Kick-Ass (2010) and Payback (1999)

Film Stories with Simon Brew

#Cinema #Simon Brew #Movies

43:56

On August 20th, 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez shot and killed their own parents. Until then, this Beverly Hills family had been a portrait of the American Dream. How did it go so wrong? To listen to all four episodes of 'The Menendez Brothers' right now and ad-free, go to IntoHistory.com . Subscribers enjoy uninterrupted listening, early releases, bonus content and more, only available at IntoHistory.com . If you or someone you know is in crisis, there is free help available at mhanational.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

acum un an 59:18

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None of the Hollywood studios wanted to make 2010's Kick-Ass, a comic book movie with an R-rated edge. All of them turned it down, and so the film came to life in tandem with the comics, exploding into cinemas in 2010. It would be fair to say that not everyone in the media was pleased about it, as quite a backlash bubbled up.

There were problems with 1999's Payback too, but they came down to a different of opinion between star Mel Gibson and writer/director Brian Helgeland. It got to a point where just days after Helgeland won an Oscar for L.A. Confidential, he was, er, 'removed' from Payback.

The behind the scenes stories of both films are told in this episode...

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371 episoade

Film Stories with Simon Brew

Kick-Ass (2010) and Payback (1999)

Film Stories with Simon Brew

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The behind the scenes stories of both films are told in this episode...

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371 episoade

#Cinema #Simon Brew #Movies

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Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) and Scent Of A Woman (1992) 57:02

acum 6 zile57:02

57:02

2016 was a turning point in the world of the X-Men movies. After the big success of 2014's X-Men: Days Of Future Past , 20th Century Fox spent big on X-Men: Apocalypse , and big things were expected of it. On the other hand, it had taken a gamble with a different X-Men-related project, Deadpool . Things would not go the way that the studio had originally expected. The story of Scent Of A Woman meanwhile is wrapped up in the push for Al Pacino to finally get an Oscar, after several unsuccessful nominations. Not bad, for a film that originally had Jack Nicholson in line for the lead role... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
James Bond 26 (unmade, as of 2025) and Long Shot (2019) 54:48

acum 13 zile54:48

54:48

The path to the 26th James Bond film is one already filled with quite the story. Unmade at the point this episode is released in 2025, James Bond 26 has looked in limbo since the release of No Time To Die in 2021. There's no new 007, no script, no director...and it's an impasse that's cost $1bn to resolve. More conventionally, Long Shot did actually get made, released in 2019. Still, a romantic comedy with movie stars was going to be a tough sell, and a film whose script popped up on the Black List in 2011 had to take its place in the queue behind the infamous The Interview here. Stories of both are told in this episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) and Waiting For Guffman (1996) 1:02:33

acum 20 zile1:02:33

1:02:33

After the huge success of the original Gremlins , Warner Bros quickly wanted a sequel. The people who'd actually made Gremlins , not least director Joe Dante? The thought of making another was not in the slightest big appealing. Until, many years later, the studio made Dante an offer: if you make Gremlins 2 , you can do pretty much whatever you want with it. This is the story of how the ensuing film became one of the most boldest blockbuster sequels of all time. Later in the same decade, Christopher Guest took a small company of actors down to Texas for a month. On a modest budget, he shot over 50 hours of footage, that'd take over a year to edit into a feature film. Even when the resultant movie, Waiting For Guffman , was finished, it took a long time to earn its reputation as a modern comedy classic... Stories of both films are told in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
In conversation with Mario and Mandela Van Peebles 53:54

acum 23 zile53:54

53:54

Mario Van Peebles was in London in early February along with his son, Mandela. And the pair stopped by for a long chat about their work, their latest film - Outlaw Posse - and a whole lot more. In this chat, topics include Jaws: The Revenge , the role of a producer, Melvin Van Peebles, the hidden names in the end credits of Outlaw Posse , New Jack City and a whole lot more... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
A Knight's Tale (2001) and King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword (2017) 59:34

acum 27 zile59:34

59:34

Coming off the back of the film Payback , Oscar-winning writer/director Brian Helgeland feared he might be in movie jail. Thus, he got writing, and came up with A Knight's Tale , a film mixing jousting, modern music, Heath Ledger, and a naked Paul Bettany. It took months to shoot in Europe. When it came to the music, David Bowie turned up. And then there's the tale of its sequel that never was. King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword meanwhile was to be the first of six films, as originally pitched. Guy Ritchie came in to direct, and star Charlie Hunnam would admit that the film they started making wasn't the one they ended up with. Quite the story, though. Includes elephants and David Beckham. Tales of both are told in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
September 5 (2024), with co-writer and director Tim Fehlbaum 31:27

