CRONENDROME

Return of the Annual Blog Post!

2011-08-31T15:41:00.004+01:00

What is twelve months between friends? The Cronendrome returns as A Dangerous Method finally gets a release date. We bring you a one-sheet and the news it will have a gala screening at the New York Film Festival. Looks like its release is timed to coincide with Oscar season where a costume drama is more likely to get a nod. Epiphets being bandied are "intelligent, thought-provoking and discomforting" however the UK have to wait till Feb 2012 to see if the the five year gap since Eastern Promises has been worth the wait. Since completing A Dangerous Method, Cronenberg has been hard at work bringing DeLillo's Cosmopolis to the screen. With principal photography complete cast member Paul Giamatti has described it as "strange science-fictiony, slightly horrific" and that it reminds him of his "early stuff". Of the two projects this feels more akin to the existentialism of Videodrome, Crash and Dead Ringers and the hope is that we don't have to wait too long for this film to be released. No novel but potentially two films released next year? Can't be bad. To find out more of Cosmopolis visit the official site or this unofficial site which as been meticulously exploring and following the production of the film on the streets of Toronto.

CRONENBERG TALKS DANGEROUS METHOD

2010-08-31T17:56:00.002+01:00

Cronenberg recently appeared at the Rue Morgue Fan Expo in Toronto. This video of his Q & A sheds light on A Dangerous Method, its status, story, themes and what attract him to the project.

A DANGEROUS METHOD - FIRST IMAGES

2010-07-11T19:13:00.014+01:00

Yes the Cronendrome returns after its traditional inexplicable absence to bring news of the new Cronenberg project currently under the lense at various European locations this summer. Viggo Mortensen returns with Michael Fassbender going mano-a-mano as they wrestle for the soul of psychoanalysis, and the affection of patient Keira Knightly as Freud and Jung respectively. Adapted from Christopher Hampton's play, this will be Cronenberg's first costume drama. Let hope for at least a couple of Cronenbergian dream sequences to stain the starched linen.

Return of Fly! Cronenberg reboots himself!

2009-09-25T17:58:00.002+01:00

Aint It Cool is reporting that Cronenberg is working on a remake (or the dread reboot) of his own 1986 remake of The Fly as both director and writer! Really don't know what to make of this - good idea? Bad idea? Brilliant? Bonkers? More to follow but here is the link to the original post.

Videodrome...so much to answer phone

2009-05-31T17:42:00.005+01:00

Excuse the terrible Smiths pun but Cronendrome's favourite flick is making an ill advised comeback due to the creatively bereft Hollywood machine. Variety reports:

"Universal Pictures will remake the 1983 David Cronenberg-directed thriller "Videodrome," with Ehren Kruger set to write the script and produce with partner Daniel Bobker.
The producers tracked down the rights to Canadian distribution vet Rene Malo, who will be exec producer. Universal distributed the original and had first refusal on a remake, and the studio snapped up the opportunity.
The original "Videodrome" starred James Woods as the head of Civic TV Channel 83, who makes his station relevant by programming "Videodrome," a series that depicts torture and murder that transfixes viewers. The new picture will modernize the concept, infuse it with the possibilities of nano-technology and blow it up into a large-scale sci-fi action thriller.
Cronenberg has no role in the film as yet. He is prepping for MGM "The Matarese Circle" as a starring vehicle for Tom Cruise and Denzel Washington. Since Cruise appears likely to next star in the DreamWorks drama "Motorcade" and Washington has committed to the Fox drama "Unstoppable," "Circle" doesn't appear likely to get under way until later this year or 2010. Bobker/Kruger Films recently set the thriller "Dream House" at Morgan Creek and is producing, with Matthew Stillman, "The Keep" for Rogue. Kruger co-wrote the June 24 Paramount/DreamWorks release "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" with Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman."

Despair all ye with taste. Still it might revive interest in the original and no doubt be heralded with a wished for blu-ray release possibly with deleted scenes or the TV cut Cronenberg vetoed on the last Criterion release.

On that note someone finally loaded the deleted scenes on to youtube. Like most I have a VHS boot of the TV version but have never got round to transfering it, editing it and loading up the alternate scenes so it's a big thank to a more industrious soul that has and those scenes can now be enjoyed here, here and here. (I will reprint the original feature from my previous website that outlined "alternate scenes" in the near future.) Over and out commander!

