William Friedkin in conversation with Nicolas Winding Refn on SORCERER (1977)

[@JohnKikianis]

It’s so funny to me that you what a comedy director give an interview it’s the most humorless and serious conversation. Meanwhile every William Frieidkin interview is hysterical and full of levity despite his very serious filmography.

[@thebagelsproductions]

Somebody asked him what he thought of what Al Pacino had had to say about something (Cruising, probably) and he said "I don't care what Pacino has to say, he's not very articulate" 😂😂

[@neplusultra4196]

@@thebagelsproductionshe started the answer with ‘I don’t give a flying fuck into a rolling donut what Al Pacino thinks’

[@AbruzziDukeOf]

Funny and also cuttingly accurate.

[@philmfan]

Friedkin said early on that Sorcerer was about fate and expressed his belief that fate - the fact that ultimately no one can control the course of their life - affects everyone. Consequently, it makes sense that the movie failed to achieve the results he expected. In a way, that was the perfect outcome, given its theme. It’s like fate heard its name being called and responded back in kind. It helps that it’s a truly great film - as close to being a masterpiece as anything Friedkin made. I saw both Sorcerer and Star Wars when they came out and loved them both. Sorcerer was an ultra-modern film ahead of its time and SW was, in part, a callback to an innocent past of heroic deeds and black & white morality. The world (or at least the U.S.), was weary from Vietnam, Watergate and all the other troubling events going on and preferred the latter. I think the main reason critics failed to embrace Sorcerer was because it was so stylistically ahead of its time, the music, cinematography, editing etc. was unlike anything else around and they didn’t really understand it and this scared or at least intimidated them. Today, I can barely watch Star Wars but I watch Sorcerer on a fairly regular basis and it’s still relevant and likely always will be given the world we live in. My favorite things are the character introductions, the unloading of the burnt bodies wrapped in plastic, the bridge scenes (of course), the score, Sheider losing his mind in the wasteland and his sad last dance, and the fact that hitmen wear white shoes. Also, I’m certain that he’s dead one minute after the movie ends and he knows it.

[@MrinmayChakravarty-jf4nr]

True great analysis

[@josephobenauer3093]

Nicely written, thank you.

[@themagnanimous1246]

This was such an excellent watch

[@manuel240475]

The bridge scene.

[@thecommish80]

I love the good natured combativeness of this interview(if thats a real word). I wish more director interviews were like this.

[@SvartElric9]

Sorcerer is one of my favourite movies of all time, what a beautiful piece of art. Friedkin was truly a master of cinema.

[@SquabbleBoxHQ]

A true masterpiece of cinema that deserves a much, MUCH better documentary and/or interview than this. Maybe we'll have to make it one day.

[@kewune]

Times up, all talk but no actions :(

[@shootmckay2270]

If you payed mote attention you would find this to be a much better interview than you are giving it credit for

[@arch_dornan6066]

This is honestly the perfect interview for Friedkin

[@SmokeDrawRepeat]

@@shootmckay2270it’s pretty terrible. Refn is tone def through out.

[@brentulstad3275]

For those annoyed by this conversation, I think it's good to be aware of the fact that they are both in their element and exacting their very dry and very wry personalities and sense of humor. There are a few other discussions & q&a chats available between the two of them and an audience as well. Maybe they're not close friends but of a similar mind and from the same "school of thought" so to speak. I personally really like this conversation and revisit it often.

[@PWS859]

"If that's [Only God Forgives] a masterpiece, then what is Citizen Kane?" "It's great." *Friedkin stares into the camera*

[@ObKling]

Haha. So ungracious. Refn is flattering him to the ends of the earth, but Friedkin won't reciprocate AT ALL. He basically says Only God Forgives sucks.

[@tiodeleve]

yeah, that's a highlight. Friedkin is a little disappointed with his questions.

[@VisanIon-v2l]

Yeah....he's right.....Friedkin is right.....I like this guy's older movies but from Drive....onwards mediocrity....visually a lot of mistakes.....and his questions were sooo bad...if I was there I could have talked to him for 6 hours asking him stuff

[@thepaulhenderson]

Friedkin nails it on "the dream" world, all great films exist in that realm and to tap into that is something that's rare, special and unpredictable. But when they do, its pure magic. Great video, Liked & subscribed!

[@ommm8]

Friedkin should have his own Netflix series about filmmaking.

[@shadowaccount]

I'd watch but Netflix sucks so it would have to be on something else.

[@7vidz]

@@shadowaccountWon’t ever happen. Friedkin is dead.

[@neantibi]

fuck netflix

[@shortylarson8997]

I'm glad he stood his ground. No BS

[@adamant5906]

I'm not religious but there is moment at the end that might be called grace. When Roy Scheider invites the woman to dance. It's a recognition of her humanity and womanhood. It's the closest to anything resembling redemption.

