Russell Crowe plans Bill Hicks project

[Truth4Youth]

I knew a guy on another messageboard that thought that Jones was actually comedy and then went over-the-edge after Hicks death. Do you think the same?

No ... nor do I actually believe either of the "conspiracy theories" I mentioned.

Jones is comedy but as a side-effect. And I still respect him for his efforts.

Yeah, but I think he has tried to be comic at times. I remember seeing a video a while back where he dressed up in a black ski mask and acted if he was a gov't terrorist. I just can't imagine that being anything but deliberate. Then again this is Alex Jones we're talking about.

[elfismiles]

I knew a guy on another messageboard that thought that Jones was actually comedy and then went over-the-edge after Hicks death. Do you think the same?

No ... nor do I actually believe either of the "conspiracy theories" I mentioned.

Jones is comedy but as a side-effect. And I still respect him for his efforts.

Yeah, but I think he has tried to be comic at times. I remember seeing a video a while back where he dressed up in a black ski mask and acted if he was a gov't terrorist. I just can't imagine that being anything but deliberate. Then again this is Alex Jones we're talking about.

Hey ... as hard as it may be to imagine - Alex is a fun loving guy! He pals around with Kevin Booth (Hick's best friend), Joe Rogan etal. He deliberately does have fun now and again with his ability to do character voices.

I have audio and video of tons of his past access tv shows and I've wanted to put that stuff online for a long long time.

smiles

[sunny]

(Looks a lot like RC)

Info from Wiki:

In April 1993, while touring in Australia, he started complaining of pains in his side, and on June 16 of that year, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He started receiving weekly chemotherapy, while still touring and also recording his album, Arizona Bay, with Kevin Booth. He was also working with comedian Fallon Woodland on a pilot episode of a new talk show, titled Counts of the Netherworld for Channel 4 at the time of his death. The budget and concept had been approved, and a pilot was filmed. The Counts of the Netherworld pilot was shown at the various Tenth Anniversary Tribute Night events around the world on February 26, 2004. - Hicks played the final show of his career at Caroline's in New York on January 6, 1994. He moved back to his parents' house in Little Rock, Arkansas shortly thereafter. He called his friends to say goodbye before he stopped speaking on February 14, and died in the presence of his parents at 11:20 p.m. on February 26, 1994. Hicks was buried on the family plot in Leakesville, Mississippi.

I did not know this. Leakesville is not 20 miles from my hometown. Next time I'm up there I'll have to pay my respects.

[Truth4Youth]

I've never really seen his movies, so can someone explain to me why he is a bad choice for Bill Hicks? I'm sure many said the same thing about Jim Carey being cast in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and he ended up being EXCELLENT in that movie.

[sunny]

I've never really seen his movies, so can someone explain to me why he is a bad choice for Bill Hicks? I'm sure many said the same thing about Jim Carey being cast in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and he ended up being EXCELLENT in that movie.

The only problem I see is that Crowe is too old. IMO, he can still capture the spirit of the man. The physicality doesn't have to be perfect.

It does look like this thing will happen, and his recent comment on the subject is extremely encouraging:

But then there's his hoped-for biopic of Bill Hicks - truth or myth?

"It's a labour of love. it's been a couple of years so far, just discussing all the different possibilities and working on a script. Because you could approach it and just do a straightforward biopic, but that doesn't respect who he is and what he had to say. There's a very different theory that Bill Hicks was in fact a prophet, and that the things he said 20 years ago are still relevant now. Like he said, 'Don't vote in George Bush Sr because there are a whole lot of Bushes in Texas...' You can go through the stuff he was saying then and it's actually shocking, because it's like he was talking yesterday."

Empire Online

[JackRiddler]

.

Why did IanEye ask to have his account deleted?

.

[Joe Hillshoist]

Dunno whats up with Ianeye, but I'd hate to see him leave.

I'm sure he has his reasons.

I don't have a lot of respect for Russle crowe, but I wouldn't think he'd be the sort of person to gloss over Hicks' more controversial statements, from Limbaugh and B Bush' Bush, to the 12 scumfuck capitalist the egg and goatboy. They kind of define what he stands for, as opposed some of his imitators.

I'd love hugh to point me to his analysis of the Bra Boys and My brothers keeper, on that other thread too. Or start a new one on it.

[sunny]

Hey Joe, why don't you have a lot of respect for Crowe? Surely you don't hold his beer ("I have respect for beer!") fueled rages against him?

[Joe Hillshoist]

Possibly his beer fueled rages, or any of 4000 dickhead comments he has made on any number of things.

Mostly its just the tall poppy syndrome tho.

On the plus side at east he wants to get the pokies out of South Sydney leagues club.

[sunny]

I'm quite fond of his dickhead comments, myself. At least he's not afraid to be a dickhead who tells it like he feels it; unlike most other fakety-fake phony grin shuck-and-jive bullshite we get from most actors.