acum 4 weeks31:27

31:27

In an extra episode of the Film Stories podcast, Simon is joined by director Tim Fehlbaum, as they discuss his new film, the Oscar-nominated September 5. As always, it's a far-ranging conversation, taking in Fehlbaum's earlier work, a name on the end credits of the film, and the attention to detail in making the movie. Plus, a few thoughts on the technical similarities with Saturday Night as well. September 5 is now out in UK cinemas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
Zodiac (2007), plus Brady Corbet 1:10:59

acum 5 weeks1:10:59

1:10:59

The path to 2007's Zodiac started when a then-19-year old managed to take out an option on a best-selling book. Then, a few years later, he inked a deal with Disney to make the movie. Fate took a few turns though, and it was the collapse of an $80m television series that would bring David Fincher to the eventual movie. Some people were expecting a film along the lines of Fincher's Seven though. They did not get it... For the second half of this episode, Oscar-nominated director Brady Corbet then joins the podcast to talk about his film The Brutalist , the challenges of which have been well documented. Over a lengthy chat, he talks about the film, the question he's not asked, and - it says here - there's a bit about toilet roll too... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
In conversation with Nicholas Stoller - You're Cordially Invited, The Five Year Engagement, The Muppets, Captain Underpants, Bros and more 52:37

acum 5 weeks52:37

52:37

In a special episode of Film Stories, Simon is joined for a long, clickbait-free chat by writer/director Nicholas Stoller. Recorded at the junket for They're Cordially Invited , they explore how that film came together. But also, the conversation covers a whole bunch of other movies. There's Stoller's directing work on the likes of Neighbors / Bad Neighbours, Bros , Get Him To The Greek and The Five Year Engagement . Plus, his writing, on movies such as The Muppets and Captain Underpants . You're Cordially Invited is on Prime Video now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
There Will Be Blood (2007), plus Mike Leigh 1:07:19

acum 6 weeks1:07:19

1:07:19

Acclaimed as one of the finest films of the 2000s, Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood was - at one stage - a movie people weren't keen to pay for. The movie though has an unlikely link to the book Fast Food Nation , and Anderson dropped a different idea to go with it. Then, there was the small matter of the first two weeks of filming having to be pretty much re-done from scratch. The second half of the episode is a career-spanning chat with filmmaker Mike Leigh, that takes in his new movie - Hard Truths , landing in UK cinemas on 31st January 2025 - but also goes back some 60 years to the start of his famous process... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
In conversation with Barry Sonnenfeld: Coen Brothers, The Addams Family, Get Shorty, books, wearing two watches, a whole lot more 1:14:17

acum 6 weeks1:14:17

1:14:17

With his brilliant new book - Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time - Barry Sonnenfeld joins Film Stories for a long, funny and candid conversation about his work. The chat covers his director of photograpy days for the Coen Brothers, shooting the last two weeks of Goodfellas , and then moving onto directing. From his debut with The Addams Family , to the challenges of Get Shorty with Gene Hackman and John Travola, and a whole lot more. Quite the chat, this. A little bit of fruity language too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
The Producers (1967) and Fierce Creatures (1997) 1:02:06

acum 7 weeks1:02:06

1:02:06

When it comes to making your feature directorial debut, The Producers isn't a bad way to get off the mark! But Mel Brooks' now much-loved comedy faced a bumpy path to the screen, not least the struggle to write it in the first place. That, and the kind of subject matter that Hollywood studios didn't have much desire to go near. Plus, it turned out that the fate of the film owed a bit of a debt to Peter Sellers. After the success of A Fish Called Wanda meanwhile, the question was asked: would John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Palin and Kevin Kline come back for a sequel? Well, not quite: and despite Fierce Creatures being billed as an 'equal not a sequel', the comedy had a very, very difficult production. Stories of both are told in this episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
In conversation with Leigh Whannell - Wolf Man, Invisible Man, Upgrade, Police Academy 45:30

acum 7 weeks45:30

45:30

Joining the Film Stories podcast for a special episode, writer/director Leigh Whannell chats to Simon and Maria about his latest film, Wolf Man . It's had a bit of a journey to the screen, and Whannell explores that in this longform chat. Also: the small release date change that might have proven pivotal to The Invisible Man , the prescience of Upgrade , a segue into Police Academy 3 , and his short-lived career as a film critic. Note this episode was recorded just before the passing of David Lynch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
Black Adam (2022) and Draft Day (2014) 58:08

