1 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: Welcome to Daily Variety, your daily dose of news and 2 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: analysis for entertainment industry insiders. It's Wednesday, February eighteenth, twenty 3 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:20,319 Speaker 1: twenty six. I'm your host, Cynthia Littleton. I am co 4 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:24,119 Speaker 1: editor in chief of Variety alongside Ramin Situta. I'm in 5 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: LA He's in New York, and Variety has reporters around 6 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: the world covering the business of entertainment. On today's episode, 7 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 1: we'll hear from Ridy's Todd Spangler on the latest developments 8 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: in the Three way Na Love triangle between Warner Brothers, Discovery, Netflix, 9 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: and Paramount's Guidance. And then Owen Gliberman joins us to 10 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: pay tribute to what he calls the symphonic talent of 11 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:47,919 Speaker 1: Robert Duval. But before we get to that, here are 12 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:50,279 Speaker 1: a few headlines just in this morning that you need 13 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: to know. Stephen Colbert's epic tussle with CBS over the 14 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: Late show's interview with Texas Senate candidate James Talerico took 15 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: another weird time when CBS released a statement late Monday 16 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 1: denying that it had forbidden Colbert to run the segment. 17 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,959 Speaker 1: As Colbert told his audience on Monday night, which prompted 18 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: him to put the segment on the show's YouTube page. 19 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,039 Speaker 1: CBS came back and said it was merely providing legal 20 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:19,120 Speaker 1: guidance on equal time rules. Colbert came out in his 21 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:22,199 Speaker 1: monolog on Tuesday Night and said the network didn't bother 22 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 1: to tell him that it would release that statement. This 23 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: is getting as ugly and tense as it was during 24 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: David Letterman's last days on NBC Late Night in nineteen 25 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: ninety three before he jumped shipped to CBS. U two 26 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: has released a new six song EP titled Days of Ash. 27 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 1: It has a song that pays tribute to Renee Good. 28 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: It feels like February when you see this headline On Variety. 29 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: Emily Deschanel is back in the Pilot Mix. She'll play 30 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:54,279 Speaker 1: a renowned criminal profiler on the untitled Universal TV drama 31 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: pilot from Dean Gorgaris and John Fox. All of these 32 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,040 Speaker 1: stories and so much more can be found. 33 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 2: On right now. 34 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 1: And now it's time for conversations with Friday journalists about 35 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: news and trends in show business. Todd Spangler, Variety's business editor, 36 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 1: helps us unpack what is happening with Netflix and Warner 37 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 1: Brothers Discovery and what is happening with Warner Brothers, Discovery 38 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: and Paramount. The next seven days are sure to be 39 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 1: an eventful period in this saga. Todd Spangler, thank you 40 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 1: for joining me at the end of your day to 41 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: sort out all that had transpired between Warner Brothers, Discovery 42 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 1: and Netflix and Paramount's guidance. This is a love triangle 43 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 1: that has been playing out now for going on six months. 44 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: So they have initiated, i think to a lot of 45 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: people's surprised with Netflix's blessing. They have initiated a seven 46 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 1: day period for negotiations to see what Paramount really has 47 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: to offer. Paramount has been being a little bit coy, well, 48 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: we might have a better offer in us, and now 49 00:02:56,680 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 1: they really this is seven days and Ted Sarandos in 50 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 1: an interview earlier today on CNBC that it is time 51 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 1: for Paramount to put their money where their mouth is. Todd, 52 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 1: this was the first thing you dealt with this morning. 53 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:10,679 Speaker 1: Help us sort out what's going on here. 54 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:14,959 Speaker 3: So Warner Brothers did a couple things right. They said, look, 55 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 3: we will hear you out, David Ellison and company, come 56 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 3: give us your best offer. By the way, one of 57 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 3: your representatives told us, you'd be willing to go hire 58 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 3: thirty one bucks a share or hire. It wasn't in writing. 