Five Favorite Films with David S. Goyer
The writer/director of The Unborn also talks dybbuks, twins and Jewish mysticism.
Writer/director David S. Goyer (Batman Begins, the Blade trilogy) has held close associations to the comic book genre -- he's currently awaiting the green light on his script for X-Men Origins: Magneto -- but took a break from adapting superhero tales to write and direct an original horror story. The result is this week's The Unborn, a PG-13 supernatural thriller about a doe eyed co-ed named Casey (Cloverfield's Odette Yustman) haunted by an ancient Jewish dybbuk, or demon.
Unlike many contemporary horror films, The Unborn opts for old-fashioned suspense over gore and treads ground rare for its genre; twin studies, Nazi experimentation, Jewish mysticism and even the abortion debate pop up thematically throughout Goyer's tale, which also stars Meagan Good, Gary Oldman, and Cam Gigandet.
Rotten Tomatoes spoke with Goyer about his other extra-cinematic influences, how he developed The Unborn through his own personal fascinations, and whether or not the film is meant to spark the pro-life vs. pro-choice debate. He also shared his Five Favorite Films, noting that his choices are ever-changing and perhaps surprising. "Those aren't necessarily the kinds of films I might make," Goyer explained. "But that's okay -- I think people are more complex. We're not just little sound bites."
The Man Who Would Be King (1975, 100% Tomatometer)
Well, my favorite film of all time, period, is The Man Who Would Be King. John Huston, you know, based on the Rudyard Kipling story. Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Christopher Plummer. First of all, I love Connery and Caine, and John Huston is probably my favorite old-time director, and I just love that movie from start to finish. I love everything about it -- I can never get enough of it. It's epic adventure, and I love the rogueish relationship between Connery and Caine's characters. I think I was 13 or 14 when I first saw it. I watch it probably once a year -- I love it. Being There (1979, 97% Tomatometer)
Another one is Being There. Hal Ashby -- that's finally coming out on Blu-ray and DVD, so I'm very excited about that. That movie, I think, is just a really lovely, amazing movie. Peter Sellers' best movie by far, and Hal Ashby's best, in my opinion. I think it's just terribly funny and terribly touching, and...I don't know. I love that movie.
28 Days Later (2003, 88% Tomatometer)
What else? 28 Days Later is one of my favorite movies -- a horror film. Danny Boyle is probably my favorite director. I just loved how ballsy 28 Days Later was, from start to finish. He's fearless, he'll do any genre -- "Fine, I'm going to do a zombie movie" -- and just smack you in the face with it.Pan's Labyrinth (2006, 96% Tomatometer)
Pan's Labyrinth is one of my top five. That's just a perfect movie, a beautiful movie, and I thought it absolutely deserved to win Best Foreign Film until I saw The Lives of Others.
Rotten Tomatoes: Pan's Labyrinth was made by Guillermo del Toro, who you've worked with. Were you able to see it before it came out?
David Goyer: I just saw some artwork. He showed me some of his journals where he sketches, and told me a little over dinner one time, a year or so before he made it, but it's kind of an impossible film to describe. I think everything he does is interesting, but it was hard to visualize until I'd seen it.
The Lives of Others (2006, 93%)
I couldn't believe I hadn't seen it, and among recent movies, it's probably in my top five as well. I couldn't believe Pan's Labyrinth got shut out, and then I saw The Lives of Others and was floored. I bawled like a baby at the end of that movie. Just staggering.
Next: Goyer discusses his influences outside of film and how his creative process took him from twins to Nazi science to demons and beyond...
(1-20 of 38 posts) | Reply
on Jan 05 2009 06:57 PM by Jewish mysticism do you mean "Kabbalah?" (Reply to this) |
on Jan 05 2009 07:02 PM Nice list, all great films. I think Goyer is a good writer but I can't say that about his directing career. I thought Blade Trinity flat out sucked and I thought The Invisible did too. This doesn't look very promising to me at all except for the fact that Gary Oldman is in which means I will probably rent it. (Reply to this) |
on Jan 05 2009 07:11 PM I had the exact same reaction to Pan's Labyrinth and The Lives of Others. I thought the former losing Best Foreign Language Film was a horrible injustice until I saw the latter. Both were great. (Reply to this) |
on Jan 05 2009 07:21 PM Bruce is dumb. I said it. (Reply to this) |
|
on Jan 05 2009 08:15 PM i haven't seen the lives of others (i know i should, maybe tonight) but pan's labyrinth in my eyes is a near perfect film. its one that after seeing you just can't stop thinking about (Reply to this) |
on Jan 05 2009 08:21 PM Nice to see a list without so many classics. I like it when people bravely add more recent works to their lists instead of playing it safe with movies that have stood the test of time. (Reply to this) |
|
on Jan 05 2009 08:48 PM Very Good list but Pan's Labyrinth (10/10) > The Lives of Others (8/10), Pan's Labyrinth was more of my type and the monsters were amazing and imo Pan's Labyrinth have more replay value,TLOO was good to see once. (Reply to this) |
|
on Jan 05 2009 09:00 PM 28 Days Later? Hmmmm (Reply to this) |
on Jan 05 2009 10:07 PM Yeah, I'm not so sure about 28 Days Later, but it's his list not mine. Everything else, (that I've seen) great. (Reply to this) |
|
on Jan 05 2009 10:11 PM Hey, what if he said "The Dark Knight" or "Batman Begins"? They're great films, why can't he enjoy them? What if he said "Blade Trinity"... well, "Trinity" sucks. (Reply to this) |
on Jan 05 2009 11:27 PM Good list. Too bad his new movie, with its ghastly looking child and monsters that are all upside-downy, looks like crap. (Reply to this) |
