The acid man
‘PEOPLE IN SCOTLAND DON'T KNOW WHO THE FUCK I AM'
Kaleem Aftab meets PAUL MCGUIGAN, the most important Scottish filmmaker of his generation — or so he seems to think.
s I walk out ol' the interview with Lucky
Number Slevin director Paul .\Ic(iuigan he
screams: ‘l’lease write what I said about Scottish Screen.‘ What he said was this: ’l’ethlc in Scotland don‘t know who the luck I am. There was a list of the 100 most influential people in Scotland. in fact I think it was in your tucking rag. and I wasn‘t even in the top Illll. There was some student from Napier at Number Hi. I'm one of the few Scottish directors working in the business. yet people like yoursell' and The [.131 don‘t give a shit. because I don't make the auteur lilms that they like to he made in Scotland. I‘m not saying Peter .\lullan and Lynn Ramsay shouldn‘t be where they are. but what I‘m saying is that you don't have to be angst ridden to make a Scottish movie. What I really want to do now is cotne back to Scotland and do something positive. because I‘ve done The Add Home. which is quite a dark look at lil‘e in lidinburgh and I enjoy ed it. We
had Irvine's beautil'ul script. which was l‘ull ol'
"cunts" and "tucks". It was lovely because it had no fear. I’d love to get in that position again of making something that is enjoyable and just trying new things. I think that going to America has taught me that I can exist in America and Scotland. I don't have to go to America and that is the last you‘ll hear of me. you know. I actually want to go home and make something cool in Scotland but how can I do that when l'ucking Scottish Screen do not know who you
40 THE LIST “5 rev .‘ ‘.‘.i' . \ '
are'.’ How ridiculous is that'.’ They don‘t even know who is working. I mean. it is t'unny’.‘
The very likeable 42-year-old. born in Bellshill in (ilasgow. l'eels that the Scottish press consistently do him an injustice. Reviews for his films The /I('l(/ House. (illitevlt'l‘ NU /. The Reckoning and ll'lt‘kt'l' Park were all poor.
l)el'ensively. he adds: ‘As a director I'm not an auteur. I don‘t write or direct. When you are a gun for hire. I hate that word but it is true. il’ you like the script and you think that you can do something with it then you have to go for it. Take lilt‘kt’l' Park — loads ol people went to watch that tilm and brought the DVD - it‘s not as bad as people think it was.’
Lucky Number Slevin is an intriguing but convoluted crime caper set around a central premise of mistaken identity and crime boss executions. At the end of the day it is not the lilm that will change your perception of .\lc(iuigan but let's look at things logically here. .\Ic(iuigan has put together a fast paced action romp with a mesmerising cast list that includes Morgan Freeman. Ben Kingsley. Lucy Liu. Bruce Willis and Josh l-lartnett. (‘an you think of any other recent Scottish l'ilmmaker who can lay claim to such big time riches'.’ It's really not bad for a man who can walk through (ilasgow without turning heads.
Lucky Number Slevin will be on general release from Fri 24 Feb. See review, page 41
Hit >l< THE BEST FILM & DVD RELEASES
* Good nght, and Good Luck George Clooney's lovingly detailed homage to journalist and broadcaster Edward R Murrow which follows his war of intelligence against Senator McCarthy. This is a little gem. See review. page 42. General release from Fri 77 Feb.
* Famllla Bodante New Argentine cinema marches on with this bittersweet film about four generations of a Buenos Aires family who take a 1000 mile trip up to the border of Brazil in a decrepit camper van. See review. page 42. Filmhouse, Edinburgh (Fri
7 7—Thu 23 Feb only).
* Glasgow Fllm Festival In its second year the GFF has something for everyone. See feature. page 16. GET, Cineworld Renfrew Street and Grosvenor Cinema, Glasgow from Thu 76—Sun 26 Feb only. * Lady Vengeance After serving time in prison Lady Vengeance is back in the world and her agenda is painted in blood. Park Chan-wook completes his Revenge Trilogy (Sympathy for Mr Vengeance. Oldboy) with panache. Selected release.
* Brokeback Mountaln Ang Lee's outstandingly sensitive modern Western. General release.
=l= Lawrence of Arable David Lean classic gets a 70mm print screening. Heaven. Filmhouse, Edinburgh (Thu 23 Feb only)
* Alchemlete o! the Surreal An evening of brilliant Czech animation courtesy of Jan Svankmajer and Jiri Barta. Filmhouse, Edinburgh (Tue 27 Feb only).
* Fantomae The cinema of French silent film genius Louis Feuillade finally gets its due on this excellent DVD collection. Out Mon 27 Feb (Artificial Eye). Ill Savage Innocents Weird 1959 Nicholas Ray adventure flick gets a welcome release on DVD. Out now (Eureka Wdeo).