The Rian Johnson Thread

http://makingstarwars.net/2014/10/star-wars-episode-viii-film-london/
Episode 8 will be filmed in London.

 

D'oh! MSW made me think it was something new.

 

So you mean we beat them to the punch?!

 

It's a safe bet that your favourite StarWars movie ( just like me ) is The Empire Strikes Back . It's the one StarWars movie that STRIKES the absolute perfect BALANCE of Action , Humour , Romance and drama !

This was not just an accident , it took the highly skilled hand of director Irvin Kershner to guide all these threads into one EPIC tapestry !

Now the only thing that has me more excited than ' The Force Awakens ' is the prospect of a Rian Johnson helmed Ep 8 !

I have a feeling this is were Empires true sequel awaits !

 

Rian Johnson's movies have their problems. I didn't like The Brothers Bloom, Brick is an acquired taste movie and if you look too much into Loopers plot the movie falls apart and is not really very rewatchable. But you know, some people on here are a bit too liberal with the dislike button even if some has a valid differing opinion. Rian Johnson has a good visual style and aesthetics but lacks writing outside of a few exceptions. I think he needs at least one cowritter to help him with the movies.

 

He did direct two Breaking Bad episodes: The Fly and Ozymandias. The Fly is a throwaway episode, though that is hardly his fault, and it's none the less excellently executed. I can't remember off hand why they wanted an episode like the Fly, but Rian Johnson really did an excellent job with that episode. And Ozymandias is considered by many to be the best episode of the series. So those two are definitely a plus for him.

As for Looper, it definitely has plot holes, but what time travel movie (besides Primer) doesn't? And more over, Looper does an excellent job of not letting the idiosyncrasies of time travel get in the way of telling a compelling story. It was an enjoyable film and was well received by critics, so I'm very happy to have him on board. He's definitely a talented actor and I think he's up for the job.

Also, if I remember correctly Lawrence Kasdan is writing Ep VIII with him, so if you still have doubts about his writing then hopefully that will assuage them.

 

As of now on IMDB, Johnson is the only writer.

But, just because IMDB doesn't say it yet doesn't mean it isn't the case, so Kasdan may still be writing it with him.

 

http://www.jedinews.co.uk/news/news.aspx?newsID=19494

Looks like they've hired some production people.

 

Will he also do ep9?

 

As of now I think it was reported he's writing and directing EpVIII and writing a treatment for EpIX.

 

Or Cuaron for episode nine.

 

In all seriousness I think that Rian Johnson and Lawrence Kasden should go to a city where it's legal and safe to take mushrooms and take some mushrooms. I think it would help them to assess whether the cinematic images and scenarios they have in mind have direct mythic resonance or whether they are merely stating the plot in a visually expositional way.

I want Star Wars to feel like looking far into the background of a Bruegel painting where all the background characters seem to be there for their own sake, where they are doing their own errands which makes the universe seem infinitely detailed. Some of the best films (like Andrei Rublev) are practically nothing but background characters.

I want these films to be directed with a direct sensuous connection to both the film medium and to the startling realness of our own world in all its texture. In JJ's letter to the crew he said something like "It's hard to believe but it's really true." I want that sense of disbelief at the realness of it all to linger in SW 8 & 9 because, in terms of how it effects our basic mythic sense of our selves and the world, Star Wars is real.

 

Some selected Rian Johnson tweets



About Daisy Ridley:







When asked what his favorite movie of 2014 was:

https://twitter.com/rianjohnson/status/538448933454761984

 

Two things that I’d like to see Rian Johnson bring to Episode 8:

1. Background characters who appear deeply involved with their OWN lives. Here is a small detail of a Bruegel painting as an example http://www.backtoclassics.com/image...derbruegel_christcarryingthecross-detail1.jpg It depicts the crucifixion but, despite the momentous event, a child tries to grab a ball from his teasing brother, dogs play and a man drives a carriage away from the crowd. Another example is Hunters in the Snow where, a group of “extras” on the far left tend a fire and one of them is in the midst of moving a table beneath a tavern sign that’s unhinged. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hu...in_the_Snow_(Winter)_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
2. stuff under construction: There will never be a time without construction because the world is never finished. Having non-plot-related construction in the background of Star Wars could give the illusion that that world is not entirely “presentable” and therefore has an existence outside of being presented to the audience. I’m imagining large facades covered in semi-transparent tarps that are flapping in the wind. In fact having a tarp just about anywhere could suggest transition and an “unposed” world http://www.italianways.com/christo-jeanne-claude-and-the-wrapped-up-king/ or here is another example https://photoofthedayetc.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/45cu1156.jpg

 

Some more selected R. Johnson quotes (will update this post with others in the future if need be):

 

Rian Johnson spoke with Christopher Nolan about Interstellar about the practical effects (Nolan even suggested to Rian to use some of those techniques like the digital projection instead of green screen) the score and other stuff, really interesting Q&A.
http://www.slashfilm.com/rian-johnson-christopher-nolan-interview/

 

http://www.starwars.com/news/rogue-...on-to-write-and-direct-star-wars-episode-viii

 

Back to May! woot woot!