David Fincher Could Have Directed 'Spider-Man'?

Even though Slumdog Millionaire was my top film of 2008, my choice for Best Director is David Fincher. We covered that ground at the end of the year, but I really don't think people acknowledge all the work that went into making that film. It's an oversimplification to say that Benjamin Button is one continuous effects shot, but it relies upon its visuals more than any other Best Picture nominee (and even the big omission). So I'm glad Fincher is finding some mainstream appreciation for his work. He has a reputation for being difficult, but perfectionists are usually that way. There's a fantastic new article published in The Guardian, which might be the best daily publication in the world. It was a Q & A session at the British Film Institute for Button in England, and Fincher talks candidly about his past ("nobody hates Alien 3 more than me"), his process, this project, and even Spider-Man. Yep.

"I was asked if I might be interested in the first Spider-Man, and I went in and told them what I might be interested in doing, and they hated it. No, I'm not interested in doing "A Superhero". The thing I liked about Spider-Man was I liked the idea of a teenager, the notion of this moment in time when you're so vulnerable yet completely invulnerable. But I wasn't interested in the genesis, I just couldn't shoot somebody being bitten by a radioactive spider – just couldn't sleep knowing I'd done that."

Fincher insists that he doesn't know what he'll do next ("I just want to sleep"), although there are certainly projects waiting for him to muster the creativity to attack them once he wakes up. The interview is a great read, even if you're not a fan or think Button is overrated. He doesn't pull any punches, even when he's throwing them at himself.