[Film] The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

[Isgrimnur]

IndieWire

Terry Gilliam has finally begun filming on his very, very long-gestating passion project, “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.”

A source close to the production confirmed to IndieWire that shooting began this week. There’s also the first photos from the set in the form of two Instagram posts, one from actress Rossy de Palma (who was to be part of the movie’s original production in 2000) and one from makeup artist Sylvie Imbert.

De Palma’s post, dated Feb. 27, is a photo of the cover of the film’s screenplay captioned, “FinallyHereWeAre.” Imbert’s post, dated March 6, shows her poring over a production grid for the film and is captioned, “Final touches last night.”

[Holman]

!!!

Too lazy to search, but wasn't there actually a documentary made about Gilliam's inability to make this film?

[Isgrimnur]

Lost in La Mancha (2002)

[tgb]

Quixote seems to be the bane of film makers.

[rshetts2]

Rather ironic isnt it?

[Holman]

But didn't Orson Welles fail to complete a lot of things?

[Jeff V]

They don't need another Don Quixote movie, Man of La Mancha was perfect. It had everything -- catchy tunes, Peter O'Toole, and Sophia Loren with her massive rack as Dulcinea. Why in fuck's sake would you dream the impossible dream?

[tgb]

But didn't Orson Welles fail to complete a lot of things?

That's his rep, but not really. Quixote was his one notable failure.

[Isgrimnur]

https://twitter.com/TerryGilliam/status ... 2265505792

[Isgrimnur]

[Jaymann]

Isn't that the bad guy from Star Wars?

[Holman]

But didn't Orson Welles fail to complete a lot of things?

That's his rep, but not really. Quixote was his one notable failure.

Just to necro a dead reply, didn't Welles also significantly attempt and then retreat from making a movie of Heart of Darkness? And also (IIRC) a major documentary about the cultures of the Amazon? And I believe there were also stage and radio projects that ended before they saw daylight.

This certainly doesn't make his career less impressive, but a pattern of overreach and incompletion is part of his story. Of course it's possible to see this as insatiable creative effort rather than "failure."

[Kelric]

Isn't that the bad guy from Star Wars?

Yes.

[Skinypupy]

Gilliam gets a lifetime pass for me for the triple awesomeness that is Brazil/Fisher King/12 Monkeys. That said, this one doesn't look all that interesting. Hopefully I'm wrong.

[em2nought]

That said, this one doesn't look all that interesting. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Looks like it might be pretty enjoyable to me, I guess we'll never find any common ground. lol

[Holman]

I don't quite know what to make of it from the trailers, but if it's the Terry-Gilliam-self-indulgently-explores-the-madness-and-joy-of-filmmaking-for-no-one-but-himself movie that it appears to be, it could be fascinating even as just a case study.

[Kraken]

It looks original, which is box-office death. The only thing it brings to mind is "And Starring Pancho Villa As Himself" and that's a weak comparison.

[Skinypupy]

My issue is mostly just Adam Driver. A friend who works in Hollywood has told me some stories of working with him multiple times. He's just a massive, raging, sexist douchebag, and it taints my opinion of everything he's in (including the new Star Wars).

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there's enough of the great story and creativity that Gilliam is known for to offset my distaste for Driver. I adore Jonathan Pryce, so that's a big plus as well.

[McNutt]

That's sad to hear about Driver. I became a fan after seeing him in Silence. He was really good in that movie.

Terry Gilliam is hit and miss with me. Mostly miss, which has unfortunate because I admire that he is always trying something new.

This trailer does not interest me in the least.

[Kraken]

That's sad to hear about Driver. I became a fan after seeing him in Silence. He was really good in that movie.

He was good in Paterson, too. I wasn't wild about the movie -- it succeeded too well in conveying the boredom of a mundane life -- but his performance was fine.

I'm always willing to give Gilliam a chance, so this one will go into the dvd queue.

[Skinypupy]

This is...not encouraging.

[hepcat]

But didn't Orson Welles fail to complete a lot of things?

That's his rep, but not really. Quixote was his one notable failure.

The majority of his incompleted projects were due to an inability to secure financing, or losing financing after a project started. In his later years he would complain that seeking financing was the only thing he did anymore. The man was troubled, but we’ll not see that level of genius in filmmaking again, imho.

[Daehawk]

[Isgrimnur]

AV Club

After wrapping principal photography in 2017, premiering the film at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, and enduring a number of legal setbacks, Terry Gilliam will finally unleash his decades-in-the-making The Man Who Killed Don Quixote on North America. Screen Media and Fathom have shared a new trailer for the director’s riff on Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote, as well as the announcement that it will debut stateside during a “one-night theatrical event.” That night is April 10, and the premiere will encompass more than 700 U.S. theaters and “select Canadian locations.”
...
What the film’s fate looks like following its theatrical premiere is unclear, especially considering Amazon backed out of its U.S. distribution deal with Gilliam last year. As such, fans will probably want to score a ticket to one of these screenings.

[hitbyambulance]

got my ticket to this - i've never seen anything from Terry Gilliam in the theater when it's been just released.

[LordMortis]

You say Quixote. I hear Munchhausen. I love Gilliam when he's on. Not so much when he's simply praised for being Gilliam being Gilliam.

When he's on, I'll want to see his work in the theatre. There is so much to appreciate from the big screen. But I simply don't go see stuff on the big screen any more. I think DeadPool (the first) was the last theatrical release I went to. I'll make it a point to leave my hole long enough to see this on a large screen if someone I trust not to be a Gilliam fanatic gives it the thumbs up.

[hitbyambulance]

Not so much when he's simply praised for being Gilliam being Gilliam.

i had nearly added to my post 'i have no idea if this will actually be good or not,'

[hitbyambulance]

Not so much when he's simply praised for being Gilliam being Gilliam.

i had nearly added to my post 'i have no idea if this will actually be good or not,'

there is a kernel of a good movie here. there are some interesting scenes and at least one fantastic sequence. there were some excellent shots, where i thought 'this looks just like a Don Quixote movie i'd want to see.' but... hugely disappointing.

overall it's the usual poorly-directed awkward mess that rarely comes together right. i spent at least a quarter of the film wishing i could sink into my seat and disappear out of a feeling of utter embarrassment i felt for Gilliam. i understand clearly why this didn't get a distributor in the US. one could say 'at least it's finally finished', but i feel this could use a remake, already.

[Jolor]

So, the somebody-other-than-the-director's cut?