Comments on: Interview: James Gray Talks Working With Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix & The Central Crisis Of American Cinema

By: Zach Heltzel

Zach Heltzel — Sun, 22 May 2016 03:34:13 +0000

When discussing how there is very little irony in modern storytelling, despite the fact that we live in a very ironic time. I'd like to throw Joseph Kahn's name into the ring here; his movies DETENTION and TORQUE are drenched in irony, and that is partly why they are incredible strokes of genius that have yet to be appreciated for what they are.

By: Aksel

Aksel — Sun, 22 May 2016 03:34:13 +0000

Great interview from a great director! Thanx!

By: Duder NME

Duder NME — Sun, 22 May 2016 03:34:13 +0000

The main reason for this shift of movie tastes is centered on adults not finding/having enough time to watch films en masse while also giving their children so much disposable income, which now dictates moviegoing and moviemaking. That simply wasn't the case in the 70s, even after the advent of the blockbuster age, some early 80s summer films were part of the old aesthetic. Now it's all about release windows and viral schemes and branding, to the point where adults can't be motivated unless they've already heard about an established franchise (the Big Mac).

By: T.A.

T.A. — Sun, 22 May 2016 03:34:13 +0000

Never knew a single thing about this man before reading the interview. Seen two or three films by him, not knowing who had made them or that they were even made by the same director. All in all, he was certainly a pleasure to listen to in this interview and he is indeed calling for right things here. Makes me want to see his films again and the ones I had not seen already. Less Spiderman and more social class, soul and honesty should be the topic of 2013!

By: tania

tania — Sun, 22 May 2016 03:34:13 +0000

Marion is a wonderful actress

By: Alan

Alan — Sun, 22 May 2016 03:34:13 +0000

"And what neither of them has ever really addressed, and I have not read it anywhere else either, is the troubling disappearance of "the middle."" Clearly, this guy doesn't read enough film criticism. I hear this ALL THE TIME.

By: CL

CL — Sun, 22 May 2016 03:34:13 +0000

I could have sworn this movie's title had been changed to "Nightingale" – much more evocative. So now they're changing it back? And is there enough time to de-Weinstein this project so it won't get dumped on two screens and buried?

By: ere

ere — Sun, 22 May 2016 03:34:13 +0000

This is a great, great interview. James Gray is awesome

By: TheoC

TheoC — Sun, 22 May 2016 03:34:13 +0000

Excellent stuff, great interview. I'll be adding this to instapaper to pore over again

By: Christian

Christian — Sun, 22 May 2016 03:34:13 +0000

Good stuff. However, if he wants edgy studio pictures and American cinema about social class problems then he should watch a little indie flick called The Dark Knight Rises which has more in common with Charles Dickens than Marvel's latest adventures of flying men in tights fighting aliens.

By: Claire

Claire — Sun, 22 May 2016 03:34:13 +0000

Thanks you so much Jessica for the interview. This guy is so passionate, it's very inspiring. He is an amazing director and he should have more confidence in himself, he is truly one of the best storyteller of the last decade. I honestly can't wait to see his next effort "Lowlife" & I wish him to finally renew with the critical acclaim and success he deserves.

By: sduh

sduh — Sun, 22 May 2016 03:34:13 +0000

Great stuff! So true.. thumbs up

By: Proletcult

Proletcult — Sun, 22 May 2016 03:34:12 +0000

Mr. Gray's concern with class is refreshing. He's right, class as a driving theme is virtually absent in American cinema today. Left-ish fimmakers have substituted middle class identity politics for genuine class politics. And the results have been an absolute disaster. We've gotten to the point where 400 people now own as much wealth as the bottom 150 million. Part of the blame goes to those artists whose progressive politics are designed more to make themselves feel good about how "enlightened" they are than to inspire a genuine shift in mass consciousness. Part of the blame also lies with film critics who elevate the myopic, ultra-twee, middle class angst of Wes Anderson's work to the status of art.

Beasts of the Southern Wild was one notable exception to the routine. Here there is a genuine affection for poor people and their struggles. It's approach is still that of enlightened liberalism rather than radicalism, but it's a start.

I'd point to Ken Loach's work, but he's a Brit. Nonetheless, if there are progressive filmmakers out there genuinely concerned with the plight of the working class, appalled by the suffering of poor people, appalled by the thievery of the banksters and other one percenters and looking to inspire the working class to action then they could do worse than to be good students of Loach's work, which goes beyond the usual liberal bromides to tell working class stories with a radical edge.

By: randy

randy — Sun, 22 May 2016 03:34:12 +0000

james gray is the only contemporary american director who is as talented in making movies as in talking about them.