- Connecting - - - *** Welcome to Talk City *** - Hello.. hi no one else here yet? Glad you could make it -- thanks Nope -- you and I are the first ones -- we still have four minutes or so ok You're the one in South Africa right? yes What's the weather like there? fine, its still dark outside so I have actually looked yet ok -- dark here too, a little cool... How long you been watching Stone`s films Ever since PLATOON in 86 -- How bout you? since NBK in `94 Have you managed to see all his films? No, they`re diffulcult to get hold of here Which ones have you seen? Hey Serpico Hiya! Who are you? Hi, Sercipo Travis Hagness (a-travha@microsoft.com) Ah, yes, thanks! Well, just the three of us so far ... I got about ten or so replies so hopefully more will join us soon Dmitri, what films of Stone's have you seen? only Platoon, NBK unfortunatly Well, two classics -- gotta see JFK sometime though - is JFK available there? why unfortunately? sorry, need to read more carefully nevermind Serpico, I assume you've seen all his films ? i meant , that those are the only films of his that I`ve seen and that i realy want to watch the others Everything since Born on the Fourth of July, nothing earlier Haven't seen PLATOON huh? nope I met the man a couple of weeks ago Where did you meet him at? booksigning in Seattle. I now have an autographed copy of his book and and autographed JFK poster I cherish that poster Whoah -- the autographed JFK poster would be great! yes, i second that! Thanks to Jen in Chicago I got an autographed copy of his book -- one of my most cherished items. Did you get a chance to talk to him at all? well, I was pretty nervous. He just said (about the poster), "wow, an original poster, you'll like that when I'm dead." LOL I can imagine you'd be pretty nervous -- He was sooo cool. i don't know what i was expecting but he was laughing and joking and very down-to-earth Yeah that's what I've heard from a lot of people -- So did both of you see U-TURN? No, has'nt come to South Africa yet yeah, Claire Daines curled my spine Yeah, Claire Danes was pretty good -- Jennifer Lopez did it for me -- real intriguing character -- when i say she curled my spine that's nowhere near a compliment, i hated her :-) Oh, okay -- What did you think of everyone else in the film? I thought it was alright I wasn't really into it I need to see it again -- because I came away with mixed emotions -- Hey Serpico, where are you at? (city, state, country) I though NBK was much better Yeah NBK was much better Seatte, WA, USA Did both of you manage to see the Director's Cut of NBK? Yeah. Awesome! So which ending was better? No, I will never see it as it will never come to South Afice :( You don't think it will ever come to South Africa? It's great when you can hear the director articulate what he was thinking during the filming, etc. No Yeah, I loved listening to Stone talk about why he included certain scenes, and why he omitted others order reel.com or something It's rare to see directors talking about their work like that -- The courtroom scene was amazing, but I can understand why he took it out Yeah I was about to say Dmitri, I think you can order it over the web somewhere Yes! That courtroom scene was wonderfully shot and acted -- Woody Harrelson was great in it I also loved the Denis Leary scene yes, I've been looking, but i need it in PAL format and most said they did`nt have it Stone was right, though. It would've slowed the movie down Oh, yeah, I didn't think about that, Dmitri -- What -- the Denis Leary scene would have slowed it down? It was long and it didn't really belong I don't know -- not knowing where exactly the scene would have been placed, I think it would have been a great scene just breaking up the action all of a sudden what was all the controversy about surrounding the filming? I never caught the details of that. Something about a book coming out? You mean the KILLER INSTINCT book about the making of NBK? I just bought that book last wee Week, that is.. i think that's it, supposedly a tell-all about the film's unorganized filming I guess Tarentino got in a fight about it Yeah, that's it -- plus it talks about Stone and the wild atmosphere around the filming of it, and the real true world of moviemaking I'm really looking forward to reading it -- I guess it doesn't paint an altogether good portrait of Stone Yeah, Tarantino wrote the original script -- Stone changed it quite a bit The story I heard was that last week Tarantino was in a restaurant in Hollywood... and one of NBK's producers said something bad about him that got in the book... and Tarantino basically walked up to me and said, "you got something to say to me, say it to my face" and beat the crap out of him. that's him not ME Man -- I didn't hear that story -- yeah Tarantino doesn't come off as looking too good