Spielberg's Lincoln avoidance

Because I disliked his tweedly-deedly performance as the Lord of the Rings "Gollum," and because he seemed so closely allied with the grand designs of Peter Jackson, I had a kind of negative-reflex thing going with Andy Serkis. That changed when I saw his quietly menacing portrayal of British psychopath and child-killer Ian Brady in the '06 HBO drama Longford. I was totally on the team from then on.

In any event, I read in an Indie London interview piece this morning that Serkis is about to start on work Tintin, an animated feature about the Belgian comic-strip character "and his faithful dog Snowy." (Good God.) Bagging paychecks as co-directors are Steven Spielberg and Jackson. (Spielberg is "directing the first one, Jackson the second...the bulk of the shoot starts in September but things got a little bit moved around after the writers’ strike.")

Spielberg, I decided after reading this, has become a kind of delaying sadist regarding the Abraham Lincoln film with Liam Neeson. Chicago 7 this, Tintin that...and we never hear diddly about the Lincoln project. It's a classic avoidance syndrome thing (a kid avoiding a homework assignment, a guy who keeps putting off doing his taxes). If a benevolent God took any kind of interest in human affairs, Spielberg would (a) officially abandon the Lincoln film and (b) arrange for another esteemed director to step in so it can finally move forward.

Spielberg would just screw it up anyway. He wouldn't do a Schindler's List to the story of the nation's 16th president from 1861 to '65 -- he'd probably Amistad it. I'll never forget the way John Williams' musical score almost overwhelmed the voice of Anthony Hopkins during his big courtroom oratory scene. I remember watching this in a screening room some 11 years ago and saying to myself, "Yep...Spielberg is at the controls, all right."

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on March 15, 2008 at 9:38 AM

comment #1

Movie fan09 Author Profile Page says ...

...he'd probably Amistad it. I'll never forget the way John Williams' musical score almost overwhelmed the voice of Anthony Hopkins during his big courtroom oratory scene. I remember watching this in a screening room some 11 years ago and saying to myself, "Yep...Spielberg is at the controls, all right."

totally.
that whole movie was spielberg essentially saying..
"i'm steven spielberg..la de da.."

Posted by Movie fan09 Author Profile Page at March 15, 2008 10:32 AM

comment #2

corey3rd Author Profile Page says ...

Spielberg fears that as soon as he starts his Lincoln flick, someone will make the Gay Lincoln film and steal his thunder.

Posted by corey3rd Author Profile Page at March 15, 2008 11:01 AM

comment #3

D.Z. Author Profile Page says ...

"Because I disliked his tweedly-deedly performance as the Lord of the Rings "Gollum," and because he seemed so closely allied with the grand designs of Peter Jackson, I had a kind of negative-reflex thing going with Andy Serkis. That changed when I saw his quietly menacing portrayal of British psychopath and child-killer Ian Brady in the '06 HBO drama Longford. "

You do know he's a menacing psychopath at the beginning of the third LOTR film, right?

"Spielberg would just screw it up anyway. He wouldn't do a Schindler's List to the story of the nation's 16th president from 1861 to '65 -- he'd probably Amistad it."

Wouldn't it be more like Saving Private Ryan?

Posted by D.Z. Author Profile Page at March 15, 2008 11:18 AM

comment #4

BurmaShave Author Profile Page says ...

He's waiting for Shia to be old enough, or at least old enough to grow facial hair.

Posted by BurmaShave Author Profile Page at March 15, 2008 11:40 AM

comment #5

Edward Havens Author Profile Page says ...

Spielberg, like most A-list directors, always has a multiple of projects in development. It's just smart business. (Fuck, just look how long it took for Indy 4 to get made.) Maybe he's not avoiding Lincoln so much as waiting for the right script, much like what happened with Munich or... well, Indy (although Indy wasn't so much his delay as others).

Posted by Edward Havens Author Profile Page at March 15, 2008 12:39 PM

comment #6

kingofnails Author Profile Page says ...

Tony Kushner is working on the script. A brief interesting article about it is here:

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/03/tony_kushner_tells_us_what_lin.html

Posted by kingofnails Author Profile Page at March 15, 2008 12:42 PM

comment #7

le corbeau Author Profile Page says ...

How long after Munich was made did he get the right script?

I'd love to see a good Lincoln movie, but after Amistad, I fear Spielberg's will be just too, too much white marble. The worst part by far was the humbug speech John Quincy Hopkins delivers at the end to John Williams Trumpet Fanfare for Arlington Cemetery, in which he wins the (mostly Southern) judges over to his side.

