Best Film: The Social Network
Scott Rudin has just optioned “The Terrorist Search Engine,” a recent New York Magazine profile of controversial counterterrorism expert witness Evan Kohlmann — and what’s more, the Oscar-magnet producer is interested in adapting the piece as a possible starring vehicle for The Social Network’s Jesse Eisenberg.
Written by Wesley Yang, “Engine” details how the downy-cheeked-but-web-savvy Kohlmann — dubbed “the Doogie Howser of Terrorism” by an FBI agent when he was just 23 — has helped convict 23 defendants in federal courts and Guantánamo Bay tribunals with his expert witness testimony. Now 31, Kohlmann is a controversial figure who has made testifying at such trials his principal source of income and earned a reputation in some circles as “working in the ‘guilty-verdict industry.’”
Yang told us that he was pleased by Rudin’s interest, but not terribly shocked that Hollywood would be attracted to Kohlmann’s shades-of-gray tale. “As I was reporting it it, I felt like it was a very cinematic story,” says Yang.
As with The Social Network, Rudin has again set up his drama at Sony’s Columbia Pictures; we’re told that Team Eisenberg is waiting for a script to be fashioned before any decisions about his possible involvement get made.
Jul
/ May 12, 2011previously commented on last post and am going to say it again: not thrilled.
I don’t think Scott Rudin cares very much whether Jesse get typecasted or not. That maybe a little overharsh. But honestly… you already know what people’s impressions of the protagonist would be like: cold mechanical mad out-of-the-world computer genius with an alien sort of passion for his skill, above the comprehension of normal mankind.
only with a little more chill and angst than Mark Zuckerberg… seriously? You want Jesse to do this again?
the story itself looks great, I love the background material. Just not for Jesse.
(btw, if this gets made I hope they inject a bit more humanism into it. I absolutely do not want to look at a genius computer whizkid’s personality with a hero complex mix. This really could be a great story.)
Jul
/ May 12, 2011original feature by Yang here; http://nymag.com/news/features/69920/
Laura
/ May 12, 2011Eh I’m not into it. And I agree with Jul.
Belle
/ May 12, 2011So there is Team Eisenberg now?
Jul
/ May 13, 2011LOL I think they mean his people. management, agent, representative, publicist, the like.
Silvia
/ May 12, 2011I really like the idea of this new work, so when Jesse and realize there will be released 30 minutes or less, The Wrong Picture and Predisposed, that are more cutting comedy, will be positioned with a comic style and enter it as something different to help Jesse to show their talent in any kind of movies…….
cecille
/ May 12, 2011I’d like to be on Team Eisenberg!
Thanks for the link JuL, I am going to read that. I’m intrigued but I do get your point about Jesse being Zuckerbegian with this role again
Jul
/ May 13, 2011you’re welcome ;D
the problem is public perception, you know. Mark Zuckerberg’s role was pretty much iconic as a computer genius with more pride in his own skill and intelligence than compassion for human relations (his own). (that’s how the role is usually interpreted, anyway.)
This role of Evan Kohlman if you’ve read the source is… not quite the same. Definitely not identical. But with large enough areas of similarity that you’d want Jesse to avoid it.
Evan Kohlman can be seen as derisive of the hussle that demands academic qualifications and whatnot. Simply put he is a self-educated and self-developed master at his expertise but rather lonely (in the eyes of the majority anyway) and you know, the same kind of above-it-all quality and impatience.
(Although there’s a note of desire for understanding and companionship because of the presence of his valued subordinate and friend, which is more than can be spoken of Mark Zuckerberg)
This common trait is too much to ignore. Jesse’s previous interpretation of Mark Zuckerberg will kind of – I’m sorry to use this description but it’s accurate – pollute the character, actually. People look at Jesse and would want to project their preconception derived from Zuckerberg onto Evan Kohlman: IT master, technolgy-savvy, someone cold and distant, someone too intelligent to be fully likeable, someone hardly incomprehensible.
Evan Kolman as a character I personally feel can be far more than that. More heoric, perhaps, with a stronger, presistent interest in seeing justice being done. Accused of not having the adequate academic qualifications and biased towards the executive, but insisting upon his own values. I like that role and I wouldn’t want Mark Zuckerberg’s specter hovering over him. XD
But to come back to discussing Jesse’s own interests…. I want to see Jesse be able to play (in high-profile projects I mean) down-to-earth human beings with feelings and compassion, the obvious and easily comprehensible kind, to be able to blend in with this crowd. I want to see him try out acting for different passions and emotions.
Two iconic high-profile roles of computer or networking geniuses in a row – the typecasting is blatant. If this gets recgonized as his distinctive trait that will make him in the eyes of Hollywood good only for such quirky, out-of-ordinary roles. Hollywood (and the public) can be rather unforgiving. Jesse I think is still in danger of being typecasted and he needs to broaden his spectrum of roles as much as possible.
cecille
/ May 13, 2011You explained that very thoroughly JuL, you should really be on Team Eisenberg as one of his advisers perhaps?