from the book either I hear Dmitri, about how long does it take for films to get there? American films, that is... 3 months after there release in the US, it also depends on how popular the film is So you think U-TURN will get there? Even though it absolutely sank at the US boxoffice? Did you see U-TURN didn't even make it into the Top 20 last weekend??? yes, anything that goes to mainstream theaters will I'm still amazed that U-TURN did as poorly as it did -- People didn't even give it a chance ... It basically looked like he was rehashing NBK, he needs to do something fresh, like MI2 as sad as I am to see him do it. Well, let's talk about it -- I think he could make a very interesting MISSION IMPOSSIBLE The plot of the original was a similar Stone theme I just hate to see him direct a typical blockbuster MI2 is very mainstream, and its a sequel , it`ll be interesting to see what Stone does with it Well, I still think it will have the typical Stone style to it I guess he needs to do it to continue funding his "normal" films It'll just do real well because Cruise is in it and it's more of a mainstream type films Although, he's said he's too tired to do films like NBK and JFK anymore. I sure hope not. Plus I wouldn't mind seeing Stone with another boxoffice hit -- NBK did pretty good, but NIXON and U-TURN bombed I still think he's got a little of the political epics still in him -- I hope so too -- those are the kind of films he does best in my opinion I'd like to see Pacino in a Stone film. and then there were two... Yeah! Pacino would be great in a Stone film! He's tied as my favorite actor with Tony Hopkins Hopkins was so great as Nixon I'd like to see what he could do under the direction of someone like Stone Stone does seem to bring out the best performances in actors, so seeing Pacino with him would be I was watching an interview with Hopkins the other day quite interesting Dmitri, welcome back He said Stone called him up and said he'd like him to be in NIXON... sorry about that, PC hanged No problem -- Hopkins said that he didn't know of any elderly, british people in Nixon's cabinet... ) Stone said he wanted him to play Nixon and Hopkins laughed at him and said, "I couldn't play Nixon." You know, at first, when I saw the first preview for NIXON and saw it was Hopkins, I did think that was a bad choice Stone said, "You're chicken, aren't you?" and Hopkins accepted the role. But man, what a performance -- he should have won the Oscar hands down What about Stone directing Robert de Niro? That would be another good one -- Time for Stone to make a gangster flick Stone should put De Niro and Pacino together in a film -- and give them more screen time together Stone directs THE GODFATHER PART IV! Oh, god no :) I think Stone could make one hell of a gangster film we Godfather II was pushing it But I don't know how he could compete with Scorsese there I agree I was just going to mention that GOODFELLAS was a classic I really didn't think DeNiro had much more in him, and then I saw CASINO You know, CASINO was okay, but I couldn't help but feel I was watching GOODFELLAS again, a sequel or something Especially Pesci's character -- seemed like a retread he said "fuck" a lot, though that's what makes a good character, you know... :) Well, fuck is a required word for a Scorsese film! Man, I lost count of the f word ,especially in CASINO True there were some great directoral moments in CASINO, like when the cheater gets his hand smashed Oh, sure, CASINO is still brilliantly directed and De Niro was great -- just didn't seem original after GOODFELLAS What do you think of Stone making a film about the National Football League? Oh god no ) What makes you say that Dmitri? Depends on home much controversy there would be... Is the NFL corrupt enought? I think there would be a ton of controversy to cover ... team owners, money, that kind of thing I agree with Serpico Well, it just depends on what angle Stone wants to take with it So what's your favorite movies of all time? Are they Stone films? JFK is number one 2001 : A Space Odyssey is number two mine would be the GODFATHER number one.. JFK, number two My number three would be THE GODFATHER Number four would be THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST Number five : SCHINDLER'S LIST haven't seen it Last Temptation? SCHINDLER'S LIST that high up, huh? NBK one Yeah, SCHINDLER'S LIST was absolutely incredibe BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY would be my sixth favorite I thought it was a good film, Liam Neeson was a little hokey, though As far as other Stone films, PLATOON ranks 14th, NIXON is 33rd, TALK RADIO is 35th... you've got a list that long? NBK ranks 59th.... you serious?? ouch, i don't agree Yeah, I made my Top 100 list of all time a few weeks back Once you dig through the violence, there's