Nailed Archives - The Playlist

Phew: David O. Russell Won’t Direct Video Game Adaptation ‘Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune’

Kevin Jagernauth — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:39:00 +0000

When it was revealed way back in May that David O. Russell was taking meetings with the producers for the gestating adaptation of the popular video game “Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune” we didn’t take it too seriously. Lord knows, Russell has got stacks of scripts to choose from and we figured there was only a pie-in-the-sky chance of it ever happening.

Well, here we are a couple of months later and it appears this actually came close to coming together.

Continue reading Phew: David O. Russell Won’t Direct Video Game Adaptation ‘Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune’ at The Playlist.

David O. Russell Officially Exits The Production Of ‘Nailed,’ Project Revival Still In The Works

Simon Dang — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:55:00 +0000

Yet another chapter in the tale of the infamously disastrous production of “Nailed.” This, however, will mark the last installment with David O. Russell, as the director has now officially exited the project after failed revival talks with co-financier Ron Tutor.

“This has been a painful process for me,” O. Russell told THR. “The multiple production delays and stoppages, which were caused by David Bergstein and preceded Ron Tutor’s direct involvement with me, have now spanned two years, and the circumstances under which the film would now be completed are much different on several fundamental levels than when we embarked several years ago.

Continue reading David O. Russell Officially Exits The Production Of ‘Nailed,’ Project Revival Still In The Works at The Playlist.

Will David O. Russell Direct The Video-Game Adaptation, ‘Uncharted’?

Oliver Lyttelton — Tue, 04 May 2010 11:51:00 +0000

The history of video games being turned into movies, from “Super Mario Bros” to the wretched “Resident Evil” series, is not a happy one — when Christophe Gans’ “Silent Hill” is the best example of a sub-genre, you know you’re in trouble. Early word on “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” suggests that it’s pretty mediocre, and the most promising project, “Bioshock,” appears to be stuck in development hell. But news comes today of an adaptation which could be more promising.

Continue reading Will David O. Russell Direct The Video-Game Adaptation, ‘Uncharted’? at The Playlist.

David O. Russell’s ‘Nailed’ Is One Scene Away From Being Completed; Will It Happen?

Simon Dang — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:42:00 +0000

Could David O. Russell’s “Nailed” soon be headed back into production after its colossally troubled, incomplete stint in 2008? Possibly.

The Daily Beast are reporting that O. Russell has expressed an interest in shooting one last key scene from his political satire that would act as a final puzzle piece allowing the film to be completed and eventually be released.

The scene, reportedly one where the protagonist played by Jessica Biel gets the titular nail stuck in her head, was neglected during the film’s original production which was shut down four times due to financial constraints, mainly due to maligned producer David Bergstein, who has since justifiably found himself in trouble for his questionable actions — despite already facing “a dozen creditors in Los Angeles bankruptcy court” for incompetency, Bergstein just had a warrant issued for his arrest on account of over a million dollars worth of unpaid gambling debts owed to Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas.

Continue reading David O. Russell’s ‘Nailed’ Is One Scene Away From Being Completed; Will It Happen? at The Playlist.

Will David O. Russell’s ‘Nailed’ Finally See The Light Of Day?

Oliver Lyttelton — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 13:21:00 +0000

Update: A reader has pointed out to us that during an interview with AICN for WonderCon for “Prince Of Persia,” Jake Gyllenhaal revealed: “…I did this movie with David O. Russell which has yet to come out….’Nailed’ or ‘The Nail’ I think we are calling it now….” A title change? Perhaps this thing is bit farther along than we think?

It’s six years since we saw a new film from David O.

Continue reading Will David O. Russell’s ‘Nailed’ Finally See The Light Of Day? at The Playlist.

Cannes 2010 Predictions: Could ‘The Fighter,’ Black Swan’ & ‘Somewhere’ Premiere In France?

Rodrigo Perez — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:32:00 +0000

It’s not even March, but some sites are already dropping their Cannes 2010 predictions/educated guesses.

ScreenDaily has been the first to drop theirs which means the trades should be behind shortly. Last year when Screen Daily dropped their Cannes 2009 predictions they went about 12 for 19 making their guess work about 63% correct. When the Hollywood Reporter dropped their Cannes predix last year they went about 13 out of 21 which is about 62% accurate.

Continue reading Cannes 2010 Predictions: Could ‘The Fighter,’ Black Swan’ & ‘Somewhere’ Premiere In France? at The Playlist.

Capitol Films’ David Bergstein Still Somehow At It; Even Less Hope For ‘Nailed’

Rodrigo Perez — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:08:00 +0000

Do we remember the fairly-maligned Capitol Films douchebag David Bergstein? Dude has major, major balls. He owes millions of dollars to myriad investors, companies, people, etc. is under an armada of lawsuits, but his new company Pangea Media Group is somehow trying to buy Miramax (this guy really is a con artist, no joke). You have to read this entire THR piece to realize the massive extent of money he owes and how he still somehow swindles people into giving him money.