acum 8 weeks58:08

58:08

The plan with the DC Comics character Black Adam was firstly to make him part of the Shazam movie, and then - when Dwayne Johnson signed up for $20m+ plus - to give him his own adventure. Johnson, it seemed, wanted lots of adventures - including a crossover he reportedly lobbied hard for. In the case of 2014's Draft Day , here was a drama where the writing of draft one took a very hurried two weeks. But after initial interest, Paramount Pictures would drop the movie. Things suddenly looked really tricky - until the Black List came along to save the movie... --- Stories of both are told in this episode. Support our print film magazines at https://store.filmstories.co.uk. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
In conversation with Steven Knight: Maria, Birmingham. Pablo Larrain and boiled eggs 39:01

acum 8 weeks39:01

39:01

Returning to the Film Stories podcast, writer/producer/director Steven Knight is in writing mode for his latest project, Maria . Directed by Pablo Larrain and written by Knight, in a wide-ranging conversation he discusses the unusual unHollywood relationship between the pair. The chat also covers a rogue Christmas tree, a boiled egg, Birmingham Airport, and strange Google searches too... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
Scarface (1983), plus Robert Eggers 1:06:41

acum 9 weeks1:06:41

1:06:41

With Oliver Stone writing the script, Al Pacino starring and Brian De Palma behind the camera, perhaps it's no wonder that 1983's Scarface has enjoyed a long success. It was met with no shortage of problems during its production though: an unhappy shoot, a change of location, long overruns and the budget soaring. And then Al Pacino had to go to hospital. It's quite the film story. The second half of this episode? Filmmaker Robert Eggers arrives for a long chat about Nosferatu , The Northman , The Witch and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
In conversation with Chris Columbus: Nosferatu, producing, John Hughes, John Williams and more 52:48

acum 9 weeks52:48

52:48

Chris Columbus and Robert Eggers aren't necessarily names you expect to see side by side, but the pair formed a creative force on the newly-released Nosferatu . In a wide-ranging podcast special, Simon chats at length to Chris Columbus about his producing career primarily, but with films such as Only The Lonely , Home Alone , Stepmom , Bicentennial Man , Reckless and more making an appearance too... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
The Order (2024), with director Justin Kurzel 36:21

acum 10 weeks36:21

36:21

In a special episode of Film Stories, it's a guest filmmaker and a guest interviewer! This time, director Justin Kurzel is chatting about his latest movie, The Order , that's now playing in UK cinemas. Plus, there's a bit of chat about Snowtown and Assasin's Creed in there too. Ryan Lambie of Film Stories is asking the questions, after a bit of babble from Simon at the start. And it's just the kind of longform, clickbait-free conversation we love to do... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024), with Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham 35:06

acum 11 weeks35:06

35:06

The return of Wallace & Gromit to our screens also coincides with a return visit for Nick Park to the Film Stories podcast. He's joined by his co-director too, Merlin Crossingham, as the pair chat about their new film, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl . The conversation covers timescales, writing, studio notes... and a little bit of clingfilm... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
In conversation with Andrew Davis - Disturbing The Bones, The Fugitive, Holes, Stony Island, Under Siege and more 1:08:19

acum 11 weeks1:08:19

1:08:19

In a very special episode of Film Stories, Simon is joined by Andrew Davis, perhaps best known for directing films such as The Fugitive , Under Siege , Holes and more. Those movies certainly come up in the extensive conversation between the pair. Davis has also, with Jeff Biggers, written his first novel, Disturbing The Bones , and there's a strong movie link to it as well. And the chat also takes in Stony Island , The Fugitive sequel, Steal Big Steal Little and a whole lot more... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) and Juror #2 (2024) 59:15

acum 12 weeks59:15

59:15

In the final regular Film Stories episode of 2024, we start with a 1989 movie that's gone on to become something of a Christmas favourite. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation saw John Hughes writing again, and a first time director in Jeremiah Chechik. The former protected the latter from studio notes, and even a potential lack of snow turned into the opposite problem. Still: what happened to the UK cinema release? Clint Eastwood's Juror #2 remains one of the more curious film stories of 2024. A movie made for a modest sum, that Warner Bros then gave the impression of simply not really wanting to release it. Stories of both are told in this episode... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
In conversation with director J C Chandor: Margin Call, Kraven The Hunter, All Is Lost and more 35:19

acum 12 weeks35:19

35:19

It took some time for writer/director J C Chandor to break into the movie business. When he did, it was with the mini-budget Margin Call , a film that would snag him an Oscar nomination. Since then, he's brought to the screen All Is Lost , A Most Violent Year , Triple Frontier and now Kraven The Hunter , arguably his highest profile feature to date. In this special episode, he talks through his new film, and a whole lot more... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
Dirty Harry (1971) and Anita And Me (2002) 55:44