I did a search and saw this piece of news on other film websites like Hollywood.com and even though this project is merely a possibility for Jesse to do at this time, criticisms are there already about the typecasting, can you imagine when it is actually a confirmed project? I don’t know if they’re being mean though or genuinely concerned about Jesse’s career. Oh well.
I guess we’ll see. I trust Jesse will eventually come to a good decision regarding this. His move of wanting to see the script first and not agreeing instantly even though it’s a Scott Rudin project proves he’s savvy with these things.
Jul
/ May 13, 2011haha thanks for the praise XD sadly not even a remote possibility…
I think Jesse (and Team Eisenberg) know their stuff, they probably understand what’s good for him more than every critic and fan put together… when Scott Rudin approaches you like that even if you aren’t ready to invest, you don’t want to come up with a straight refusal so early on, that looks really ungrateful and rude. Saying they need to look at the script first before making decisions is just the professional thing to say.
cecille
/ May 13, 2011On some level though, I think it’s flattering that an A-List producer had Jesse first in mind for this one. Does this mean he’s on the A-List now too?
Jul
/ May 13, 2011mmm, yeah, I think yes, for the moment. If you get Woody Allen and Scott Rudin invested in you I personally think that counts as A-list. somewhere near the end of the list but still A enough. LOL.
the problem is staying on it…
cecille
/ May 13, 2011Yes, I thought so too when he got cast in the Woody Allen movie. That was a pretty big deal.
Speaking of… Alec Baldwin wants to drop out of “Rock of Ages” ‘coz of health reasons. I hope he doesn’t drop out of the Woody Allen film. I really do want to see him and Jesse onscreen together.
Jul
/ May 13, 2011am sorry to hear that… I just ran on Deadline and saw the same report.
0_0 I think Woody Allen has better be prepared for that now. Hopefully Alec can sort out his medical condition in time for July…
==== just saw update: http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/alec-baldwin-stays-in-rock-of-ages-film/
um. dunno what to say to this.
If I were Baldwin I‘d want to pull out of Woody‘s project now, to rest.
cecille
/ May 13, 2011Seems like the role calls for a lot of energy. I hope he doesn’t stretch himself too thin for this one that he’ll end up in worse condition and be forced to quit the Woody Allen movie in July.
Not familiar with the musical but have seen it mentioned a few times. The cast is stellar though: Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Bryan Cranston, Mary J. Blige and Malin Akerman.
cecille
/ May 12, 2011So if ever the movie gets made, they will show the lead as 23 until 31 years old? Wow how would they get Jesse to play a convincing 31 year old? They’re gonna need a lot of prosthetic makeup for that LOL
Jul
/ May 13, 2011yeah TAT it really shouldn’t be a problem seeing as Jesse is 27 but it is in fact a problem…
but well, Brad Pitt wore an 60-year-old face once, I’m sure they can work that magic again
lulu
/ May 13, 2011team eisenberg, THAT’S ADORABLE!
cecille
/ May 13, 2011Team Eisenberg is composed of his two cats Shanti and Snow Leopard LOL
Jul
/ May 13, 2011that cracked me up….
I really really want to know more about Shanti and Snow Leopard. I wonder which of them it was in the advertisement Jesse did for Washington Animal Rescue League…
I am guessing Snow Leopard XD (but it could be any cat really)
Jul
/ May 13, 2011news on Predisposed.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sarah-ramos-joins-cast-indie-188373
Sarah Ramos Joins the Cast of Indie ‘Predisposed’ (Exclusive)
Jul
/ May 13, 2011“Sarah Ramos, one of the stars of Parenthood, will be indisposed for part of her hiatus with indie movie Predisposed.”
tell them to stop making word jokes with “disposed”…. I’m tired of that joke already… every single news article announcing casting news of predisposed starts like that with someone being ‘predisposed’ or ‘indisposed’
Jul
/ May 13, 2011“The movie, being financed by BCDF Pictures, is due to start shooting next month in New York City. Brice Dal Farra, Claude Dal Farra and Lauren Munsch of BCDF are also producing.“
so…. Predisposed in June, then flying straight to Rome on whatever-the-name-is-that-Woody-Allen-has-decided-not-to-tell-us-yet for the rest of summer.
what a schedule.
Sarah Ramos sounds like a very talented young actress. I‘m glad.
cecille
/ May 13, 2011Agree with the predisposed and indisposed jokes, JuL! They should really stop.
Not thrilled about this casting choice, sorry. I don’t like the show. I loved Peter Krause in “Six Feet Under” and was willing to give this show a chance but no, everyone just seems to be annoying. Now, Sarah Hyland from “Modern Family” — she would’ve been a nicer choice. And much prettier too.