[@musicalBurr]

Oh man, that was so great to hear Friedkin's thoughts! About life, his philosophy, anecdotes about Tangerine Dream, and on and on. Also, he handled Nic well too, even though Nic's endless repetitions of questions and claiming to be a younger-version-of-yourself deserved a serious smackdown! I guess he liked the young fellow, and that came through in the teasing. Great interview, flawed as it was. (But as we ALL have to admit, we're all flawed!) RIP William Friedkin.

[@edzielinski]

A brilliant fencing match between these two outstanding directors. Big respect for Refn for being willing to take the heat from Friedkin, because he was willing to challenge him and not back down. Most interviews are too tame to bring out a lot of the truth, or too planned out or end up being performances - this was refreshingly real and interesting.

[@brentulstad3275]

I appreciate you also understand their dry & wry connection here. It's really perfect.

[@psychomantis183]

Refn is a pretentious idiot and a superficial filmmaker. Friedkin is a cinematic treasure. They are on opposite ends of the artistic spectrum.

[@eddieramirez5161]

Friedkin is incredible, and a bad ass! Because of his interviews, and after watching Sorcerer (1977) I see The Exorcist a whole lot differently now. Through his eyes is best. The man was incredible.

[@gnosis555]

How do you see it differently now? Friedkin one of the most underrated filmmakers of our time.

[@Ghostlydustup]

Dude interviewed William Friedkin three times in one interview.

[@demontheory]

For me the Pusher Trilogy films are straight up masterpieces. Refn is Great. What is even greater is Friedkins humor. Love em both.

[@B_alinjkar]

Thank you for uploading this moment. Bless you ❤🙏🏻

[@nicolaskokich7369]

"who would cast my neighbor anyway? He was a shmuck. I wouldn't give him a cup of sugar.' Love this guy. RIP.

[@if6was929]

And now that neighbor knows how Friedkin feels about him!

[@timlandscheidt]

Oh, what a treat.

[@Diggy7Diggs]

Friedkin is the best of all time, Sorcerer and The Exorcist are in the top 10 greatest films ever

[@muaykaliente4386]

A true criminally underated masterpiece of cinema. Its outstanding. I wish nick asked more questions about the making of it rather than focus on the box office

[@mikearchibald744]

Well, he does after that, its a long interview. I thought it worth it just to hear "What did I do? I committed suicide and was resurrected for the purpose of doing this interview".

[@philpritchard5173]

Wonderful interview. Thank you.

[@andydufresne1602]

These 2 have great chemistry

[@artlover1477]

Trust me, Sorcerer is one of my favorite all time movies. But man, McQueen, Mastrianni, Ventura.....damn that would have been interesting.

[@BeardLAD]

9:56 - these guys love each other to bits lol

[@npxmnpxm]

Sorcerer: Bad timing, confusing title, but a great movie.

[@iancroft1447]

“People Believe All Kinds of Crazy Things”-haha Yes ! Truly RIP Mr. William Friedkin

[@georgeguerrero2253]

I truly love ❤😊

[@niptuck117]

I always get a big laugh out of the "Here's that 20 bucks I owe you..." line every time he uses it lol.

[@kramalerav]

I’ve watched every one of his theatrically released films, and this is how I’d rank them from worst to best: 19. *Deal of the Century* The director has never spoken of this film. For good reason. 18. *The Night They Raided Minsky’s* A movie depicting the back stage interactions of a burlesque repertoire? “Yes, please!”, said nobody ever. 17. *Good Times* Everyone starts somewhere. 16. *The Guardian* The late great Roger Ebert in his review humorously pointed out that this is the first horror film in history where a chainsaw is used to attack a tree. 15. *The Brink’s Job* This crime caper comedy drama is a curiously unambitious step back for the director considering the film he did before this one. 14. *Bug* A psychological horror film that should have grabbed me but didn’t. 13. *Blue Chips* I like a great sports movie, but this not one of them. Nick Nolte is however very fun to watch in role of a college basketball coach. 12. *The Birthday Party* A filmed play, basically. I think I liked this better than Friedkin did. And it’s always a joy to watch Robert Shaw’s acting chops. 11. *Jade* More or less a total rehash of Basic Instinct (which Joe Eszterhas also penned), albeit an entertaining one. But the movie is far from Friedkin’s best work (contrary to what he claimed otherwise). 10. *Rules of Engagement* Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson are always a treat to watch in this very competently made courtroom drama. But long gone is the Hurricane Billy era. 9. *The Boys in the Band* Another filmed play. Not very cinematic, but this is an extremely well-acted relationship drama that ushered in the Queer Cinema subgenre. Highly recommended. 8. *The Hunted* If you liked the source novel to First Blood better than the classic Stallone film, you should check this adventure thriller out. 7. *Rampage* This hidden gem was shelved for five years before getting a theater release in 1992. Not without some flaws, it does feature one memorable jump scare-and the movie is a legal drama! 6. *Killer Joe* Though not quite a return to form as far as edge goes, this is the best film he’s done in many years. 5. *Sorcerer* Often cited as one of the last intellectual films that typified the “New Hollywood” of the 1970s. Not quite a masterpiece, but absolutely a must watch. This would be the first in a string of flops that the director never quite recovered from. 4. *To Live and Die in L.A.* The last great film by this legendary director, it feels like The French Connection hopped up on 1980s coke! And whatta car chase! 3. *Cruising* I don’t care what anyone says, this is one fearless and edgy crime thriller, and it’s all the better for it. Classic Friedkin nastiness. 2. *The French Connection* Nothing more needs to be said about this film, except to say that if you haven’t seen it, you are not a true cinephile. 1. *The Exorcist* The greatest horror film ever made. Period. Full stop.

