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Post by Pittsnogle_Goggins on Oct 8, 2020 14:37:56 GMT
Was perusing his IMDb and was surprised by how diverse his filmography is. Was pretty shocked to realize that the dude who directed The Exorcist and The French Connection also directed Blue Chips.
Anyways, thoughts on him as a director and his filmography?
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Post by thomasjerome on Oct 8, 2020 14:48:46 GMT
Legend. Brilliant director; who has made one of the greatest horror films (The Exorcist) and some of the finest action-thrillers of all time (French Connection, Sorcerer, To Live and Die in L.A.). "Boys in the Band" was ahead of its time also. His filmography has ups and downs but you can't help but feel certain kind of fascination even for his failures and to be honest, I personally enjoy some of his less-praised films like "Rampage" and "Jade". He's indeed diverse. Not so many people know that he directed that Laura Branigan video ("Self Control") right after making a very good "Twilight Zone" episode (Nightcrawlers). He even managed to make a remake of a beloved classic ("12 Angry Men") work very fine and no matter how old he got, he never lost a bit of his originality as is evident in "Bug" and "Killer Joe". He remained unpredictable and original. Wish he'd more prolific but he had other interests anyways; he directs operas around the world.
His interviews are GOLD, by the way. He's often hilarious, and always have something interesting to say.
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Nikan
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Post by Nikan on Oct 8, 2020 14:49:39 GMT
Admittedly, I have only seen his most-praised outputs but I like him well enough. The Exorcist might be my favorite horror film in general, The French Connection and To Live and Die in L.A Kicked major ass and Killer Joe, while not being that great makes for a wacky night. Cruising I can do without.
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Post by stephen on Oct 8, 2020 14:53:01 GMT
A master. I actually think he went out on his best film, too, which so few directors can boast about. Friedkin and Letts were a match made in heaven, and it's a real shame Billy didn't take on August: Osage County and completely recast it from scratch (well, he could keep Martindale).
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Post by pacinoyes on Oct 8, 2020 15:06:50 GMT
Overrated but sometimes great (French Connection), much of To Live and Die in LA which is shallow but thrilling ......he is erratic within films not just in his career....The Exorcist is the best example of his worst impulses - an episodic, at times gripping movie to start with ........that he himself misunderstood in his Director's Cut ending scene too.
Some of his later work I think is quite overpraised - Bug (a great play, not a good film) is set at a ludicrous pitch - a common mistake........and Killer Joe which to me is just a gross and crass film.......Cruising is one of his more successful films in a way - it's certainly ugly and unpleasant, but it conveys some ideas in his head far more effectively than others he made that actually in a way repeat that material.
His autobiography is a classic movie book everyone should read......... The Friedkin Connection: A Memoir
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Post by TerryMontana on Oct 8, 2020 15:34:59 GMT
I like him a lot. Mainly because of the French Connection and The Excorcist.
From the other ones, I enjoyed Sorcerer, Killer Joe, even Rules of Engagement a bit.
On the other hand, his work in The Hunted, Cruising and Blue Chips is flat out bad.
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Post by Tommen_Saperstein on Oct 8, 2020 15:40:43 GMT
He's quite good
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Post by cheesecake on Oct 8, 2020 21:09:09 GMT
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