Two Lennon-death flicks

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Two movies made about Mark David Chapman''s killing of John Lennon, and they both apparently have major problems and are both sitting around in theatrical-release limbo. Is there something about the material that enforces a kind of cinematic curse? I was told late last year by a director friend that J.P. Schaefer's Chapter 27, which showed at last January's Sundance Film Festival with Jared Leto as Chapman and Lindsay Lohan as a girl he befriends in the days/hours leading up to the Manhattan shooting, had been edited and re-edited to little success. And then there's Andrew Piddington's The Killing of John Lennon, a British-produced drama that's played two or three film festivals since the summer of '06 and...nothing.

comment #1

D.Z. says ...

In other offensive Brit tabloid news, http://www.imdb.com/news/wenn/2007-05-29/ claims Keira's gonna be Di.

comment #2

D.Z. says ...

Also, I'm guessing Chapter 27's going straight-to-video, because Bobby didn't do so hot. As for The Killing of John Lennon, it sounds even more tasteless after "The U.S. vs John Lennon", and I'd imagine it being a tough follow-up.

comment #3

EOTW says ...

Who wants to sit through a film about a motherfucker like MDC? Let alone two of them?

comment #4

Jayne Gacey says ...

To paraphrase Truffaut, it's not possible to make an anti-assassination movie. Even more upsetting is the glorification of someone who killed to be famous.

DZ, how was the U.S. vs. John Lennon tasteless? It was pretty poorly done, and whitewashed because of Yoko's participation, but I thought it was interesting. I'd venture it's a chapter in the Nixon saga most people weren't aware of. Maybe I misunderstood you.

Fuck Marc Chapman. Fuck Jared Leto. Fuck Lindsay Lohan, cokewhore.

comment #5

D.Z. says ...

Jayne: I said "The Killing of John Lennon" was tasteless. What I meant was that the positive image of the singer depicted in "The U.S. vs John Lennon" would probably hurt the former film's chances for "success".

comment #6

Jayne Gacey says ...

Oh okay. Yeah that's definetly very true. I thought Jimmy Fallon playing the ghost of Lennon on SNL was disgusting, so I can't even imagine how angry Chapter 27 will make me if I ever see it.

comment #7

Jesse Perry says ...

Taking offense at a characterization in a comedy sketch is silly. Being disgusted by Jimmy Fallon, however, is perfectly acceptable.

comment #8

Josh Massey says ...

My dad taught Chapman in high school. His claim to fame, I guess.

comment #9

Larry says ...

I expected to hate I Shot Andy Warhol, and was surprised that it was pretty good. But really, who wants to see anything about that Chapman jerk.

comment #10

Jayne Gacey says ...

But Jimmy is so cute! I was really torn. I can't wait until he takes over for Conan! I'll finally have a reason to stay up again!

comment #11

austin111 says ...

Glad someone brought up I Shot Andy Warhol -- totally inspired flick with first rate performances.

comment #12

Jayne Gacey says ...

Especially Jared Harris. Best of the Warhols on film.

comment #13

christian says ...

i hated fallon's nauseating crack-ups during snl but he came up with some good characters, like the computer guy who would shout "move" before he sat down -- exactly like all the tech guys i worked with.

and i thought his scene in ALMOST FAMOUS was pretty right on. respectfully.

comment #14

D.Z. says ...

Larry: The difference between the Warhol flick and Lennon flick is Warhol didn't die from the shot, and there was a sense of irony to the former, because of that concept of 15 minutes of fame.

comment #15

frankbooth says ...

Slightly off-topic, but I suspect that ISAW and Basquiat are two major reasons so few cared enough to see Factory Girl. I like Guy Pearce just fine, but how many Warhol impressions can a person watch?

comment #16

Joshua Mooney says ...

When you're dealing with Lennon and Salinger, boy, you'd better have moxie and some mad skills. I saw pix of bloated Leto as Chapman and was surprised that he looked the part, sort of. I was hoping, based on that alone, that a fine movie might be forthcoming about this insane-yet-traditional American tragedy.

Yeah, Jared Harris is the best Warhol so far. But I expect better in the future. I'd love to see someone finally NAIL the dude. It can't be that hard.

comment #17

frankbooth says ...

Oops, forgot Crispin Glover in The Doors. I matched Kilmer/Jim drink-for-drink when I saw that one (can you blame me?) so I don't remember it too well.

comment #18

Joshua Mooney says ...

Yeah, I forgot Crispin in "The Doors." e was quite good as Andy, wasn't he? However briefly. That was such a bullshit movie (Meg Ryan!). That's when I knew Oliver Stone was doomed.

[Oops, forgot Crispin Glover in The Doors. I matched Kilmer/Jim drink-for-drink when I saw that one (can you blame me?) so I don't remember it too well.

Posted by: frankbooth at May 29, 2007 12:36 PM]

comment #19

Jayne Gacey says ...

Meg Ryan can be pretty good in the right project. She was impressive in COURAGE UNDER FIRE, made by Edward Zwick, who I think we've already established on this site as clearly America's greatest living director.

comment #20

Joshua Mooney says ...

Absolutely, Jayne. Any director who dares pair Meg Tilly and Lenny Von Dohlen ("Leaving Normal") is obviously operating in the Olympian realm of the immortals. The gods.

I suppose my problem with Meg Ryan is a personal one. I've never forgiven her for dumping Beau Bridges and shacking up with Mel Gibson. I somehow expected more from the granddaughter of Irene Ryan.

[Meg Ryan can be pretty good in the right project. She was impressive in COURAGE UNDER FIRE, made by Edward Zwick, who I think we've already established on this site as clearly America's greatest living director.

Posted by: Jayne Gacey at May 30, 2007 01:12 AM]

comment #21

Mgmax says ...

The difference between a movie about Valerie Solanis and one about Mark David Chapman is that one of them would be at least slightly interesting, while the other is completely pointless. No wonder two different people took a crack at it...

comment #22

Joshua Mooney says ...

Actually, Mgmax, that sums up my feelings about Lili Taylor versus Jared Leto.

[The difference between a movie about Valerie Solanis and one about Mark David Chapman is that one of them would be at least slightly interesting, while the other is completely pointless. No wonder two different people took a crack at it...

Posted by: Mgmax at May 30, 2007 09:47 AM]

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