You know how Adams won the case in real life? One of the Southern judges dropped dead over the weekend during final arguments, shifting the vote in the Amistad slaves' favor.

Posted by le corbeau Author Profile Page at March 15, 2008 1:47 PM

comment #8

AH Author Profile Page says ...

Mr. Wells, Have you ever read any of the Tintin stories. They are pretty damn good and I, for one, cannot wait for these movies to come out.

Posted by AH Author Profile Page at March 15, 2008 2:26 PM

comment #9

Leonardcoenbrothers Author Profile Page says ...

Jeff, before you turn your nose up at this, keep in mind that Roman Polanski has reportedly been interested in turning this into a film too. Who knows, maybe he will be the other director. I believe they will be shooting outside of the U.S., so no legal problem with that.

Posted by Leonardcoenbrothers Author Profile Page at March 15, 2008 2:49 PM

comment #10

D.Z. Author Profile Page says ...

AH: Even if the source material is good, this is the same guy who produced The Flintstones, Casper, and Transformers.

Posted by D.Z. Author Profile Page at March 15, 2008 3:45 PM

comment #11

Todd Author Profile Page says ...

I found The Flinstones and Casper entertaining. I guess going to the movies to escape the negative realities of life is beyond too hip for some posters on this site to comprehend.

Posted by Todd Author Profile Page at March 15, 2008 4:43 PM

comment #12

AH Author Profile Page says ...

D.Z.: While Transformers wasn't that bad, the other two were not too good. However, in Spielberg's defense, he didn't direct any of them, just produced.

Posted by AH Author Profile Page at March 15, 2008 7:15 PM

comment #13

le corbeau Author Profile Page says ...

I think that's the point-- Spielberg-produced films had a pretty bad track record, at least until Back to the Future wiped out the memory of Batteries Not Included and Harry and the Hendersons.

Posted by le corbeau Author Profile Page at March 15, 2008 8:08 PM

comment #14

rr3333 Author Profile Page says ...

Forget Lincoln for a sec ..

did u see Jonah Hill tonguing some old guy on SNL?

Posted by rr3333 Author Profile Page at March 15, 2008 9:37 PM

comment #15

MickTravis Author Profile Page says ...

I felt the same way about Serkis -- Jackson-phobic -- but had the same reaction to him in "Longford," although his brief-but-masterful turn in "The Magestic" was the real trigger.

He's also good as Van Gogh in Simon Schaara's art series. Very strange stuff, his eyes are like puddles of oil and he eats an entire tube of yellow paint and sucks the last drop down.

Tintin will rock if they maintain the essence of Herge.

Posted by MickTravis Author Profile Page at March 15, 2008 11:57 PM

comment #16

Bob Violence Author Profile Page says ...

You know how Adams won the case in real life? One of the Southern judges dropped dead over the weekend during final arguments, shifting the vote in the Amistad slaves' favor.

Howzat? Barbour died just three days into the arguments (and wasn't present for any of them) and the final ruling was 7-1. Not to say the film isn't a load of horse puckey, but the case was decided on technicalities, not on the convenient death of one Southern justice. The complete ruling is on FindLaw if you're looking for a little light bedtime reading.

Posted by Bob Violence Author Profile Page at March 16, 2008 11:15 AM

comment #17

Edward Havens Author Profile Page says ...

For the record, Mgmax... Back to the Future (1985) came out two years before either Harry and the Hendersons or Batteries Not Included (both 1987). If anything, tripe like Harry and Batteries wiped out the memory of the good things like BTTF, Gremlins and The Goonies.

But why he took his name off Fandango and Three O'Clock High, two minor films that were far better than The Money Pit or Innerspace, I will never know.

Posted by Edward Havens Author Profile Page at March 16, 2008 11:23 AM

comment #18

Balthazar Author Profile Page says ...

I thought this was going to an entry about Serkis being cast as John Wilkes Booth!

Posted by Balthazar Author Profile Page at March 16, 2008 11:35 AM

comment #19

jasonvang Author Profile Page says ...

i don't care these things, however, i like girls.
months ago a friend told me a online dating site WEALTHYLOVES.c o m where people can find their perfect matches or quality friendships. ....maybe we can keep in touch and make friends on this site.

Posted by jasonvang Author Profile Page at March 16, 2008 2:28 PM

comment #20

jasonvang Author Profile Page says ...

In fact i am not interested in these things, however, i like dating girls.
months ago a friend told me a online dating site WealthyLoves.c o m where people can find their perfect matches or quality friendships. ....maybe we can keep in touch and make friends on this site.

Posted by jasonvang Author Profile Page at March 17, 2008 7:44 AM

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