A rough phone connection cut our interview with Andrew Dominik short. I could hear him fine, but I think there was trouble on his end and it might have inhibited him from opening up more. Dominik is an acclaimed filmmaker, though he only has three films to his credit. His first film, Chopper, was the story of Australian criminal Mark Chopper Read, portrayed by Eric Bana. Dominiks second film was The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford starring Brad Pitt. You may have heard of that one.
The newest Andrew Dominik film reunites him with Jesse James star Brad Pitt. Killing Them Softly stars Pitt as a mob enforcer sent to deal with some small time criminals whove upset the criminal economy by robbing a gangster poker game. Though based on George V. Higgins novel Cogans Trade, Dominik set the film adaptation between the 2008 election and inauguration of Barack Obama in 2009, as the candidates gave speeches about the economy.
Killing Them Softly premiered at the Cannes Film Festival where it generated considerable buzz. That was in May of last year though. By the time the film opened in theaters in November, not even the star power of Brad Pitt could bring people to the theaters. Fortunately the film lives on and you can see for yourself on DVD, Blu-ray, VOD or any of the modern movie services you prefer now. Perhaps the concise thoughts of Andrew Dominik will add a little perspective to it.
SuicideGirls: Do you feel like audiences got the economic parallels you wanted to draw between the crime world and the Obama election?
Andrew Dominik: Sure. You mean in general? I only know specific people who saw the film.
SG: Lets talk about that then. Did you find they received the message and the parallels?
AD: Yeah, it seems pretty obvious, isnt it?
SG: Is Killing Them Softly less about the crime story, and more about just spending time with characters like the ones played by James Gandolfini and Brad Pitt?
AD: I think so. I think the movies very much a character piece. It shows a bunch of men at work, a bunch of guys that are kind of squashing their feelings down so they can chase a buck.
SG: It seems to be a universal theme, why do you think crooks always think they can get away with it?
AD: We shape reality according to our desires.
SG: Thats true.
AD: Its also greed. Everybody does it. Well, thats not necessarily true with criminals I think. I think a lot of criminals basically want to go to jail where they can be taken care of. They commit crimes in order to get caught.
SG: What have you learned about directing in the 12 years youve been making films?
AD: You mean the job or everything that surrounds the job?
SG: Actually, a follow up question was going to be, What have you learned about the business? So I would start with the job and then we can expand.
AD: I mean, you know, the job is one of constant learning all the time. You have to almost develop a different skill set for each film and each situation because youve got something in your head and you have to make it live somehow. You just go about it every way that you can to make that happen. So Im not really sure how to answer so broad a question, other than to give you a very broad answer. What Ive learned about the business is that its a tough business with a lot of money at stake. At the same time, beautiful films get made, but its hard. It really is. Its a rough business.
SG: You got a lot of buzz for Killing Them Softly out of Cannes and the festival circuit. How did you feel about the ultimate release?
AD: Well, I was disappointed obviously. I wish the film had come out before the election and I wish more people had liked the film.
SG: Was it a matter of people liking the film, or was it released on limited screens with limited marketing?
AD: No, it was actually released way too big, bigger than it shouldve been. Unfortunately, the expectations that created for the film were not something it could live up to.
SG: Well, now that there are so many avenues for films, DVD and Blu-ray but also VOD and downloads, how do you feel those opportunities benefit films?
AD: Movies live forever. Many of the films that I love are films that didnt necessarily do well in their immediate, initial release. Speaking selfishly, I would prefer it if Id made a film that was a massive success, and it would make my life easier when it came to making more movies. Because I do feel a sense of responsibility towards the people that pay for the film. They invest money in the movie and I want them to be happy and I want them to make it back. Im not going to get very far losing peoples money. Im not sure what the final shakeout with this film will be. It certainly seems to have done better than Jesse James but I think The Weinstein Company were disappointed with how the movie performed. It was definitely below their expectations.
SG: Have you ever been tempted to sell a script to another director?
AD: Oh yeah, sure.
SG: What prevents you?
AD: A lack of buyers. [Laughs] No, I have. Ive done it before.
SG: Have those movies not gotten made?
AD: Yeah, or theyve been altered out of all recognition.
SG: Would you ever direct for hire someone elses script, because that can be a perfectly good experience?
AD: I would if I could find the right script.
SG: What is the process for your next movie? Are you starting from scratch again?
AD: Always starting from scratch. Ive got a script called Blonde which Ive been working on for a while which I want to do next.
SG: Thats the Marilyn Monroe film with Naomi Watts?
AD: Yeah, yeah.
SG: Does the amount of Marilyn Monroe projects, Smash and My Week With Marilyn, help you or hinder you?
AD: I dont know. Im not sure. I havent really paid much attention. My Week with Marilyn and the film that Im trying to do are completely different approaches to the whole subject I guess.
SG: Have you found that The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford has been appreciated over the years?
AD: Yeah, yeah, Jesse James is very well thought of now.
SG: You said film lasts forever. Has it fulfilled your goals for Jesse James?
AD: I mean, Im really glad that the films appreciated obviously. It would make my life easier if its appreciated at the time it comes out. [Laughs]
SG: Has Chopper been discovered over the years?