CRONENBERG IS "CONSUMED"

2009-05-03T16:54:00.002+01:00

Cronenberg's mooted first novel is set to be published in hardback this October through Fourth Estate. No details on its storyline yet but it can be pre-ordered using this amazon link

CRONENDROME RETURNS...AGAIN!

2009-04-14T16:26:00.011+01:00

OK, another eight month have passed without a post but life in the Cronendrome is slow. A couple of interesting and sad news items prompt this new post. Firstly the death of Marilyn Chambers, Porn Queen and armpit fanged parasite host of Rabid. This youtube link is of an interview where she discusses Rabid and a full obiturary is here.

Next to the new Cronenberg project The Matarese Circle which seems to be further depressing and dividing admirers of his work. I've got to say I'm always interested in his projects whatever the direction and have always been keen to see what he would do if he helmed a studio A list property. These comments in the Toronto Star give me hope for the project and Cronenberg's approach:

"I think when you get too comfortable, you need to scare yourself by trying something you've never done before," he explains.
"It comes from the same place as wanting to direct an opera, or write a novel, or curate an Andy Warhol art exhibit." Ludlum's book was written 30 years ago, during the Cold War, in a world where cellphones and the Internet were unknown.
"It's not easy to keep all the satisfying elements people expect and still find a way to subvert the genre and surprise the audience," Cronenberg says.
"Usually when I write, I don't visualize the characters, because I want them to have a life of their own, but in this case I am writing it specifically for these two actors. Tom and I get along very well. I was at his house in L.A. a couple of weeks ago, and he's very excited."

Yes it does sound a little too cosy but he is writing the screenplay. Of course it may never happen despite the talent attached (Tom, Denzil and Dave might struggle to make good a $150 million budget).

Finally just received a catalogue for Cronenberg's recent exhibition CHROMOSONES mounted by Volumina, the gallery responsible for the Red Cars project. Cronenberg selected 60 frames from his films and these were manipulated and printed onto canvas under his supervision. Pricey catalogue but interesting with many key Cronenberg associates explaining their interest in each image. Available direct from Volumina's website here

FLY LA Press Conference

2008-08-28T14:14:00.003+01:00

Ahead of it LA debut, Cronenberg and Shore were talking up the opera at a Wednesday press conference. Full details here.

Videodrome book finally unleashed

2008-08-25T10:53:00.004+01:00

Tim Lucas's definitive study of Videodrome which draws on his exclusive set access, will be finally available in the next couple of weeks. The book is on route to the publishers from their Hong Kong printers (all very Videodrome like) and Tim has left comments on his blog about how happy he is with the advanced copy he has received. The book can be ordered directly from the publishers Centipede Press here or through Amazon (who state a November release date). I will post a review as soon as I received a copy.

Be Afraid! - The Fly in Paris

2008-07-30T11:48:00.009+01:00

When I read, around the time of a History of Violence that Cronenberg and Howard Shore were planning to create an opera of The Fly, I was duly fascinated and excited. In July 2007 a press release outlined the co-production between the LA Opera and Paris's Chatalet theatre, and announced its Parisian premiere followed by a September transfer to Los Angeles. Excited I scanned the theatre's site and found tickets available online, a distant year before the curtain went up. Clumsily negotiating their website, I impulsively bagged a pair and penciled a"romantic" (ha-ha) weekend visit to Paris for Mrs Cronendrome and I. Was my anticipation justified? Well yes and no.

The Chatalet theatre stands on the bank of Seine close to Notre-Dame in the cultural heart of Paris. A rather splendid 19th century opera house, the Chatalet boasts a history of premieres by the likes of Stravinsky and Satie. How would Cronenberg's first opera fair here? Would there be a walk out a la The Rites of Spring as Brundlefly inaugurates his natural history museum?

My comments must be first prefaced by the fact I am not a great lover of opera nor fully understand the form. I cannot comment on the technical aspects such as the voices, the range etc but can simply give my opinions on the entertainment value and my notion of its artistic success. I came to this production as an admirer of Cronenberg and equally of Howard Shore's music. I always thought of his score as operatic with its heightened emotional range - a very different score from the one it preceded - Videodrome. The idea of experiencing this score, developed and expanded was an exciting prospect.

Arriving early at the theatre I bought a programme and enjoyed a small exhibition of artifacts related to the various film adaptions of George Langelaan's original 1957 short story. The production stills clearly showed that Cronenberg had opted for a retro fifties setting, the design tapping into that b-movie charm of early film versions of the story.

