I haven’t read any Elmore Leonard myself, but I do enjoy the “who should direct this” game, so I’ll bite. Based on the movies I’ve seen and the sensibilities you described, John Dahl seems like a natural fit. After all, BP underdog favorite Red Rock West has a lot of these characteristics. Then of course there’s Scott Frank, who has successfully adapted Leonard in the past and who has proven to be a capable director. Rian Johnson could do it if he could balance out the best characteristics of Brick and The Brothers Bloom. Gore Verbinski would work if he wanted to set aside Disney blockbusters for a spell. Martin McDonagh would nail the dark comedy and perhaps offer a more existential take on the material. Finally (and this is a nutty one)…Jim Jarmusch. Talk about paring things down. Of course he’d never do it because it might actually be accessible and commercial.
Also, Nicolas Cage should be in one of these movies.
Curtis Hanson, in reference to Wonder Boys way more than LA Confidential, feels like he could handle it. (And it would be awesome if he made a good movie again.)
I’d like to see how much hard work it is to play a Elmore Leonard character so I guess Sean Penn. In all seriousness though,wouldn’t it be awesome if George C. Scott ever played an Elmore Leonard character? James Gunn could do quite well with Elmore Leonard’s material. As for living actors I think Jonah Hill would be a valid choice. So here’s the project: James Gunn directing Jonah Hill based off an Elmore Leonard book.
Hey there! Tyler mentioned that he thought more or less that John Grisham’s stuff is “disposable”. I ain’t mad at ya, but I thought I’d recommend A Painted House(which is not a legal thriller at all) and The Testament(which contains one of the best, most authentic Christian characters I’ve ever run into in fiction). I think he writes great characters. And like Elmore Leonard, there have been some less than stellar adaptations of his work. Thanks for the show, I’m glad y’all keep the archives up for newer listeners to go back and check out!
Yeah, that is probably a bit too much of a blanket statement. He has a niche and, from everything I’ve heard, he’s great at it. And some of the movies based on his books are pretty good (THE FIRM, for example).
The podcast seems to be getting funnier, have you guys employed writers? 😉
Thanks for saying the first part but I’m a tad offended by the second part.
– David
Just jokes David, just jokes
Same here.
– David
I haven’t read any Elmore Leonard myself, but I do enjoy the “who should direct this” game, so I’ll bite. Based on the movies I’ve seen and the sensibilities you described, John Dahl seems like a natural fit. After all, BP underdog favorite Red Rock West has a lot of these characteristics. Then of course there’s Scott Frank, who has successfully adapted Leonard in the past and who has proven to be a capable director. Rian Johnson could do it if he could balance out the best characteristics of Brick and The Brothers Bloom. Gore Verbinski would work if he wanted to set aside Disney blockbusters for a spell. Martin McDonagh would nail the dark comedy and perhaps offer a more existential take on the material. Finally (and this is a nutty one)…Jim Jarmusch. Talk about paring things down. Of course he’d never do it because it might actually be accessible and commercial.
Also, Nicolas Cage should be in one of these movies.
Those are all really good suggestions. Including the Nicolas Cage one.
– David
Yeah, no one plays “darkly hilarious lowlife” quite like The Cage.
Curtis Hanson, in reference to Wonder Boys way more than LA Confidential, feels like he could handle it. (And it would be awesome if he made a good movie again.)
Sounds like someone didn’t see a little movie called… The One Where Gerard Butler’s a Surfer.
– David
A surfer named Frosty at that. Totally overlooked at the Oscars.
I’d like to see how much hard work it is to play a Elmore Leonard character so I guess Sean Penn. In all seriousness though,wouldn’t it be awesome if George C. Scott ever played an Elmore Leonard character? James Gunn could do quite well with Elmore Leonard’s material. As for living actors I think Jonah Hill would be a valid choice. So here’s the project: James Gunn directing Jonah Hill based off an Elmore Leonard book.
James Gunn, yes! I’ll tell him to get on it right after he finishes the remake of A Boy and His Dog I’ve been wanting him to do.
Good call on James Gunn which makes me think Nathan Fillion needs a shot at this.
Two quick notes from late in the podcast:
I saw SUPPORTING CHARACTERS on Netflix streaming a little while back. It’s a super tiny movie, but pretty decent.
Carl Franklin just had a new movie come out on DVD, BLESS ME, ULTIMA, which is very different from his regular stuff. Also worth seeing.
I didn’t care much for Bless Me, Ultima. There’s a review of it somewhere on this site.
– David
Hey there! Tyler mentioned that he thought more or less that John Grisham’s stuff is “disposable”. I ain’t mad at ya, but I thought I’d recommend A Painted House(which is not a legal thriller at all) and The Testament(which contains one of the best, most authentic Christian characters I’ve ever run into in fiction). I think he writes great characters. And like Elmore Leonard, there have been some less than stellar adaptations of his work. Thanks for the show, I’m glad y’all keep the archives up for newer listeners to go back and check out!
Yeah, that is probably a bit too much of a blanket statement. He has a niche and, from everything I’ve heard, he’s great at it. And some of the movies based on his books are pretty good (THE FIRM, for example).