The TV Addict 

Dear Wolfgang,

Pardon my familiarity, but given that we are fellow countrymen, I thought it would be okay. In the spirit of German efficiency then, let me get right to the point: You need to rethink the films you choose to direct. Now, I know you enjoy spectacle, and there’s nothing wrong with that. For example, the project you just joined, UPRISING, which revolves around the “resistance efforts of some citizens after Earth has been occupied by a powerful alien race” sounds perfectly fine. You’re not like our other countryman, Roland Emmerich. Though you both share an affinity for spectacle, you’ve actually proven yourself to be much more competent in handling it than he.

The thing is, one is hard-pressed to remember that fact given your last few film attempts. THE PERFECT STORM was lackluster. TROY, though popular with many, was like a massive Berliner with no filling inside. POSEIDON was … well, POSEIDON. None of those were quality projects.

DAS BOOT, AIR FORCE ONE, and IN THE LINE OF FIRE? Those were good projects. Why? Because their scripts were good to begin with. Now, the upside is that UPRISING is set-up at Columbia Pictures which is the studio that was involved with the films just mentioned. So either that means Columbia’s taste prevailed in the past and they had good scripts for you, or Columbia may sinply just know better how to get a good movie out of you. So in that case, even though I know directors and screenwriters hate it when studios interfere with their create process, here’s some friendly advice: you might want to listen to them.

Mit herzlichen Grüssen,

The REEL Addict