Continue reading Capitol Films’ David Bergstein Still Somehow At It; Even Less Hope For ‘Nailed’ at The Playlist.

David O. Russell To Write & Direct ‘Pride & Prejudice & Zombies’

Kevin Jagernauth — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:26:00 +0000

Color us surprised and very, very excited. Pajiba (where do these guys have their moles?) are reporting that David O. Russell is attached to write and direct the Natalie Portman produced and starring adaptation of “Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.”

The news is very intriguing for a number of reasons. Firstly, it will be the first time Russell is helming both a period and horror picture. Secondly, given his um, “reputation”, as an asshole a taskmaster on set, it’s a bit of a surprise he’s being given the reins on what is a pretty important, expensive project, that will also mark his first foray with extensive special effects (his film “Nailed” had its set of massive problems too and still hasn’t even seen the light of day; though recent reports suggest an eventual DVD release might be possible).

Continue reading David O. Russell To Write & Direct ‘Pride & Prejudice & Zombies’ at The Playlist.

David Bergstein Has Hollywood’s Biggest Brass Balls

Kevin Jagernauth — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:38:00 +0000

What the hell is going at “ThinkFilm”?

We’re not going to list the endless stream of lawsuits facing David Bergstein — The Hollywood Reporter does a good job of running it down — but we will say the guy has Alec Baldwin sized brass balls that despite accusations of not releasing films, not paying filmmakers, fraud, breach of contract, false promises and negligent misrepresentation he was still hustling and masquerading down at the AFM last week under the banner Pangea Media Group.

Continue reading David Bergstein Has Hollywood’s Biggest Brass Balls at The Playlist.

Is David O. Russell’s ‘Nailed’ Coming Back To Life?

Rodrigo Perez — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:51:00 +0000

Do we all remember Capitol Films and their collective woes?

Long story short, these guys have been fucked for months and many of their films have been sitting in limbo for months — pictures like Tony Kaye’s “Black Water Transit,” very underrated TIFF ’08 film, “$5 A Day” and “Kiss the Dead Goodbye,” though maybe no one’s missing that one.

The last film Capitol released proper was “The Edge Of Love” with Sienna Miller and Keira Knightly, but it received a minuscule, limited release that came and went in March.

Continue reading Is David O. Russell’s ‘Nailed’ Coming Back To Life? at The Playlist.

Jessica Biel Is ‘Fucking Engaged’

Oliver Lyttelton — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:22:00 +0000

We’re not really in the Jessica Biel fan-club, as yet — for the most part, she’s been attractive but bland in a succession of under-written love interest roles in terrible films, such as “Next” and “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry.” Other than a pretty good performance in Stephan Elliot’s “Easy Virtue,” her more interesting choices have been been disaster-plagued: “Powder Blue” went straight-to-video, and is allegedly terrible, while David O Russell’s “Nailed” still remains uncompleted, over a year since the cameras last rolled on it.

Continue reading Jessica Biel Is ‘Fucking Engaged’ at The Playlist.

Jessica Biel Optimistic On The Fate Of David O. Russell’s ‘Nailed’? Sorta….

Simon Dang — Mon, 25 May 2009 06:09:00 +0000

After previously confirming the indefinitely incomplete status of David O. Russell’s ill-fated political satire, “Nailed,” Jessica Biel has now come out with optimistic comments regarding the project’s potential completion.

“I think we have some more work to do on it,” Biel told Vulture wishy-washily. “It will definitely be coming out at some point, though. It was a fantastic experience, and it will be a wild movie.”

Definitely? Really? Says who? Blind optimism or just wishful thinking?

Continue reading Jessica Biel Optimistic On The Fate Of David O. Russell’s ‘Nailed’? Sorta…. at The Playlist.

Is David O. Russell’s ‘Nailed’ Never Coming Out? Jessica Biel Confirms The Film’s Unfinished State

Rodrigo Perez — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:11:00 +0000

Probably much to the chagrin of one of our sources, we’ve been sitting on a story for months now about David O. Russell’s “Nailed,” and the fact that the film looks like it’s never coming out. Aside from the already tremendous and very-publicized financial problems the film endured — production shut down four times during filming, James Caan quit in the middle of filming, there was an altercation of some kind with lead Jake Gyllenhaal — the film is, according to one of our sources, unfinished, missing key scenes and has been basically abandoned by the principle post-production players.

Continue reading Is David O. Russell’s ‘Nailed’ Never Coming Out? Jessica Biel Confirms The Film’s Unfinished State at The Playlist.

