Peter Weir Picks His Next Project
Filed under: Drama, Scripts, War
Peter Weir directs movies about as often as I do, these days, which is a damn shame, since he's one of the best there is. He hasn't touched a camera since Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World in 2003, and 1998's The Truman Show before that. He was attached for a while to Johnny Depp's Shantaram as well as the WWII epic War Magician, but neither of those panned out. This week, Variety reports that he's committed to a new project: The Way Back, a true story of a group of soldiers who escape from a Siberian gulag in 1940. As with Master and Commander and his best film, Gallipoli, Weir wrote the screenplay for The Way Back himself. He starts shooting the movie in March, in eastern Europe.
I suspect that Weir's selectivity is the key to his fantastic track record. He's a solid, straightforward director, but he really knows how to pick the great stories -- the ones that mean something. (Though I hate Dead Poets Society, so go figure that one out.) Two of his films are among my all-time favorites -- Gallipoli and The Truman Show -- so I'm basically obligated to get excited about anything he does. He does anything rarely enough that it's not too much of a burden.
Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams Reunite for 'Mission Impossible 4'
'Big Top Pee-Wee': The Original Benicio Del Toro Wolfman
Spin-ematical: New on DVD and Blu-ray for 2/9
Watch This: Brilliant Oscar-Nominated Short 'Logorama'
Chris Nolan to Lead 'Superman' Reboot!?
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-18-2008 @ 10:12AM
Jeffrey said...
I absolutely love Witness, so this is welcome news.
Reply
10-18-2008 @ 11:44AM
Sarah said...
One of Peter Weir's pre-Hollywood films is The Year of Living Dangerously, one of the best movies ever.
Reply
10-19-2008 @ 10:25PM
adamcoop said...
Don't forget "The Cars That Ate Paris".
Reply
10-20-2008 @ 12:59PM
DAVID F said...
The Mosquito Coast and Fearless are two seldom seen and often discarded favorites of mine. I wish Weir would hook up with Ford again.
Reply
10-30-2008 @ 3:13PM
JRL said...
Just a correction. Weir wrote the original story outline for Gallipoli, but the screenplay is by David Williamson. It is his best movie, though.
Reply
11-23-2008 @ 11:26AM
JB said...
I can't wait! PW is the best director alive today, no contest. The Last Wave,Year of Living Dangerously, Fearless, M&C, The Truman Show, Witness, Gallipoli ... a string of haunting, epic films.
Even his weaker efforts (The Mosquito Coast, Picnic at Hanging Rock) are miles ahead of most everything else being produced today.
Reply