59 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 3: It was just mentioned on a phone call to an 60 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 3: unidentified Warner Brothers board member. So they wanted, like, if 61 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 3: you have something to really beat the Netflix deal, show 62 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 3: it to us, put in writing, and we will definitely 63 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 3: consider it. I mean they have to write. They're obligated 64 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 3: to do that. 65 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: That's probably the first order of business in fiduciary duty. 66 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: Make as much money as you possibly can exactly. 67 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 3: But they're giving them a short leash seven calendar days. 68 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 3: Note it's not seven business days. And they also said, oh, 69 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 3: by the way, we are setting mark twentieth as this 70 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 3: special shareholder vote to vote on the Netflix deal. And 71 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 3: by the way, Paramount's guide ants or peace Guy has 72 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 3: they refer to them, to their by their stock symbol. 73 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 3: You know, we're still fully recommending Netflix, and we're telling 74 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 3: our shareholders to vote against your offer as it stood 75 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 3: as of last week. So they're putting deadlines in place 76 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 3: and saying, hey, Paramount, if you really want this, you 77 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,039 Speaker 3: got to have a clearly superior financial offer. 78 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 1: But let's remember that Netflix sealed a deal on December fifth, 79 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: and so it has been a long walk to getting 80 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 1: to the shareholder approval that will then really kickstart the 81 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: regulatory review. But Netflix does have the bird in the hand, 82 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 1: and of course, as listeners know, it gets complicated because 83 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: Netflix isn't buying all of Warner Brothers Discovery. But this hurdle, 84 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 1: this uncertainty has kind of hamstrong Warner Brothers Discovery from 85 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 1: moving forward with its plan to spin off most of 86 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 1: its linear cable channels. You can feel the frustration coming 87 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 1: out of Burbank. 88 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 3: It's always, you know, a bit of kabookie. Right to 89 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 3: do this type of negotiation, which does need to be 90 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 3: in public for significant parts of it, right, you do 91 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 3: need to be transparent with shareholders, So there's a lot 92 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 3: of posturing that goes on. And keep in mind, this 93 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 3: is the first time that the Warner Brothers Discovery board 94 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 3: is going to engage with Paralance Guidance in a discussion. Previously, 95 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 3: they've just waved them away. So when I see people saying, oh, 96 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 3: this is then reopening talks with Perland now they have 97 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 3: never had a serious negotiation with David Ellis. 98 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 1: It will be interesting to see if Ellison's really have 99 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: been playing poker and they pump it up by two bucks, 100 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 1: and then that really would take it off the tables. 101 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 1: And then if we know that Netflix has a matching right, 102 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 1: what is your read from Netflix on their willingness to 103 00:05:57,839 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: go up significantly from where they are? 104 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:02,160 Speaker 3: I don't have that kind of crystal ball, but I 105 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 3: think they you know, they have their ceiling, and I 106 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 3: don't know what that is. I assume that they've reached 107 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 3: that ceiling now and if it goes any higher, they 108 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 3: they're prepared to walk away and take the two point 109 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 3: eight billion breakup fee. Why not? You know, that's a 110 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:20,479 Speaker 3: little pocket change for them. I go back to this 111 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 3: notion that for Netflix, Warner Brothers Discovery is a nice 112 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 3: to have. It's a creative to earnings. You know, it 113 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 3: gives them a production footprint, It gives them a prestigious 114 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 3: streaming service and cable network, you know, the gold standard 115 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 3: of premium content HBO. So this is all nice to have. 116 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 3: David Allison is in a different spot. He really needs 117 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:46,839 Speaker 3: to get synergies, not just in the studio business, which 118 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 3: would be a good thing for them, but on the 119 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 3: TV side as well. That's why he wants to buy 120 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 3: the whole thing. So you know, there's a lot of 121 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 3: debt at Warner Brothers. That's why they're in this spot 122 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 3: in the first place right now. And by the way, 123 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:01,719 Speaker 3: David Zaslav and the rest of their investors at Warners Discovery, 