Anyways, will look forward to this movie still ‘coz that article says Jesse will play a piano prodigy. Woohoo now we’ll finally see him play the piano!
Since this is a indie/low budget film, I don’t think the shoots will be as strenuous though. Hope we get some on the set pics.
Jul
/ May 13, 2011I’ll take your word for it XD I haven’t seen any of those US TV shows (hides)… but I’m sure Jesse and Melissa will be good enough to support the whole movie very solidly
Jesse playing the piano = squee, +1
also he’ll likely be wearing glasses.
http://www.ethandowning.net/predisposed-photos.html
(that’s the actor in the short playing the son role before Jesse came on)
am slightly nervous the character is going to be a bit socially awkward and shy and lonely and stuff, from the look of those pictures. but I think Melissa-Jesse is a great (interesting) pair. XD
cecille
/ May 13, 2011I am a couch potato so I watch a lot of those US tv shows.
Yes, I didn’t even think Jesse would have a love interest here. I was fine with it focusing on the mom and son relationship.
I do hope it’s not another virginal role for Jesse and the girl is the one showing him the ropes. Adventureland was cute but enough with that inexperienced with sex thing already. Let him be a promiscuous twentysomething this time!
So excited to see him play the piano!
Jul
/ May 14, 2011XD the only US tv show I’ve ever followed with any loyalty is CW’s Supernatural… and not any more after the 6th season.
am largely a homebody and coach potato too but I’m not even very interested in TV shows in my own native language. I like fiction, blog posts, dabbling at computer art and used to deal with a lot forum chatting (though less now).
(Well, BBC’s Sherlock did captivate me but that’s a singular case.)
re Predisposed: they probably need more supporting characters in the feature film than just the mum and son XD but I feel like the girlfriend role is really not the centre of things, just a pretty small role
loved Adventureland. I don’t think Phil Dorling will write a virgin role for Jesse, it feels totally unnecessary and too much on the storyline – there’s enough going on already what with Julliard and an intoxicated mum and drug dealing XD no need for another branch.
new word learnt: promiscuous
cecille
/ May 14, 2011Wow it’s great you dabble in so many things. I actually have a short attention span so I can’t do a lot and don’t really watch shows all the way through. Mostly I just channel surf LOL! I think I came across “Sherlock” too and thought he was cute…
Anyways I really do hope we get a lot of scenes of Jesse playing the piano. That would be so awesome. I read he writes musicals so he’s got to be pretty skilled with it.
Jul
/ May 14, 2011no no I wish I have more hobbies. Most of my activities confine me to the Internet. (but actually I confine myself, if I word it like that it sounds like I’m shedding responsibility LOL…)
Benedict Cumberbatch is LOVE. Martin Freeman too. I loved Sherlock. Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss did an amazing job I think with the plot, the dialogue, the re-characterization and everything… lovely with the right mix of alternate sombreness, wittiness and hilarity.
very easy to finish 
21st-century Sherlock Holmes, must see 
It’s just got the three 90-minute episodes
re Jesse: yes I think he said he wrote both the music and the lyrics… I only know that he’s adept with the guitar. Nothing on the piano. I’ve no idea if knowing the guitar will make it easier or not to learn the piano…. will it?
but his hands are beautiful, in any case they’ll look great on the keys. XDDD
cecille
/ May 15, 2011I just stumbled upon the scene where Sherlock was flirting with a woman who’s in charge of the autopsy, I guess, commenting how he love how she’s changed her hairstyle. I guess that was already midway. Seeing Sherlock though I thought, hey he’d make a great vampire.
Anyways back to Jesse, actually I just assumed he knows how to play the piano ‘coz I read he wrote musicals, and pianos are the ones which are typically used when writing musicals. I could be wrong. Now I’m not sure. His IMDB info though says he’s played the drums since he was 9, nothing about piano. I don’t think he has ever talked about his musical skills specifically.
Jul
/ May 15, 2011oh that was molly… yes, it’s already half-way by that scene. I don’t recall which episode though.
Sherlock will be back this year’s fall for another 3 episodes. catch it if you can XD
Benedict Cumberbatch (actor for Sherlock) will also appear in this year’s Spielberg film War Horse set to come out in December. He’s a wonderful actor, I love the guy. Even though the name is a bit of a mouthful.
re Jesse: I also saw the drum bit on IMDB and had wondered where it came from for a long time… none of the interviews I’ve ever read that’s for sure.
Jesse with drums – somehow I can’t imagine the picture. LOL. But I suppose if Nyswaner and Phil Dorling cast him in the role they know what they’re doing…. the piano can’t be all that big a challenge for him
I only knew he played the guitar in Squid and the Whale, then the ukulele (member of guitar family) in The Living Wake…. both quite pleasantly.
