While accruing billions of dollars at the box office for his Transformers franchise, director Michael Bay has also gained somewhat of a reputation for his aggressive, dictatorial style of directing. Former Transformers star Megan Fox called Bay a nightmare who aspires “to be like Hitler on his sets.” Other Transformers actors have agreed, claiming that a day on a Transformers set is like a day on the battlefield with General Bay shouting commands for explosions, choppers, Blackhawks, appleboxes and instructions to ignore lunch. But is there a softer side to Michael Bay that the public does not know about?
When Dark of the Moon star Tyrese Gibson phoned Movieline this morning to discuss his upcoming Fast Five DVD and Blu-ray release (Oct. 4), he took a moment to explain his long-time friend Bay and why he is so misunderstood in Hollywood.
“Michael Bay is a good friend,” Tyrese started when asked about Bay’s directorial style. “We’ve had our moments and our conflict but Michael Bay is a man’s man just like me. He’s very driven and he’s very focused. A lot of people don’t understand him though. Here’s an analogy for you — when you walk up the street, and you see a dog that is barking really loud, if you open your arms, that dog is going to give you all love and hugs. Most people are going to just respond to the barking and say, ‘That is a really mean dog. He’s barking a lot. He’s really aggressive.”
“All you have to do though is open…
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Hunter S. Thompson fans have been patiently waiting over a decade for The Rum Diary to reach the big screen. (In fact, the adaptation process, which began in 2000, was so frustrating that the author himself coined the phrase “waterhead fuckaround” to describe the slow studio proceedings.) But The Rum Diary is finally in the can with a fall release date thanks to English writer and director Bruce Robinson, Thompson’s long-time friend Johnny Depp and Depp’s production company Infinitum Nihil. Let’s take a look at the trailer!
Supplanting Thompson for the second time onscreen (the first time was in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), Depp plays Paul Kemp, a booze-loving journalist who travels to Puerto Rico on assignment. As in the novel, movie Kemp becomes involved with a beautiful young woman (Amber Heard), squabbles with his editor (Richard Jenkins) and enjoys copious drunken, sometimes drug-induced and violent, revelry. Unlike the novel though, Robinson seems to have given Kemp a hero-making journey. Instead of a directionless writer soaking up the Puerto Rican rays and rum, Depp’s Kemp is on a mission to take down a corrupt businessman (Aaron Eckhart). This seems a little like gonzo sacrilege but I’m excited to see The Rum Diary either way.
The Rum Diary finally reaches theaters October 28.
VERDICT: Hunter S. Thompson + Depp + a Bejeweled Tortoise = A Must See.
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In anticipation of the May 6 limited release of The Beaver, Mel Gibson spoke candidly last week about the film, his high-profile image crisis and his relationship with director and long-time friend Jodie Foster. But in the sprawling conversation, the Oscar winner failed to discuss his most intimate co-star and the namesake of his potential comeback project: the beaver puppet.
Curious to hear the puppet’s side of the story, Movieline met with the first-time actor at a nondescript Santa Monica coffee shop earlier this week for his first exclusive interview.
First of all, congratulations on The Beaver. This is quite the feature debut.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
I notice that you don’t speak with a Cockney accent like your character does in the film. You had me convinced that you were a direct descendant of Michael Caine.
Well then the thousands of hours I spent devotedly rewatching Alfie paid off, eh? [Slips seamlessly into a Cockney accent] If I ‘ave to see that ‘ere bloody film with my minces one more time, my loaf’ll damn near explode. [Transitions back to American accent.] It’s fun! My wife got so sick of hearing the Cockney though that she banned “Michael Caine” from the house last week.
Kind of life imitating art then?
I guess! Just speaking with a Michael Caine accent feels so therapeutic. I recommend trying it, especially if you’re stuck in traffic.
I read that The Beaver was your first professional…
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