JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonRoger Avary Manslaughter
January 20th 2008 00:00
Category: Film News and Views
Roger Avary blows his ride?
The token mug shot
"It does not matter to me if you hate the movie. What matters to me is if you are ambivalent. Anybody can do 'thumbs up, thumbs down.' That's the real problem with film criticism today. It's been reduced to 'I like it, I dislike it.' Criticism should be more of an examination of exactly why a film makes you feel the way you feel." – Roger Avary
According to imdb.com last week Indie filmmaker Roger Avary, co writer of Pulp Fiction and Beowulf, Director of Killing Zoe and Rules of Attraction has been charged with vehicular manslaughter.
Killing Zoe
Avary was driving under the influence when he had an auto accident that resulted in the death of 34 year old passenger Andreas Zini. His wife was also in the car and she is expected to recover after being in intensive care.
Out on 50,000 bail and now awaiting hearing, Roger has issued a public apology to the Zini family. Aside from the obvious legal and psychological challenges facing the man, it is probably going to do major professional damage too. The tragic consequence of course is the loss of life due to irresponsible behaviour.
A promising talent, John Doe has enjoyed the Avary’s films and is disappointed with this turn of events. Roger may have broken into Hollywood as Quentin Tarantino’s collaborator and then had a highly publicised fallout of the friendship over creative credits.
"I've realized that I can't hang out with him. I talk with him, and he just sucks stuff from me." – Roger Avary talks Tarantino
Rules of Attraction with acting collaborator Eric Stoltz
Ever since the split though his work has shown flair and a tapestry of brilliance in visual storytelling., on a selfish level for JD it is the shelving of his pet project Glamorama that twists the knife.
A highly anticipated big screen adaptation of Bret Eaton Ellis’ novel seemed to be in the right hands, after all he did a praise worthy job of Ellis’ Rules of Attraction and really seemed to understand the writers style.
"Bret Easton Ellis is a social satirist; I consider myself aligned with how he does things. Bret doesn't write about that which he loves about the world, he writes about what disgusts him. You'd be a disturbed individual if you came out and said, 'I love these characters.'" – Roger Avary
What will become of Avary’s career now is as much a mystery as precisely how much he actually contributed to the Pulp Fiction script, but one thing is for sure, he screwed up big time and won’t come through unscathed.
A sample of Roger Avary's cinematic gift in this memorable scene from Rules of Attraction
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Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
And on another level, as you say, a more selfish level - this will have, and is already having, an effect on his professional undertakings.
This was interesting:
I love Tarantino, but this really rings true.
Michaelie
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Totally with you, the guilt and remorse would be huge and he almost lost his wife too. I can't say I have sympathy for stupidity but this could cost him everything.
The arguments over creative credits that Tarantino and Avary had caused their friendship to end. I wonder if now the hatchet can be buried and Tarantino may come to his old pals aide?
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Pulp Fiction was the big one after they both won the Oscar for best screenplay. Because Avary and Tarantino were best buddies long before finding fame and they worked in "THAT" video store together their has been contention about many of Quentin's early works.
I think the final straw supposedly was when Tarantino stole Avary's Top Gun monologue for the movie "Sleep with Me"
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I share your pain, Glamorama needs to be treated with care and Avary seemed to be the right man for the job.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Has Tarantino made a film as original as Killing Zoe?
The answer is no.
Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog
Seems like the place where dreams are made and lives are destroyed.