James Woods Loves TV
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy, Newsstand
At a press event for his upcoming TV drama Shark over the weekend, James Woods was asked why he thought so many movie stars were turning up on the small screen. Though we, sadly, don't get invited to press junkets for TV shows, Ray Richmond of The Hollywood Reporter was there and took the time to transcribe Wood's typically intelligent, manic response.Like Richmond, I adore Woods and his willingness to speak his mind; it's incredibly refreshing to find someone like that in an industry that's so carefully controlled. Though I happen to disagree with his politics, which often drive his opinions, I think he tends to be worth listening to. Basically, Woods is sick of what Hollywood is making right now. But he's not talk about Little Man, and the other things that we all think are crap. Instead, he's annoyed by award-winners like Brokeback Mountain, Transamerica and Capote, which he describes as having "sort of the same tenor and tone." More specifically, Woods believes that there's "not ... as much breadth to the imagination in the movies these days. They are very careful. Movies seem to be scared, whereas television seems to be like a teenager feeling his or her oats ... Television is more sophisticated, more dynamic, more gut-wrenching to me today than the movies." Take that, filmmaking world.
Now, granted, this is a guy busy promoting a TV series (the pilot of which which he calls "The best thing I've read in 10 years, period"), who certainly could be seen as having a very specific reason to talk down film and talk up the quality of television. What do you guys think? Does he have a point, or is he just getting attention for his current gig by talking down Hollywood?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-17-2006 @ 5:06PM
Bishop said...
I whole heartedly agree with his belief in that Hollywood has lost all creative imagination, that all movies in a specific genre are becoming the same, and that all those movies getting awards put me to sleep and thats all that they were good for.
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7-17-2006 @ 8:36PM
plainspoken said...
It's the whole "design by committee" mantra that has corporate hollywood ralphing over.
Until there's another artistic coup d'etat like in the late 60's where the directors took over it won't change.
BTW, Wood's is probably overstating the case a little. Only cable seems to have the freedom and the willingness to explore the boundaries.
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11-05-2006 @ 9:32PM
Mark Clemens said...
BBM, Transamerica, Capote have "the same tenor and tone?" Has he seen these films? That's the kind of generalized comment that makes Hollywood folk look like fools. There is crap on the big screen AND the little screen both. I didn't care for Transamerica, but Felicity Huffman was genius. BBM and Capote are excellent films. So are The Constant Gardener and Pride and Prejudice...and Pirates of the Caribbean (the first two, not the most recent one). What a random comment for someone like James Woods to make (altho he IS promoting his own TV show, so I guess it's not as random as it appears.)
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7-17-2006 @ 11:31PM
lynn woloshen said...
He most assuredly has a point. Most of what Hollywood is currently turning out assumes an
audience of lesser beings. There is very little offered that would induce me to spend my money.
This summer I've found myself purchasing BBC dvds
once aired on public television. "Little Man," has very little to offer anyone. I'd rather save the gasoline and stay home to watch The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.
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