Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Auteur Watch - Anthony and Joe Russo


Lucky bastids. As with Rod Daniel, the Russo's careers really took off once they dove headlong into TV. Unlike Rod Daniel, they're doing it at a time when TV quality is about on the same par with movie quality, which I think bodes less well for the cinema. The one Russo looks like if Joe Pesci and Robert Smigel mated, IMHO... actually, I guess you can't really use IMHO with an observation like that.
Anyway, they do seem to be two peas in a pod when it comes to working together. The 90s were their slowest period yet, but they stumbled into the silver screen racket in the 2000s with Welcome to Collinwood. What can one say? George Clooney in a wheelchair is better than no George Clooney at all. They forgot that rule with Batman & Robin, of course. TV work soon followed, but it was a return to the cinema with 2006's You, Me and Dupree. If you're anything at all like me, you will no doubt remember the accompanying USA Today article that asked "Are you a 'You', a 'Me' or a 'Dupree'?" It was soon after that Owen Wilson attempted suicide, but I like to think it was because of Cars. Or maybe just having to have lunch with a Disney executive, who knows.
And, of course, the 2010s look like they're going to be even more fruitful for the Russos. They should stave off another stab at the silver screen for as long as possible. They've already missed their 2009 gestation date. Be more like Terrence Malick, boys!

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