Brolin to choke on cookie for Russell
Three weeks after James Caan left David O. Russell’s Nailed, supposedly over an argument about how the actor should choke on a cookie, James Brolin has stepped in to fill the role.
Russell has a reputation for running a contentious set, not only getting into a fight with George Clooney on Three Kings, but most famously appearing all over YouTube in a video flaming out on Lily Tomlin during the filming of I Heart Huckabees.
I like Russell’s work, but I wonder how long he can get away with alienating his cast while not exactly lighting up the box office.
Filed under: News, Upcoming
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They argued on how the actor should choke on a cookie?
To be a fly on the wall…
Whenever I see the name “Brolin” these days I think of Josh, not James. Sorry, James Brolin!
I smell a cookie monster cameo.
He scares me — truly. After I saw the Lily Tomlin footage, I was aghast. He’s undeniably talented, but he’s definitely one of those filmmakers that make me feel guilty about liking their stuff (*cough* von Trier *cough*).
By the way, on the “Juno” extras, were Rainn Wilson and the director parodying the Russell/Tomlin incident? It was pretty funny.
Yeah that would have been hilarious to watch, Alexander.
Russell: “No, no. Do it like this.” (hands to throat) “Haven’t you ever choked on something before?!”
Caan: “Come on - that’s such a stereotype! This is just a cookie!”
(blows ensue)
Same, Alexander. I didn’t even realize it was James until you mentioned that.
Same here - I thought Josh as well. I’ve forgotten about James.
I’d just like to add that anyone who succeeds in antagonizing Clooney - a guy who gets along with everyone, becomes friends with them in fact - has to be a douchebag, talented or not.
One tries to let the work speak for itself, but jeez.
One of my best interviews ever was with David Russell for CREATIVE SCREENWRITING when THREE KINGS came out. He was brutally honest, funny, wacky and had no problem with me bashing Bill Clinton after Russell just got back from the White House. I know he’s had issues with actors, but I found him to be one the most “real” filmmakers I’d ever met.
And tho I too think of Clooney as St George, my friend had an encounter with him at a bar that was anything but friendly.
Josh choking on a pretzel in W, and now James choking on a cookie in Nailed.
Is there anything these Brolin boys can’t choke on!?
craig..he probably doesn’t have to worry about the light up the box office thing.
and people signing to work with him..likley know he ‘people skills’ rep….
put was it over a cookie ?? really ???
and if a cookie..what sort of cookie was it ???
LOL, Ryan.
Russell should never have demonstrated real choking by putting his hands around Caan’s neck.
Christian, it doesn’t surprise me that the guy has strongly appealing qualities. How else would someone with a well evidenced anger management problem continue to work? Particularly given as Craig points out, his excellent films don’t generate box office gold.
I think that this conversation would benefit from context. Russell believed that Caan should cough while choking on the cookie; Caan believed that it was impossible for somebody to cough while choking. This presumably caused them to wrestle in the street for several hours.
Caan is right. Technically, if someone were able to cough, then they’d really be half choking. When someone is really choking the airway is completely blocked, so they can’t cough.
However, sometimes one can be half-choking and trying to cough and that lodges the thing even further and then they really are choking.
Glad I could settle that one for everybody.
As somebody who actually did chocke on a cough drop, it’s possible to try and cough, but if you could cough, you can breath, thus no choking. Kinda.
If the nuances of someone choking on a delicious cookie doesn’t symbolize the weighty importance of an actor representing the great summits and deep valleys of the human condition, then nothing does.
It’s a debate for the ages, Alexander.
And Russell and Caan had the hubris to try and settle it once and for all. Not in our lifetime.
I heard that the problem really stemmed from Caan trying to method-act his way through the entire movie; he reacted negatively (in character) to Russell trying to show him the proper choking approach by punching Caan in the throat. Caan felt that having his Adam’s apple nearly knocked through his spinal cord defeated his character’s motivation, thus taking him out of the moment.
It’s a really a matter of perspective on your approach to the role.
Sometimes I wonder if there’s a method to DOR’s madness…like he’s trying to keep his actors off balance.
I don’t know. I’m stretching here. I want him to keep making movies.
Thank you everyone for vividly bringing to life the actual events as they unfolded. They got into a disagreement over whether a genuinely choking man can still cough. Caan’s “in character” surly contrariness saw Russell recklessly attempt to physically demonstrate his point, first by choking the actor with his hands, then by punching him in the throat. Caan, his character, or both took umbrage at this unprofessional treatment and violently seized Russell, the two wrestled in the street for several hours.
christian, seeing that this is a public forum, I guess you likely wouldn’t illuminate the details of your friend’s illustrious meeting with gorgeous George at said bar?
Or would you…?
Knowing that the Cloon-dog is a rabid reader of LIC, I’ll have to tell you over email or drinks at the bar.
Hmmm…
christian, I guess that’s what we’ll have to do then…