on Jan 06 2009 03:08 AM He didn't pick Troll 2, so his list is severely flawed. (Reply to this) |
|
on Jan 06 2009 08:21 AM 28 Days Later is a fantastic film.....Cillian Murphy's performance in it was Oscar level. It is definitely more of a character study set against the back drop of a "zombie-like" apocalypse. (Reply to this) |
|
on Jan 06 2009 08:25 AM Who cares about his list. Did anyone read his reasons? The guy is obviously just trying to sound smart. He says a director's name and thinks that will make it a legitimate reason. What an idiot. Plus his quote "and...I don't know. I just love it." Of course we all have our movies where we say that, but the man didn't say anything intelligent before that. This guy needs to be shoved out of Hollywood. Leave room open for someone who has talent and know what he or she is talking about! (Reply to this) |
|
on Jan 06 2009 08:43 AM In his reasoning, he did say "I love" a bit much. he reminded me of Rogen and paris Hilton's reasonings. However, when Pan's lost the oscar I was crushed and confused. What the hell is this "Lives of Others." Then I saw Live of Others, and behold, I liked it better than Pan, probably because I liked the overall moral of the movie. . . It just shows how strong foreign films can be. (Reply to this) |
on Jan 06 2009 08:53 AM his directing isn't the greatest, but i do admire his Batman scripts and hopefully X-Men Origins: Magento is just as good as the new Batmans. I admire his favorite list, he obviously has a love for brilliant films. (Reply to this) |
|
on Jan 06 2009 10:55 AM In reply to this comment (#2232929) lol... SO MEAN! (Reply to this) |
on Jan 06 2009 11:36 AM "Being There" is an unequivocal masterpiece! What bothers me here is that 3 of his five were released in the last 5 years. Maybe he just has a really short attention span... Oh, and I can guarantee that 'The Unborn' will SUCK!!! Looks just like another J-horror rip off with the zombie-crawlers with the twisted necks. How much longer are we gonna be ladled up this same old EXHAUSTED horror movie crap? Everytime there's something vaguely new, Hollywood makes sure to beat the crap out of it until it's a tired, old cliche that nobody ever wants to see again in their life. (Reply to this) |
|
on Jan 06 2009 02:45 PM I've stated this before on other boards that praised David Goyer's scripts for Batman but I will repeat it here: I don't think he is responsible for the quality of the scripts. The first movie had a lot of corny lines in it ("Sit down; have a drink." "It's time to spread the word, and the word is PANIC!" "I think you need to lighten up.") There were actually, in my mind, several moments in Batman Begins that came off as cheesy and, while that might work in the Schumacher films and the old series, it didn't work here (in my opinion). I can't prove it, but I am convinced that the more intelligent dialogue was written by Christopher Nolan, who deserves the credit for the quality of the film (he has a better track record then David Goyer; I thought his Memento script was brilliant). In fact, you will notice that the only good movies Goyer wrote actually had other writers contribute (like Dark City, which was co-written by talented writers in Alex Proyas and Lem Dobbs). The point is, I am reluctant to give David Goyer credit for the quality of Batman Begins. I mean, how can he write one bad movie after another and suddenly produce a great script? I personally think The Dark Knight benefited from Goyer not writing the actual script. Instead, Jonathan Nolan and Chris worked together, and they prove a great team (he co-wrote The Prestige and inspired Memento). So, whenever I read that Goyer must be a good writer cause he produced the Batman scripts, I like to point out that the director, Christopher Nolan, has a writing credit and has a better track record (I don't think he has made a bad movie to this point). And Goyer's directorial efforts suck (I think this will too). He just doesn't seem to have an original idea in his head and he lacks the vision needed to be a director (he even admitted that a lot of his creative decisions were taken from research, meaning they are not original ideas). He tries to paint his movie as some kind of brilliant work, but the moment I saw the trailer, I immediately saw it as a rip off of Japanese horror remakes. I think Goyer is a hack as a writer and director. And I think it is unfair to think his contribution to the Batman Begins script changes that. (Reply to this) |
|
on Jan 06 2009 02:46 PM In reply to this comment (#2232929) you named your secreenname after frodo.I think you should shut your hole because you dont know what your saying.YOu would most likely be someone i would kick in the nuts if i met you in person.MAybe he wasnt so eloquent with his descriptions of his favorite movies, he writes and directs and you sit at home and judge.Dork (Reply to this) |
| You must be registered to post comments. Login or Register. |
Related Links
Related Articles
Latest Features
- Five Favorite Films With Precious' Gabby Sidibe (35)
- Five Favourite Films with Anika Noni Rose (17)
- Five Facts About Alice in Wonderland (70)
- 25 Movies So Bad They're Unmissable (113)
- The Future is Now! 10 Years of Movie Predictions (47)
- Meet the Universal Monsters Starting Lineup! (52)
- The 10 Most Unlikely Kids Movie Stars (34)
- 10 High Altitude Performances (20)
- Critics Choose Must-Sees and Worsts of 2009 (280)
- RT's Best of the Decade! (202)
What’s Hot On RT
Fresh Links
Featured
5 Nicholas Sparks Cliches 
BuzzSugar points out the author's commonly used story conventions.
The Avatar-District 9 Brawl
Techland anticipates a feud between fans of the two acclaimed Sci-Fi films.
Promos
Get the RT Newsletter!
Sign up to receive our newsletter and stay up to date on all the latest Tomatometers and movie news!
RSS Feeds
