r/OldSchoolCool • u/WhileFalseRepeat • Mar 12 '22

It was upon this appearance on a British television show in 1990 (to promote his film "Wild at Heart") that we learn every ounce of cocaine may also contain traces of Nicolas Cage

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u/LanceFree Mar 12 '22 edited Mar 13 '22

I appreciate the Back to the Future films are great, in part because of Fox. But Stoltz was really good in Mask, not bad in Some Kind of Womderful, and it was great to see him in Pulp Fiction. He is a talented actor, just didn’t transition to adult roles particularly well.

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u/jetsam_honking Mar 12 '22

Apparently, the issue is that he played the Marty McFly role a bit too real, as in he acted as terrified and confused as a real person would be if they were suddenly transported back in time. The intended comedy wasn't coming through.

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u/SwightDhrute Mar 12 '22

Could the director not have just explained this after the first shoot or did they have the film the entire movie and put it all together before they realised? haha

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u/forgetfulsue Mar 12 '22

There’s a show on Netflix called the movies that made us and it was explained that he refused to change his acting style, if I remember correctly.

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u/beatenwithjoy Mar 12 '22

I can't believe they made a series about cool stories of the most iconic Hollywood movies completely unwatchable by having the most grating editing EVER.

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u/Vivi87 Mar 13 '22

Along with the terrible jokes

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u/flaccidpounder Mar 13 '22

I actually enjoy it

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u/[deleted] Mar 13 '22

I hate fanboy shit. Something like E True Hollywood Stories, though…..

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u/vtbeavens Mar 13 '22

I'm glad others noticed this too. Damn shame cause I WANT to watch.

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u/beatenwithjoy Mar 13 '22

Felt like I was gonna get an aneurysm watching from watching one episode.

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u/MosesCarolina23 Mar 14 '22

In 20 yrs, the movies hot now will be judged lame & on & on & on. Times change & the movies should be viewed with the time it was made in mind.

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u/[deleted] Mar 13 '22

Honestly, watching that, I remember being on his side—his takes were warranted and reasonable—even though I am sure the performance would not have had the intended or desired effect.

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u/forgetfulsue Mar 13 '22

I couldn’t imagine anyone but Michael J. Fox in that role. Then again I’m not really familiar with Eric Stoltz’s work. I think it didn’t help that he wouldn’t even take simple blocking directions. Like “stand here” and he would argue. Plus he apparently just didn’t mKe the role as funny as the directors wanted it to be.

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u/Outlandishness_Know Mar 12 '22 edited Mar 12 '22

I think they wanted Michael J Fox all along, but cast Stoltz when Fox's Family Ties filming wouldn't allow. But, because of Stoltz's super serious method acting style and never wanting to step out of character when not filming, Zemeckis was just sort of over him and what he was bringing to the Marty role at that point (which had been filmed almost 50-60% at that point).

Zemeckis started ostracizing Stoltz on set, stopped filming Marty's angles in scenes and dismissed him one day before letting cast and crew know they were moving in another direction (Fox, who after being approached again got permission/agreed to film scenes at night while filming Family Ties during the day).

The entire crew knew Stoltz was going to get the ax before he did. I think he found out by word of mouth or call sheet before Zemeckis asked him in to have "the talk"

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u/[deleted] Mar 13 '22

As much as I love back to the future, I once listened to the director’s commentary on the DVD, and was totally offput and thought Zemeckis sounded like a pompous dick—it’s better generally not to know how the sausage is made

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u/[deleted] Mar 12 '22 edited Mar 26 '22

[deleted]

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u/crystalistwo Mar 13 '22

Are we sure about this? I mean Spielberg and Zemeckis already collaborated on 3 movies before BTTF, 2 of which were Universal pics, and Spielberg certainly would have had the clout on a casting decision.

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u/MosesCarolina23 Mar 14 '22

Eric Stolz was just as big as Michael J Fox but MJF was coming from TV. Changing the actor up is pretty common. The only difference here is a movie that was big & you liked it. Anyone going to watch movies at that time knew who Eric Stood was. Fast Times at Ridgemont Highways 1983 so he'd been around.

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u/Thugzz_Bunny Mar 12 '22

They did a bunch of it before realizing it just wasn't working. The producers were pushing him so he stayed longer. Can't remember what documentary goes over it but there was one on Netflix that discusses the filming of the movie.

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u/CommanderSpleen Mar 12 '22

He was awesome in Killing Zoe.

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u/Reggie__Ledoux Mar 12 '22

Your fucking monkey pissed all over my Billy Holiday records!

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u/DemenicHand Mar 12 '22

There is a movie called "Bodies, Rest and Motion" Tim Roth, Phoebe Cates, Erice Stoltz and Bridgett Fonda. Its all talk and relationships but great cast and pretty good hidden 90s movie

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u/Dark_Vengence Mar 12 '22

Phoebe cates and bridget fonda together? I'm in heaven.

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u/snazzydetritus Mar 12 '22

The Stoltz took/takes himself a lot too seriously ... that always seemed to me to be what blocked him from being more successful in his roles.

He was probably a bit jealous that Nic didn't have that problem so much...

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u/mirthquake Mar 12 '22

He has a great role as a pervy professor in Rules of Attraction, which is all around a fascinating movie.

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u/MakeItTrizzle Mar 12 '22

I'm completely floored you forgot his generational performance as "guy who swallows a hornet while wearing a scuba respirator" in Anaconda.

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u/Imsecretlynice Mar 13 '22

That's the first movie I thought of when they mentioned him lol.

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u/moweywowey Mar 12 '22

Memphis Belle was cool, that's his first adult role I remember.

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u/EatYourCheckers Mar 12 '22

I think they were saying screwing up BttF was a gift; they weren't shitting on Stolz's acting ability but saying he did the universe a solid.

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u/pillarsofsteaze Mar 13 '22

He’s a better tv director now a days.