UWE BOLL – THE TMG INTERVIEW
Interview by Paul Preston & Adam Witt
Uwe Boll has a body of work as director, producer and writer, spanning over twenty years, but is also known for being one hell of an eclectic personality, and his strong opinions showed up when we asked him about the state of showbiz and his place in it.
His new film, “Rampage: Capital Punishment” is available as of August 19th and reflects Boll’s new desire to be provocative in his story content, which is a notable change from the video game adaptations that put him on the map. Often at odds with critics, who have lambasted him over the years, he has survived petitions demanding his retirement and boxing matches against reviewers who had the stones to take him on. Michael Bay, however, refused to accept Boll’s challenge to go twelve rounds in the ring to prove who the better director is. So I guess we’ll never know…
In your new film, “Rampage: Capital Punishment”, one man tackles the broken status quo in Washington, with gun in hand. Did any personal interaction with the big banks or Washington spur on the “Rampage” scripts? What pissed you off enough to start writing?
No direct problem with them, but as a citizen I saw and see the injustice and the absurdity we are living in. Look at Edward Snowden, without him we would know nothing about the illegal spying of the NSA and he should go to jail? It’s a joke.
A movie about a guy shooting up a bank and declaring war on Washington is pretty provocative. Any pushback so far from sensitive-types? If so, how do you respond?
I’m on tour in Germany with the movie right now and it is great to discuss with people the content and have big discussions after the screenings.
Do you find that Europeans can see what’s broken in U.S. society more easily then those Americans living in it?
It depends on the subject matter. I think in regards of health care, gun law, prison system, it is good to be European and see it from the outside view!
Brendan Fletcher is back in the lead role as Bill Williamson. You’ve also worked with Dominic Purcell a number of times. How important is it to you to build up a stable of artists that you can work with over and over again?
If I work with somebody and we like each other and we like the working results we keep working together.
With other subjects you’ve addressed like Darfur, Auschwitz and Wall Street, is there a topic that you wouldn’t make the subject of a film? Or is everything fair game?
I think there should be no taboo subject matter; everything should get out.
With those weighty subjects, you’ve obviously made a move into more serious fare, as opposed to the video game adaptations you used to make. But just for fun, what would Uwe Boll’s “Donkey Kong” film look like?
I just need a smaller King Kong or a fat guy in an ape suit.
We like where this is going.Is your ideal Mario armed just with a hammer, or plumbing weapons? Or just an insatiable thirst for revenge? Would you use Mario’s Italian roots to craft a statement on fascism?
Mario is and was also a tiny Mussolini…even if the real Mussolini was also tiny.
Speaking of your unique take on things, what do you make of the films that have won Best Picture lately and what would your “12 Years a Slave” look like?
I think “12 Years a Slave” was an okay movie. More like a TV movie with a lot of stars. But it was not a great movie. “WOLF OF WALLSTREET” was the only real great movie in that year.
WE AGREE. “Wolf” was a fantastic, kinetic masterpiece. Martin Scorsese has said his film’s aren’t always finished, but at some point you just have to put them out, but filmmakers like George Lucas like to tinker and retinker with their movies. What are your thoughts on that and would you revisit one of your films?
I see in all my movies mistakes and if I were to shoot them again I would try to not make them again. But I agree with Scorsese – movies must get out at some point.
You’ve become a fiercely independent filmmaker. Would you jump at the chance to make a big summer blockbuster, or shy away from that to keep making challenging films?
I would take the money and put my subversive message in against the banks, military etc. All marvel movies, transformers, etc. are ads for the weapon industry and the military complex.
We have a beef with Rotten Tomatoes, in that there are only a handful of meaningful critics out there, yet RT’s overall “Tomatometer” rating for a film can be determined by culling together the opinions of a wide range of chowderheads from across the country. Is there anyone specifically that we should be beating the shit out of?
A lot of websites in Germany, for example filmstarts.de, are idiots and judge my movies bad because they don’t like me. I think Rotten Tomatoes is shit and gives a fake picture about a movie. With my movies they on purpose don’t count a lot of good reviews and also count mixed review as bad.
We’re in line with you there. So, please give us your thoughts on the validity of comments left by YouTube users.
YouTube or elsewhere – most of the commentaries are absurd. People want to be cool by posting bullshit.
We don’t want to start another war of the words with Michael Bay, but would Rayne win a fight against the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?
Without a question: yes. But who cares. I think Bay makes really bad movies and he promotes the shitty military complex with every movie he is doing. They are all unimportant, brainwashing pieces of shit with only one goal: to make money and to hold the audience stupid so that they don’t focus on the real issues.
And lastly, we like to ask this question of everyone: What is your favorite film of all time and why?
“Apocalypse Now” – a massive masterpiece and adventure. This movie shows that films can be amazing.
“Rampage: Capital Punishment” is now available at Amazon.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
