Universal Studios Irrational Fixation On Film Directors With Unforgivable Faults

http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Studios-1978-Battlestar-Galactica/dp/1434895408/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297962355&sr=1-3

Just as SyFy Channel has always had its irrational fixation on failed producer / scriptwriter Ronald D. Moore, so too does Universal Studios have an irrational fixation on marginal film director Bryan Singer. Universal Studios apparently won't do a "Battlestar Galactica" feature film (based upon the 1978 series) without Bryan Singer directing. Why? Does Universal Studios want Bryan Singer to fuck up a "Battlestar Galactica" movie as badly as he fucked up Superman in his "Superman Returns" movie? There seems to have always been a brain related fungus going on among executives at Universal Studios and SyFy Channel. The more a producer / scriptwriter and film director fucks up, the more Universal Studios and SyFy Channel wants them for their next project.

To categorize Bryan Singer as a marginal film director would be generous. His skill with actors, his skill with drawing out stellar performances from actors, is dubious at best. The crappy acting from everyone involved in "Superman Returns" must firmly be placed on the shoulders of Bryan Singer for blame. I would dare say that the acting in "Superman Returns" was so bad, that it killed the careers of Brandon Routh and the babe who played Lois Lane. Because quite frankly, you don't see either one of them anymore...not even in late night infomercials. The two of them either went back to acting school, or they're doing "off-off-off-off-Broadway Theatre."

Like most film directors his age, Bryan Singer is terrific at putting on a mindless special effects show, but his skill with actors is......extremely shaky. Contrast this with Bryan Singer's idol....Richard Donner.....who is absolutely stellar in knowing how to work with actors. And Universal Studios wants this guy (and only this guy) to helm their "Battlestar Galactica" feature film? How about if Universal Studios actually searches for a film director (regardless of age) who knows how to work with actors, and who knows how to draw out spectacular performances from actors? Because I gotta' tell you, if Universal Studios ever gets its head out of its ass, and actually gets around to making  a "Battlestar Galactica" feature film, the film will have to be more than a mindless special effects extravaganza. There will have to be credible, skilled actors cast in the roles they inhabit. There would have to be winning performances from actors who know how to deliver such performances, and a director who knows how to draw out such performances.

Universal Studios, instead of thinking along such rational lines, is holding out for Bryan Singer to supposedly direct their "Battlestar Galactica" film. Why? What has Bryan Singer ever done professionally to warrant such devotion? I don't recall any Bryan Singer films where the acting stood out magnificently. I do recall special effects light shows such as the "X-Men" movies he directed, and the special effects of "Superman Returns." In the case of "Superman Returns", it completely slipped by Bryan Singer, his crew, and the executives at Warner Brothers while viewing dailies in the screening room, that "Superman" and "Lois Lane" hardly had any dialogue between one another. This was possibly due to the fact that Bryan Singer and his scriptwriter were trying to cover up the fact that Brandon Routh couldn't act, and the actress playing Lois Lane couldn't act either. This may be a possible explanation for the two leads, but it still doesn't condone the fact that Bryan Singer couldn't pull decent performances out of Frank Langella, Kevin Spacey, and even the extras.

Bryan Singer is weak with actors. And because he is weak with actors, he fails to connect with audiences in the stories he is trying to tell. I would put no more faith in Bryan Singer directing a "Battlestar Galactica" feature film than I would Ed Wood directing a "Battlestar Galactica" feature film. Yet, Universal Studios still inexplicably loves this guy. Why?  The industry is filled with highly skilled film directors who can pull magnificent performances out of actors, yet Universal Studios won't seek them out for a "Battlestar Galactica" feature film. Instead (like SyFy Channel), Universal Studios is sticking with their "designated guy of underwhelming marginality" (Bryan Singer) to helm their possible "Battlestar Galactica" feature film.