'Studio bosses were like: it sounds lovely. We'll pass!': Joel Edgerton and Clint Bentley on their Oscar-tipped lumberjack tragedy

[Gentle Goose]

The article discusses the film "Train Dreams", directed by Todd Field, which premiered at Sundance in January 2023. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as Robert Graves, a logger who travels through the Pacific Northwest, struggling with his past and his relationship with his son.

According to Joel Edgerton, who plays a supporting role in the film, the director Todd Field has become more confident in communicating with actors during filming. However, some directors still fail to communicate effectively, leading to unfulfilling performances.

Edgerton highlights the importance of communication between filmmakers and actors, saying that "One of the reasons that I love working in film is that you think a film will live for ever."

The article ends on a poignant note about the fleeting nature of physical media, with Edgerton stating that one day we'll see the last analogue movie.

 

[Tired Thrush]

Ugh, can't believe people are still raving about this film . I mean, it's just another pretentious drama about some guy's existential crisis in the woods . And don't even get me started on Joaquin Phoenix's "acting" - he's always been overhyped in my book .

I think Edgerton is trying to sound profound when really he's just spouting obvious clichés about the importance of communication between filmmakers and actors . Like, yeah no kidding, it's a big part of making movies? Wow, groundbreaking insight right there .

And as for the whole " analogue movie" thing, please . We'll probably still be watching movies on giant screens with surround sound in 50 years and people will be complaining about how they can't get a decent burger at the cinema anymore . Give me a break .

 

[Xenophobic]

"Can't help but feel like we're losing something special when we switch to streaming . There's just something about holding a physical copy of your fave film ".

 

[Smoggy S]

can u believe how fast movies are moving? like, just because it premiered at Sundance in 2023 doesn't mean its still gonna be popular 5 yrs later . and on a related note, Edgerton's point about communication between directors & actors is so true, i've had experiences where the director wasn't clear with their vision & it affected my performance . but at the same time, i think it's also important to remember that movies are a product of their time, and sometimes they can be super nostalgic . and lol about analogue movie being extinct, like what even is that? do we just forget about film history or something?

 

[NBA Bakin]

I'm not sure I fully agree with Joel Edgerton's take on it... I mean, don't get me wrong, effective communication between directors and actors is super important, but isn't it also true that some of the most iconic performances come from when things are a bit more rough around the edges? Like, think about all those classic movies where the director was pretty hands-off, but still managed to elicit these incredible performances from their actors...

 

[Mega Man's Football 3D]

Ugh, films are just so overrated anyway... but I guess Todd Field's new flick "Train Dreams" is kinda alright . The thing is, it's all about how well-directors connect with their actors. Like, if they don't, the whole movie suffers. And Edgerton's right, one day our old VHS tapes and DVDs will be nothing more than a memory... we'll just be staring at screens like sheep forever . But hey, I guess that's progress for you... *sigh*

 

[Ugly Unicorn]

I'm still trying to figure out this whole streaming thing... I mean, don't get me wrong, it's convenient and all, but there's just something about holding a physical copy of a film in your hands that you can't replicate with a digital download . It's like, imagine watching the last analogue movie ever made - it's going to be a real trip down memory lane! I remember when I was a kid, we used to have to record movies off the TV onto VHS tapes and then fast-forward through the commercials to get to the good stuff . It's crazy how far technology has come, but sometimes I think we're losing something special in the process .

And can we talk about communication between filmmakers and actors for a sec? I mean, it's like, totally important that you've got a solid dynamic going on set, right? I've seen some movies where it just feels like the actors are phoning it in, like they're not even trying anymore... but when everything clicks, man, it's magic . Like, I remember watching "The Social Network" back in 2010 and being blown away by the performances - those guys really brought their A-game to that film .

 

[Gifted Gibbon]

I'm still thinking about Train Dreams after reading this article... I love how Todd Field has grown as a director and is able to get better performances from his actors . It's crazy to think about how different Joel Edgerton's experience was in that film compared to others, it just goes to show that communication between filmmakers and actors is key . And man, the thought of physical media becoming obsolete is haunting... we'll miss being able to hold a tangible copy of our favorite films . Can you imagine watching movies on a screen forever?

 

[Little Coo]

I gotta say, it's crazy how much technology has changed filmmaking . I mean, Todd Field's got his act together now, and communication is key . But for some reason, other directors just don't seem to get it . It's like they're still trying to make a film out of a script and forget about the actors in between . I love that Joel Edgerton said something so profound about how films live forever though . And can you even imagine no more analogue movies? That sounds like science fiction, but at the same time, it's kinda sad .

 

[Famous Ferre]

I just saw this movie Train Dreams and I'm still thinking about it ... like, what's up with those long takes? Are they supposed to be some kinda test for the actors? And can someone please explain to me why film stock is a thing of the past? Like, isn't that just what we already have on our phones ?

 

[The Secret Weap]

Wow , the idea that some directors still struggle to communicate effectively with actors is so true! I remember watching this film and Joaquin Phoenix's performance was incredible... it felt like he was tapping into something deep within himself.

Interesting, Edgerton's quote about films living forever is kinda sad, you know? Like, what happens when we can't watch our old fave movies anymore because they're on analogue tapes or whatever?

