Peter Bogdanovich adapting TURN OF THE CENTURY
According to The Hollywood Reporter, legendary filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich has signed on to direct a screen adaptation of Kurt Andersen’s 1999 novel “Turn of the Century.” Bogdanovich will also write the screenplay, along with his long-time partner Parish Rahbar.
This will be the first narrative feature film that Bogdanovich has made since 2001, when he gave audiences THE CAT’S MEOW – a historical drama which received largely positive reviews. Since then, he’s romped around the television circuit and directed a documentary about Tom Petty. Bogdanovich is known for his highly acclaimed films in the 1970s, specifically PAPER MOON and THE LAST PICTURE SHOW.
Andersen’s novel, written in 1999, takes place in 2000. However, this is not the 2000 we know and love. In his eyes, the turn of the century was a place where the media was not only corrupt, but catered solely to society’s basest instincts. Andersen’s novel is heavily influenced by his work in the media, as a writer for “Time,” “The New Yorker,” and as the founder of “Spy.” The author took his experiences in the industry and sought to satirize the vapidity of media, attacking the buzz dependent culture it created.
This might seem ripe for adaptation, as the Rupert Murdochs and other media moguls continue to brand American culture with their logos. However, the novel chimes in at a hefty 600+ pages. This film is going to be entirely dependent on its screenplay, though I have a great deal of faith in Bogdanovich.
I’m a huge fan of Peter Bogdanovich’s past work, specifically THE LAST PICTURE SHOW. It’s one of cinema’s finest classics, and it really is a movie made for movie lovers. In fact, I drew a great deal of comparison between Tarantino’s INGLORIOUS BASTERDS and Bogdanovich’s film because each of their narratives surround a cinema and each heavily explore the power of film. I also adore PAPER MOON, as it’s one of my favorite “coming of age” stories. Plus, it’s a great con-man movie, which Rian Johnson’s THE BROTHERS BLOOM borrowed heavily from. All in all, the project sounds very interesting.
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