Carl Franklin; Capital Punishment

CARL FRANKLIN WILL WORK TO WORK
07.24.07
By Jeremy Smith Copyright 2007 CHUD website
Contributing sources: Variety

It's been four years since Carl Franklin directed his last feature, the above-average thriller Out of Time (worth watching for its crackerjack second act alone). Though toplined by Denzel Washington, the film limped to a $40 million domestic gross, i.e. $10 million short of the production budget. Factor in tepid foreign box office, and it's safe to say Out of Time lost money for a studio (MGM) that could not afford to lose money. So if you want to know why a skilled director like Carl Franklin hasn't called the shots on a studio gig for a while, this plus the overall crappiness of 2002's High Crimes (an exceedingly lame entry in the Ashley Judd-Morgan Freeman co-starrin'-but-not-miscegenatin' genre) should explain everything.

for the rest go here http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=news&id=11165

Ed here: This leads into a couple of pargraphs about the work Franklin has just picked up, a film with Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry. I'm happy for Franklin but sad because the project doesn't sound nearly as good as Devil in A Blue Dress or, more importantly, One False Move.

I say this every chance I get: One False Move is one of the few films I've ever seen that presents crime as it really plays out in our society. I think it is a work of genius and I think it is a far far better film than all the tricked-up neo noirs that get such play and praise in the press. Selfishly, I wish nothing but the best for Carl Franklin and hope he can shock and stun us once again.
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Sometimes I want to change my mind about being against capital punishment and kill the bastards myself

Boxer is shot after asking drinkers not to smoke
24.07.07 copyright 2007 this is London on-line

James Oyebola: shot after he asked three men to stop smoking

A former heavyweight boxing champion was shot after asking three men to stop smoking in a wine bar.
James Oyebola, 47, was having a drink in the garden area of the venue when a dispute erupted over the new smoking ban.
One of the men pulled out a gun and fired at point-blank range into his face and leg.

Mr Oyebola, a father of two, was critically ill last night on a life support machine. His partner of 15 years and their children are keeping a vigil at his bedside.

The 6ft 9in ex-boxer, known as Big Bad, had been working as a bouncer at the door of another club and had dropped in at Chateau 6 in Fulham, South-West London, for a drink with the owner, who was a friend.

Witnesses said Nigerian-born Mr Oyebola had politely stepped in to help staff who had asked the three men to observe the smoking ban. One said: 'He wasn't being aggressive. He pointed out that smoking was now against the law.
'He was just being a good citizen but the three saw it as a sign of disrespect. On their way out one pulled a gun and started firing at James.'