THE GANGSTA GANGSTER- MOVIE GURU TALKS FILM FLATTERY, WHY HIS RECENT FILMS BRICKED, AND HOW HIS LATEST, ROCKNROLLA, WILL SILENCE THE HATERS.
By Matt Barone; Photograph by Mike McGregor
“Any conversation of a ‘rock ’n’ rolla’ must start here, and then continue on after him. He’s been doing this for decades, and he’s still going strong.”
“It’s hard for politicians to be ‘rock ’n’ rollas’ because they have to play such a safe game. He seems to bring that in a somewhat ‘rock ’n’ roll’ sense.”
“He’s somebody who has tinkered with some illegal substances, probably with good intention, but it’s self-destructive. He was an interesting mess, but he’s come out the other side and he’s no longer a mess. He’s reborn.”
“An amazing filmmaker. I’m of two minds, because some are conspicuous nonsense, but others are genius, like The Wild Bunch. But that sharp distinction between messy and genius is quite rock ’n’ roll.”