David Gordon Green Defends Michael Bay
Posted by Kevin Carr (kevin@filmschoolrejects.com) on April 8, 2008
Recently, my fellow Fat Guy (Neil Miller) and I had a chance to interview director David Gordon Green while he was in town promoting his latest film Snow Angels. After the required questions about Snow Angels and a few attempts at getting a scoop about Pineapple Express, the conversation turned to the entropy of a Neil Miller discussion of film…. Michael Bay.
The topic emerged when Green told us about a new DVD label he is planning, one which would focus on straight-to-video action movies: “Use Roger Corman and the William Castles as models for what can be done with low-budget. Rather than just trying to fill a video shelf, why don’t you use people that are young and hungry and talented. Use it as a launch pad for the new artists, you know, the Michael Bays of tomorrow.”
At this point, there was an audible giggle from Neil. Anyone who knows us is aware that our Michael Bay feud runs far and deep. And while Green knew Film School Rejects for posting an early version of the Pineapple Express trailer, he didn’t know about Neil’s man crush on Michael Bay. As I began to explain it to Green, he perked up. “I need to hear about that,” he said. “I saw Transformers three times in the theaters. Is that good or bad?”
I think I actually heard Neil squeal with glee. He then went on to gush over Bay and send a dagger my way when he bemoaned the Michael Bay haters. And Green could not agree with him more.
“I’ll tell you this,” Green said to me. “You can fault him for corn and cheesball all day. But he’s a guy that is dedicated. The year that Bad Boys II and Gerry came out, I was like Gus Van Sant and Michael Bay are the two guys that are making their own movies, blazing their own trails. Nobody’s gonna tell them no, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.”
I had to defend my position, but being alone in a room with two rabid Michael Bay fans can be intimidating. “I’ll give Michael Bay credit,” I said. “He doesn’t go outside of what his strength is. If you want somebody to blow shit up…”
“His strength is whip-ass action,” Green added. “And he does it incredibly well. And he does it relentlessly and unapologetically. He does not apologize. And for that self-indulgence, I will see every movie he ever makes.”
Sigh… I can’t say I disagree with Green (or Neil, for that matter). For two-hour beer commercials, Michael Bay can make a hell of an action flick.
But still… Neil does creep me out when he gets flushed at the mere mention of Transformers 2.
If you’d like to hear the MP3 of our Michael Bay conversation, click below. Please note that Neil’s my audio needed to be boosted because we were off the mike, so you will notice some sound glitches.
Sound Off: Who is cooler: Michael Bay or David Gordon Green… or Neil Miller?
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