David O. Russell And Christian Bale Replace Darren Aronofsky And Brad Pitt In The Mark Wahlberg-Led Boxing Drama, ‘The Fighter’

Simon Dang — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:13:00 +0000

Wow, after spending years in development hell, the Mark Wahlberg-led project “The Fighter” is finally set for production.

While the film has been somewhat of a revolving door for Hollywood’s leading stars with director Darren Aronofsky, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt all having been attached at one point, ‘Fighter’ will now be helmed by David O. Russell with Wahlberg being joined by Christian Bale, according to Variety. Relativity Media is producing with Paramount’s role now being reduced to distribution.

Continue reading David O. Russell And Christian Bale Replace Darren Aronofsky And Brad Pitt In The Mark Wahlberg-Led Boxing Drama, ‘The Fighter’ at The Playlist.

Spike Jonze’s Brother Squeak E. Clean Composing Score To David O. Russell’s ‘Nailed’

Rodrigo Perez — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Sam Spiegel, aka Squeak E. Clean, one half of the envelope-pushing quasi hip-hop duo N.A.S.A, is composing the soundtrack to David O. Russell’s political satire, “Nailed” according to a one sentence line in a recent Rolling Stone article.

Spiegel is Spike Jonze’s younger brother and helped Karen O record some of the music to “Where The Wild Things Are.” He also produced the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs 2006 album Show Your Bones. O. Russell and Spike Jonze are good buddies too — the “I Heart Huckabees” director handpicked his friend to play a hick soldier in “Three Kings” against the studios wishes.

Continue reading Spike Jonze’s Brother Squeak E. Clean Composing Score To David O. Russell’s ‘Nailed’ at The Playlist.

David O. Russell In Talks To Direct Matthew McConaughey In Southern-Fried Comedy, ‘Grackle’

Rodrigo Perez — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:23:00 +0000

It seems that whatever went down on the horribly plagued shoot of “Nailed,” David O. Russell’s political satire that was cursed with production stops, actors walking off-set and dire money issues, is not falling on the head of the controversial director.

O. Russell’s difficult reputation is old hat now, and we’re always expecting him to get thrown in director jail, but again, as maligned as the “Nailed” shoot went, he seems to have survived and is now in talks to direct a Matthew McConaughey comedy called, “Grackle.”

Described as a “Southern-fried” comedy by the Hollywood Reporter, the film is to be set in New Orleans and focuses on a barroom brawler who helps his clients settle legal arguments with fisticuffs.

Continue reading David O. Russell In Talks To Direct Matthew McConaughey In Southern-Fried Comedy, ‘Grackle’ at The Playlist.

David O. Russell Not Crazy? ‘Nailed’ Co-Stars Vouch For Director’s Sanity

Rodrigo Perez — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:59:00 +0000

Every devout cinema goer knows about David O. Russell’s reputation as crazy and difficult. He pretty much cemented that rep on the set of “Three Kings” when he and George Clooney got into a very public punch-out and then sealed the deal when he erupted in a fury on the set of “I ♥ Huckabees,” and the footage landed on YouTube (obviously some editor or camera person wanted some revenge).

There were already some reports about strange behavior on the set of his new financially maligned satire “Nailed,” (James Caan quit over a “cookie” debacle), so people expected more of the same.

Continue reading David O. Russell Not Crazy? ‘Nailed’ Co-Stars Vouch For Director’s Sanity at The Playlist.

Will ThinkFilm’s Problems Ever End? Oscar-Winning Documentarian For ‘Taxi’ Sues Company, Independent Film Woes Continue…

Rodrigo Perez — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:32:00 +0000

Man, how many breath’s left does indie distributor ThinkFilm/Captiol Films have left in the tank?

Think just shut down their Toronto office, their production of David O. Russell’s “Nailed,” (via Capitol Films, Think is a division of) has been shut down four times midway through production and now filmmaker Alex Gibney, the director of the 2008 Oscar-winning documentary feature “Taxi To The Dark Side” and the upcoming, “Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr.

Continue reading Will ThinkFilm’s Problems Ever End? Oscar-Winning Documentarian For ‘Taxi’ Sues Company, Independent Film Woes Continue… at The Playlist.

Just Put The ‘Nail’ In The Coffin Already? Production On David O. Russell’s Political Satire Shuts Down For 4th Time

Rodrigo Perez — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:13:00 +0000

Seriously, just throw in the towel already? David O. Russell’s political satire “Nailed,” has shut down production for a fourth time because of continuing money issues.

Film union IATSE walked off the set on Friday (June 20). Is ThinkFilm – the company producing it – totally fucked?

“I feel terrible if people are hurt by our financial problems,” ThinkFilm’s president Mark Urman told Indiewire the day before the film just down again.