Jesse seems very reticent about his musical abilities. I think he said once he didn’t know much about music or understood too little about it (in the Ween interview I think).
Right, you didn’t know much about music. Then you went ahead and wrote a whole musical. 0_0 Sometimes it just seems like too much modesty, you know?
cecille
/ May 16, 2011So that’s his name: Benedict Cumberbatch. Should get myself used to saying it out loud LOL!
I loved seeing Jesse play the guitar in “The Squid and the Whale” although the chords he used there weren’t that much complicated it seems (I have friends who know how to play).
I read that interview about Ween, a band I have never heard of and have no interest in actually LOL. I think Jesse meant that he’s not up to date with mainstream music, not necessarily that he does not know anything about music. He has mentioned in a few interviews he loves musical theatre.
Jul
/ May 17, 2011you might want to remember the actor who played Watson too XD Martin Freeman will be Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit coming out in 2012. And I love both LOTR and Martin.
you’re right, that quote could be taken to mean that way I guess… but in the textual context in that interview I thought maybe he actually meant he knew too little about genres and stuff. XD
His love for musical theatre probably stems from his childhood I think when he performed in them as a child. Instilled by his mother, perhaps? XD
Um, the only thing I can say on this point is…. I liked Cats. (but not Phantom of the Opera.)
I looked up Ween briefly after I read that interview. Personally I am an absolute imbecile at music and know nothing about technique, genre, whatever… I don’t look for depth or fashion in music. Whatever reflects my mood for that moment stays with me. XD so mostly I didn’t get what he and the interviewer said at all.
But I liked Chocolate Town and What Deaner Was Talking About. these are the only two among Ween songs that have stayed with me, and they’re really lovely, easily appreciated. Both are on youtube if you want to listen when you’re free
cecille
/ May 17, 2011Yes, Martin Freeman from the original “The Office” series, right? Loved him there. Looking forward to him in The Hobbit. I loved LOTR too – I read all three books to keep up with the movie releases. This reminds me, I should buy The Hobbit too.
Yes I think his mom was a big influence on his musical taste because she didn’t know how to raise a boy LOL
I love musicals but since I’m not in the US, I just rely on the net so my knowledge is pretty limited—except that I know that it takes a whole lot of musical skills and talent to write one. That is one of the reasons why I was so impressed with Jesse, when I read he wrote a musical. I really hope he gets the finances so it can hit the stage.
I loved that interview of Jesse about Ween, the way he shared his analysis of the songs, it really proved how intelligent he was. Not even in my native language could I describe a song with that much depth. I mean my fave band is The Killers and I love their song “Mr. Brightside.” But all I could say about it is: it has a nice hook and very great to listen to when you need a pick-me-up. And then that’s it. But Jesse he can write a whole book about his fave band. Anyways, yes, I will definitely listen to those songs you suggested. Thanks!
Jul
/ May 17, 2011yes, the Office >< exactly. so looking forward to The Hobbit. the production has seen a lot of set backs but hopefully it will all come through now.
(sidetracking: I read all through the LOTR trilogy and The Hobbit when the first movie introduced me to Tolkien – heavens it seems like last month but it’s been a full decade… can you imagine?
Then I tried to read through the Simarillion and all the rest of Middle Earth history. Needless to say I didn’t succeed.)
(But I went on to read C.S. Lewis, Tolkien’s friend… in a way it pretty much changed my life. I owe most of my English education to Rowling and those guys.)
LOL at the didn’t know how to raise a boy quote. xDDD
I’m pretty ignorant about musicals but would love to know more about them, since now I’m committed to being a fan of Jesse…. could you recommend an easy one for me to start with? XD
What impressed me about the Ween interview is that I don’t think Jesse is talking in professional or musician terms. He’s merely describing exactly how he felt, in very simplistic friendly language, in a self-observant, heartfelt way. While I can’t say I share his passion for Ween, (that’s why I said I didn’t get it XD and of course I knew far too little about the band back then) I seem to be able to understand his language and his descriptions fit my impression of Ween. I can comprehend to that level (though not beyond).
So what impressed me most about that interview was the honesty and depth of his feelings, how connected he is with his own inner self and ideas, and the eagerness with which he communicates his ideas like he truly cares and wants you to understand him, in a completely equalitarian and sweet manner. His sensitivity is beautiful.
cecille
/ May 18, 2011Hey JuL, if the subject is musicals, it’s going to be a long post! Could you email me at cecillebdemented@yahoo.com and I’ll tell you all what I know
Jul
/ May 18, 2011absolutely
I have an exam coming up but I’ll be emailing you when I get past it, 1 more day to go XD
thanks so much!!
Céline
/ May 16, 2011If I was a boy I would like to be Jesse Eisenberg.