a real movie there Neither do I Oh, I agree ... NBK is incredible ... in fact, 59 seems a little low to me too ... may have to go back through it But there's so many other great films a little better than NBK The first time I saw NBK, the whole way through I kept thinking...a thousand years from now someone's going to dig this up and this is what they're going to judge us by. Good thought ... Then by the end of the movie, I realized...that's what it's about! It's certainly a film that's going to be studied and analyzed in film classes years and years from now Not only as film, but as a comment on us, especially people in the 90's I loved NBK pace That shot where they leave the camera there as they leave Robert Downey Jr. behind (dead) is great Yes, what a great line -- "Don't Mickey and Mallory leave someone alive to tell the tale?" "We are, your camera!" just left there, for the future generations to discover, as our media will be left behind for us to be judged by But even the film itself -- what an incredible piece of editing and cinematography I hated the movie until I actually got it. I thought t was just made for shock value...and here I'm thinking the moral all along and not realizing it When I finally got it at the end, I realized Stone had done it again it takes an amazing man to do that. Yes indeed I don't think many people got past the shock value No, a lot of people didn't -- a lot of people just didn't get it I don't think I'd rate NBK in my top five, but it was definitely a great movie in my book Oh, yes, without a doubt -- there's just so many great films throughout all of film history and it's tough to make a list narrowing them down What about you Dmitri, what are your other favorites? For what it's worth, I thought Ben Kingsley was the best in SHINDLER Many Yes he was great -- so was Ralph Fiennes i don`t keep them in any order though It's hard for me to pick after my top two. but I know THE GODFATHER and JFK are definitely my favorites. I try not to rate the films i watch, a good film is a good film and if its bad its bad! I'd also like to see Jodie Foster under Stone doing something totally different from what she's ever done It's kind of fun to put together a list of the best though ... challenges you to choose what the bst in film Yes Jodie Foster is incredible -- reminds me that my number seven movie of all time is CONTACT Whats Contact like ? Seams really mainstream to me cool, i really liked CONTACT and most of my friends didn't Well, it is a mainstream movie -- Robert Zemeckis directed it -- really powerful film Thomas Morse was amazing, probably the best performance I've seen this summer Based on Carl Sagan's novel about Earth's reaction to the first alien signal from space -- really intelligent and thought provoking film Thomas Morse??? I better go and watch it then He played Ellie's dad Oh, yeah -- all of the performances in the film were great, even President Clinton :-) CONTACT was an amazing film...it tackled science versus religion without discounting either one of them hi the Yes, that was the film's greatest achievement -- you don't get to see honest discussions like that in hello mainstream cinema the -- identify yourself ok, don't the, you there? so, what now? Oh, well, where were we? Anybody seen BOOGIE NIGHTS ? I hav`nt , they say its doing pretty well Not yet -- it's just opening here this weekend -- you seen it yet? Yeah, I saw it last week I'll save my critique for another time As good as they say it is? Roger Ebert called it one of the year's best films... I say no How old are you guys? I'm 19 26 I`m 17 Anybody else looking forward to AMISTAD as much as I am? Oh, yes, definitely -- and KUNDUN, Scorsese's latest Whats AMISTAD? KUNDUN? But the film I'm really waiting for besides any Stone film is Kubrick's next one -- EYES WIDE SHUT KUNDUN is Scorsese's next film -- an epic film about the Dali Lamai AMISTAD is Steven Spielberg's next film about a mutiny on a slave ship during war time They come out this winter Both sound good Hey Cari -- identify yourself AMISTAD, directed by Spielberg, starring Tony Hopkins, Matthew McConaughey, Morgan Freeman, Nigel Hawthorne, and Pet Postlethwaite. It doesn't get much better than that Agreed Bye Cari Cari returns! I'm looking forward to Tarantino's latest, JACKIE BROWN as well Yes that should be good geez Yeah, I wish they'd just join us or stay out why do they bother coming in if they're not going to say anything? Just peeking in I guess to see if we're talking about anything cool... Cari, say something... It's an Oliver Stone chat room, what's cooler than that? Yes , Oliver for President! thats a scary thought I'd vote for him! I'd like to see Ollie do REAGAN next. Now that was a corrupt administration. Yes, I saw an interview where he mentioned that as a possible film -- That'd