Abrams, Trek and Bagels
I had a smooth and relaxing late-breakfast sitdown with Star Trek director JJ Abrams about two hours ago. We've been corresponding four or five years but had never met so it was cool to finally do so. My being a moderately big fan of the film (I gave it an HE grade of 8.7 or 8.8 last week) along with the softly-lighted setting of the lobby of the Four Seasons hotel only enhanced the vibe.
Abrams is full of pep and positivism, and about as sharp as they come. He's almost certainly a as much of a compulsive work fiend as yours truly (if not more so) and is one of those guys who seem preternaturally skilled at being 100% present in the room -- there's no sense that he's keeping a portion of himself hidden -- and at the same time are expert at making conversational partners feel they're being fully listened to and focused upon.
He had a typical Jewish breakfast (salmon, bagels, cream cheese) and I had the same typical WASP breakfast (scrambled eggs, rye toast, orange juice, bacon served as volcanic ash) that I've been eating since I was eight years old.
I conveyed my basic feelings about the film -- that it's a reboot to the Trek franchise in the same way that Casino Royale rebooted the 007 films, that it feels well-coiled and tightly constructed, and that it's especially successful in the sense that it leaves you just a little bit hungry (as opposed to films that make you feel you've absorbed too much of them). His answers speak for themselves.
I asked if long-departed Paramount production chief Gail Berman in fact "came up with the idea of doing the Star Trek prequel now arriving in theaters," as it said in a 5.4 Brooks Barnes N.Y. Times piece. Abrams basically said yes, she did come to him and proposed a new Star Trek film, and that he answered that he didn't want to do Star Trek #11 and wanted to get back to basics with a reboot approach and that she said cool.
We also talked technology, travel (i.e., a Star Trek screening for troops in Kuwait), kids, health and so on. I was expecting no more than a 20-minute session after a negotiation with his tough assistant; we wound up talking for about 45 minutes.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on May 5, 2009 at 10:01 AM
comment #1
Colin
says ...
I never really "got" Lost, but Cloverfield and Mission Impossible 3 were both extremely fun rides. I expect Star Trek will be as well.
Anyone that finds a way to put Simon Pegg in mainstream films is a hero in my book.
Posted by Colin
at May 5, 2009 11:10 AM
comment #2
Jack South P.I.
says ...
Wells, if you like J.J., then you HAVE to check out the first (and best) season of "Alias." Some of the best-tasting popcorn in TV history.
Posted by Jack South P.I.
at May 5, 2009 11:12 AM
comment #3
MilkMan
says ...
JJ Abrams reminds of the kids in school he would sell their Jolly Ranchers to other kids at a 1005 mark-up.
The new issue of Wire that he guest "edited" is pretty bitchin though. Anyone here a fan of Chris Ware? He has a great piece of work in the issue about high school sweethearts who reconnect through facebook, chock full of bile and self-loathing. Everytime I read Chris Ware I am convinced that he is one of the best youngish fiction writers in America. The fucking n + 1 crowd has nothing on him.
Posted by MilkMan
at May 5, 2009 11:21 AM
comment #4
Sabina E
says ...
Oh. I had no idea that Jews eat salmon for breakfast and WASPs eat scrambled eggs. mmmm.
Glad to hear you guys had a good meeting. I'm seeing Star Trek first thing on Friday after work!
Posted by Sabina E
at May 5, 2009 11:23 AM
comment #5
Mark
says ...
OMG. Milkman is sooo Chris Ware?
Posted by Mark
at May 5, 2009 11:31 AM
comment #6
televisiontears
says ...
If you had breakfast with JJ Abrams, why'd you post pictures of Zach Braff?
Posted by televisiontears
at May 5, 2009 11:39 AM
comment #7
Mark
says ...
(forget that ?, btw) Abrams directed the best episode of The Office (U.S), but most of his other work seems idea driven. This leads to me having little interest in rewatching. I've already absorbed the idea and there's nothing else under the surface to re enjoy. I love Lost, but would never rewatch an episode. And Woo's MI was inferior to his, but if both were cable, and i had 15 minutes to waste, I'd probably prefer the sustainability of Woo's.
Posted by Mark
at May 5, 2009 11:43 AM
comment #8
coxcable
says ...
Abrams physically resembles a young Spielberg but has the story sense and multi-genre enthusiasm of a young Lawrence Kasdan.
Not a bad thing if you ask me.
Posted by coxcable
at May 5, 2009 11:45 AM
comment #9
MilkMan
says ...
coxcable is the pseudonym of JJ Abrams.
Posted by MilkMan
at May 5, 2009 11:50 AM
comment #10
actionman
says ...
John Woo's Mission Impossible 2 was a joke. A complete joke. Woo and the phrase PG-13 were never meant to coexist.
Abrams made the overall best installment in that franchise, though I think that the skullduggery of the first one was pretty sweet and underrated.
Posted by actionman
at May 5, 2009 11:55 AM
comment #11
Sean
says ...
Mark, you might be surprised next time you're flipping through the channels and come across a Lost rerun. Let it play out ... I wouldn't have thought they lived up under repeat scrutiny, but on a per-episode basis they really are about character more than ideas.
Posted by Sean
at May 5, 2009 12:01 PM
comment #12
Pinko Punko
says ...
Milkman- thanks for the tip on the article- I'll check it out. I can't believe you namedropped n+1, of course I don't read Gawker.
Posted by Pinko Punko
at May 5, 2009 12:02 PM
comment #13
Mark
says ...
Woo knew exactly how to frame Cruise's hair. Abrams couldn't even figure out how to box out Cruise's boot lifts.
Hopefully JJ has figured out how to give Star Trek some rewatchability.
