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I was wondering if anyone has heard of a workprint of Killshot.
Novel: Elmore Leonard, Director: John Madden (Shakespeare in Love), Starring: Diane Lane, Mickey Rourke, Thomas Jane, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rosario Dawson.
The movie got bounced around for several years before going straight to DVD. During that time it seems the Weinsteins performed a hatchet job on the film.
According to Wikipedia, audience found the plot ‘too confusing’, which usually translates as ‘too smart for them’. They also disliked Johnny Knoxville so his entire subplot was removed.
Now I’m not a fan of Knoxville (at ALL), but his character was supposed to be unlikable. I consider that mission accomplished, and not a reason to cut a film.
Anyway, considering the quality of the cast, director, and source material I can’t help thinking this is another case of the Weinsteins cutting a pretty good film until it’s tasteless, homogenous, soylent green that the masses can digest.
So again… has anyone heard of/seen/smelt of a workprint?
Edit 11/12/2010:
I decided to rename this thread after sitting through Burt Reynold’s nearly good film ‘Stick’ tonight.
It has the elements you would expect from Elmore Leonard, but none of the humor or offbeat/stupid crooks.
Reading up on the film, it turns out Burt DID shoot that film as scripted by Elmore, but Universal insisted he go back, reshoot more action and cut the humor.
Leonard Elmore divorced himself from the project and we’re left with a merely OK film. Although I still haven’t found a Killshot workprint, I’m going to add the long shot of a request for info leading to a ‘Stick’ workprint.
I’m starting to realize that a LOT of Elmore Leonard’s films were mishandled by people who didn’t seem to get what makes Elmore’s books so great.
Anyway, if anyone wants to see about adding requests for other EL workprints or to maybe to offer some up, post away.
Dr. M