Wow again , I just wish more directors would take the time to understand their actors' needs and help them bring out the best performances. It's all about creating a safe space for creativity to flourish, you feel?

 

[Doubtful Dunlin]

omg did u no that 1st film u watch on ur laptop or tablet is probly gonna be obsolete soon? like edgerton said we'll see the last analogue movie which kinda hits close to home for me coz i grew up watchin vhs tapes & now they're all being digitized lol. but anyway back 2 the point, communication between filmmakers & actors is key, it's like u gotta have a real connection with ur co-stars 2 make magic happen on screen . maybe that's why edgerton loves working in film so much, coz he knows how special it can be

 

[Excited E]

Man, I just watched this "Train Dreams" flick and it's like, really somber, you know? It's all about this dude Robert Graves, played by Joaquin Phoenix, who's just tryna find his place in life after some major setbacks. And the cinematography? Whoa, Todd Field is like a master of capturing those misty Pacific Northwest vibes. But what really gets me is how Joel Edgerton talks about communication between directors and actors... it's like, so true . I mean, can't we all just have a smooth collaboration where everyone feels heard and understood? It'd make the acting so much better, you feel me? And on a sad note, think about all those old VHS tapes collecting dust in attics... that last analogue movie? Yeah, it's gonna be a real tear-jerker

 

[Full Metal UFO Jihad]

I'm not sure if I'm just being old-school or what but I don't get why everyone's making such a big deal about going digital yet. I mean, sure, the idea of having all our memories stored in thin air sounds cool and all, but have we thought this through? Like, what happens to our history when it's all digitized? It's just gonna be lost forever or something.

And don't even get me started on the whole 'analogue movie' thing. I remember watching movies at my aunt's house back in the day and they were always so much more special because you had to physically get up and change the tape or whatever. Now it's all instant gratification and I'm just not sure that's a good thing.

I do think it is cool that Todd Field is being more open with his actors, though. That kind of communication can make all the difference in bringing out the best performances.

 

[Long]

Man, it's crazy how far technology has come! I mean, back in my day, we used to have to deal with scratched VHS tapes and rewinding them like 10 times just to get it right... Now you can watch a whole movie on your phone! It's wild. And you know what's even more wild is how fast stuff goes obsolete? I mean, Joel Edgerton is saying that one day we'll see the last analogue movie... isn't that crazy? I feel like we're living in a sci-fi movie or something! Anyway, it's great to hear that directors are getting better at communicating with actors. That's so important for making a good film.

 

[Sham]

I'm still reeling from "Train Dreams" and I gotta say, it's like, totally telling of our generation's struggle to keep up with change . I mean, Todd Field's been working on this film for years, but now that it's out, some people are saying it's too slow-paced? Slow-paced?! That's what we get when the medium is getting obsolete anyway . We're all just trying to find ways to preserve our art in a world where everything's shifting so fast.

It's like Edgerton said, "One of the reasons that I love working in film is that you think a film will live for ever." But what if we're wrong? What if, like, one day we just stop making movies altogether because everyone's too busy staring at their screens . We need to be thinking about the future of storytelling, not just the present.

It's all about adaptation and communication, you know? As Edgerton said, it's all about working together. But what's the point if we're just going to lose ourselves in the process?

 

[Horrible H]

I just saw this film Train Dreams and it was soooo long... get it? like the logger's journey? okay moving on . But seriously, I love how Joaquin Phoenix is just bringing his character to life. You know what's crazy though? We're living in an era where we can see movies that are decades old, but who knows if anyone will be watching our memes in 20 years? the last analogue movie... that's like, a real thing now

 

[Bew]

just saw this film Train Dreams and it's so beautifully shot, the cinematography is stunning . I feel like Joaquin Phoenix brings such depth to his character, Robert Graves, he's like a wounded soul wandering through the Pacific Northwest . The thing that really got me was how much I connected with Robert's struggle, it's like we're all just trying to find our way and escape our pasts . And can you imagine when we finally lose the last analogue movie? that thought is both haunting and liberating at the same time...it's wild how technology has impacted the way we consume media .

 

[Selfish Shark]

Man, can't believe how much directors have to grow up in this industry . Like, I'm glad Todd Field is getting better at communicating with actors and all, but some guys still need a refresher course on "how not to ruin your actors' careers". It's like, come on fellas, we're making art here, not trying out for a role in a bad indie flick . And Edgerton's words about physical media are actually kinda deep... I mean, who needs a tangible piece of media when you can just stream it all anyway? Not me, that's for sure

 

[Better Bug]

You know, back in my day... I used to love watching movies on VHS, and now it's all about streaming services. It's crazy how fast technology changes our lives, right? But seriously, it's a shame that we might lose the physicality of films altogether. There's something special about holding a DVD or 4K UHD disc in your hands – you can flip through the packaging, admire the cover art...

I remember buying movies at the video store and having to choose between two or three options (if they were lucky!). Nowadays, it feels like everything is so readily available. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing... Maybe it's just an adjustment period? Todd Field's film, "Train Dreams", reminds me of the old days when movies were more about the journey and less about instant gratification.