Latest news with #FatalAttraction
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
‘Don't kill the dog': The man who saves Hollywood films from disaster
The end of Fatal Attraction would have been very different without Kevin Goetz. The original climax to the 1987 thriller had Glenn Close's bunny boiler, Alex, die by suicide after the end of her affair with Dan, played by Michael Douglas. He was blamed for her death, and the last thing viewers saw was his wife, Anne Archer's Beth, rushing to try and clear his name. Anybody who has watched Fatal Attraction will know that its frenzied ending actually sees Beth kill Alex, in an act of apparently-deserved retribution. It became a box office smash. Goetz had an unheralded role in making the change and, ultimately, creating one of Hollywood's most famous endings. He was running a focus group watching an early cut of Adrian Lyne's film who did not like the conclusion; one member said they wanted someone to 'kill the b---h'. Goetz reported this to the filmmakers, who shot the alternative ending despite Close's objections (she would later say that it made 'a character I loved into a murdering psychopath'). The final version went down in history. Over more than three decades, Goetz has made a career of taking the thoughts of 300-or-so ordinary people who have seen a work-in-progress film to advise on how to make films better. 'Part of my job is navigating what I think the audience is trying to say, what they are saying, and distilling that specificity to the film-makers so they actually have something to do in the editing room,' he says. 'You've got a bunch of people using audience feedback to make informed decisions. Not 'I think': who gives a f--- what you think? You care what the audience thinks.' The founder and chief executive of Screen Engine/ASI has worked on upwards of 5,000 films, from blockbusters such as Titanic, Barbie and F1 to smaller fare, like Jordan Peele's Get Out. The Los Angeles Times once dubbed him the 'doctor of audience-ology' in 2005 and the nickname has stuck. Most films released in cinemas and on streaming services go through a testing process. A panel of people who might be disposed to like it is recruited – in a similar fashion to those assembled by political opinion pollsters – and their general and specific feedback is sought. The question of whether they would 'definitely' or 'probably' recommend a film to a loved one is key. Goetz collates this data and helps studios and filmmakers try and interpret it so that they can make the film more appealing. Often that can mean reducing the running time, clarifying confusing elements, removing dud jokes and excising offensive material. Over the years, test screenings helped make Jaws scarier, made Molly Ringwald end up with Andrew McCarthy and not Jon Cryer in Pretty in Pink, and ensured Loki was kept alive at the end of Thor: The Dark World – for which Tom Hiddleston is, presumably, very grateful. 'I could get something, with the help of the audience, from a C or a C-minus to a B-plus or even an A-minus. Can you imagine that? That's huge growth, huge. And it's the difference between, potentially, hundreds of million dollars,' says Goetz. 'Remember, it's not show-art, it is show-business. I truly believe that every movie, made and marketed for the right price, should make money. Now that's a big bold statement, not said lightly. But the problem is most people don't understand what they have at the outset so they pay way too much, budget-wise, for the movie, and as a result of that, they fail.' Something can be salvaged from even the biggest stinkers. Producers of zombie-flick World War Z 'reshot a third of the movie' after a negative screening, while in 2020's Sonic the Hedgehog 'the whole lead character was recrafted'. Goetz fondly recalls Gore Verbinski's Mousehunt, which he says was 'originally an adult dark comedy that turned into a family movie – and it was a success. There are ways to do it, but it's harder than hell to do it'. While Goetz says that most filmmakers get on board with the testing process, there are some notable exceptions. Christopher Nolan, for instance, does not subject himself to the views of mere mortals (though those who watched Tenet may wish he did). 'Picasso never audience-tested his paintings,' Ang Lee, the Oscar-winning Life of Pi director, once told Goetz. 'I love Ang Lee. Ang Lee is one of my favourite filmmakers,' Goetz tells me. 'He's an artist, what can I tell you? But guess what? So am I. I would say I am no less of an artist and I contribute no less than…' At this stage he breaks off to point at a large trophy behind him; it is American Cinematheque's 'power of cinema' award, which honours those who have helped advance the relevance of film. 'I got that award in 2023 – it's one of the highest awards in Hollywood, as you know – for my contributions to the motion picture business. I didn't get it because I'm a number cruncher.' As if to underline the point, he has a publicist send me the seven minute-long video of tributes that was played when he was garlanded with the honour. 