be so cool. Can you imagine? Reagan's administration defined the word CORRUPT -- of course Bush was no jewel either I wander which actor he`d use for Reagon Casting anyone? dmitri beat me to it good minds think alike Hell, let Tony Hopkins do it Robert de Niro ?... Shirley MaClaine as Nancy!!! he he De Niro as Reagan --- hmmmmm..... There's definitely a good film from that story, that's for sure... Of course there's still rumors Stone wants to do ALEXANDER THE GREAT a gay guy...whoo hoo!! Carl...are you in here? guess not Cari , you mean...... Well, back again -- Cari, what's your story? wierd gone , probably a schizophrenic A non-committal person if I ever saw one I'd say he's commitable Oh, Cari --- well, let's stop talking about him...not very interesting Yeah, onward and forward ... so what would you say is Stone's worst film? what other stories has Stone thrown around? I'd say U-turn ranks there with me Hi, are you there. I wonder whether I�using this chat util. right Cari Speaks!! Yeah, you're using it right? WHo are you? you seem to be HEAVEN AND EARTH would rank lowest of Stone's films on my list I�, the member from Spain, Madrid Oh, okay, welcome Are you Spanish? or just in Spain? Why, Heaven and Earth is great!. I�m Spanish and I am in Spain I'm glad you could make it Cari -- what time is it there in Spain? It�s 5:30 am, good morning to all Very close to me ouch, way to early for me It's evening here in the States -- 10:30 PM here Good Morning What's your favorite film, Cari? Dmitri, I guess you are Greek. I lived in Athens for two years No, I live South Africa My favourite film is Platoon, then Salvador Two great films to be sure... yes , I loved Platoon, got to get it out again sometime Cari, what's the last Stone film you saw? The...speak, speak....I charge thee, Speak! hello where ya from? wisconsin THE SPEAKS! Identify yourself... Hi, the You know something: While I was living in Greece, on my own, my family remained in Spain, I started to write letters to Oliver and he was kind enough to answer every time. I was thrilled with every of his thanking notes Wisconsin? What part? the = Brian Gannon Oh, yes, hey Brian the , do you remember Bean a few nights ago? delafield, between madison and milwaukee I've been to Madison and the Dells many times got a friend who immagrated to Milwaukee a year ago I was just in Wisconsin for my cousin's wedding -- in River Falls, small town near the Minnesota border ... heard of it? madisons a very cool city! yeah my friend goes to collage near there COOL! I have a lot of relatives up there, in Wisconsin and Minnesota... I'm originally from North Dakota sorry i couldn't make it sooner my computer froze twice and i had to fix it! No shit, Serpico! I lived in Fargo-Moorhead for seven years! I got flooded out of Grand Forks last April small world I thought this was a chat about and maybe with Oliver Stone Yes indeed ... I couldn't stand the winters there ... got out in 94 ok, ok I must confess....I'm Oliver Stone ha ah Yes, Cari, it is ... but we're towards the tail end ... we started at an hour and a half ago ... sorry, we slipped of f topic what do you guys think Mission Impossible 2 will be like with oliver at the helm? Their keeping tight grips on the storyline, but supposedly at least some of it takes place in China I think it will be entertaining and bring Stone's film style to the masses Serpico, was there ever a project on Alexander the great? yeah i herd it is ment to be se in the near future (2005) huh? the setting 2005 china Serpico, uh, ah oh, is that all you can say for mi2 no, that "huh?" was for Cari I wander how how Stone would tackle a film about a natural disaster There have been specials about him please no we've seen enough of those for a year = ) Depends on what it is Pompeii But agreed ... I hope Stone stays away from that... twister, flood, volcano, daylight, dante's peak...ENOUGH ALREADY!!! =>) I just got Talk Radio for $5.00 Where did you manage to get that for so cheap? natural disaster films suck, all they are are 100 million doller special effects extraviganzas with no plot! I was only joking Some can be mildly entertaining, but for the most part, forgettable pieces of film I tend not to like blockbusters, they appeal to the masses, who have limited mental capabilites. very limited! a local video store going out of business, they dont sell it any more at video retailers Well, that's very true! Thats true about the mainstream That's why I was surprised CONTACT did as well as it did Yeah, $100 million for CONTACT -- quite good -- Intelect lacks if you like Independance day Or MEN IN BLACK or any other film this summer pretty much i hear ya face off was ok I laughed at Men In Black....I enjoy some (very few) comedies, and I though it was funny Yeah, it was ok any one in to quentin tarantino films?