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Blood Meridian- Would Hollywood ever make it?
Posted on 4/19/23 at 6:17 pm
Posted on 4/19/23 at 6:17 pm
For those who are unfamiliar, this is considered the magnum opus of Cormac McCarthy, author of The Road and No Country for Old Men. It's a western that's so violent and dark it makes the Wild Bunch look like the Care Bears.
Here's a Summary
Blood Meridian story of a teenage runaway known only as "the Kid" who joins a group of scalp hunters in the American Southwest in the mid-19th century. Led by the enigmatic and violent Judge Holden, the group embarks on a brutal and bloody campaign against Native Americans and other perceived enemies of civilization.
The novel is known for its vivid and often disturbing descriptions of violence, as well as its exploration of themes such as the nature of evil, the relationship between violence and civilization, and the human desire for power and dominance. Along the way, the Kid encounters a cast of colorful characters, including a one-armed ex-priest, a delusional fortune teller, and a group of Mexican bandits.
As the Kid becomes increasingly disillusioned with the violence and chaos around him, he begins to question his own role in the group and his own morality. Meanwhile, the Judge emerges as a figure of almost mythic proportions, seeming to embody the very essence of evil itself.
The novel ends with a violent confrontation between the Kid and the Judge, leaving the reader to ponder the ultimate meaning of the story and the nature of humanity's relationship with violence and savagery.
I'd recommend the Audiobook if you're unaccustomed to McCarthy's writing. He never uses quotation marks and has an aversion to almost all punctuation.
Several talented screenwriters, actors and directors have tried to get it greenlit for the last 30+ years, but have failed to make it to production.
I wouldn't want a watered-down adaptation, but I can see where some imagery in the book would be too much for most audiences. Some compromises would have to be made to keep an R rating. But...
Could it be done?
Who would direct?
Who would play The Kid?
And most importantly, is there any actor alive who could play Judge Holden and do the character justice?
Here's a Summary
Blood Meridian story of a teenage runaway known only as "the Kid" who joins a group of scalp hunters in the American Southwest in the mid-19th century. Led by the enigmatic and violent Judge Holden, the group embarks on a brutal and bloody campaign against Native Americans and other perceived enemies of civilization.
The novel is known for its vivid and often disturbing descriptions of violence, as well as its exploration of themes such as the nature of evil, the relationship between violence and civilization, and the human desire for power and dominance. Along the way, the Kid encounters a cast of colorful characters, including a one-armed ex-priest, a delusional fortune teller, and a group of Mexican bandits.
As the Kid becomes increasingly disillusioned with the violence and chaos around him, he begins to question his own role in the group and his own morality. Meanwhile, the Judge emerges as a figure of almost mythic proportions, seeming to embody the very essence of evil itself.
The novel ends with a violent confrontation between the Kid and the Judge, leaving the reader to ponder the ultimate meaning of the story and the nature of humanity's relationship with violence and savagery.
I'd recommend the Audiobook if you're unaccustomed to McCarthy's writing. He never uses quotation marks and has an aversion to almost all punctuation.
Several talented screenwriters, actors and directors have tried to get it greenlit for the last 30+ years, but have failed to make it to production.
I wouldn't want a watered-down adaptation, but I can see where some imagery in the book would be too much for most audiences. Some compromises would have to be made to keep an R rating. But...
Could it be done?
Who would direct?
Who would play The Kid?
And most importantly, is there any actor alive who could play Judge Holden and do the character justice?
Posted on 4/19/23 at 6:29 pm to Vols&Shaft83
quote:
And most importantly, is there any actor alive who could play Judge Holden and do the character justice?
Was a real person, amazingly enough.
A younger John Goodman could pull it off.
Posted on 4/19/23 at 6:36 pm to LSUBoo
quote:
A younger John Goodman could pull it off.
Interesting choice.
Trying to picture him with no hair, and I'm not sure he's tall enough
Posted on 4/19/23 at 6:43 pm to Vols&Shaft83
quote:
And most importantly, is there any actor alive who could play Judge Holden and do the character justice?
