JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton“The Informers” of Bret Easton Ellis go “Less Than Zero” into “Lunar Park”
May 1st 2009 00:01
Bret Easton Ellis' Cinematic Triage Terror
Bret easton Ellis the face of an Intellectual Sociopath?
Packing a scathing wit, dangerous intelligence and leaning towards the macabre self involvement of the social elite, Bret Easton Ellis' words are at times a maelstrom of collective consciousness gone array.
His satirical viciousness is to be envied as is his ability to never judge his often sin addled characters that range from excessive narcotics abusers to yuppie serial killers like Patrick Bateman. He accomplishes a warped eloquence on the page that has inspired lesser imitators but also subversive maestros like Chuck Chuck Palahniuk (Choke, Fight Club, Survivor)
Often written in the first person with a style that would seem the antithesis of a cinema translation surprisingly Ellis’ literary acrobatics have translated to the screen with their dark humour, social commentary and purpose mostly intact. (see - American Psycho, Less Than Zero, Rules of Attraction and Glitterati)
Now the incendiary author has a trio of his unique novels in various stages of production causing John Doe himself to ejaculate into the microwaved ether of adrenal glanded nihilism.
The Informers Cinema Poster
The Informers
Mickey Rourke in The Informers
Set in the 1980’s the story is a tapestry of interconnected character moments that see drugs, sex and death meshing to unite vampires, criminals and celebrity in a haphazard reality of L.A excess. (See The Informers trailer below)
Lunar Park - The Novel Cover
Lunar Park
Lunar Park is a semi autobiographical piece of taboo substance fuelled narcissism that tackles redemption, retribution and psychological reassembly. A nightmare that grapples with truth and covert fiction.
Currently in pre production with Benicio Del Toro (The Usual Suspects) circling to play the Author himself, according to an interview Easton Ellis did on MTV.com:
Benicio Del Toro to play Bret Easton Ellis?
“’Lunar Park’ is in some state of pre-production. This is a very funny town,” chuckled Easton Ellis when we spoke with him recently. “Oddly enough, Benicio Del Toro I think is going to do it.”
“Benicio would actually be playing Bret Easton Ellis,” the author said of his new, unlikely doppelganger. “It’s a strange bit of casting.”
According to Easton Ellis, it was their physical differences that attracted the “Traffic” star to the role. “I think he’s interested just because he’s rarely offered Anglo parts. I think that’s one of the reasons it was very exciting [to him],” explained the writer.
“I don’t even think he read the book; I just think he read the script and said ‘Oh, this is an Anglo writer and you’re not casting a white dude? You’ve come to me?’ And I think that rarely happens for him. I think he’s offered a lot of Spanish characters and ethnic types, and I think it’s very rare for him to get offered Anglo parts.”
“Benicio would actually be playing Bret Easton Ellis,” the author said of his new, unlikely doppelganger. “It’s a strange bit of casting.”
According to Easton Ellis, it was their physical differences that attracted the “Traffic” star to the role. “I think he’s interested just because he’s rarely offered Anglo parts. I think that’s one of the reasons it was very exciting [to him],” explained the writer.
“I don’t even think he read the book; I just think he read the script and said ‘Oh, this is an Anglo writer and you’re not casting a white dude? You’ve come to me?’ And I think that rarely happens for him. I think he’s offered a lot of Spanish characters and ethnic types, and I think it’s very rare for him to get offered Anglo parts.”
Less Than Zero 2
The original Less Than Zero pack
“that would be a great idea… It’s in present-day. You’ll find out where all the characters from the book have now ended up, for better or for worse.”
The original film may have taken an anti drug stance that was never intended in the source but still managed to invert the rat pack mythos of the day with Andrew McCarthy (Mulholland Falls), James Spader (Secretary), Robert Downey Jnr (A Guide To recognizing Your Saints) and Jami Gertz (The Lost Boys) burning out on glamorously excessive self abuse.
The unsubstantiated rumours of a sequel have now started a furor of excitement online with reservoired pulpmeister Quentin Tarantino cited as in contention to add his own guttural energy to a screenplay.
Personally JD can’t see it happening and has serious reservations that QT has the ability to handle the project. What do you think?
Trailer for The Informers
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Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Of the other adaptations I thought Rules of Attraction was an absolutely godawful film - how can anyone be expected to feel empathy or any human emotion for such empty vessels posing as human beings??!! Selfish, egotistical, hedonistic nimrods all of them, I couldn't stomach those characters at all.
I presume the book was much better?
On the other hand, I personally loved Mary Harron's adaptation of American Psycho and Christian Bale couldn't have been more perfect. A very, very underrated work. BEE's book however I found insufferable and it's the only exposure I've had to his work from a literary standpoint.(And admittedly I read it a long time ago when at Uni!)
