Top 5 Writer/Directors
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writers_reign — 16 years ago(January 10, 2010 07:04 AM)
French and mainstream. Francis Veber is, in some ways the natural successor to Wilder, specialising in off-color comedy that verges into 'black'. He began as just a writer, one of his big hits was La Cage Aux Folles, another, L'Emmerdeur, a third Les Fugitifs. ALL of these were remade in Hollywood, indeed, Wilder himself remade 'L'Emmerdeur' as Buddy, Buddy, it was his last film and a disater. Cage Uux folles was remade as The Birdcage, with Robin Williams and Les Fugitifs (directed by Veber himself, who now lives in Hollywood) as Three Fugitifs. Eventually he became a writer-director and kicked off with three movies starring Gerard Depardieu, Le Chevre, Les Comperes and the aforementiond Les Fugitifs, Another of his titles, Diner de Cons, is in the process of being remade in Hollywood as The Dinner Party.
Agnes Jaoui is a triple-threat, Writer-Director-Actress. She wrote six screenplays with writing partner and co-actor Jean-Pierre Bacri then wrote, directed and starred in Le Gout de Autres, a multi award winner. She followed with Come d'une igage (Look At Me) in the states and now has a third title on release. Daniele Thompson was one of the most successful screenwriters in France, starting out with a monster hit, La Grand Vadrouille, She wrote a dozen or so huge hits - La Reine Margot, Those Who Love Me Can Take The Train, La Boum, before turning writer-director with La Buche, then came Decalage Horaire (Jet Lag) in America and Fauteuils Orchestre (Avenue Montagne in the US), Tonie Marshall and Nicole Garcia and Ann Fontaine began as actresses, in fact Garcia still acts in other people's movies. Chances are Fontaine's latest film, Coco Avant Chanel (Coco Before Chanel) was released in the states last year, possible because the lead, Coco, was played by Audrey Tautou, who had an international hit with Amelie. -
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writers_reign — 16 years ago(January 12, 2010 06:12 AM)
Dix sur dix. You're right; living in London it's easy to get to Paris - two and a half hours by Eurostar - and the French take their movies seriously. In Paris there are roughly 20 art/revival houses compared to about three art in London. They're standing in line in Paris at nine A.M. at the Multiplexes andevery week of the year you're gonna find a 'cycle' (season) of Hawks, Wilder, Lubitsch, Sturges, Bogie, Cagney, Marx Bros, Mankiewicz, etc plus, of course, seasons devoted to domestic talent, Gabin, Morgan, Duvivier, Carne, Arletty, Renoir, etc.
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PenelopeTree — 16 years ago(January 12, 2010 11:30 AM)
yes, that I have known about the French, that they take these films you mention a lot more seriously. Certainly more than we Americans do. Meaning the government. And 51% of the people. It is so difficult for the Amerian govt.( more so with Republicans but not always), that I have thought artists/filmmakers need to go to France and get an endowment or a grant. lol. And meaning the people too, because the only huge turn out you would see in America except possibly for LA and NYCwould be a college campus showing of those directors and actors you mention. Is it this way in England? Are movies like "Transformers" a box office hit in London or Paris.?
I would travel to England and France if I had the bucks but do not, so nice to meet you. I would love that about France to experience their enthusiam. And that is just what Clint Estwood said when he accepted a recent award froom the French government/people. lol
I wanna be sedated.