For 50 years, he has directed films loved by millions, but few know his name: we are talking about Peter Weir, who was recently awarded the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for his entire career. The director of the adventure epic Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World and many other cult films has been retired for 14 years. And rumor has it that the culprits are Russell Crowe and Johnny Depp.
He gave Harrison Ford his favorite role
Peter Weir He is considered one of Australia’s greatest directors. In addition to the above films, he directed, among others, the war film masterpieces Gallipoli (1981), Witness (1985) and Mosquito Coast (1986), which Harrison Ford declared his favorite film in which he acted. “I would do a sequel in a heartbeat”– said the legendary actor to LA Times.
Many of his works have been enthusiastically received by critics and audiences, particularly films such as The Truman Show (1998) and Dead Poets Society (1989). His films were nominated for Oscars 29 times in 25 years and won a total of 6. So why was there no sign of life (in cinema) from the master director for over a decade?
Johnny Depp and Russell Crowe would “crack” it.
The last movie Peter Weir is a survival drama Road to Freedom in which a group of ex-prisoners led by Colin Farrell must survive in Soviet Siberia. The feature film was released in cinemas in 2010. Will we ever get another movie right? Apparently not. Weir appears to have retired for good. There are differing opinions as to why he made this choice: Hollywood star Ethan Hawke (Training Day), who starred under his direction Dead Poets Circle At 18, IndieWire offered the following explanation in 2022:
“I think he lost interest in cinema. He really liked this job when the actors didn’t cause problems. Russell Crowe and Johnny Depp broke it. He is such a rarity these days, a popular artist. He makes mainstream films which are artistic. To have the budget to make The Truman Show or Master & Commander, you need Jim Carrey or Russell Crowe. I think Harrison Ford and Gerard Depardieu were his type of actors. They supported the directors and did not consider themselves important.“
while Russell Crowe played a leading role master and commander, Johnny Depp In turn, there was a play in the adaptation of the novel Shantaram But Peter Weir left the project after a creative dispute with the star, Guardian sources suspected. Since then, the film is still not released or confirmed.
Peter Weir explains why he ended his career
But to blame Johnny Depp or Russell Crowe for the end of his career Peter Weir At best, it is speculation. Moreover, the director himself spoke about this topic in 2022. Interviewed by the Sydney Morning Herald about the declaration. Ethan HawkeHe expressed his surprise:
“This quote from Ethan needs to be taken out of context. I find this confusing“, he said. And as for the question of whether he will find his way back to the sets once, he replied: “For filmmakers, like volcanoes, there are three main stages: active, dormant, and extinct. I think I reached the second one! Here’s to another generation screaming “action” and “cut” and I wish you the best of luck.“
Face-to-face with Télérama, during the filmmaker’s visit to France when he was honored at the Cinémathèque française earlier this year, he finally put an end to the debate: “Why did I stop acting? Because I just didn’t have more energy.“That’s how it’s written. -‘s film career Peter Weir Well and truly over.
To re-watch some of his work, head over to streaming platforms: The Vanished Poets Circle and Master & Commander, for example, can be viewed on Disney+ and Prime Video respectively.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
