I can’t say that I’m a fan of the work of John Hillcoat – The Proposition is a movie that’s just about griminess, and The Road is pretty bad – but it’s sad to see a filmmaker unable to get his next project made. Especially a filmmaker working in the lower middle of the budget spectrum. But that’s just what’s happened to Hillcoat’s next, an adaptation of The Wettest Country in the World, which was to lens in February. Hillcoat broke the news in his The Road production diaries printed in the Telegraph:
“My own new project – with a much-loved script by Nick Cave and a dream all-star cast – has fallen apart. The finance company that we began The Road with has also fallen apart, having to radically downsize to one remaining staff member. The great divide has begun, with only very low-budget films being made or huge 3-D franchise films – the birth of brand films such as Barbie, Monopoly: The Movie – who knows what’s next, Coca-Cola: The Movie?”
That dream all-star cast included Shia LaBeouf, Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Gosling.
Hillcoat is completely right about what’s happening to film today, by the way. It’s like the economy – where the middle class is being decimated – is reflected in Hollywood. There’s not much room for a guy trying to make a 60 million dollar film anymore.
19 comments
The sad truth is, that was one of the best scripts out there – just a fantastic piece of work. But period is near-impossible and "The Road" lost a shitload of money (and they couldn't get a cast).
"Coca-Cola: The Movie?"
GodDAMN it, Hillcoat! Don't give them ideas!
"Hillcoat is completely right about what's happening to film today, by the way"… so in a sense…. you and LandscapeGarment are saying…gasp…the game has been changed?
gosh, $60 million is a "middle class" film?
I want to be a middle class film!
I might disappear, but I could have a hell of a lot of fun on the way out!
What's unfortunate is that The Road-a film that I have not yet seen, but I have heard it's a bit of a downer–was released in the current time. Look at history. When society faces bleak times, the general public doesn't want to spend the little money that they do have watching a downer of a movie. They either want to escape with a film that takes them to a different time/place where good defeats bad, or they want to see characters who represent the bad people in society being taken down. The general public wants to escape from the crap that's really happening. It's like when Hollywood was doing all of those Iraq war movies…right when the war was going on. A lot of folks did not go to those movies. Not because they were bad movies….just because it was something regular folks were facing with loved ones going off to the war. Had Hollywood waited about five to ten years after all our troops were out…those films would have done much better, I think. Downer times in reality doesn't bode too well for downer films. Had it been released when the the unemployment rate was much lower, and the wars were settling down, I think it would have done much better than it did.
"The Wettest Country in the World"
Is this a film about Ireland?
"The Proposition is a movie that's just about griminess." – Movie Blogger Fail
The Proposition is about family, honesty and duty in an environment that has no need anything but violence.
Neill Blomkamp, guys. There's no Great Divide. District 9 proved that as recently as last summer. John Hillcoat just sounds bitter and tired and has turned to attacking the current 'big' movie. Maybe if his last couple movies had been received a bit better, he'd be in a more advantageous position. Quit crying.
The Proposition is, at the very least, EXCELLENT. The single best western of the last 20 years without ANY competition. And The Road is as good an adaptation of the novel we could have ever hoped for. Hillcoat is an incredible filmmaker, and someone better show some balls and pick this script up in some form or another, as it is a wonderful work.
I don't care what the social/political/economic climate is, I'll always love me a grim, preferably non-English language film. Speaking of which….White Ribbon review?
I could watch Aflfeck drink a Coke for an hour and a half.
…when terrorists steal the top-secret formula to the most red-white-and-blue sugar water this country has ever known, it's up to a team of elite agents, their bio-enhanced technology, and a dog named Skipper to put things right. Our very identity as Americans hands in the balance.
Push in on Ben: "I'd like to give the world a Coke, gentlemen. Who's with me?"
holy crap, I would love and hate for that movie to be made also John Hillcoat couldn't make a movie to save his life or the lives of a hundred drowning orphans.
John Hillcoat is one of the best directors around if you ask me. In a world of Apatows, Kevin Smiths, and Michael Bay's, he is making films that are beautiful, tragic, epic(in there own way), and most importantly, have something to fucking say! The Road is probably my favorite book. I read it in the months after my son was born and had a major connection to that book. I was weary of the film at first, but the amazing cinematography, acting, flawless direction, and beautiful set design proved me wrong. This is one of the best adaptations I have ever seen. And The Proposition? Amazing on every level. John Hurt is so incredible in that movie. Oh, when is chud going to get rid of the hacks that work this site and hire some people that actually have an interest in film?
The proposition was amazing, i think it was a perfect depiction of the Australian outback, with an amazing cast. I'm yet to see the road, but i get the impression its something i will like.
Hopefully someone else picks this film up, it sounded awesome.
I am more a fan of Nick Cave than John Hillcoat. This is more bad news for Cave since his relationship with film work has been so closely tied to Hillcoat through screenplays and scores. It just seems like a waste to have a Nick Cave script crippled by a lack of funding. I liked The Proposition for it's great performances from Guy Pearce, Danny Huston, Ray Winstone and Emily Watson. I think that film is tough to embrace. For me it has gotten better after repeat viewings. Hillcoat seems to direct difficult movies. While I have not seen The Road I have read the book. I can't say I was excited for a screen version of the story at any time during the read. The book itself seems like a mediocre work as is. My opinion was that the story was better left on paper. The two John Hillcoat films I have seen are The Proposition and Ghosts… of the Civil Dead. Ghosts… of the Civil Dead is a much more difficult film to endure than The Proposition. It's a tough movie that I'm sure can leave a bad impression on the average viewer. The story is brutal and apocalyptic and the characters are disturbing and unlikeable. Even for a prison film it is very dark and gritty. I think that seems to be the trend for this filmmaker and that might be why the funds aren't there. Apparently not everyone wants to fund hardcore independent film, which to me is a shame.
The Proposition is about griminess? What a lazy, ignorantly reductive thing to say about a brilliant movie.
Need to get your head outta your ass about The Proposition, Devy.
I have to agree, the crack about The Proposition is lazy and egregious at best. What's more, The Road was really well made, despite stingy source material.
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