Respect to Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado

If you haven't read what one of the directors of Big Bad Wolves, Aharon Keshales, said about him and Navot leaving the project as both writers and directors of the reboot, they posted an insightful articulation of their conflict with the studio a few months back. Their reasons for leaving really get to what's sad about the state of Hollywood right now, we're no longer in an era like the 90's or the 70's where directors get free reign to do what they want so long as they turn out a great film, and it's a damn shame they had to leave as writer/directors of Death Wish. It sounded like they could have made a unique masterpiece true to the Brian Garfield novel and closer to something like Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver or John Avildsen's Joe, than something like what the studio and Eli Roth are aiming for now that's more along the lines of the original Michael Winner film or Bill Lustig's Vigilante (all due respect to those movies, they're fine for what they are). Let's hope this doesn't halt their next project. Keshales and Papushado are talented filmmakers who should get credit for not compromising their vision, even in the face of turning down a massive salary and being able to work with some huge Hollywood movie stars. At this early stage in their careers that kind of offer is VERY unusual to turn down, even for reasons of artistic integrity, and honestly it should be applauded.


Here's what they had to say:
"Relief. Finally a bit of breathing room. You probably remember that a few months ago we were bombarded with greetings and congratulations on receiving our first Hollywood job, Death Wish. You might also remember that Navot and I insisted not to comment on the story or on any of your excited posts about it… not even with a “like”.

It’s not like we became snobs overnight. And it’s not like anybody prevented us from speaking out, it’s just that we found ourselves in a terrible situation. On the one hand, we were indeed offered a dream job, we were indeed offered a legendary salary, and we did indeed pass a stressful and amazing audition with the presidents of MGM and Paramount, and we even met and got the approval of one of the toughest most intimidating stars in Hollywood… yes, yes, Bruce Willis himself saw Big Bad Wolves and thought we were the right people for this violent mission.

bruce-willisOn the other hand, the news caught us by surprise, because in reality there were huge differences between our vision and the vision of the studio with the famous roaring lion… we wanted to stay away from the original and problematic (albeit fun to watch) Michael Winner film, and move more towards the spirit of the original novel by Brian Garfield – an excellent minimalist novel that never got the cinematic treatment it deserved. We wanted to follow the vision of the director who originally was set to make it, but ultimately was not allowed to – Sidney Lumet. Lumet wanted to direct a film about a simple man, he even thought of Jack Lemmon for the lead, which experiences a terrible tragedy and then falls to the depths of hell. When we imagined the thriller in our minds we thought Taxi Driver, Falling Down… with a bloodcurdling finale like Sicario.

Unfortunately, the time table for the project did not allow us to make the big changes we wanted to make to the script, and as time passed we realized that we were not going to get what we wanted for this project.

Last night, after long deliberations we finally decided to leave the project.

It was not easy.

To know that you’re giving up money, fame, the opportunity to work with a big star… that you’re kicking the door in Hollywood’s face… knowing that you’re disappointing everybody who supported and encouraged you and wanted you to fulfill your dreams –
All this can really mess with your head and make you doubt yourself. And so it did. But anybody who knows us even for a minute, knows that we’ve never compromised on our vision.

These were three grueling months, three months during which time I walked around wearing sunglasses because I was afraid to answer uncomfortable questions.

Today I can finally take them off and say thank you for your support, your embrace and all the love.

So what now?

A little peace and quiet, a lot of patience and above all, love."