[@thebagelsproductions]

Cheers, mate. Nice thumbnail reviews.

[@ObKling]

This reminds me of the Fritz Lang interview by Bogdanovich or whoever it was. Very surly interview subject, disputing almost every point, whether it's important or meaningless.

[@pendorran]

I seriously think that might have been the interview Friedkin himself did.

[@aaronstielstra6055]

Can we just edit out Refn's interruptions and keep the Friedkin talk?

[@portalarlequin2023]

Una obra maestra injustamente olvidada... sólo porque Star Wars le pasó por encima (estrenaron el mismo día!)

[@musashi-san____1409]

LOL I love William Friedkin. Even he had annoying neighbors.

[@gaitrybhogal1437]

Awesome 🤩

[@IstanaAnginWorldwide]

Refn went of the offense in the end. So funny.

[@pendorran]

The critics rejected 'Sorcerer', I'd wager, because it's a (quasi) remake of a great French film. 'Sorcerer' is every bit the equal of Cleuzot's 'The Wages of Fear' but critics were never going to admit that or acknowledge the film on its own terms.

[@EpicMovieCompilations]

1:00:45

[@Johnconno]

Doing Okay by William Friedkin.

[@therealmmabreakdown4930]

53:14 refn's perfect comeback...haha..that was hilarious

[@Emulous79]

Friedkin was brilliant and really funny without even trying to be. Refn is way out his league. I guess he was just learning from one of the masters.

[@pablomarquezimages920]

When was this interview?

[@cinematographersoncinemato1199]

2015

[@if6was929]

I saw Sorcerer when it was released and I've rewatched it several times, I like it. It must have been a grueling shoot, some of those locations were hell holes. It would have been interesting to see Steve McQueen in the role of Jackie Scanlon but if Ali McGraw was cast, she could have ruined the movie, her performance in The Getaway was absolutely terrible.

[@kramalerav]

The film doesn’t quite take hold, but I enjoyed it very much. It’s an interesting misfire.

[@SoldCentralFlorida2023]

Sorcerer, To Live & Die in L.A., French Connection 1& 2, Exorcist, All Masterpieces.

[@cicolasnage5684]

Friedkin didn’t direct French connection 2. That was John frankenheimer I’d replace that with cruising. Which Friedkin did direct.

[@ouaissupere8526]

It's not a conversation, nor an interview, Refn always looks like he is trying to make Friedkin say what HE wants to hear. It's more of a police examination to me.

[@shadowaccount]

To Live and Die in L.A. is my favorite Friedkin film. I like this interview, but I don't really care for Refn's work.

[@mtoad]

Why don't you care for it?

[@walkermorgan1710]

As Kanye says “the same wrongs be helping me write my songs”

[@getheroutofthetruck]

"Dat hurted you?"

[@anthonyxuereb792]

He called him "Billy"

[@watcherofthewest8597]

I loved it when freudkin was like, how long we gonna spend in the failure thing? Gees, I already said it was terrible!

[@Filmmaker809]

Freakkin tasks no prisoners. I like Nicolas Winding Refn earlier work, but I don't like the way he interrupts Mr Friedkin.

[@mikearchibald744]

Dare I say it. Sorcerer is a really stupid name for that kind of film and that likely didn't help. I've heard people in the know talk about films tanking for all kinds of reasons, the title being a big one. People may well have thought this was a fantasy film or something.

[@MrinmayChakravarty-jf4nr]

True title plays big role

[@Rucky-q3r]

40:10 Friedkin's world is Chinese fortune cookie

[@ireviewshtuff]

It's 15 minutes before 9, in Paris...

[@oliraceking]

Is Nicolas Winding Refn being sarcastically awful here or does he actually believe he is a genius and a younger version of Friedkin? If it’s the latter no wonder he hasn’t made a movie in years…. Avoid avoid avoid.