My early purchase of tickets meant I was three rows from the front in a completely packed house. It became apparent that another important attraction of this production was Placido Domingo who was conducting and as artistic director of the LA Opera was the driving force behind this production. Many were here because of him and there was certainly much excitement when he took the podium.

As the light dimmed, the overture began, a reworking on the film's main title sending shivers of excitement down my spine. The curtain was raised to reveal Brundle's laboratory, the telepods now more like the gaint microwaves joked about in the film than the Ducati piston parts cherished by Cronenberg.

David Henry Hwang's libretto opts to tell the story in flashback as Veronica recounts events to a police officer from the final carnage of the laboratory. This opening image links to the scenes of dereliction that climax both Dead Ringers and Videodrome. Lighting and set design were first rate with an immediate cinematic effect created, the laboratory framed by a giant warehouse facade backdrop. I was also unaware that the opera was song in English and so was pleasantly surprised and we were even treated to both an English and French translation flashed onto a screen above and to the side of the stage.

Slickly the opera retold the major incidents of the film without great alteration. Knowing the film well meant that most of my time was spent wondering how they would do this and that. In fact this faithfulness to the film felt a flaw as you felt that sometimes events were slavishly re staged. Likewise at times the libretto was unintentional comic. When you read the translations of Puccini's operas in English you realise much of the libretto has the characters spouting inanity which is rendered poetic by the beauty of the language and music. Hence when Veronica sings "Be afraid, be very afraid" (and this refrain is used at other points) its absurdity is humourous.

The staging was impressive. Old fashioned stage business was used to transport Brundle between pods that flanked the stage with lashings of dry ice to assist. The baboon was a very effective stick puppet enhanced by lighting and Brundle's computer was used as a chorus to narrate and emphasise ideas. Brundle's transformation was well handled and the visceral make-up effective. At one point he scales the set on a harness re staging the famous ceiling walk from the original film. The Brundle Museum of Natural History and Seth's gradual transformation were simply narrated by the computer chorus and the final confrontation and transformation of Brundle was gory and effective and emotionally engaging. I equally couldn't fault the performers and their dedication to the piece.

Overall a superior entertainment that followed the film closely and staged it with passion and excitement. So what's the problem? Well I was left with the question - Why? When I had joked that they should make an opera of Videodrome it was an outlandish comment. But why not as it seemed The Fly has been transported onto the stage without any real sense of why. I was reminded of the Jeff Goldblum comedy "The Talk Guy", a thespian satire set against the staging of The Elephant Man - the musical! The Fly the opera felt more like an exercise in adaption to a new medium and the creative challenge more a technical one. Thematically I did not see in the libretto anything new although there was emphasis an on the new life that was to come and Veronica's faith in the the Brundle child she was carrying. But the opera did not add to the film themes - common themes in opera of love and death - and so one wonders at its lasting worth. The film yes but the opera? An instance that symbolised this was when the arm wrestling scene was rewritten to give the redneck arm wrestler and girlfriend an inner life. An odd extended production number was inserted here with characters berating their empty violent, lives - sort of Chekhov via Happy Days on acid. The gore was effective but did they need to be given an inner life? In the film the scene is simply to emphasise the changes in Brundle.

In many ways I wished I was witnessing a new original opera by Cronenberg or his radical reworking of an existing repertoire opera. It seemed the impetus for this production was more Placido Domingo's. He wants to popularise opera by bringing the worlds of film and opera together and The Fly to him seemed the perfect synthesis. For Shore I can understand how the challenge of an opera would be relished but I most admit a real disappointment was how the majority of the film score was jettisoned in favour of new music, far from memorable. Only the overture and the opening of the second act retained recognisable themes from the film music. To Cronenberg the opera seemed a technical challenge, a chance to experiment in a new sphere. But in many ways I felt he was far removed from the final piece and I couldn't, beyond the story, see what he wanted to say through this piece. What was there to add that his film did not say or could not say now?

Final comment. See this production: its entertaining and well staged and possibly a "radical" production for an opera stage. If you have never seen the film it will be a revelation. But in terms of its place in Cronenberg's creative work it is more a footnote akin David Lynch's Industrial Symphony No. 1.

Outside the theatre it is a beautiful night and Paris sparkles and dances upon the Seine. I think about the butterfly child once envisaged to end the film, gently flying above the river. Be afraid...be very afraid.