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Generally I find its a good sign when films of this type (read edgy, dark, subversive) sit on the shelf and fail at test screenings. The response from Sundance has been mixed but word of mouth from friends has been positive for me.
I love Eaton Elllis' work because he doesn't apologize for the amoral players in his works and personally I see his brutal treatment of them as refreshing. Seldom do they have any redeeming traits but its the comedy that allows us to laugh at their malice actions..as opposed to say reality TV, one dimensional cinema and the superficial culture we live in that is populated by these creatures. Often they are rewarded with wealth and power.
Personally I enjoyed Rules of Attraction though it is certainly not a flawless ride. My appreciation's is due to the flair and energy of the filmmaking and generally fine staging (eg; that split screen unbroken shot took my breath away as did some of the inventive sound and vision montaging) . I guess I don't need to sympathise with characters to enjoy a film...plus it helps that when i was a late teen I was a complete asshole like these guys and have often been weak willed with excesses. (Hopefully i have evolved now, but back then YUCK!)
Most of BEE's works seem to have a truth largely because of their lack of sentimentality. The warped irony of their motivations and the hell they go through is entertaining to watch because you hope that the real life counterparts are tortured as a result of their actions in the same way - hence why i found Mary Harron's American psycho a fun adventure into haneous depravity...but then the novel is also one of the best books I've ever read too...
As always great to see you by and I love your honest opinions.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
this is all very interesting stuff. Of course I'm a huge fan of Ellis's work. My favourite is Glamorama, a masterpiece as far as I'm concerned. It is a shame Avary probably won't be doing it. I beg to differ from David, I didn't mind The Rules of Attraction movie version. I loved the novel, and it was one of my faves for several years. I don't think the movie is anywhere near as good as the novel, but there were some great elements to the movie. I didn't like some of the casting though.
A sequel to Less than Zero?? What would that be called?? Lesser Still than Zero? LOL
Lunar Park is an awesome novel-cum-autobiography. One of the reasons I love it is because it pays homage to the style of early classic Stephen King.
After finishing Glamorama I thought to myself, oh my god, I so would love to make this movie! But so much of it is almost unfilmable, or at least uncommercial in terms of content and stylistic.
I wasn't a huge fan of The Informers when it was first published. Perhaps I need to read it again.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Thought the info would peak interest buddy.
Shamefully i still haven't read Glamorama, but you sold me on it when we discussed it ages ago....yet another on the must buy list.
Easton Ellis has already written the sequel to less Than Zero in book form, just a question of screenplay. tarantino seems like a very odd choice but then it seems like a stupid pipe dream rumor anyway with little credibility...did you realise BEE wrote the original novel when he was just 21?
Early Stephen King is good Stephen King and i see what your saying with style/substance of Lunar Park.
The Informers has just started playing over here in the US, but not in my one horse town, may have to go down to NYC to catch it..
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
The film Less Than Zero really launched my worship of Robert Downey Jnr's skills, even if the character was a reflection of his reality....(Weird Science didn't effect me in the same way
As for American Psycho, it changed my life. made me realize how bold and daring a writer could be and that literary rules were to be exploited. It invaded my psyche and warped what i consider funny for evermore...The movie adaptation was handled with skill and I rank it highly...still I will forever lament the Johnny Depp/David Cronenberg vision of the film that would have truly existed in a darker place and challenged its audience with what made them laugh.
Good to see you jason, thanks for sticking around
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Robert Downey Jnr stood out so much in the film.
I remember going to buy American Psycho with my ID and was so amazed to see a novel wrapped in plastic. Still have it. Ooh - a Depp Cornenberg version would be scary.
Of course I would stick around - not going anywhere.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I think I'll need to re-read Glamorama sooner than later. It kills all the competition. It doesn't even have an imdb listing anymore. Poor foolish Avary. Not only did he accidentally kill his best friend but he's no doubt scuttled his own career and probably some other idiot will end up directing Glamorama.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Heartbreaking what happend to Roger " I cowrote Pulp Fiction' Avary...The cross pollinating of characters in BEE novels is a fun side gag.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
If Avary gets convicted and slapped hard by the jury he could go away for 11 years!! Although he probably wouldn't serve that much time. Still, it would ruin his career. I notice on imdb.com he has a couple of projects already in pre-production, but not Glamorama. I would kill to see Glitterati, but apparently that will never be made available to the wider public as it features Kip Pardue seducing strangers who probably didn't sign release forms.
For further Glam tease, check out this site, which only fuels the frustration: Glamorama