[@bbrussard]

He is annoying! If he isn't interupting Friendkin he's dimissive at times. Friedkin had real fortitute to get through that interview.

[@__-wm9lu]

He’s tongue in cheek they’re joking

[@WillyWobbles-u7q]

@@__-wm9lu It's not very funny is it?

[@rainbowrandolph9]

@@WillyWobbles-u7qrelax

[@WillyWobbles-u7q]

@@rainbowrandolph9 He tried to excuse the arrogance for humour, which, I implied, wasn't really apparent.

[@Gmanbrooklyn]

Redness can’t touch Friedkin. Friedkin wipes the floor with him

[@311fan666]

Close your eyes and William F. Sounds exactly like Mr. Trump

[@EuphroseneLabon]

The interview started well, but Winding Refn didn't listen, kept repeating himself and ended up sounding arrogant with that refrain of his. It would have sounded better if he'd asked 'what would you advise or tell your younger self'. Instead he made it all about him with his 'I am a younger you' stuff. Spoiled it really.

[@MrinmayChakravarty-jf4nr]

Ego came in his way

[@operationnevergiveup2718]

WF is a master and French Connection is a masterpiece and Sorcerer is a fine film. uNLIKE todays directors who're drowning in their own egos WF is an old school master craftsman who sees life in its all complexity. Refn is not a good interviewer he doesn't seem to fully appreciate WF's talent.

[@cicolasnage5684]

Friedkin is a legend yes but I tire of these old directors shitting on superheroes. His argument is superhero’s are perfect and save the day. Not so Tony stark is an alcoholic, narcissistic philanderer, Bruce Wayne is eternally a little boy that never got over his trauma of his parents being gunned down in front of him. Frank castle brutally murders low level thugs. And Bruce banner suffers from ptsd of his abusive father which fuels his extreme anger. Friedkin probably never read current comics and still thinks of them as kiddy stuff but they are in their rights good films with flawed people. Kind of hypocritical when people like Friedkin and Scorsese came along the old directors then thought they were excessive. At this point it’s sour grapes

[@cdclemensen]

Ricky Gervais should demand a dna test because William is probably his father with the similar savage humor

[@SmokeDrawRepeat]

I couldn’t last 10 minutes into Refn asking the same question over and over again as much as I want to hear Friedkin talk about film it seems much like most of Refn work there’s nothing under the surface of this interview….. lol…..

[@DoktorBayerischeMotorenWerke]

I thought it was an excellent movie

[@ummagumma00]

I think Nicolas is a sadistic sociopath. He really wanted to see Friedkin break down. Sick👎

[@weps8983]

Refn is a hack.

[@user-xr7zb1ze6x]

Hi I'm a Fart Bot 3:40

[@robuthe697]

Wow, it is rare that I have seen such a stupid, arrogant interviewer whose only question seems to be "you thought you were so great, but I want to know how it felt to FAIL!" over and over again. Just let Friedkin speak!

[@arch_dornan6066]

They are bantering

[@935323]

Maybe it's a European sensibility towards humor that gets lost in translation, but if Refn seriously believes that his work even holds a candle to Friedkin's, he is seriously deluded. Knowing this attitude even exists makes my opinion of his film appear in a negative light, and, let's face it, his work can not hold up to scrutiny the same way that Fredkin's work DOES. I think Bill was very nice about the whole thing.

[@johnjackman8113]

cool guy, dont like the interviewer style - to interupty stunts his flow.

[@ericjohnson8326]

Refn is really rude he interrupted him the whole time. Over asking answered questions. Putting words in his mouth. How rude.Refn is talented in his own right, but he's no Friedkin

[@THEODSTKING117]

@LeoXtheArtist yeah probing is one way to put it lol. more of a interrogation than a interview.

[@stutzbearcat5624]

These guys are obviously buds. So they're busting balls a little I think.

[@Gibson343088]

NWR is in no way on the level of Friedkin. It's cute he thinks he is.

[@PrisonBrain]

dude interviewing has nothing in his head

[@skywalkersbutido6375]

Refn should remake Sorcerer,im flawed.

[@sausage_and_peppers]

No

[@miggitymikeb]

This interview makes me dislike Refn

[@matthewsanger6482]

I've no idea who this Nicolas Windy Reffy dude is, but he really fancies himself; by all accounts inexplicably. Continuously interrupting like he's playing an audition scene for a tough detective in NYPD Blue. What a tiresome knucklehead.

[@thebagelsproductions]

He's a director. Drive, also the Pusher series of movies. Good movies. I think he's on drugs here tbf 😂😂

[@anthonyzav3769]

A film that was once underrated but is now overrated. It’s good. It’s not a masterpiece.

[@psychomantis183]

I hate Refn so much. Pretentious hipster doofus. But Friedkin? What a specimen! One of the greatest filmmakers and a hilariously interesting individual.