Stockwell out of jail

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John Stockwell, whose career took an exploitation turn after the success of crazybeautiful and Blue Crush, has finally broken out of the youth-in-peril genre that he's been shackled with over the last three years (Into The Blue, Turistas). He's about to direct Middle of Nowhere, a decently written relationship drama with Susan Sarandon as a flaky, irresponsible mom who squanders her eldest daughter's college fund ($30 grand) on her youngest daughter's beauty pageant campaign. I had a chance to flip through Michele Morgan's script earlier today, and it's obviously a straight character-driven thing -- no babes in bikinis, no buried booty, no tropical waters. Costars include Anton Yelchin, Justin Chatwin, Willa Holland and Eva Amurri.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 25, 2007 at 3:51 PM

comment #1

Noah says ...

You like this guy's movies, but can't stand Spielberg. Taste is a funny thing.

Posted by Noah at July 25, 2007 4:39 PM

comment #2

Josh Massey says ...

An exploitation turn after Blue Crush?

Posted by Josh Massey at July 25, 2007 4:41 PM

comment #3

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Massey: "Blue Crush" is/was an honest and solid character piece. It didn't play games or jack anyone off, and the surfing photography was great. Wells to Noah: Spielberg is a decent man and a concerned liberal (he's tryign to do the right thing on Darfur and China) but he's too rich, too much of a poobah, too drunk on power hormones, and an incorrigible sentimentalist...a stranger to the vitality he had in the palm of his hand in the '70s and early '80s. He's the most successful hack of all time. Mark me, generations of the future will grade him much lower. That said, I respect his earlier stuff enormously, and I respect "Schindler's List" and "Minority Report" and the third "Indiana Jones" film. He used to be an amazing director. Today he's a pretty good director, but he's been overpraised.

Posted by gruver1 at July 25, 2007 4:55 PM

comment #4

breadlymoore says ...

Why do they keep giving Stockwell directing jobs?

Wasn't TURISTAS proof enough the guy is a terrible filmmaker...

Posted by breadlymoore at July 25, 2007 5:23 PM

comment #5

MiraJeffAICN says ...

I think Blue Crush and Turistas are both guilty pleasures. Movies I knew I should probably dislike, but enjoyed nonetheless. Here's my review from the Colorado Springs Independent. http://www.csindy.com/csindy/2006-11-30/film.html

Posted by MiraJeffAICN at July 25, 2007 5:33 PM

comment #6

GeeseOPlenty says ...

How can you be anti incorrigible sentimentality while still favoring the THIRD Indiana Jones film?

Posted by GeeseOPlenty at July 25, 2007 6:00 PM

comment #7

buckzollo says ...

Forgive me for remembering the outlandish sub- plot in Blue Crush with the Pro Bowl. Definitely not a jerk off, but more of a crotch rub with clothes still on? Oh to be FOJ (read: Friend of Jeff)

Posted by buckzollo at July 25, 2007 8:25 PM

comment #8

BurmaShave says ...

I fail to see what was so horrible about INTO THE BLUE. It was perfectly diverting, featured Scott Caan at his most Son of Jimmy Caan-esque, had gorgeous cinematography, and most importantly featured Josh Brolin as an evil modern pirate with the special bonus of the dry run for the Civil War Cavalry Colonel facial hair he rocked as Doc Block.

Posted by BurmaShave at July 25, 2007 10:20 PM

comment #9

Silverscreenvideos says ...

I fail to see what was so horrible about INTO THE BLUE. It was perfectly diverting,

I liked it much better the first time when it was called The Deep and starred Nick Nolte, Jacqueline Bissett in the greatest wet tee shirt of all time and Robert Shaw instead of assorted bimbos and himbos.

Posted by Silverscreenvideos at July 25, 2007 10:39 PM

comment #10

Josh Massey says ...

I liked Blue Crush, but to say it's any less of an exploitation piece than Into the Blue rings false. Of course, I also liked Into the Blue. Nothing wrong with a piece of exploitation done right.

Posted by Josh Massey at July 26, 2007 6:20 AM

comment #11

Jay T. says ...

Stockwell is water obsessed... seriously, don't get him and Cameron in the same room.

Posted by Jay T. at July 26, 2007 8:40 AM

comment #12

BurmaShave says ...

Was INTO THE BLUE not an acknowleged THE DEEP remake? When I rewatched it on TV over the holidays with my dad, he asked what was on and I said "Oh, it's THE DEEP with Paul Walker and Jessica Alba, with Josh Brolin playing Robert Shaw- kind of."

Posted by BurmaShave at July 26, 2007 11:43 AM

comment #13