We sat down with the director for a lengthy discussion on everything from filmmaking, his new Freudian flick (almost a Julia Roberts vehicle!) and his failed attempt to make a Dead Ringers TV show.
Director David Cronenberg On A Dangerous Method, Dead Ringers The TV Show, And Working With Franchise Film Stars
Pencil This In
MOVIES: It's a perfect night to head to the movies. Get a double-feature in at the MoMA with Fabricating Tom Zé followed by David Cronenberg's Crash. Let's focus on the former film. Tom Zé (pictured) is a Brazilian songwriter and composer and this documentary (filmed during a 2005 European tour) charts his "personal universe". Zé is an "uncompromising and inspired artist...seen by many (including David Byrne and Arto Lindsay) as revitalizing the ever-evolving Tropicalia movement. Zé, who narrates his own story, is a very special musical phenomenon in a genre mostly associated with Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil—both of whom warmly assess the musical genius of their friend."
Weekend Movies: It All Ends With a Red Carpet
Don't get confused – today is Friday. Gothamist has been a bit under the weather, hence our little weekend movie preview showing up today rather than on its usual Thursday. And while we all anxiously count down the minutes until Monday's Golden Globes, there are a lot of great movie options available without even considering all the 2005 films hoping to take home a prize.
Weekly Movie Guide
Once again, movie lovers have plenty to rejoice about over the next week. Three international heavyweights have new releases and we're not including Jodie Foster going crazy on an airplane in that equation. One of New York's most important production companies gets saluted at MoMA plus there's this little thing starting at Lincoln Center tomorrow night which should dominate much of the city's film landscape for the coming fortnight just as it does this week's .
Two Important Literary Adaptations
Join in the discussion about books turned movies on the Gothamist Forums.
Arachnophobia
I saw the new film, Spider, from the strange yet compelling David Cronenberg last night, with Cronenberg giving a Q&A afterwards. He's very smart and funny, two important qualities in a director. He was talking about his technique and then confessed "I only get to say this now in hindsight - I don't know what I'm doing while I'm filming." Yes, charming is another important quality, though not necessary - just critical if one wants to get the film financed. He seems a little unhinged too, or at least enough to write Dead Ringers among other things and put the fear of gynecologists into many women. Anyway, he also praised Patrick McGrath's screenplay from McGrath's own book because there's "no direct translation for books to screen." Which makes sense and is probably why I hated The Hours - too literal a translation. Anyway, Spider itself subtly sucks you into the main character's fevered mind. Ralph Fiennes does a fine job playing insane and Miranda Richardson needs more high-profile gigs - she's too good not to be seen more.