'We are absolutely nothing without you and your incredible talent,' beams Charlize Theron. Margot Robbie says: 'You are so good at what you do and it has been such a gift to have your expertise and support on so many of our films… it is truly mindblowing how many films you have had a positive influence on.' Tom Cruise and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson call him a friend. 'I'm only saying this, not to be self-aggrandising, but so you will understand my relationship with these people,' says Goetz. A fast talker who is liable to go off on tangents, he is clearly not overly burdened by self-doubt. Much of the 63-year-old's success can be attributed to his bedside manner, which allows him to tell even the haughtiest auteurs things they do not want to hear. He illustrates the issue he often has by asking me to imagine me being the pushy parent of a child. 'Liam, I need to tell you that your seven-year-old daughter, she's just not as attractive as you think she is. She's never gonna make it as a model. I know you want her to be in commercials, but she's a little chunky, she's got crooked teeth, she's got freckles, and it doesn't work,' he says, deadly earnest. 'I have to say those things, and these are their children. These are their babies, right?' Ultimately, the power of numbers in his focus groups makes most filmmakers listen to him. 'If someone honks at you on the highway, they're an a--hole. But if seven people honk at you, you're the a--hole. At the end of the day, they're saying 'You d––'.' His constructive attitude, combined with his discretion, makes him a trusted partner for many of the world's biggest stars and explains why so many were queuing up to sing his praises at the American Cinematheque awards. Goetz says that a couple of filmmakers have fallen out with him, but refuses to name names. He is full of praise, however, for Ron Howard ('it doesn't get better than Ron in the screening process. He's a great partner and treats you like one') and Peele ('he's a very hot filmmaker who really respects the process and he's had great success'). He leverages the close relationships he strikes with them into interviews for the podcast he hosts, Don't Kill the Messenger, and he has written a pair of books about the business (2021's Audience-ology and the forthcoming How to Score in Hollywood). Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, Goetz aspired to act, sing and dance, and was a fixture in TV adverts and stage plays before he got an acting degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey. He also spent a couple of years as a Domino's pizza delivery boy. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career and took a part-time job with National Research Group, a consulting outfit. It started out as a 'survival job', where he moderated test screening focus groups, but it gradually became his primary interest. Decades on and he is still as enthused by it as ever. One iron-clad rule has emerged from years of test screenings that filmmakers would do well to heed at all times: do not mistreat a dog. A scene was added to Back to the Future so that it was clear that Doc Brown's dog, Einstein, did not get hurt when he was sent through time. 'You never want to hurt a dog,' Goetz says. 'Anchorman has a story about the dog that they needed to reshoot to show that the dog was OK, and it helped a lot. In The War of the Roses, one of them was eating and the implication was he barbecued the dog and the audience was… they had to shoot an insert shot of the dog sitting there to show that he was just f---ing with her.' Needless to say, Goetz is a dog person and lives in Beverly Hills with his husband, Neil, and their labradoodle, Kasha. In recent years, Hollywood has been accused of playing it safe, with a conveyor belt of sequels, prequels, remakes and reimaginings released, to the detriment of more original ideas. 'There is a tremendous amount of risk aversion. The reason is the stakes are so high,' Goetz says. 'The audiences seem to want the same, but different. They don't want a rehashing, but they want something that feels familiar but is different, like [Ryan Coogler's] Sinners. People have seen vampire stories, but not one like this. And I think then they'll also go to a Jurassic Park.' But Hollywood needs to remember that the audience is never wrong. 'The audience has final cut. An audience can never be wrong, because it's just an opinion,' he says. With thousands of screenings under his belt, watching films at various stages in the production process, it would be easy for Goetz to stop enjoying seeing them for fun: who would want a hot dog after spending all day seeing how the sausages are made? But he says he loves sharing films he enjoys with his husband and friends. There is, however, one part of the cinema world that he cannot bear. 'People often ask if I eat popcorn. And the answer is, no, very rarely,' he says with a smile. 'I smell popcorn every night of my life!'