Continue reading Just Put The ‘Nail’ In The Coffin Already? Production On David O. Russell’s Political Satire Shuts Down For 4th Time at The Playlist.

Trade Noise: Paramount Vantage Folded, ‘Nailed’ Gets Back On Its Feet, Indies Protected By SAG Waivers

Rodrigo Perez — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:35:00 +0000

The bad news for smaller studio imprints keeps piling up. Paramount Vantage, the artier, boutique arm of Paramount pictures is being absorbed by the larger studio including all areas of marketing, distribution and physical production. While only three people will be laid off (it’s a small wing), the consolidation speaks to a larger and growing trend of major film studios cutting back on spending and downsizing their indie tentacles (what so now it’s all blockbusters from here in?

Continue reading Trade Noise: Paramount Vantage Folded, ‘Nailed’ Gets Back On Its Feet, Indies Protected By SAG Waivers at The Playlist.

‘Nailed’ Or Cursed? David O. Russell’s Political Satire Shut Down For Third Time Due To Money Woes

Rodrigo Perez — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:05:00 +0000

Production on David O. Russell’s political satire, “Nailed,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel was shut down for a third time late last week. Film Union IATSE ordered its members to leave the set because the crew haven’t been paid. If you haven’t been keeping up with the drama surrounding this film, well suffice to say the production seems underfunded and hopelessly cursed. Amazingly, people and the lead actors still believe in the film. [Deadline Hollywood]

Continue reading ‘Nailed’ Or Cursed? David O. Russell’s Political Satire Shut Down For Third Time Due To Money Woes at The Playlist.

‘Nailed’ Production Shut Down… Again

Rodrigo Perez — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:55:00 +0000

Bed goes up, bed goes down, bed goes up, bed goes down.

Ah, the world of indie financing. ‘Nailed,’ the political satire by loose-cannon director David O. Russell, had it’s production shut down for a weekend and then it was back up and running three days later.

Guess what? The troubled production has been shut down again.

Crews actually refused to work on Thursday (May 15) when there was more financial difficulties and monies weren’t paid.

Continue reading ‘Nailed’ Production Shut Down… Again at The Playlist.

David O. Russell’s ‘Nailed’ Temporarily Shuts Down Due To “Cash Crunch”; Lead Actors Asked To Leave By SAG

Rodrigo Perez — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:45:00 +0000

Ok, we all knew David O. Russell was having problems on the set of his new political satire, “Nailed,” it is the mercurial O.Russell after all – a director that no one seems to be able to stomach (including generally genial people like George Clooney), but things have apparently gotten much, much worse and the production is shutting down.

First Robert Duvall walked off the set and then quit “Nailed,” and then there were reports that lead actor Jake Gyllenhaal was displaying “diva-like” behavior (the film also stars Jessica Biel) Much of this isn’t new for O.Russell, both his last two films, “I Heart Huckabees,” and “Three Kings” were filled with tons of onset drama and turmoil (infamous footage of his battles with the actors and particularly Lily Tomlin from ‘Huckabees’ made the rounds and the Clooney famous socked O.Russell in the mouth for being such a tyrannical dick on the set of ‘Kings’).

Continue reading David O. Russell’s ‘Nailed’ Temporarily Shuts Down Due To “Cash Crunch”; Lead Actors Asked To Leave By SAG at The Playlist.

Who’s Crazier? James Caan Or David O.Russell? Call It The Cookie Incident

Rodrigo Perez — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:25:00 +0000

You’ll recall that we just reported that James Caan walked off the set of David O. Russell’s new political satire, “Nailed,” and then quit the film.

O.Russell’s history as difficult, temper-tantrum throwing director is well very documented and Caan himself isn’t a walk in the park either. Well, apparently the incident happened over a measly cookie.

And, the Hollywood Reporter says the altercation happened on Caan’s first day of shooting!

Caan played the U.S.

Continue reading Who’s Crazier? James Caan Or David O.Russell? Call It The Cookie Incident at The Playlist.

David O. Russell Strikes Again: James Caan Walks Off The Set Of ‘Nailed’

Rodrigo Perez — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:11:00 +0000

Every self-respecting cinephile knows director David O. Russell is an insufferable prick and extremely difficult to work with. Hell, every fair weather fan of filmmaking basically knows it.
He pissed off the Cloon so bad, the actor punched him out and everyone saw his “I Hate Huckabees” onset tantrum (Clooney later called the “Three Kings” shoot as “the worst experience of my life”).

So what’s next? Well, O. Russell is currently shooting the Washington D.C.

Continue reading David O. Russell Strikes Again: James Caan Walks Off The Set Of ‘Nailed’ at The Playlist.