Scott started out as a commercial/TV Ad director and I don't think he's ever fundamentally left that mindset behind. To him making films is a case of marshalling the logistics in order to fulfill a client's brief. Its a business, not an art form. Sure there may be projects he's more invested in than others, but he comes across in interviews as the guy you go to to make your soap powder commercial look good, not a true auteur filmmaker. I think this explains his prodigious output, the often glaring lack of discernment when it comes to screenplays and the way he's seemingly ready to compromise over his vision with the movie execs.
I find that Scott is very much like an old school studio director from the golden age. He reminds me a little of John Ford. He can be pugnacious in interviews, but he approaches filmmaking as a craft, not an art. This isn’t to say that his films don’t have artistic elements in them, but merely that the technical elements often take precedent. This isn’t always a bad approach to filmmaking; it’s just old-fashioned.
I'd rather pull my finger nails out than subject myself to Gladiator 2. Neopoleon was tedious beyond belief. All this from a man who couldn't give a fuck what the plebs think. He's no 'hack' but a rather ruthless businessman and filmmaker. His best times have gone, but he still churns out movies to keep his faculties functioning. Whether that be the mixed nuts of House of Gucci to The Martian, etc... I'll remember him for his earlier work and altering the visual landscape of futuristic possibilities that became Hollywood fact.
Great video. I think that Scott himself may be the perfect living argument against or antithesis of the whole concept of the auteur director. Most of his films that have received acclaim also involved very single minded or talented scriptwriters, producers and actors. He strikes me more of an excellent producer rather than a genius director.
Agreed when he has a good script like Thelma and Louise or The Martian he makes a great films because he can focus on the visuals. Or he needs strong actors in there to question and improve the script like Russell Crowe on Gladiator or Harrison Ford on Blade Runner.
Nah-nah-nah, I'd say they secretly hope that they'll walk into his trailer one day and he is permanently retired. Then no matter what Prometheus/Covenant level of dump he was squeezing out at the moment, they can finish it on their own and sell as his last picture ever. Be honest, you'll be there in a heartbeat. There will be a Harry Potter book finale line outside of theaters. News broadcast will say "Millions of fans gathered together to pay their respects to The Auteur". And you will be there in the frame, dressed as Maximus the Gladiator, alongside rotund Pris, even more rotund J.I.Jane, martian in a cardboard spacesuit, and dude dressed as Ash, holding ginger cat and spitting cream for movie accuracy.
I feel like his experience making Gladiator and Black Hawk Down has shaped him to who he is now where by Gladiator told him I don’t need a proper script to start shooting we can just work on it as we go along. And Black Hawk Down got him shooting faster with multiple cameras to fulfil the schedule and still get the results. Even if those approaches only worked on those films he’s carried them over and I think it’s affected the quality of his other films.
His last great movie was American Gangster, saw it on Netflix, haven’t seen it since 2007, I forgot how great the movie was. Also I’m so happy he didn’t direct Blade Runner 2049.
If Ridley had sold out we would be getting another Alien prequel movie don't you think, Studios tending to throw bones to anyone prepared to follow the company playbook. Nearly any high budget movie involves compromise and trade offs, simply how the business works. But by all means continue with the narrative that some people seem to be buying into.
What, two isn't enough? What about selling his name to appear as a producer of Romulus, all while doing absolutely nothing what you would expect an actual producer do? Plus, I don't see why anyone would demand him to make another. He's baked on that field. No one, but the absolute diehard fans will go watch another Alien related movie from him.
BRO! I was writing about this last night! Its funny too that people don't talk about why Blade Runner flopped initially... It was because of the studio mandated V.O. again showing his complicity with the studios bastardizing his pictures. Taking credit for the "directors cut" which ,again, was a warner bros assembly (like with Alien) What else can I say! Probably should either retire or live out the rest of his career and credibility making proactive, experiential, and experimental cinema instead of commercially minded pieces that end up just ruining franchises he's started.
I have a bad feeling we’re never going to find out what happened to Walter. Say what you want, but Covenant showed the first human-synthetic (developing) romance. Alien: The Director’s Cut is the only DC to be shorter than the Theatrical version, i think, like ever.
Scott started out as a commercial/TV Ad director and I don't think he's ever fundamentally left that mindset behind. To him making films is a case of marshalling the logistics in order to fulfill a client's brief. Its a business, not an art form. Sure there may be projects he's more invested in than others, but he comes across in interviews as the guy you go to to make your soap powder commercial look good, not a true auteur filmmaker. I think this explains his prodigious output, the often glaring lack of discernment when it comes to screenplays and the way he's seemingly ready to compromise over his vision with the movie execs.