Metro
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Steamiest 90s erotic film confirmed for 'unnecessary' reboot with a twist
As the era of reboots and remakes rages on, one classic 90s erotic thriller is also set for a remake—this time, with a twist. Released in 1992, Basic Instinct catapulted Sharon Stone, now 67, to global fame thanks to her starring role as Catherine Tramell. She appeared opposite Michael Douglas as Detective Nick Curran in the first of her many femme fatale characters, its plot following the investigation into Johnny Boz's (Bill Cable) murder, in which his girlfriend is a suspect. Things take a steamy turn, however, when the cop falls for Catherine, with the film now hailed as 'groundbreaking' for its depictions of sexuality in mainstream cinema. As well as becoming a cultural phenomenon, it was also a commercial hit, grossing over $350million (£260m) worldwide. Fast forward 33 years, and Basic Instinct is set to return to the silver screen once more, as the Paul Verhoeven-directed classic is getting an update. As per Variety, with original screenwriter Joe Eszterhas on board, the reboot will be released with Scott Stuber's United Artists and Amazon MGM Studios. Adam Griffin of Vault Entertainment will executive produce, but further details, including a title, are yet to be confirmed, excluding the rumours of the reboot being 'anti-woke', leaving fans to wonder if any famous moments will get the chop. Not everyone is thrilled about the upcoming reboot, with many making it known that they think it's an 'unnecessary' production. Taking to X, @CCortave24 wrote: 'Basic Instinct rules & Sharon Stone gives an all-timer performance as Catherine Tramell. Good luck trying to replicate that success because a reboot is unnecessary'. @UygarNFT branded it a 'super bad idea', while @GenesisAcademyX argued: 'Studios need to realise that not every film needs a remake. It fails 90% of the time. We're making original stories with soul and a 70's feel. People want to see painterly classics, not Hollywood remakes.' 'Some things cannot replicated', declared @rowenmatthee, with @_MyNameIsAdam_ adding: 'So dumb. Just give us Basic Instinct 3 and bring Sharon back…' @NicMye further argued that Stone's casting is the only thing that made the original 'watchable', and @motherquoter suggested that the revival is destined to fail. 'This didn't work with Fatal Attraction and it didn't work with Cruel Intentions, so why should it work this time? Maybe greenlight original ideas instead…', they penned. Indeed, 1987 romance thriller Fatal Attraction, which also starred Douglas as well as Glenn Close, was made into a TV series in 2023 but was cancelled after one season. Similarly, 1999's Cruel Intentions, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Reese Witherspoon, was adapted for TV last year on Amazon Prime, but was also cancelled after just one series this spring. So you could say the odds aren't in Basic Instinct's favour, despite social media predicting hugely popular actress Sydney Sweeney for the female lead in its remake. Basic Instinct already had a sequel, released in 2006 and with Stone reprising her role as crime novelist Catherine, who is in trouble with the law again, this time in London. Alas, the film flopped spectacularly, making $38.6m (£29m) back from its $70m (£52.1m) budget. It also received negative reviews, with a shocking score of just 6% on review site Rotten Tomatoes, a stark contrast to the original film's 56%. The film also received three nominations at the 2006 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards, and was branded 'godawful' and even 'painful' viewing by critics. Speaking previously about her Basic Instinct role, Stone, whose most memorable scene saw her uncross her legs during interrogation to reveal she wasn't wearing underwear, said she kept the iconic white minidress herself. She told The Times that, after making a TV film in the 80s, her wardrobe was sold off at discounted prices, leaving her feeling embarrassed by the thought of crew members being able to purchase her lingerie. 'I thought, 'Never again',' she said. 'I had it put into my contracts that I keep all my clothes from films, unless they are studio rentals.' Stone added: 'I keep the white minidress from Basic Instinct in a safe but have a ton of shoes from that movie in my closet, like black split-toe Gucci heels and strappy gold-studded ones. The rest of the costumes are in storage.' More Trending The actress has also admitted that she doesn't believe the film could be made now in the same way, saying in 2019 that Basic Instinct was 'made at the exact right moment in history because it captured all our fears and doubts and the moment of change of power for women'. She added to Allure: 'It's still an intriguing film, but could it be made now? I doubt that it would have any form of the sensationalism it had at the time. 'When I began my career, there were only two ways we were allowed to sit: cross at the ankles or ankles under the chair.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Bob Vylan singer slams Damon Albarn as 'out of touch' after Glastonbury criticism MORE: Fans living for 'unhinged' new Netflix movie starring Idris Elba as a dog MORE: James Bond legend shares thoughts on new 007 director Denis Villeneuve
Daily Mirror
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Hollywood legend Michael Douglas reveals worrying reason he hasn't worked for 3 years
