Directors, The: The Films of William Friedkin (1999)
*** (out of 4)
Director William Friedkin sits down for an interview in this installment of the popular TV series that takes a look at some of the most famous faces in Hollywood. Friedkin starts out discussing how he wasn't interested in film but got a job at WGN Chicago and started making documentaries before his producer took him to Hollywood for GOOD TIMES. From here he had a couple flops but then hit the big time with THE FRENCH CONNECTIOn and THE EXORCIST before the flop SORCERER pretty much ruined his career. It's interesting hearing Friedkin talk about his career because it's obvious that he isn't too happy with it. He talks about how CITIZEN KANE is the all-time masterpiece to him and it's this film that keeps him going because it helps add fuel to his fire in terms of making new movies. He talks openly about being disappointed in the failure of SORCERER and it's interesting to hear him talk about how it just recently got over the disappointment of that movie failing with critics and fans. At the same time it seems as if the director really thinks highly of himself and really talks about all the good things he does. He talks about the famous car chase in THE FRENCH CONNECTION. He talks about why he wanted to do JADE and why the story was so important. He also talks about the controversy surrounding CRUISING but the most interesting and rather disturbing part comes when he talks about the casting of Linda Blair in THE EXORCIST. He says that the young actress told him what masturbation meant and this is partly why she got the job.
*** (out of 4)
Director William Friedkin sits down for an interview in this installment of the popular TV series that takes a look at some of the most famous faces in Hollywood. Friedkin starts out discussing how he wasn't interested in film but got a job at WGN Chicago and started making documentaries before his producer took him to Hollywood for GOOD TIMES. From here he had a couple flops but then hit the big time with THE FRENCH CONNECTIOn and THE EXORCIST before the flop SORCERER pretty much ruined his career. It's interesting hearing Friedkin talk about his career because it's obvious that he isn't too happy with it. He talks about how CITIZEN KANE is the all-time masterpiece to him and it's this film that keeps him going because it helps add fuel to his fire in terms of making new movies. He talks openly about being disappointed in the failure of SORCERER and it's interesting to hear him talk about how it just recently got over the disappointment of that movie failing with critics and fans. At the same time it seems as if the director really thinks highly of himself and really talks about all the good things he does. He talks about the famous car chase in THE FRENCH CONNECTION. He talks about why he wanted to do JADE and why the story was so important. He also talks about the controversy surrounding CRUISING but the most interesting and rather disturbing part comes when he talks about the casting of Linda Blair in THE EXORCIST. He says that the young actress told him what masturbation meant and this is partly why she got the job.
