costume designers, restaurants, dry cleaners, clothing boutiques etc etc ad nauseum - but for you guys in Washington, it will show up most quickly on television. They need writers to generate shows all the time, and you will see a lot more reruns, and a lot more reality programming.
Re: BJD:
There's a sequel to the BOOK out now in HC and a little pamphlet thing called Bridget Jones's Guide to Life. And yes, "Jones's" is correct according to Strunk and White.
Sharon Waxman: Thank you. And that's gonna be it for the day, guys. I need to scamper after Robert Downey's bad habit and inform my editors. Tune in next week, in which we'll talk about the strike: resolved or on the picket line. Either way, we'll be here... Ciao.
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