Hasko Baumann

Thank you so much guys! I am really really happy that you enjoyed it. Enaira, so nice of you to write such a detailed review, you can probably imagine how rewarding it is for me to read your insights! And you know what - I had filmed Thomas' interview in 2015 and I had totally forgotten about the lemon squeezer and I did not even notice it while editing... I actually saw it when I watched the finished film on a big screen! I've heard that some people did not like his feet - no idea why - and that many did not recognize him with the beard. I always thought it was clear that it was him in the end. I mean, naked feet, big cigar, cool dude - who else is it gonna be, right? I was shocked to see that in Germany on the Arte Facebook page there are hundreds of men complaining below the announcement of the film - not about the film itself, they haven't seen it, but about the idea of deconstructing movie masculinity! I guess we still have a long, long way to go...

OK everybody's probably tired of hearing about it by now, but here goes: ARTE have moved REAL MEN to their festive season programming and are promoting it as a highlight which is nice. The definite air date is December 29th, 22:15 (10:15pm) I am very sorry for all of this constant confusion, but I believe I hate it even more than you might Anyway, I hope some of you will see it, it'll also be online for a week after that day (probably need VPN to break their code but who hasn't?). All the best! Hasko

That is very kind of you! If you have any questions about the man that you feel were not answered/discussed, please let me know, I spent quite some time with him and maybe can answer a few. But he remained an enigma throughout.

Oh thank you so much! I am very very happy that you liked the film. I always fear that it's a bit dated so I'm glad when I hear that it holds up well enough. I was thinking about making a doc on Jodorowsky's Dune project because I was fascinated by the story. Jodo showed me the sketches and designs they did - he had a whole book in his apartment! But I let go of the idea after I finished Moebius Redux because I felt I had spent enough time with these people It was a mistake though. An American filmmaker, Frank Pavich, approached me a few years later - he would have liked to use outtakes from my Giraud footage for his doc on... Jodorowsky's Dune! I could not help him, Jean had died and his wife would never have given her ok. But Frank finished his film without it, it became a great success and was even shortlisted for the Oscar noms! So I thought, dammmnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW Panos Cosmatos, 2010 A paranoia manifesto by Panos Cosmatos, son of George Cosmatos of FIRST BLOOD PART 2 fame. Panos followed this up last year with the Cagefest MANDY which I felt did not live entirely up to the promise he gave with his debut. BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW ist not for moviegoers who want a good and clear story narrative. Its vague references to the Reagan era and the Noriega affair in particular feel rather put-on. This film is all about mood, atmosphere and visuals. And the visuals are absolutely breathtaking. The sets are stunning, glowing walls and rooms, cold and menacing but unbelievably stylish. As the film is set in the early 80s, there is a fabulous analogue synth score throughout, conceived by the keyboarder of the band Black Mountain. It all feels like being captured in a feverish dream that you just can't wake up from. The film almost blows it with an all-too literate finale, but thankfully that's not enough to diminish this unique cinematic experience. It reminded me of the times when David Lynch or David Cronenberg were still really really weird. It is a very slow film, but if you are open to let yourself be caught up in it, you probably will find the experience most rewarding.

ARTE has moved Real Men to October 13th at 10pm, admittedly a better slot than the one they chose first. This will probably only be of interest to Ariane but that's more than enough for me!

Oh this is beautiful! Thank you so much. Great stuff!

Really just a matter of taste, I guess - the film was a HUGE blockbuster in my home country and is held in the highest regard. Uhm, by most people.

Accurate description I have to say though that everything about the film got on my nerves as far as I remember, it was just too shrill and over the top for my taste. And I found Jovovich's character unbearable. It was just too much kitsch for me. I liked Valerian much better because it had a dry sense of humour that corresponded very well with the colorful visuals, and I also liked that the leads were so so subdued. Of course, the designs in the Fifth Element are gorgeous, so many ideas, so many talented people involved, Moebius, Mézières, Gaultier... I heard that Prince was originally the first choice to play Tucker's role. Now I would have loved to see THAT!

Things The Fifth Element has that Valerian does not: Chris Tucker. Chris Tucker. Chris Tucker. Chris Tucker. Chris Tucker.

I hate The Fifth Element with the intensity of a thousand suns.

Hello all, I am a big fan of Ernie Chan's, especially of his work on Detective Comics in the 70s. Does anyone know if there is a chance of DC releasing a Tales of the Batman book with his art or a similar anthology? Or is he possibly not well-known / popular enough? Thank you!

It is, from way up north, my parents came from what we call 'Ostfriesland'. Very uncommon in the rest of the country which is rather unfortunate when you grow up in a different part of it!

I do have to say I was very pleasantly surprised by the movie. Don't get me wrong, it is not a good adaptation of the comic books (but what is?), but I enjoyed it immensely. I really felt that Luc Besson gave me what has been missing from US blockbusters for many many years now: A sense of wonder. There is so much imagination, so much going on, so much fun to be had. And I really liked the casting of both of them, especially her, and how strong she turns out to be. Yes I have to say I really like that film!

Let's say I wanted to approach a general issue by using a specific angle - an angle that I am familiar with. I sincerely believe that many of the attributes society associates with "manliness" are still universally accepted and many of them were presented in the movies. Also, I wanted to look at it from a man's perspective; meaning I also invited men with different cultural backgrounds, gay and straight, and asked them about their role models from the time they were growing up - and there were many similar answers. I have never heard the name 'Rocky' as often as in the course of making this film! Anyway, ever since #metoo people realized that those clichés are problematic. Of course I try to adress that and ask, where does that leave those kinds of characters - and actors? As for the language: Yes, unfortunately there is voiceover throughout in the Arte version. They did manage to book the guy who dubs Thomas in his movies for the interviews so that's kinda cool. And yes, there is also commentary. I like it better without so the international version that was shown at SDCC is clear of all that, no commentary and the German parts are subtitled.