Terry Gilliam is frank and, as we’ve come to see in recent months, has no bullshit filter. He speaks his mind for better or worse and doesn’t ever mince words. It’s admirable, but sure to annoy others. Or it might even offend some. Take what Gilliam says about Charles McKeown, the co-writer of “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,” in this /Film interview, not two minutes into the conversation.
The fan asks, “What did Charles bring to the project?” and Gilliam says flatly, “Nothing. I just used his name to get… he was useless, completely useless. He lives in Italy now and he won’t be watching this so I can say the truth finally: Charles McKeown is a fucking parasite, let’s be honest. What has he ever done for me? He made me finish ‘Munchausen,’ I wanted to go home. He insisted we finish it. He’s been like that for ages.”
Clearly Gilliam is joking in the second half of his comment, but if he’s messing around in the first half, well he’s a better actor than we all assumed. His humor also seems to be very… odd and perhaps lost in translation somewhat (several members of The Playlist took a look at this too and couldn’t really tell if he was dead serious or just mucking about).
In the interview, Gilliam clears up a common misconception. The character of “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” is called Tobey Grosini and is not named after the [‘Quixote’] co-writer, Tony Grisoni. “They have nothing to do [with each other]. There is no connection at all,” he said, after fumbling with Grisoni’s name, calling him Grisini and then asking, “What is his name?”
On the rumors of Gilliam doing a Phillip K. Dick movie. “I dunno,” he said somewhat skeptically, noting that he met Dick’s daughter at Comic-Con and she suggested “The Man In the High Castle” a book he wasn’t very interested in. “I’ve been stealing from, ripping off Phillip K. Dick for years and feel a little bit of guilt and feel I outta do one where he gets the credit, but it also frightens me at the same time because people have such expectations. With Phillip K. Dick there’s a lot of pressure on.”
The director notes that nothing is concrete so far. “All we’ve done is met. They like me and I like them. We’ll see where it goes.” If Gilliam is interested in any of his books, it sounds like the dystopian “The World That Jones Made,” is the one that appeals to him most (he also seems to not really have enjoyed the images he’s seen of Richard Linklater’s version of “A Scanner Darkly” but notes that he hasn’t seen the film yet).
Here’s the full interview below, and part two of the interview is over at the Gilliam Fan Campaign site though it’s not quite as newsy. Gilliam says in it that “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,” still has no firm U.S. release date, but Christmas is said to be the date the studio is eying. He also gives a shout out and some free press to The Playlist! Hey, Terry! We love you, honestly. And if we didn’t care about you or your films we honestly just wouldn’t bother writing about them. You just deliver too many bon mots that cheeky fuckers like us can’t pass up, but keep fighting the good fight, seriously. Kisses to the the saliva working-overtime machine too.
"Kisses to the the saliva working-overtime machine too"
What??
Playlist, are you kidding me? Do you think people are stupid? Did you even watch these videos? Give you a shout out. Get real. As for everything said about Charles, it was obviously kidding and you are, as usual, stirring stink where there is no news. Pathetic. For a change why don't you dip your tongue in your brain before you speak. You sound like a fool. As for you "loving" Terry Gilliam, that's just total bs. You seem to be on a one man campaign to bash the guy and I'm not even a fan of his. Get some scruples man, even if you have to steal them from someone else like you do all your stories.
I have never seen anyone so willing to sell their credibility for a few hits to a site.
Brendon, fantastic interview you did there! Witty, interesting and Terry was in great form. Loved it! Great job. I'm getting more excited about seeing this film with every interview, picture and article. It's going to be fantastic!
Theresa
Watching the video, pretty unclear how anyone would think he wasn't kidding, with the fake-overearnest hyperactivity that then dissolves into a burst of laughter.
And I mean that in the least rabid, most-unlike-anonymous-up-there way possible.
He's also clearly having a lark (look at his face) when he goes on about Grisoni and Quixote, but I'm actually now suspecting you know this and you're just baiting people like dear old anonymous above, so more power to you, I suppose.
Terry Gilliam had sex with each and every one of us.
Anyone noticed?
He's transforming himself physically into Philip K. Dick evil twin!!!