In my mind (which is to say impressionistically) former DreamWorks honcho Walter Parkes was a stopper. A stopper is a very particular kind of non-creative Hollywood personality who never gets the new idea, who always argues that a movie needs to be shorter, is always saying “show me” or “will they go for it in Peoria?” or otherwise saying “no,” “I don’t think so” or “I have my doubts.” And yet stoppers prevail in production companies. I guess they provide a kind of skeptical counterweight to the daydream believers, and in so doing make the owners feel safe.
This Aaron Sorkin-revised Moneyball, dated March 6, 2010, arrived last night.