No
Posted on 4/19/23 at 6:47 pm to Vols&Shaft83
One of the few books that just doesn’t need a tv or movie adaptation. Just wouldn’t do it justice. The violent + Holden would be too much but it’s the entire point
Posted on 4/19/23 at 6:47 pm to Dubosed
quote:
No
Not even if Daniel Day Lewis wore lifts?
Posted on 4/19/23 at 6:49 pm to Vols&Shaft83
Let Mel Gibson direct it. Bout all I got. He does violence very well.
Posted on 4/19/23 at 7:00 pm to Honest Tune
quote:
Let Mel Gibson direct it. Bout all I got. He does violence very well.
He would have the balls to produce it himself, and not hold back on the distressing content. And it would look amazing.
Solid call
Posted on 4/19/23 at 7:02 pm to Vols&Shaft83
I just recently read the book (didn't like it at all but that's another story) but with the descripting of the judge being all hairless I kept picturing this:
Posted on 4/19/23 at 7:06 pm to Vols&Shaft83
quote:
He would have the balls to produce it himself, and not hold back on the distressing content. And it would look amazing. Solid call
He would definitely do it justice. I’m halfway through reading the book.
Posted on 4/19/23 at 7:09 pm to WG_Dawg
quote:
didn't like it at all but that's another story)
Run-on sentences wear you out?
Posted on 4/19/23 at 7:09 pm to WG_Dawg
quote:
just recently read the book (didn't like it at all but that's another story) but with the descripting of the judge being all hairless I kept picturing this:
I agree with this
This post was edited on 4/19/23 at 7:10 pm
Posted on 4/19/23 at 7:13 pm to Vols&Shaft83
Posted on 4/19/23 at 7:14 pm to Vols&Shaft83
Meh, I would put Smonk up against it as the most violent and dark western.
Posted on 4/19/23 at 7:15 pm to Vols&Shaft83
quote:
I'd recommend the Audiobook if you're unaccustomed to McCarthy's writing. He never uses quotation marks and has an aversion to almost all punctuation.
Not all of his books are like this but to your point, Blood Meridian's a difficult read.
It reminds me of a Chuck Palahniuk book called Pigmy. The entire book was written in broken English. It was annoying as shite.
This post was edited on 4/19/23 at 7:20 pm
Posted on 4/19/23 at 7:18 pm to Honest Tune
quote:
Let Mel Gibson direct it. Bout all I got. He does violence very well.
It would mean portraying the Comanche as he actually was. Hollywood would never allow it
Posted on 4/19/23 at 7:22 pm to Vols&Shaft83
I think some folks in Hollywood have contemplated trying to adapt Blood Meridian to film for years, but I’m pretty sure that there’s no way it can be done without it just coming off as an overtly violent western that would likely leave audiences depressed.
The book itself is in my top 5 of favorites, but it’s because of McCarthy’s prose and his allusions in telling story, much of which is frankly terrifying and I don’t think can be effectively translated onto screen.
It would probably take an unknown actor to play Judge Holden because I can’t think of anyone who could fit that role. I think it would also take a director who is skilled in conveying psychological terror to properly create the “aura” of Holden. Again, I’m not sure who that would be.
The book itself is in my top 5 of favorites, but it’s because of McCarthy’s prose and his allusions in telling story, much of which is frankly terrifying and I don’t think can be effectively translated onto screen.
It would probably take an unknown actor to play Judge Holden because I can’t think of anyone who could fit that role. I think it would also take a director who is skilled in conveying psychological terror to properly create the “aura” of Holden. Again, I’m not sure who that would be.
Posted on 4/19/23 at 7:22 pm to Vols&Shaft83
quote:
Trying to picture him with no hair, and I'm not sure he's tall enough
You can fake the height with forced perspective. He could pull it off bald, he's big enough overall.
Glenn Jacobs (AKA Kane, my local mayor) looks the part, but probably doesn't have the acting chops.
Posted on 4/19/23 at 7:23 pm to Pandy Fackler
They used to. One of my favorite movies as a kid was the sequel to Old Yeller, it was called Savage Sam… tons of references to injuns/Comanches being dirty savages and such… their words, not mine…Disney doesn’t talk about that one too much.
This world is due for another epic western rife with unapologetic realness.
This world is due for another epic western rife with unapologetic realness.
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