Tuesday
02Dec2008
Tongue-Wagging Insiders Call Fincher "Abusive"
Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at 2:33AM
Some actors love working with
David
Fincher, some crew members might think he's a genius, but it's
certainly not a unconditional love on either of those fronts. It probably stems
from his very exacting way of working. I've never heard he's an asshole like
David O. Russell, just that he's very precise and it can drive people nuts. And
he has a really high opinion of his own work, which in most cases, he should.
The word is that both sides have kind of patched things up and will work together again soon, although if this were Rock of Love, I would still have my doubts about Fincher getting a rose from Paramount at the end of the first episode.
And now to the juicy gossip from Page Six (via The Playlist). Whether the specific incident in question occurred the way it's reported is open to interpretation - I'm inclined to think it's exaggerated - but I don't feel the quotes about the director from the "insiders" are too far off base. I've talked to some publicity types when their guard is down; they'll badmouth talent pretty often. And Fincher does have a reputation.
"We are working our asses off trying to get Oscar nominations, and he is so abusive that it's crushing...Whatever we do, it's not enough," said the "insider." And the incident described involves John Goldwyn, who was in charge of the studio in the early 1990s, when Button was first being developed. Supposedly, Goldwyn congratulated Fincher and the director " hit Goldwyn in the chest with his hand and hurt him and said, 'That's for you, for not greenlighting the movie when you had a chance.'"
Let's be realistic about this. For starters, in the early 1990s, the technology involved was at best in its nascent stages. And this incident was at a public event. Do we honestly believe a director would jeopardize goodwill towards his film by punching a guy who wouldn't have had anything to do with the Benjamin Button we have now?
That just doesn't compute. Fincher may have jokingly slapped Goldwyn on the shoulder or chest and uttered those words, but to intimate that he hurt the guy for not taking a ride on what would have been a very risky project at that time is ludicrous.
Reader Comments (2)
Usually people are either brilliant or nice. Being noice is one way of compensating for the lack of brilliance. Nice and brilliant rarely go hand in hand.
When it comes to slapping studio executives, it may be a no-no, but when you see the quality of some of the output, I say they are not being slapped enough.
I recently attended a screening of Benjamin Button and had the pleasure of meeting David Fincher. He is by far one of the most genuine, warm personalities I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. As a craftsman and artist, he is at the top of his game, which means his expectations have to be high in order to continue pushing himself creatively. The stories of his "abuse" are exaggerated and unfounded. Is he tough? Most likely. But what director worth their salt isn't?