Videodrome Book Delay

2008-04-20T12:06:00.010+01:00

Sorry for the lack of updates - chiefly due to apathy. Those awaiting Tim Lucas's Videodrome book will have to wait till June according to the publisher. However these archival set images were post on Tim's Video Watchblog and are a taster of the goodies to come.

Second Eastern Promises trailer

2007-08-31T12:30:00.000+01:00

Includes some extra footage. Enjoy

Eastern Promises official site and soundtrack

2007-08-28T09:58:00.000+01:00

Thanks to the Plasma Pool for spotting that the official site is up and that a preview of Howard Shore's score can be found at SoundtrackNet. You can also find an insightful video interview with Cronenberg discussing Eastern Promises at eTALK. Interestingly he denies Map To The Stars is his next project scorning IMDB and joking he will find out what he is next directing by "looking on the internet." Good news personally as I am much more interested in seeing him produce a self-penned project a la PainKillers or Red Cars rather than putting his spin on an existing script.

Eastern Promises Poster

2007-08-14T09:37:00.001+01:00

A Night at The Opera - Fly tickets Available!

2007-07-15T19:34:00.000+01:00

Tickets are now available for Cronenberg's operatic adaption of The Fly featuring a libretto by Howard Shore, designs by Denise Cronenberg and the voice of world renowned tenor Plácido Domingo. It opens at Paris' Theatre du Chalet next July before transferring to Los Angeles. Cronedrome has decided to cross the channel and enjoy this once in a lifetime spectale and so I've bagged tickets for the Saturday night. Follow this link to the theatre's online ticket system and here to the official website dedicated to the opera. This press release gives the full story. Now what about Videodrome the opera?

New Videodrome book

2007-06-28T21:46:00.001+01:00

Looks like Tim Lucas is finally issuing that book on Videodrome he began back in 1983! Looks good

First trailer for Eastern Promises premieres

2007-06-28T19:44:00.000+01:00

Enjoy!

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809794102/video/3182401/

"Viggo’s massive, hairy balls"

2007-06-09T14:17:00.000+01:00

A review of an early test screening of Eastern Promises has been posted at Aint It Cool news. Beware spoilers and disturbing reportage!

EASTERN PROMISES PREVIEW!!!

2007-05-31T20:31:00.000+01:00

Two clips have appeared on YouTube:

Ten second snippet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOKi9BR88o4&NR=1

"Dark Eyes" Olegar Fedoro:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM1ANBX7thw

Plus snippet included in this package in better quality:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC9lUMrpUug

From the Drain

2007-05-31T20:23:00.000+01:00

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gs1ASPwUIU

Videodrome "ambient exploration"

2007-05-31T10:31:00.000+01:00

On a similar note Kill Ugly Radio has created "an ambient exploration of David Cronenberg’s Videodrome, utilizing Howard Shore’s brooding, minimal score and many sounds and dialog from the movie itself." Yep but not as bad as you might think. Good way to re-experience the film on the old ipod. Beware - big file!

Rabid Soundtrack

2007-05-31T10:16:00.000+01:00

Oto scores again with this smart 28 minute suite from Rabid replete with dialogue and rabid howlings. Also posted is the original library album from which at least one track was drawn - "Vulcain". Ivan Reitman, Cronenberg's then producer/music director (pre-Shore) assembled the music from a variety of music library sources and it's pleasing that sites such as Oto's are dedicated to making this music available again.

Shivers Soundtrack

2007-04-15T19:28:00.000+01:00

Returning from another lenghty hiatus, i thought you might be interested in this fan complied soundtrack from Shivers. Enjoy. Finger crossed for regular updates

M. Butterfly DVD

2006-08-25T18:40:00.000+01:00

Firstly thanks to The Plasma Pool for graciously reporting this site's return. News of this new dvd release was emailed to me a couple of months back but I'm afraid the email was lost and I am unfortunately unable to acknowledge the source. That said, this german release is the first ever and is available from Amazon.de. Its R2, very reasonably priced, has the original language track and apparently removable subs (don't hold me to that). A re-evaluation of this film seems long overdue as it has tended to be overlooked so it would be good to see a R1 release with some extra features.

The new home for Cronenberg news

2006-08-24T17:30:00.000+01:00

Sadly financial cost has led me to give up my spot at blue-bottle.co.uk. In time I hope to find a new home for my site but in the meanwhile I've decided to utilise this blog to keep abreast of Cronenberg developments. It might lack the fancy content enjoyed by my original site but hopefully it will be updated much more frequently and be a source of news and links about the great man's present work. Enjoy