Fatal Attraction and Ant-Man actor Michael Douglas has shared his fear of ending up as 'one of those people who dropped dead on set' after marking a milestone birthday His Hollywood legend father Kirk Douglas carried on working into his nineties, but Michael Douglas says he's happy to 'play the wife' and step away from his acting career at a comparatively youthful 80. Speaking to Best Magazine, Michael explains that he hasn't actually worked for a few years, and while he hasn't definitively retired, it would take a very special script to lure him back into the studio: 'I say I'm not retired, because if something special came up, I'd go back.' For now, though, he says he's happy to watch his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, 55, go out to work, while he enjoys his remaining years in peace: 'I did not want to be one of those people who dropped dead on set,' he joked. Welsh-born Catherine, some 25 years younger than her husband, is still keeping herself very busy, with a variety of film and TV projects on the boil, including Netflix 's hit series Wednesday. As he winds down from his acting career, though, Michael has reason to be grateful for his old age. In 2010, he was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue. The reality behind the diagnosis wasn't made public at the time, with his doctor advising that it would be better to describe his condition as throat cancer, because of the possible negative publicity that might arise from him having such a disfiguring and potentially deadly condition. He later explained on This Morning that he felt he had to make some sort of announcement, because his treatment meant he had to pull out of a publicity tour for the movie Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. He recalled: 'The surgeon said let's just say it's throat cancer. I said 'OK, you don't want to say it's tongue cancer?', I said 'Why's that?' and he said 'Well, if you really want to know why, if we do have to have surgery it's not going to be pretty. You'll lose part of you jaw and your tongue and all of that stuff.' So I said, 'OK sure.'" Aggressive chemotherapy sent the cancer into remission, but Michael admits that he went through a very tough time: 'Stage four cancer is not a holiday. You know? It's not a holiday. But there aren't many choices, are there? 'I went with the program involving chemo and radiation, and was fortunate. I had a couple of friends during that same time who were not so lucky.' He mentions Dallas star Larry Hagman, and songwriter Nickolas Ashford – who had a huge hit with 'Solid' in 1984 – as being diagnosed with the same condition at roughly the same time. Sadly, neither of them survived. Michael says that his cancer had probably been brought about by a combination of stress, alcohol abuse, and years of heavy smoking – although, at the time, an offhand remark during an interview with the Guardian led to stories that the main trigger for his cancer had been an infection of the HPV virus, caused by performing oral sex.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Iconic Actor, 80, Unlikely to Ever Work Again
Iconic Actor, 80, Unlikely to Ever Work Again originally appeared on Parade. Michael Douglas won't be taking on any more roles — at least, he's not planning to. The iconic actor, who has starred in films like Fatal Attraction, Wall Street and Behind the Candelabra, hasn't worked in three years and has no plans to ever film again. In an interview with Variety, Douglas talked about surviving a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis and the reason that he decided to step away from the entertainment business — for the most part. "Stage 4 cancer is not a holiday, but there aren't many choices, are there?" he told the outlet. In 2010, Douglas was told that he had oropharyngeal cancer and was given a couple of options for treatment. "I went with the program, involving chemo and radiation, and was fortunate. The surgery would have meant not being able to talk and removing part of my jaw and that would have been limiting as an actor," Douglas explained. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 After surviving cancer, Douglas took time to reflect on his life. More than two decades later, he decided it was time to take a break from working. "I have not worked since 2022 purposefully because I realized I had to stop,' he told Variety. 'I had been working pretty hard for almost 60 years, and I did not want to be one of those people who dropped dead on the set. I have no real intentions of going back. I say I'm not retired because if something special came up, I'd go back, but otherwise, no." Iconic Actor, 80, Unlikely to Ever Work Again first appeared on Parade on Jul 7, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michael Douglas Reveals Why He's Chosen To Take A Step Back From Acting
Michael Douglas has admitted he has 'no real intention' to continue acting. The two-time Oscar winner recently appeared at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival to promote a re-release of his movie One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, where Variety reported that he reflected on the more recent years of his life and career. Having recovered from stage four throat cancer in the early 2010s, Michael told the audience: 'I have not worked since 2022 purposefully because I realised I had to stop. I had been working pretty hard for almost 60 years, and I did not want to be one of those people who dropped dead on the set.' The 80-year-old continued: 'I have no real intentions of going back. 'I say I'm not retired because if something special came up, I'd go back, but otherwise, no.' Michael did claim there is 'one little independent movie' he's still 'trying to get a good script out of', but aside from this one project, he is 'happy to play the wife' to his wife of 25 years, Catherine Zeta-Jones, 'in the spirit of maintaining a good marriage'. Michael is best known for his work in movies like Romancing The Stone, Fatal Attraction, Basis Instinct and Wall Street, which earned him his second Academy Award (his first was as a producer on Best Picture recipient One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, in which he also starred). In the last few years, he's played Hank Pym in a string of Marvel movies (the most recent of which was 2023's Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania), narrated the documentary America's Burning and appeared in the title role of The Kominsky Method, for which he was nominated three times for the Best Actor In A Comedy Series award at the Emmys, and won a Golden Globe. He does also still have one film in the pipeline, Looking Through Water, in which he will act alongside his son Cameron Douglas. This Original Devil Wears Prada Star Is Not Returning For The Sequel Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Trailer Is Already Sparking Debate For This 1 Reason Mark Hamill Reveals How He Really Feels About Controversial Star Wars Film The Last Jedi