I find that Scott is very much like an old school studio director from the golden age. He reminds me a little of John Ford. He can be pugnacious in interviews, but he approaches filmmaking as a craft, not an art. This isn’t to say that his films don’t have artistic elements in them, but merely that the technical elements often take precedent. This isn’t always a bad approach to filmmaking; it’s just old-fashioned.
His fee is $20 million per film. Studios keep paying it, so he'll keep going to work until the offers stop. I think it's simple as that.
I'd rather pull my finger nails out than subject myself to Gladiator 2. Neopoleon was tedious beyond belief. All this from a man who couldn't give a fuck what the plebs think. He's no 'hack' but a rather ruthless businessman and filmmaker. His best times have gone, but he still churns out movies to keep his faculties functioning. Whether that be the mixed nuts of House of Gucci to The Martian, etc... I'll remember him for his earlier work and altering the visual landscape of futuristic possibilities that became Hollywood fact.
Great video.
I think that Scott himself may be the perfect living argument against or antithesis of the whole concept of the auteur director. Most of his films that have received acclaim also involved very single minded or talented scriptwriters, producers and actors. He strikes me more of an excellent producer rather than a genius director.
Agreed when he has a good script like Thelma and Louise or The Martian he makes a great films because he can focus on the visuals. Or he needs strong actors in there to question and improve the script like Russell Crowe on Gladiator or Harrison Ford on Blade Runner.
Insightful series. I've really enjoyed these Ridley Scott videos.
Nah-nah-nah, I'd say they secretly hope that they'll walk into his trailer one day and he is permanently retired. Then no matter what Prometheus/Covenant level of dump he was squeezing out at the moment, they can finish it on their own and sell as his last picture ever.
Be honest, you'll be there in a heartbeat. There will be a Harry Potter book finale line outside of theaters. News broadcast will say "Millions of fans gathered together to pay their respects to The Auteur". And you will be there in the frame, dressed as Maximus the Gladiator, alongside rotund Pris, even more rotund J.I.Jane, martian in a cardboard spacesuit, and dude dressed as Ash, holding ginger cat and spitting cream for movie accuracy.
I feel like his experience making Gladiator and Black Hawk Down has shaped him to who he is now where by Gladiator told him I don’t need a proper script to start shooting we can just work on it as we go along. And Black Hawk Down got him shooting faster with multiple cameras to fulfil the schedule and still get the results. Even if those approaches only worked on those films he’s carried them over and I think it’s affected the quality of his other films.
We NEED the final installment to bring covenant and the original film together. It's a lynchpin/ keystone sequel/prequel
He's a total sellout hack coasting on his reputation that was built making far better films
About the Alien director's cut...the 1992 Blade Runner director's cut also had next-to-no input from Scott.
I hope studios actually listen to filmmakers about wanting to release a version of a story that they want into theaters.
His last great movie was American Gangster, saw it on Netflix, haven’t seen it since 2007, I forgot how great the movie was.
Also I’m so happy he didn’t direct Blade Runner 2049.
I thought The Martian is really great
Those awesome CdL documentaries have to be part of the reason he still gets those 9 figure budgets.
If Ridley had sold out we would be getting another Alien prequel movie don't you think, Studios tending to throw bones to anyone prepared to follow the company playbook. Nearly any high budget movie involves compromise and trade offs, simply how the business works. But by all means continue with the narrative that some people seem to be buying into.
What, two isn't enough?
What about selling his name to appear as a producer of Romulus, all while doing absolutely nothing what you would expect an actual producer do?
Plus, I don't see why anyone would demand him to make another. He's baked on that field. No one, but the absolute diehard fans will go watch another Alien related movie from him.
BRO! I was writing about this last night!
Its funny too that people don't talk about why Blade Runner flopped initially... It was because of the studio mandated V.O. again showing his complicity with the studios bastardizing his pictures. Taking credit for the "directors cut" which ,again, was a warner bros assembly (like with Alien)
What else can I say! Probably should either retire or live out the rest of his career and credibility making proactive, experiential, and experimental cinema instead of commercially minded pieces that end up just ruining franchises he's started.
it's because he's pushed the AGENDA his whole career. Thus his reward is work till you drop
What's the AGENDA?
I have a bad feeling we’re never going to find out what happened to Walter. Say what you want, but Covenant showed the first human-synthetic (developing) romance. Alien: The Director’s Cut is the only DC to be shorter than the Theatrical version, i think, like ever.
Gladiator 2 is a great movie