Ok warrenc, let me clear up some things too.
Obviously 'gore' means something different to you than most, and that is fine, that is your opinion. However, if you think this movie was 'violent' or 'offensive' then you probably don't get to the cineplex very often. There are a plethora of films that have been released in just that last few months that fully deserved an NC17 rating for either.
Whether you believe it or not, getting a movie off the ground is no easy feat. One financier will NOT be enough in the long run to market, distribute, and campaign for your movie to 'make it'. It takes work. What most don't understand, is the politics behind the business. There are wonderful films out there, that you will probably NEVER see, all because studio marketeers did a demographic study in LA one weekend. Its infuriating.
Okay, so Madsen hasn't won an Oscar. But he HAS been in major Hollywood releases over the last few years (or didn't you see Kill Bill and Sin City?) Oh, and do you honestly think that Chamberlain was going around begging for work? Hell no.
Now, my next point - I'm not going to get into a 'flame war' of words over the AOF with you, but I WILL say this. Did you attend it? Did you see any of the films they had to offer? Do you know anything about them other that what you may have read online? Back up Buckaroo - After attending Tribeca, Sundance, Cannes, and a host of other film festivals this year, let me say this about the AOF: They haven't become over commercialized media blitzes with $50/tickets to a single show, and they are NOT a hokey little organization peddling middleware titles on DVD. You should have attended, you might have actually enjoyed yourself.
Mark Mahon boasts about them because they promote writers, directors, and producers of independent film whole-heartedly. I felt like a celebrity with them, and I wish more festivals had their personal approach.
I don't know about Mr. Mahon's comments to the Irish media, but if I had to overcome the professional, as well as personal hurdles he has overcome, I honestly don't know if I could wear a smile as wide as he does. Oh, and BTW - through a very rare coincidence I got to meet the late Stanley Kubrick years ago. He was an eccentric artiste by far, but when it comes to ego, Mahon is a polar opposite of Kubrick. When you have made your first feature film, get back to me, then you MIGHT be able to judge the film industry, and films in general more objectively. Good luck to you.
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fieryjack-1
16 years ago
"Mahon is a polar opposite of Kubrick"
Well you got that right. Warren C is my hero. He knows how to spank the Mahon and no mistake.
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josephanthony
16 years ago
I'm not going to get into any debate here because it just seems to go back and forth....boring, boring, boring. All I have to say is fair play to Mark Mahon for bringing this film to the theatres. Its not like the Irish film industry has anything better to offer, only a bunch of arty films that do well in the festivals but after that, you don’t hear too much of them.
If anyone can't realize the purpose of bringing Michael Madsen, Richard Chamberlain, Patrick Bergin etc on board there a bit naive. It was to get a bigger release worldwide. If Strength and honour became a huge sucess in Ireland without the the actors above (used irish actors), he would not have got any distribution outside Ireland because the actors would have been unknown and thats how the insustry in America works. Its the only place where you have a better chance of progressing in the World of film making. Mark Mahon is recognizing the general public, the people that pay the tickets to see a good entertaining film. Lets be honest I don't think the man cares less what people have to say, no matter how much people personally attack him or his film.
At the end of the day he got his Film distributed.
Wrote, produced and directed his FIRST film.
Picked up loads of awards from various festivals: 6 wins 1 nomination.
Michael Madsen got his second award out of 100 + films he has worked on.
Vinnie Jones his first US award
Gail Fitzpatrick her first nomination.
And so much more I don’t even know about.
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