12-Year-Old Fantasy Film Failure: Natalie Portman's Oscar Dreams Shattered, Director Speaks Out
David Gordon Green's career has been a rollercoaster ride, filled with unexpected twists and turns, since the release of Your Highness From critically acclaimed dramas to 12-year-old fantasy flops starring Natalie Portman, he has certainly kept audiences guessing
Summary
David Gordon Green defends his film Your Highness, despite its negative reception and low box office gross.
Green jokingly says he thought the movie would be an Oscar winner.
Green mentions his children enjoying Your Highness and questions why it received bad reviews from critics.
In a recent interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, David Gordon Green defends his fantasy film failure Your Highness. The film boasts a star-studded cast including Natalie Portman, Danny McBride, James Franco, Toby Jones, Justin Theroux, and Zoeey Deschanel. Your Highness, a comedic action-adventure-fantasy, chronicles the (mis)adventures of a royal team on a quest to rescue a kidnapped bride of a prince. Despite being widely regarded as Green's most disappointing film, Your Highness received scathing reviews from critics and a measly worldwide box office revenue of just $28 million, which led to financial losses considering its estimated budget of $49.9 million.
When creating the film, Green humorously quipped that he would "claim an Oscar." Although Green does not fully support all of his previous projects, he asserted that he still believed Your Highness lived up to his fond memories while revisiting it alongside his children.
Read Green's complete statement below:
While working on Your Highness alongside Danny McBride, I had a strong belief that we were creating an Oscar-worthy film. I couldn't help but think, "Who wouldn't be interested in watching this masterpiece?" We were given the opportunity to bring my vision to life, comparable to the likes of Fitzcarraldo and Lawrence of Arabia. I truly believed that it would be remembered as one of the all-time classics. However, I was mistaken. Yet, I recently showed the movie to my 12-year-old children and I still don't comprehend what critics were thinking. Why did Roger Ebert write a negative review? In my eyes, it remains a masterpiece. I must admit that I don't stand by every decision I made during that project. For instance, watching Undertow again was challenging for me. There are elements that I am deeply passionate about, but there are also choices that, upon reflection, I realize I could have approached differently.
These realities exist, and I don't frequently revisit my movies. Nevertheless, I have no regrets. Perhaps the reason for this is the absence of external pressures from studios or benefactors dictating my actions and second-guessing me. Instead, I rely on a trusted group of individuals who will voice their concerns about certain ideas and encourage me to reconsider or take the time to reflect on them. When someone I truly trust raises doubts, I do take them into consideration. However, there are times when I am bold enough to take risks, even when challenged by someone who double dog dares me.
David Gordon Green’s Career Has Taken Interesting Turns Since Your Highness
The extent to which Green is joking in this interview remains unclear, but what surprises is the director's unapologetic and unwavering attitude towards Your Highness, a film that received a poor 27% rotten score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite being one of Green's lowest-rated films, he remains a staunch defender of the unfunny 2011 flop, for better or worse.
Your Highness stands out as a fascinating addition to Green's career trajectory. Following his debut with the intimate film George Washington in 2000, Green's career has experienced a constant tug-of-war between mainstream features like Pineapple Express and quieter indie films like Prince Avalanche, a quirky remake of the Icelandic film Either Way. Now, Green's career has taken yet another turn as he delves into the realm of horror, directing 2018's Halloween, Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends, and this year's The Exorcist: Believer.
Unfortunately, Green's career has regrettably returned to some poorly-received works, with the exception of "Save Halloween". The horror films mentioned earlier have received negative reviews according to the Tomatoemeters, especially "The Exorcist: Believer" which has faced criticism from critics. These scores indicate that Green's attempts in genre films have yet to prove successful, even since "Your Highness."