124 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 3: they are the real winners out of all of this, 125 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 3: because they're going to walk away with a nice little 126 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 3: bump from whatever they put into this project from where 127 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 3: it was a year ago, you know what I mean? 128 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 1: Right, And David Ellison, by his own admission telling everybody 129 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: last summer and fall who would listen, that he absolutely 130 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: had to get Warner Brothers. It was part of the 131 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: plan from the get go, and so he certainly if 132 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: he does wind up with this at the end, he 133 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: will certainly have dug himself out of a hole in 134 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: a huge way. Well, we have two big dates on 135 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: the calendar now to watch the end of this seven 136 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 1: day calendar day period, so they'll probably be working over 137 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: the weekend and also March twentieth if that date still holds. 138 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: So again, this will not be our last conversation about this. 139 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 1: Thank you as always for helping us interpret all that 140 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: is going on here. All right, good to talk, and 141 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: now we turn to Owen Gleiberman, Variety's chief film critic, 142 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: brings us incredible perspective and a fountain of adjectives to 143 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 1: pay tribute to the greatness of Robert Duval. Owen Glyberman, 144 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: thanks for joining me. 145 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 2: Good to be here, Cynthia. 146 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:13,800 Speaker 1: As happens too often these days, you were summoned on Monday, 147 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: on a holiday, to pay tribute and really just help 148 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: us interpret the career of truly one of the greats, 149 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: one of the true originals, an idiosyncratic character who was 150 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: a very unlikely movie star according to people that worked 151 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 1: with him and knew him best. Robert Duval left us 152 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: over the long weekend at the age of ninety five. 153 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 1: When you saw the headline, what did you think of 154 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: when you thought, what were some of those first immediate 155 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: impressions that came to mind as you thought about Robert Duval. 156 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 2: It's funny about Daval. People will say about a movie 157 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 2: star when they're trying to pay him a compliment. He's 158 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 2: a character actor in a leading man's body, And I 159 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 2: think that Robert Duval was a leading man in the 160 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 2: character actor's body. I mean, he could do anything. He 161 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 2: was this extraordinary chameleon, just like Daniel day Lewis and 162 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 2: Meryl Street. But he had a certain look to him, 163 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 2: of this very ordinary quality. He was not glamorous, and 164 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 2: when we first saw him playing characters like Bu Radley 165 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 2: or the role that made him famous, Tom Hagen and 166 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 2: The Godfather, he had this very quiet, recessive quality. And 167 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 2: I think a lot of us watching his performance in 168 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 2: The Godfather thought this is what Robert Duvall is like. 169 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 2: We thought he's this brilliant, understated actor. But I think 170 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 2: all of that really started to change around the time 171 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 2: of Networth, where he's playing the corrupt prophet, hungry TV executive, 172 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 2: and Duval just gave this wild performance, kind of unhinged. 173 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,200 Speaker 2: And that was the other side of Robert Deval, the 174 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 2: one who was drawn to showing you men at their 175 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 2: most extreme. And as that side of him came out 176 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 2: more and more, what I think you saw is that 177 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 2: there was this incredible duality to Robert Duvald. He knew 178 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:57,599 Speaker 2: how to play the perfect Southern gentleman. He could be 179 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 2: the soul of decency, but he also showed you the 180 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 2: dark side, not because he was drawn to playing villains, 181 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 2: but because he wanted to understand and show you every 182 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:08,679 Speaker 2: dimension of humanity and he did that. 183 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: Oh, and I want to read your words and the 184 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 1: incredible tribute that you wrote to him. This is a 185 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 1: roadmap for the movies to go find and this is 186 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 1: kind of a fun, cryptic puzzle way to do it. 187 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: In assessing Robert Duval's talent, you say quote he was 188 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: a sly dog virtuoso whose roster of indelible whose roster 189 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 1: of indelible characters included a broken down country singer, a 190 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:39,839 Speaker 1: mafia consiglieri, a charismatic pentecostal preacher, a psychotic army commander, 191 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:44,320 Speaker 1: a corrupt TV news executive, and a creepy neighbor who 192 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 1: lives in the shadows, not to mention a whole lot 193 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 1: of cowboys and also Dwight D. Eisenhower and Joseph Stalin. 