In times of #MeToo, the case of the director David O Russell it is most peculiar. Responsible for films such as “The Good Side of Things” (2012), “American Hustle” (2013) and “Joy” (2015), his gift for winning awards contrasts with the allegations of abuse and mistreatment that weigh on him.
But who and why have targeted David O. Russell? Amy Adams worked with him on “American Hustle.” With a low profile like few others and oblivious to scandals, the actress did not hesitate to recount the terrible experience that she lived during the filming.
Adams confirmed that the abuse was such that it brought her to tears and that she “was really devastated on set.” According to her reports, Christian Bale had to intervene to defend the actress.
An email from journalist Jonathan Alter to his brother-in-law Michael Lynton, CEO of Sony, confirms this: “His abusive and lunatic behavior is extreme even by Hollywood standards.”
Before Amy Adams, the director had another even more violent crossover, with another Hollywood celebrity: George Clooney. The actor was directed by Russell in “Three Kings” (1999) and experienced several tense situations on the set.
On one occasion, he revealed, the director asked a young extra to knock Clooney to the ground, which made the extra a little nervous. “David walked up to him and grabbed him. He pushed him to the ground. He kicked it and yelled, ‘Do you want to be in this fucking movie? Then throw it on the fucking floor!’” he told her.
According to the “ER” actor, he also humiliated a cameraman he knew from school, and he tried to stop the situation: “You can yell and yell and even fire him, but what you can’t do is humiliate him in front of people. Not on my set, if I have anything to say about it,” he told her.
However, there was no case. Clooney claims that Russell yelled at him and always found someone to manhandle, until they ended up in a fist fight. “It was truly, without exception, the worst experience of my life”, she sentenced without leaving any doubts.
And there is more. A behind-the-scenes video of “Strange Coincidences” (2004) shows the director’s uncontrolled screaming and violence against actress Lily Tomlin:
His abusive behavior has not been left alone on set. Her niece (not related by blood) reported him to the police for touching her inappropriately.
Following the Harvey Weinstein scandal and the rise of the #MeToo movement, Russell kept a low profile: the accusations against him seemed destined to sink him. However, it was not.
This year, the director will release the film “Amsterdam”, whose cast includes figures such as Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Rock, Rami Malek, Taylor Swift, Zoe Saldaña, Mike Myers, Michael Shannon and Robert De Niro.
It is also true that, under his direction, several actors have achieved Oscar nominations, and have even won it, as is the case of Jennifer Lawrence, Christian Bale and Melissa Leo.
Figures like Woody Allen and Roman Polanski have seen their careers crumble in the face of accusations of harassment, but Russell not only continues to make movies, but the biggest actors accept, without saying a word, to be part of his casts. Will the desire for a prize be stronger than any complaint? “These are my principles. If you don’t like them, I have others”, Groucho Marx once said.
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David O. Russell: The director who mistreats the actors, but with whom everyone wants to work | guioteca.com