Posted by Mark
at May 5, 2009 12:04 PM
comment #14
Movie Watcher
says ...
Just read the Star Trek article in Ent. Wkly. Not a big fan, but I will watch the move. I have followed Lost since the beginning, so I expect the ST movie to be good. Salmon for breakfast? Really?
Posted by Movie Watcher
at May 5, 2009 12:09 PM
comment #15
berg
says ...
What movie is he talking about (grand something?) in the middle of the interview ... the true space movie trilogy would be Star Trek 2-4 ... Wrath of Khan ends with Spock dead and in Search for Spock the story picks up that thread, and then at the end of 3 we end on a cliffhanger that segues right into ST IV the Voyage Home
Posted by berg
at May 5, 2009 12:12 PM
comment #16
Calraigh Bracken
says ...
Do you agree Jeffrey? Did the waitress like ya?
Posted by Calraigh Bracken
at May 5, 2009 12:20 PM
comment #17
NYMinute
says ...
Grand Torino. Eastwoods's latest?
But what was that about Nicholson? A picture?
In any event, a very engaging interview with Abrams, and much worth a listen. Thank you for posting. You both came off as very articulate and intelligent -- must be an east coast thing.
Posted by NYMinute
at May 5, 2009 12:23 PM
comment #18
NYMinute
says ...
Gran Torino. My bad.
Posted by NYMinute
at May 5, 2009 12:30 PM
comment #19
NotImpressed1Yet
says ...
I remember that Jack Nicholson photo. Man, that's really cool that Abrams did that for you without ever having met you before. Amazing. Someone has gotta post a link to the original post Wells wrote about it, as I couldn't find it. It's a great photo, and the restoration job was phenomenal. What a class act!
Posted by NotImpressed1Yet
at May 5, 2009 12:32 PM
comment #20
DavidF
says ...
Star Trek 3 doesn't end on a cliffhanger unless you're actively thinking, "wow - they'll be in trouble when they get back to earth."
But, yeah, those 3 are clearly a trilogy and certainly the high point of the ST films, though 6 and 8 are also strong.
For some reason the audio stopped for me about 1/2 way in - at least I got to hear them order breakfast....
Posted by DavidF
at May 5, 2009 12:32 PM
comment #21
Gordon27
says ...
"Star Trek 3 doesn't end on a cliffhanger"
Hell, to hear people talk about it in hindsight, the destruction of the Enterprise was meant more as a possible end to the franchise, rather than the middle point of a trilogy.
Posted by Gordon27
at May 5, 2009 1:17 PM
comment #22
Billy Joel
says ...
Did JJ give you a weird look when you took out a piece of cake from your jacket pocket?
Hmmm .. no pretentious glasses on JJ. Wonder if Soderbergh would meet you without his?
Posted by Billy Joel
at May 5, 2009 1:33 PM
comment #23
Rothchild
says ...
The characters are the best part of the new Trek movie.
Posted by Rothchild
at May 5, 2009 1:46 PM
comment #24
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
"John Woo's Mission Impossible 2 was a joke."
It is, however, vastly superior to anything Michael Bay has directed in 13 years.
Never really got the ragging on this movie...is it dumb as shit? You betcha. Does the movie rock your balls anytime it stops talking and kicks into action? Absolutely.
It's all kind of a moot point, anyway, because the first M:I was actually both a good adaptation of the source material, as well as being a fun, adrenalized summer movie. Should have stopped right there.
Adrenalized? Jesus Christ, I'm turning into Peter Travers.
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at May 5, 2009 2:01 PM
comment #25
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
"Hmmm .. no pretentious glasses on JJ. Wonder if Soderbergh would meet you without his?"
lol
That is actually pretty impressive. It's as though JJ is King Arthur and he's dropped all his armor, exposing his true self.
I guess that would make Wells Guinevere, or better yet, the Lady of the Lake.
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at May 5, 2009 2:05 PM
comment #26
Gordon27
says ...
"Never really got the ragging on this movie"
The problem, so far as I can remember, is not the actions scenes, but the way that the plot lurches and jumps around. When it was revealed shortly after release that the movie had been cut by 40-50 minutes by the studio, it made a lot of sense.
Posted by Gordon27
at May 5, 2009 2:23 PM
comment #27
Billy Joel
says ...
WASP's call it : Salmon, Bagels and Cream Cheese.
Jews call it : Bagels & Lox.
Never could understand people who eat steak for breakfast. Uggh ... But bagels & lox for breakfast or brunch? Perfect!
Posted by Billy Joel
at May 5, 2009 2:25 PM
comment #28
CitizenKanedforChewingGum
says ...
Yeah they pretty much gave the reigns to final cut to Stuart Baird, if memory serves correctly. Presumably because a) he's a good boy and listens to studios, and b) because he speaks fluent English.
Anyone seen any of Woo's stuff since he moved back East after his failed Hollywood experiment? Apparently the two Red Cliff films are a real return to form. Some are comparing it to Kurosawa's Ran but you know how some of those HK enthusiasts love to exaggerate.
He used to be one of my absolute favorite directors, but he's lost some serious juice. Hard Boiled is such a perfect gunplay action movie that he should just walked away from the genre right then and there. Try something else. Scale a different mountain. Evolve or die.
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum
at May 5, 2009 2:39 PM
comment #29
Carl LaFong
says ...
Jeff, take a listen to J.J.'s T.E.D. Conference talk. His story about the Mystery Box is a classic and really nails down his craft as a filmmaker better than anything else: http://ted.streamguys.net/ted_abrams_j_2007.mp3
Oh, and it also explains where the name U.S.S. Kelvin comes from. Nice touch...
Posted by Carl LaFong
at May 5, 2009 6:47 PM