194 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 1: That a is truly a roadmap to Robert Duval and 195 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 1: captures all of his multitudes. That I spoke Monday morning 196 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: to Walter Hill, who directed Duval twice in two projects, 197 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:06,839 Speaker 1: the movie Geronimo and the AMC mini series Broken Trail, 198 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: which really kind of boosted him back and won him Emmys. 199 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 1: Hill told me that Duval had mentioned to him that 200 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 1: he was very proud of having played Joseph Stalin. 201 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 2: The first thing that struck me as soon as I 202 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 2: heard that Duval had passed on was this incredible duality 203 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,440 Speaker 2: that he had playing kind of the light and dark 204 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 2: sides of people at the same time. I mean, that, 205 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 2: I think, is what is so great about his performance 206 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 2: and tender mercies and why he won the Oscar for that. 207 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 2: He's playing this broken down country singer Max Sledge who's 208 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 2: hit bottom. The character is a recovering alcoholic, and we 209 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 2: see him throughout the movie really working to recover. That's 210 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:48,559 Speaker 2: kind of before this became such a movie cliche, and 211 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:51,600 Speaker 2: we see that he's basically a good man because Duval 212 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:56,119 Speaker 2: could really just play this bone deep sense of decency, 213 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 2: and I think watching that performance, just so many people 214 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 2: could relate to what a flawed soul this man was, 215 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:07,319 Speaker 2: because that's what Duval did. He always touched the truth 216 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 2: and even the dark truth. He really did start to 217 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 2: do that in movies like The Great Santini, where he 218 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 2: plays just this overwhelmingly bad father in ways, and yet 219 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 2: the character's not a villain because he's trying to show 220 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 2: you that everyone has his reasons and he wants to 221 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 2: understand that character, and that, of course, is also what's 222 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 2: there in his extraordinary performance in Apocalypse Now when he 223 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 2: plays Colonel Kilgore. It's such a mythic performance because he's 224 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:41,080 Speaker 2: coloring in in a way, this whole dark side of America, 225 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 2: our desire to conquer and our desire to surf. It's 226 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 2: totally psychotic, but he's showing you the appeal of that. 227 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 2: It's a satirical performance, but it's also totally real. I mean, 228 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 2: Leon screen in Apocalypse Now for ten minutes, and yet 229 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:59,080 Speaker 2: nobody could ever forget that performance. But there's also this 230 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 2: quality that Dvall brought to playing Kilgore that I think 231 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 2: almost no other actor could have done, which is that 232 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:08,840 Speaker 2: it is such a dark character. It is so much 233 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 2: a character that embodies the sins of America that I 234 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 2: think almost any other actor would have You would have 235 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 2: felt that he was on the side of saying that 236 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 2: that this was a performance that is in a way 237 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 2: a critique of America. But the way Duval plays it, 238 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:29,959 Speaker 2: his identification with this character is so strong. You can 239 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 2: tell that Duvall likes this character he's played. He's very charismatic, 240 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 2: He's almost on his side during the performance that I 241 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 2: think is the risk Duval took him playing that. He 242 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 2: just goes all the way with me saying, yeah, you know, 243 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 2: this kind of rogue cowboy, this is who America is. 244 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 1: What are some more recent Duval performances that stand out 245 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:50,720 Speaker 1: to you. 246 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 2: I just think the performance that I would like to 247 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 2: draw people's attention to from Duval's canon is The Apostle 248 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 2: eighteen ninety seven movie that he starred in and directed. 