ROTTEN TOMATOES: Haggis To Direct And Produce "Enemies"

Haggis To Direct And Produce "Enemies"

by Jen Yamato | March 13, 2006

As negotiations with Columbia Pictures wrap up, multiple award-winning hyphenate Paul Haggis is adding another project to his plate: "Against All Enemies," based on former counterterrorism agent Richard A. Clarke's best-selling memoir.

According to the trades, Haggis -- who weeks ago lost his bid for Best Director but won Best Screenplay and Best Pic for "Crash" -- will be producing and directing the adaptation, which will be written by young scribe James Vanderbilt ("The Rundown," "Zodiac"). Busy Haggis is also currently working on the script for war drama "Death and Dishonor," so it's unclear which high-profile political flick will be next.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

"Based on Richard A. Clarke's best-selling memoir, "Enemies" chronicles how the Bush administration handled the al-Qaida threat before and after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Clarke, a former U.S. terrorism czar, offers the ultimate insider's account into the nation's security apparatus, featuring a cast of power brokers that includes President Bush, Condoleezza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld and Clarke.

The book was published by Free Press in March 2004 and hit No. 1 on the New York Times best-seller list, fueling intense criticism over the administration's security failures and its decision to go to war with Iraq.

John Calley is producing through his Sony-based shingle, while Len Sherman is executive producing. Haggis' manager Larry Becsey will serve in an as-yet-determined producer's capacity."

Haggis has won numerous nominations and awards for his writing talents, including an Oscar nod for "Million Dollar Baby," which date back to his television days (an Emmy for "thirtysomething," Gemini awards for "Due South"). He reteamed with "Million Dollar Baby" helmer Clint Eastwood to adapt the WWII historical drama "Flags Of Our Fathers," which is in post-production, and was infamously called upon to doctor (or, polish) the script for the currently filming Bond film, "Casino Royale."

From MTV.com, a post-Oscar interview with Haggis:

"It will be completely different, I think. You know, it takes James Bond from the very first Ian Fleming book, "Casino Royale," when he becomes James Bond -- when he gets his "Double 0" status, which means he has two kills, and therefore has his license to kill. But all the bells and whistles, all the things that Q used to give him, the gadgets, those are all gone. So you deal with the character as an assassin and what it feels like to be an assassin. And I ask the question, "Why does he treat women the way that he treats them?"

So I've either helped to re-energize this series, or I've just ruined James Bond for everybody forever."

Related Items

Celeb:	Paul Haggis
	James Vanderbilt
	Clint Eastwood
Movie:	Million Dollar Baby
	The Rundown
	Zodiac
	Flags of Our Fathers
	Crash
	Casino Royale

(1-9 of 9 posts) | Reply

sathington willoby writes:
on Mar 13 2006 05:37 PM

Have not seen Crash yet, but was unhappy to learn he was behind Million Dollar Baby

(Reply to this)

sathington willoby writes:
on Mar 13 2006 05:38 PM

damn, oscars blow

(Reply to this)

sathington willoby writes:
on Mar 13 2006 05:40 PM

Crash, Million Dollar Baby, and most pathetic of all, ROTK

Never saw Chicago, but A Beautiful Mind was not a good film

Gladiator and American Beauty, now that's better

(Reply to this)

sathington willoby writes:
on Mar 13 2006 05:42 PM

Shakespeare in Love was good too, though I was indignant at the time as a twelve year old that Private Ryan didn't win

(Reply to this)

Prosper761 writes:
on Mar 13 2006 07:39 PM

[b]Haggis = Hack[/b]
"Crash" is probably the least subtle movie ever made. "Million Dollar Baby" only worked because of it's incredible cast and director. I will never watch the Academy Awards again, knowing now for certain, that they gave in to political pressure and awarded the least deserving movie of the five, to avoid controversy. Shame on the Academy voters. "Crash" is trash.

(Reply to this)

Vitamin M writes:
on Mar 14 2006 07:38 AM

In reply to this comment (#832095)
I'm still indignant that piece of trash beat out Ryan.

(Reply to this)

boy0210 writes:
on Mar 14 2006 01:40 PM

[b]crash trash[/b]
Hamfisted, shrill, and obvious won over artful and subtle.

(Reply to this)

lovelykeira writes:
on Mar 15 2006 01:37 PM

This movie doesn't sound that great but I will watch anything that Haggis is involved with.

(Reply to this)

YoAdrian768004 writes:
on Mar 26 2006 06:29 PM

In reply to this comment (#832094)
STUPID.

(Reply to this)

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