acum 13 weeks55:44

55:44

It's fairly well known that the role of Detective Harry Callahan was originally set to be played by Frank Sinatra, before he had to pull out as production neared. Yet when Clint Eastwood decided to accept, he had several versions of a script to choose from - and decided to put a call into someone he trusted: Don Siegel. The pair would go on to fashion a cinema classic. The journey to 2002's Anita And Me meanwhile began with the publication of Meera Syal's semi-autobiographical novel in 1996. Work began to then turn it into a film - but the challenge of making an independent film in the UK, with two young, unknown leads? That'd be quite the test. Stories of both are told in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
In conversation with Kevin Smith - The 4.30 Movie, Waterworld, indie cinema and more 41:57

acum 13 weeks41:57

41:57

In a potty-mouthed Film Stories podcast special, Simon welcomes back Kevin Smith. It's a chat centred around Smith's new film,. The 4.30 Movie - and how he came to make it. That tale involves buying a cinema, and digging deep into his own youth. Beyond that, they chat about the length of the end credits, they segue into Waterworld , and consider some of the bumps in life. Not least reviews, and a rejection from the Sundance Film Festival. The 4.30 Movie is available to buy and rent on video on demand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
In conversation with Kevin Costner and John Debney - Horizon: An American Saga, and more 51:21

acum 14 weeks51:21

51:21

In a special episode of Film Stories, Simon is joined by Kevin Costner and John Debney. Costner is, of course, the star, director and co-writer of Horizon: An American Saga , which he conceived and part-financed. Debney is a composer working on his fourth Kevin Costner-related project. The pair share their stories of making Horizon . The conversation also looks at funding films, a few films from both Kevin Costner and John Debney's back catalogues, and a whole lot more... --- Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/fspn It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
In conversation with Jared Bush, Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios 41:50

acum 14 weeks41:50

41:50

In a very special episode of the podcast, the Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios - Oscar-winner Jared Bush - joins Simon for a chat about his work and career. They start off with Moana 2 , which is in cinemas now. But the conversation goes right the way back to Jared Bush's time as a script reader for Robert Zemeckis, and then through to the future of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Plus: the sliding doors moment that could have taken Jared Bush's career in a very different direction... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
Demolition Man (1993) and Hundreds Of Beavers (2022) 57:47

acum 15 weeks57:47

57:47

1993 was a banner year for Sylvester Stallone, thanks to two films that gave him quite the comeback. First up was Cliffhanger . Not far behind? That'd be the much-loved Demolition Man. Ahead of its 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray debut, let's take a look at a movie that one of its co-stars loathed making. And also try to work out why its director moved away from feature films straight after. Then there's Hundreds Of Beavers , a 2022 film that for reasons explained, most could only get to see in 2024. It involved a long shoot, lots of beaver costumes, and a fair amount of expertise in Adobe After Affects too... ---- Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/fspn It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
In conversation with director Vicky Jenson: Spellbound, Shrek, Shark Tale, Post-Grad, director jail 48:20

acum 15 weeks48:20

48:20

Vicky Jenson's directorial career got off to a hell of a start. As co-director of Shrek , she went to the Cannes Film Festival, she won an Oscar, scored a massive box office hit. Then Shark Tale followed, another hit. Then a live action movie, Post-Grad - but that didn't hit. And she paid a career price. This story gets better though, as Jenson's now made the animated feature Spellbound , which is available on Netflix. And she's chatting to us for this special episode of Film Stories. Hers is quite the story... ---- Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/fspn It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
Charlie's Angels (2000) and D-Tox (2002) 1:01:33

acum 16 weeks1:01:33

1:01:33

It was following the success of The Fugitive that Hollywood started plundering (again) the archives of television for its movie ideas. Sony wanted a Charlie's Angels film, and was looking for pitches. Drew Barrymore, then making Never Been Kissed , was interested. The film she'd help steer to the screen though wasn't without behind the scenes incidents, though. Sylvester Stallone was all set to earn $60m for three movies in the mid-1990s meanwhile, he just had to make sure he picked the right projects. He committed to filming D-Tox in the late 1990s. But years after it was finished, it'd been through three titles, assorted cuts, and Hollywood smelt trouble. Stories of both films are told in this episode... Get NordVPN 2Y plan + 4 months extra here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/fspn It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
In conversation with Lucy Fisher & Douglas Wick: Gladiator II, Ridley Scott, Stuart Little and more 40:09

acum 16 weeks40:09

40:09

In a Film Stories podcast special, producers Lucy Fisher and Douglas Wick - the latter an Oscar-winner for the original Gladiator - join Simon to talk about their work. A lot of the chat is taken up with Gladiator II , working with Ridley Scott, and trying to get an epic production off the ground. There is a very odd left turn when Stuart Little comes into the conversation, and a cat's bottom is discussed... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Film Stories with Simon Brew

1
Superman II (1980) and Toys (1992) 1:06:42

acum 17 weeks1:06:42