NEWS: Hate-abees

CULTURE: Hate-abees

Indie film nerd hearts are singing. Footage from the infamously cantankerous set of the 2004 film I Heart Huckabees was uploaded to YouTube last weekend, and has spread to other parts of the Internet.



The two, long onset videos confirmed an obvious truth: Huckabees director David O. Russell, who reportedly got into a fist fight with George Clooney on the set of Three Kings, is one of the most difficult working directors in Hollywood. Actually, make that barely working - he's four years between projects at the moment, except for a surprising executive director's credit on Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. The making of his last film, I Heart Huckabees, is four years old.



A 2004 New York Times article about conditions on the Huckabees set indicate why Mr. Russell may have needed a break. Besides documenting screaming onset arguments, the article relates Russell's bizarre method directing experiments.

The videos don't feature any Russell nudity, but one did have a sprinkling of violence. During an argument with Tomlin, Russell runs on set and throws a prop, accidentally hitting a cowering female crew member.



Lily Tomlin's tantrum in another video is shocking, for no other reason than she starred in films that were staples of my childhood like The Incredible Shrinking Woman. Hearing her swear is weird, but hearing the meticulous way she approaches acting is even more shocking. How did a woman that serious about her craft ever make a mixed-up identical twin movie with Bette Midler?



The longer videos have been taken off of YouTube already, with no indication of who requested them taken off. Certainly Tomlin comes off as petulant, and Russell seems like a total dick. It did make me want to see Huckabees again though _ maybe if Criterion ever puts out a special edition DVD they can include some of this footage as a bonus.



However, thank jebus for the Internets: the full videos are still available.

That... that is fucking awesome. I really, really didn't like that movie. And now I may know why.

Wow... this douchebag is useless. I think watching 'Pink Flamingos' with my dick in a meat grinder could actually be more fun than watching his films.

I never made it through the whole movie... got about half way through and turned it off.

Fuck this guy someone need to kick his ass.............

Ridiculous.

I fucking hated that movie. LOVE the backstage action though. A bit more entertaining, I think.

Whoa.

Lily Tomlin is awesome though.
Poor her and everyone.

Man.
I like this movie too.

I <3 Huckabees (and Three Kings)

Naomi Watts made the movie worth watching. Then again...I would watch Naomi Watts doing her taxes for two hours.

Is it just me, or was there some serious sexual tension going on between those two?
... you know Dustin Hoffman and Jason Schwartzman. Kinda gross.

This re-affirms my crush on Lily Tomlin.

What a colossal douchebag. It's a miracle someone that childish can get anything accomplished.

I <3 Huckabees was a fucking phenomenal film.

I love when he's screaming "YOU'RE A FUCKING GROWN UP!! STOP ACTING LIKE A BABY!!!"

yeah. right. you're the grown up. you psycho.

Most excellent!

I love how fast poor Schwartzmann runs off the set when the AD tells everyone to take five.

What a fucking nutjob.

I've heard appalling stories about his behavior on the set of Three Kings - constant verbal abuse, beating up extras, etc. And that was how many years ago, now? I guess some people never grow up.

I'm with you - I absolutely loved this film.

Whoa. Weird. I had no idea wbout any of that. Hrm....

I just couldn't get into I Heart Huckabees, I wanted to like it, but it just wasn't doing it for me.

I have to commend Lily Tomlin for the grace she showed in that. I'd have bitch slapped the guy.