NY Times' New Photos from Judd Apatow's Funny People

May 2, 2009
Source: NY Times
by Alex Billington

This articles serves a dual purpose: first off, to feature the two new photos from the NY Times, and secondly, to feature the actual article in the NY Times about Judd Apatow's Funny People. I actually think the NY Times is one of the best newspaper publications still covering movies, they've got a great sense of the cinematic world and do a great job with reviews and news and everything. Their article about Funny People is a brief look at what Apatow is set to unleash this summer, and a warning to those who are looking forward to the same kind of outrageous comedy as his last few films, that that is not what we'll be seeing this time.

As described by NY Times' Dave Itzkoff, Funny People starts out with a "grainy video" showing "a boyishly goofy Mr. Sandler, still in his 20s with a tilted baseball cap on his head" who is "making prank phone calls to the delight of a few off-screen observers." Apparently this footage was real footage shot by Apatow and Sandler when they were friends some 20 years ago. Apatow kept the tape and thought it would be a great way to kick off the movie. "This is our introduction to the fictional comedian George Simmons, who grew up, got famous, became an arrogant movie star and then was told he had a fatal illness. For the character, the scene is a final moment of innocence before he loses his way on the road to celebrity and success."

Similar to the comparison made in our past article about Funny People's Oscar potential, apparently Apatow says that he "developed his inclusive filmmaking style over many years and that he paid particularly close attention to the lessons he learned from the writer, director and producer James L. Brooks while working on the animated series 'The Critic.'" And knowing that, it makes me more excited to see this movie just because it is such a personal project. "I guess the lesson is, It's O.K. to write about yourself as long as you're making almost all of it up," Apatow jokes. If you're interested in reading more, head over to NYTimes.com.

Over the past few years, writer/director Judd Apatow has shown that nothing—not even losing your virginity or the miracle of childbirth—is sacred. About his third film behind the camera, he says, "I'm trying to make a very serious movie that is twice as funny as my other movies. Wish me luck!" When seasoned comedian George Simmons learns of his terminal, inoperable health condition, his desire to form a genuine friendship cause him to take a relatively green performer under his wing as his opening act.

Funny People is both written and directed by comedy mastermind Judd Apatow, of 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, as well as "Freaks and Geeks", previously. The story in the film is inspired by Apatow's own real life experiences. Universal will debut Funny People in theaters everywhere on July 31st this summer!

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