AD: Chopper/i] was kind of a success at the time in its way.
Killing Them Softly is available on DVD and Blu-ray starting March 26.
The newest Andrew Dominik film reunites him with Jesse James star Brad Pitt. Killing Them Softly stars Pitt as a mob enforcer sent to deal with some small time criminals whove upset the criminal economy by robbing a gangster poker game. Though based on George V. Higgins novel Cogans Trade, Dominik set the film adaptation between the 2008 election and inauguration of Barack Obama in 2009, as the candidates gave speeches about the economy.
Killing Them Softly premiered at the Cannes Film Festival where it generated considerable buzz. That was in May of last year though. By the time the film opened in theaters in November, not even the star power of Brad Pitt could bring people to the theaters. Fortunately the film lives on and you can see for yourself on DVD, Blu-ray, VOD or any of the modern movie services you prefer now. Perhaps the concise thoughts of Andrew Dominik will add a little perspective to it.
SuicideGirls: Do you feel like audiences got the economic parallels you wanted to draw between the crime world and the Obama election?
Andrew Dominik: Sure. You mean in general? I only know specific people who saw the film.
SG: Lets talk about that then. Did you find they received the message and the parallels?
AD: Yeah, it seems pretty obvious, isnt it?
SG: Is Killing Them Softly less about the crime story, and more about just spending time with characters like the ones played by James Gandolfini and Brad Pitt?
AD: I think so. I think the movies very much a character piece. It shows a bunch of men at work, a bunch of guys that are kind of squashing their feelings down so they can chase a buck.
SG: It seems to be a universal theme, why do you think crooks always think they can get away with it?
AD: We shape reality according to our desires.
SG: Thats true.
AD: Its also greed. Everybody does it. Well, thats not necessarily true with criminals I think. I think a lot of criminals basically want to go to jail where they can be taken care of. They commit crimes in order to get caught.
SG: What have you learned about directing in the 12 years youve been making films?
AD: You mean the job or everything that surrounds the job?
SG: Actually, a follow up question was going to be, What have you learned about the business? So I would start with the job and then we can expand.
AD: I mean, you know, the job is one of constant learning all the time. You have to almost develop a different skill set for each film and each situation because youve got something in your head and you have to make it live somehow. You just go about it every way that you can to make that happen. So Im not really sure how to answer so broad a question, other than to give you a very broad answer. What Ive learned about the business is that its a tough business with a lot of money at stake. At the same time, beautiful films get made, but its hard. It really is. Its a rough business.
SG: You got a lot of buzz for Killing Them Softly out of Cannes and the festival circuit. How did you feel about the ultimate release?
AD: Well, I was disappointed obviously. I wish the film had come out before the election and I wish more people had liked the film.
SG: Was it a matter of people liking the film, or was it released on limited screens with limited marketing?
AD: No, it was actually released way too big, bigger than it shouldve been. Unfortunately, the expectations that created for the film were not something it could live up to.
SG: Well, now that there are so many avenues for films, DVD and Blu-ray but also VOD and downloads, how do you feel those opportunities benefit films?
AD: Movies live forever. Many of the films that I love are films that didnt necessarily do well in their immediate, initial release. Speaking selfishly, I would prefer it if Id made a film that was a massive success, and it would make my life easier when it came to making more movies. Because I do feel a sense of responsibility towards the people that pay for the film. They invest money in the movie and I want them to be happy and I want them to make it back. Im not going to get very far losing peoples money. Im not sure what the final shakeout with this film will be. It certainly seems to have done better than Jesse James but I think The Weinstein Company were disappointed with how the movie performed. It was definitely below their expectations.
SG: Have you ever been tempted to sell a script to another director?
AD: Oh yeah, sure.
SG: What prevents you?
AD: A lack of buyers. [Laughs] No, I have. Ive done it before.
SG: Have those movies not gotten made?
AD: Yeah, or theyve been altered out of all recognition.
SG: Would you ever direct for hire someone elses script, because that can be a perfectly good experience?
AD: I would if I could find the right script.
SG: What is the process for your next movie? Are you starting from scratch again?
AD: Always starting from scratch. Ive got a script called Blonde which Ive been working on for a while which I want to do next.
SG: Thats the Marilyn Monroe film with Naomi Watts?
AD: Yeah, yeah.
SG: Does the amount of Marilyn Monroe projects, Smash and My Week With Marilyn, help you or hinder you?
AD: I dont know. Im not sure. I havent really paid much attention. My Week with Marilyn and the film that Im trying to do are completely different approaches to the whole subject I guess.
SG: Have you found that The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford has been appreciated over the years?
AD: Yeah, yeah, Jesse James is very well thought of now.
SG: You said film lasts forever. Has it fulfilled your goals for Jesse James?
AD: I mean, Im really glad that the films appreciated obviously. It would make my life easier if its appreciated at the time it comes out. [Laughs]
SG: Has Chopper been discovered over the years?
AD: Chopper/i] was kind of a success at the time in its way.
Killing Them Softly is available on DVD and Blu-ray starting March 26.