249 00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 2: I think it is his greatest performance, and I think 250 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:08,439 Speaker 2: it's absolutely one of the masterpieces that ever came out 251 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:11,559 Speaker 2: of the independent film era. I mean, I would just 252 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 2: put it up there with Boogie Knight's pulpic fiction you 253 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 2: name it. Duval plays this charismatic Pentecostal preacher named Sonny 254 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 2: who is totally It's like the ultimate of all performance. 255 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 2: He's playing this guy who's totally a man of God, 256 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 2: but he's also a narcissist devoted to his own gratification. 257 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 2: I think Duvall probably drew on a lot of himself 258 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 2: to play this character. He's both at once, and that's 259 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 2: the duality that Daval could play like no one else. 260 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 2: Duval shows you how this man he's playing could be 261 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 2: totally religious and at the same time may be homicidal, 262 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:47,080 Speaker 2: and as a preacher, he is like nothing you have 263 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 2: ever seen. The word that I used for his performance 264 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 2: when I wrote about it yesterday is symphonic. It is 265 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 2: just one of the greatest pieces of screen acting you 266 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 2: will ever see. 267 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 1: Definitely high praise. A lot of people have said he 268 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 1: was one of those actors that just raised the performance 269 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 1: of everyone because of his stature, because of his commanding presence. 270 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:12,960 Speaker 2: Completely. I think Duval's legacy is really a lesson for 271 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 2: us in terms of what movies and television are or 272 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 2: should be, and that's that no matter how small the role, 273 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 2: no matter how formulaic the movie, Duval always hit the 274 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 2: true note. And he did it over and over again. 275 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 2: You just felt that when you were watching a Robert 276 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 2: Duvall performance, you were seeing just a total human being 277 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 2: in front of you. He touched the depths, he touched 278 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 2: our hidden sides, and that's what made him one of 279 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 2: the greats. 280 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 1: Owen, thank you so much for writing so beautifully and 281 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 1: taking the time to pay tribute to absolutely one of 282 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: the greats. 283 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 2: Thanks. 284 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: As we close out today's episode, here's a few things 285 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 1: we're watching for on February tw third, Variety will produce 286 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 1: the first of three digital dailies out of the London 287 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 1: TV screenings. It's going to be a busy event based 288 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: on the volume of releases that are hitting my inbox. 289 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 1: It's almost time for Zach Braff, Sarah Chalk, and Donald 290 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 1: Faison to scrub Back in Scrubbs, the hospital comedy that 291 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 1: aired on NBC and ABC is back for more starting 292 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: February twenty fifth on ABC and Hulu, and in scenes 293 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 1: we never thought we'd see, there were picket signs out 294 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 1: in front of the Writers Guild of America West building 295 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 1: on Fairfax Avenue on Tuesday, Will Wonders Never cease. Variety's 296 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 1: labor reporter, Gene Mattis will be closely watching this strike 297 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 1: by employees of the Writers Guild of America West. We 298 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: love to hear from our listeners, so please send thoughts, 299 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 1: scripes and other feedback about Daily Variety to podcasts at 300 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 1: Variety dot com before we go. Congrats to Peter Trogett. 301 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 1: He's been named head of Television for fifth season, reporting 302 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 1: to CEO Graham Taylor. Trogett has been an executive with 303 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: Cashette Studios as well as with NBC Universal fifth season, 304 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 1: is a neighbor of Variety here in West LA. Thanks 305 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 1: for listening. This episode was written and reported by me 306 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:06,160 Speaker 1: Cynthia Littleton, with contributions from Todd Spangler and Owen Gleiberman 307 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 1: stick Snick's hick Picks. Please leave us a review at 308 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:12,679 Speaker 1: the podcast platform of your choice, and please tune in 309 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:15,200 Speaker 1: tomorrow for another episode of Daily Variety.