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Naked Lunch
and The New Age. Both films explore a moral or spiritual
bankruptcy. In different ways. Both are by great writer/Screenwriters:
Cronenberg and Borroughs. And Michael Tolkin.
6. What was the reason for you not appearing in
Robocop 3
and being replaced by Robert Burke?
I was not replaced. I chose to do
Naked Lunch
instead, which was a dream
come true, as the book had been like a Bible to me since I was in college.
7. You directed and co-wrote the teleplay for a TV one-off,
"Partners". Have you any plans to continue in this side of the film business?
I co-wrote this with Eby Roe Smith ("Falling Through") and directed this
short film which received an Oscar nomination. I have since directed
"Elmore Leonard's Gold Coast" for Showtime/Paramount, two episodes of
Homicide, a pre-pilot for CBS "Michael Hayes" and will direct
another Showtime film this year.
1. For those who haven't seen Robocop
Robocop is a futuristic action movie. I wouldn't say its science
fiction, I would say it's an action film. But underneath this action film
there's an amazing satirical comment on western society that's even more
cogent now that the world is facing so many problems with possible nuclear
terrorism, conflicts with third world countries, and technical globalisation.
They all play into Robocop as the film's an allegory of crucifixion and
resurrection. There's a story of salvation and there's also a medieval tone.
There's a tone of the middle ages, like a knight, and these are all brought
together by essentially not only the script but Paul Verhoeven's incomparable
direction and my acting.
2. On the film's genre.
It would be put into the genre of the action movie. It would have to be put in
the genre of the action movie. Its futuristic but its not science fiction. You
know its not fantasy. It has a very heavy social reality to it that's active,
so it's an action movie. It has a very black humour in it.
3. On the spoof adverts in the film.
The satire in advertisements is the satire of western greed. It's a good thing
because all mankind is essentially greedy but greed has to be tempered with
satire. That's why democracy is fun. That's why dictatorships don't work anymore,
because they don't get to play in a commercial market that allows for (a)
competition and (b) satire.
4. Talking about the suit.
The suit was supposed to be lighter and easier that it actually was and initially
took 8 hours to put on. Also, due to the logistics of pre-production, the suit
arrived a little bit late and we had to work out the movement again as our
original plans were not copasetic to the weight and cut of the suit. We made
this work, we made that work and then we redesigned the movement to fit the
weight of the suit, and actually the weight of the suit gave the character a
much more profound dynamic, a heavier metier which created more pathos and a
lugubrious kind of animal quality. This really worked as opposed to what we
originally designed which was very sort of liquid and fluid and probably
wouldn't have been nearer as pathetic.
5. On the DVD release.
On the DVD you will see interviews with Paul. You will see how the movie was
made. You will see extra scenes that were cut out, ridiculously cut out I
might say, because of the censors. Once it is understood that it is not
gratuitously violent that it's, you know, part of the story and the
crucifixion angle. The restored scenes definitely make the film more powerful.
6. On Murphy's death.
It's a parable. It's equated to the crucifixion. I mean I have my hand blown
off first which is the nail going into the wood. And my arm is blown off as
its extended and then the final wound of the spear of Longinus is the bullet
going through my head. It is meant to be gothic and disturbingly northern
European horror like crucifixion actually was. That's how one endows the
resurrection that happens later with power, because you've seen something
horrendous happen to a common man, an innocent man, and then you see him
revived.
The DVD Trilogy Boxset.
This interview was printed with kind permission by MGM's PR company. 2002.
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Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
The following is two interviews with actor Peter Weller,
police officer Alex Murphy in the first two Robocop films.
