Interview with David Cronenberg

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BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="588"><div> <B>Interview with David Cronenberg</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="588"><div> <B>By George O. Singleton</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="588"><div> <B>2003</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> The new film <B>"Spider"</B> by David Cronenberg has been called by one critic, "An Unbeautiful Mind". It stars Ralph Fiennes and Miranda Richardson as they deal with memory and sanity in a polished but less glitzy way than the award winning film starring Russell Crowe's "<B>A Beautiful Mind".</B> </div> <bR> <div> Many of us can relate to the fine line between eccentricity and insanity. I've seen the film twice and enjoyed it both times. Based upon the planned theatrical release in Chicago at <B>The Music Box</B>, the Sony marketing people are targeting this movie to the art house crowd. Ralph Fiennes gives a performance that rivals what he did in <B>"Sunshine".</B></div> <bR> <div> Cronenberg is a fascinating no nonsense director who unlike some of his peers is not trying to direct films that are primarily remakes or movies they loved when they were a kid. Making his first feature film at the age of 29, he is a self-taught director who is always trying to master his craft be it the horror film <B>"Shivers",</B> an update of <B>"The Fly"</B> or "Spider". </div> <bR> <div> Cronenberg's view of directing is much more than saying "cut" during production followed by post production editing. "Clothes affect the veracity of an actors performance and in the case of Spider, you realize in the opening scenes how important this is." His shirts are layered four deep and he uses old socks as a pouch for his belongings. He and Fiennes spent considerable time deciding how many shirts he should wear, in what order they should be layered, to what extent they are frayed or not, etc. With respect to nicotine on his fingers, they decided the extent of the coloring and which fingers they would be on. As some say, the devil is in the details.</div> <bR> <div> One of the things I was not sure of even after the second viewing was just what was Spider writing in his notebook? As it turns out it's his documentation of the crime he has viewed. His reality, his memories are indeed his identity and everything he is.</div> <bR> <div> "Spider" allows us to travel inside the human mind of a deranged person. It is not meant to be a study of a disease, but of the human condition. Cronenberg shows us that "without memory there is no identity". </div> <bR> <div> Unlike the film <B>"High Fidelity"</B> whose story was set in England but filmed in Chicago, "Spider" was shot on location in places that made up many of Cronenberg's early experiences and memories. He calls memory "a created and willed thing". </div> <bR> <div> Unabashedly a confirmed atheist, Cronenberg believes that religion "disembodies you". Cronenberg definitely has a point of view which I don't consider preachy and you like me may be motivated to read his book "<B>Cronenberg on Cronenberg"</B> as well as to see the movie "Spider". </div> <bR> <div> Memory is a reality and you think it is a fact when what you remember may be a family tale that you later learn was not true.  For sure, Spider gives you a new filter for your future because the past may be different that your memory tells you. Films that merit being viewed multiple times are destined to become a classic. I'm ready to see it a third time.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="621" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="617"><div> George O. Singleton  © 2003</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="617"><div> <A HREF="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com"><U><U>Reelmoviec@aol.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>