[Joe Hillshoist]

Maybe I'm just bitter that he pissed off to the Holywood right when our Film Industry needed someone of his standing to hang around here.

Check out his (and his business partner's) attempts to remove poker machines from the South Sydney Leagues Club tho. That obviously shows some level of social committment, and an understanding of how a hollywood star can actually do something worthwhile that has a real potential to benefit people, at least in principle and if everyone followed his example.

He certainly won some respect from me for that.

Whether he succeeds or fails, and if in the long run his attempt is shown to cause more probs than it solves at least he's trying something.

Did I mention he lives up a valley like mine a couple of hundred of kms down the road?

[sunny]

Yes I remember you telling me he lived pretty close to you. He's in Coffs Harbour, right? I read something recently about him setting up a fund there for bushfire victims.

I bet the folks are mad at him for removing the pokies?

What about Bra Boys? Isn't that movie tied in with the Aussie film industry?

[Joe Hillshoist]

Yeah but in the last 10 years maybe 15 the independant Australian film industry has died.

There were a host of films even as recently as 10 years ago, but since Heath ledger's first film, Two hands, which is fucking excellent, the only movies that get made here seem to be horror movies.

bra boys.

I wanna here what Hugh reckons about that. That its a plot to ditract us from something Wesley Clarke said.

I think Hugh should retract that absolutely baseless statement before people start using it as evidence that he has lost the plot.

(Seriously Hugh WTF were you thinking?)

He's out the back of Coffs somewhere. It'll come to me eventually.

If you didn't donate to the bushfires appeal tho, and you live in rural Australia you ae a prick (unless you are broke, I spose). Within reason anyway. One reason so many people donated was "there but for the grace of God" factor. Good to see him doing that tho. (Also cos he lives on the North Coast, I'd kind of hope he'd get involved in some local issues, even if I disagree with them. I know its setting yourself up for criticism, but ... he is sposed to live here too.)

Even that renowned Greenie and former Australian of the Year Tim Flannery has lost his home to a bushfire. Its not that common, but it ain't rare.

As far as the pokies thing goes yeah.

leagues clubs are the basis of Rugby league football in NSW. They all have pokies and all make a fortune. They also spend a fortune on looking after their members - the elderly ones especially. They are a big part of the community, and alot of their turnover goes into their communities.

A lot of it comes from pokies tho, and alot of that pokie income comes from problem gamblers who spend their whole lives pushing buttons and looking at pretty screens. (WHat freaks, we're not like that are we.) As a result their families are often fucked. Pokies addiction would have to be one of the worst in terms of effects on family, tho none of em are that good.

Anyway the board of the SSLC aren't all that happy, some of the members are furious, esp the gambling addicts, some of whom say things like "well if we are gonna throw our money away we'd rather do it here".

[sunny]

[I feel bad for bumping this thread during such an important news week--could a mod please move it to the Lounge or to the Culture Studies forum?]

Russell Crowe To Make Directorial Debut With Bill Hicks Biopic, Production To Start In 2013



It's well-known now, but there was a definite shift right around the release of Judd Apatow's “Funny People” when everyone suddenly realized Eric Bana had incredible comic chops, even though his native Australian fanbase had known that fact for ages from the actor's sitcom and stand-up career. Sadly, fellow Aussie Russell Crowe has no such hushed comedy background to be discovered, so he's decided lately to grow a sense of humor, first appearing as the villain in RZA's kung-fu film “Man With The Iron Fists,” and now making his own directorial debut with a biopic centered around one of comedy's biggest legends.

Crowe is currently wrapped up in Iceland shooting Darren Aronofsky's biblical epic “Noah,” but afterwards is planning a biopic on comedian Bill Hicks' life for his debut behind the camera. Primarily known for notoriety gained over his signature stage presence and cutting material, Hicks still attracted a massive following that has only grown in size since his death in 1994, and one that Crowe is hoping will show up for his take on the man's life. "Bill Hicks' life is tragically short, but spectacularly interesting," said Mark Staufer, an old schoolmate of Crowe's that penned the script, "The screenplay has gone through a number of drafts and we'll go into production early next year."

When Staufer describes the changes made in pre-production, he's referring to a journey spanning all the way back to 2008, when the script was nothing more than a treatment to which Crowe responded favorably. The actor initially envisioned himself as the lead (which admittedly would make for a fascinating portrayal), but has now apparently has settled for solely the director's duties instead. No follow-up names have been mentioned, but it remains a compelling project for Crowe to tackle, and one that could potentially join the ranks of “Lenny” with an amazing performance for whomever lands the showcase role. [Telegraph]

[elfismiles]

Thanks for the update Sunny!

I'd love some Bill-Hicksian "distraction" right about now.