Mel Gibson in 'anti-Jewish' row with writer Joe Eszterhas

[Dari]

I've never heard some of these derigotary names before. Gibson has serious issues if this is true.

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Mel Gibson in 'anti-Jewish' row with writer Joe Eszterhas
Gibson said the film was put on hold because Eszterhas' script was 'substandard'
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Hollywood screenwriter Joe Eszterhas has accused Mel Gibson of shelving a movie about Jewish hero Judah Maccabee because he "hates Jews".

Warner Bros recently halted production on The Maccabees, which Gibson was due to direct, saying Eszterhas' script lacked "a sense of triumph".

In a letter to Gibson, the writer said, "the reason you won't make [it] is the ugliest possible one. You hate Jews".

The actor has called the accusations "utter fabrications".

Gibson's reputation has plunged since his arrest for drink-driving in 2008, during which he made anti-Semitic comments to the arresting police officer.

He later apologised for his comments, which he blamed on alcoholism.

Eszterhas nine-page, expletive-filled letter was published by film industry website The Wrap.

In it, he accused Gibson of never having any intention to make the film.

"I believe you announced the project with great fanfare - 'a Jewish Braveheart' - in an attempt to deflect continuing charges of anti-Semitism which have dogged you, charges which have crippled your career," he wrote.

'Substandard first draft'

He also accused the actor of using offensive terms including "hebes", "oven-dodgers" and "Jewboys" to describe Jewish people during their time working together.

Eszterhas - who is best known for writing Basic Instinct - added, "I became increasingly worried that I'd made a grave mistake hooking up with you".

"I felt trapped. This was a project initiated by you. I couldn't legally or morally take it from you.

"I was hoping that the power of the story would overcome your anti-semitic prejudices."

Gibson responded to the allegations in his own letter, saying: "I would have thought that a man of principle, as you purport to be, would have withdrawn from the project regardless of the money if you truly believed me to be the person you describe in your letter."

"I guess you only had a problem with me after Warner Brothers rejected your script."

The actor added he still wanted to make the movie, just not based on Eszterhas' script.

"Both Warner Brothers and I were extraordinarily disappointed with the draft," he said.

"In 25 years of script development I have never seen a more substandard first draft or a more significant waste of time. The decision not to proceed with you was based on the quality of your script, not on any other factor."

The Maccabees was intended as a drama based on Judah Maccabee, widely revered as one of the greatest warriors in Jewish history.

He led the victory of the Maccabee Jews over the Syrian Greeks in 161BC. The success of the revolt is celebrated today by the Hanukkah festival.

 

[SandEagle]

i actually enjoyed Apocolypto.

 

[Ns1]

Joe,

I have your letter. I am not going to respond to it line by line, but I will say that the great majority of the facts as well as the statements and actions attributed to me in your letter are utter fabrications. I would have thought that a man of principle, as you purport to be, would have withdrawn from the project regardless of the money if you truly believed me to be the person you describe in your letter. I guess you only had a problem with me after Warner Brothers rejected your script.

I will acknowledge like most creative people I am passionate and intense. I was very frustrated that when you arrived at my home at the expense of both Warner Brothers and myself you hadn’t written a single word of a script or even an outline after 15 months of research, meetings, discussions and the outpouring of my heartfelt vision for this story. I did react more strongly than I should have. I promptly sent you a written apology, the colorful words of which you apparently now find offensive. Let me now clearly apologize to you and your family in the simplest of terms.

Contrary to your assertion that I was only developing Maccabees to burnish my tarnished reputation, I have been working on this project for over 10 years and it was publicly announced 8 years ago. I absolutely want to make this movie; it’s just that neither Warner Brothers nor I want to make this movie based on your script.

Honestly, Joe, not only was the script delivered later than you promised, both Warner Brothers and I were extraordinarily disappointed with the draft. In 25 years of script development I have never seen a more substandard first draft or a more significant waste of time. The decision not to proceed with you was based on the quality of your script, not on any other factor.

I think that we can agree that this should be our last communication.

Mel

 

[FelixDeCat]

Just because someone accuses you of something does not mean its true. If you dont agree with me you must be " ".

 

[Nintendesert]

Mel messed up by pissing off Jewish Hollywood. They still haven't forgiven him for making the Passion. He's blacklisted for life.

 

[Ns1]

Mel messed up by pissing off Jewish Hollywood. They still haven't forgiven him for making the Passion. He's blacklisted for life.

Which is why he's working with warner bros and rejected this guy's script?

lol do you think before typing this shit?

 

[Nintendesert]

Which is why he's working with warner bros and rejected this guy's script?

lol do you think before typing this shit?

And they are playing it up as though he hates Jews for doing it. Look at all the headlines, constant Mel anti-Jewish stuff. Mel is on the defensive, he can say it was due to a bad script but that's not how it's playing out in the media.

 

[Ns1]

And they are playing it up as though he hates Jews for doing it. Look at all the headlines, constant Mel anti-Jewish stuff. Mel is on the defensive, he can say it was due to a bad script but that's not how it's playing out in the media.

Of course not, media = headlines and the headlines aren't in Mel's response, it's in Joe's letter.

 

[Gibsons]

I've never heard some of these derigotary names before. Gibson has serious issues if this is true.

He also accused the actor of using offensive terms including "hebes", "oven-dodgers"

link

Oven dodgers? srsly? Is he really that far gone?

 

[0roo0roo]

he's also responsible for show girls....

at this point esterhaz is a has been, he hasn't written a worth while script since basic instinct..

so this time..mel wins.

 

[Ns1]

he's also responsible for show girls....

at this point esterhaz is a has been, he hasn't written a worth while script since basic instinct..

so this time..mel wins.

Yeah I think I know why the script got rejected...

2006 Children of Glory (screenplay / story)

2006 Basic Instinct 2 (characters)

1997 An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (written by)

1997 Telling Lies in America (written by)

1995 Jade (written by)

1995 Showgirls (written by)

1993 Sliver (screenplay)

1993 Nowhere to Run (screenplay / story)

1992 Basic Instinct (written by)

1989 Music Box (written by)

1989 Checking Out (written by)

1988 Betrayed (written by)

1987 Hearts of Fire (screenplay)

1987 Big Shots (written by)

1985 Jagged Edge (written by)

1983 Flashdance (screenplay)

 

[Pocatello]

It looks like the screenwriter is a sore loser.

 

[tboo]

It looks like the screenwriter is a sore loser.

This

 

[BrokenVisage]

It's hell being Mel

 

[Zebo]

Meh hearsay. I tend to believe Mel more than writer though due the the fact he's even bothering making such a movie. It's not like he needs money or good graces with holly wood anymore he's close to a billionaire.

 

[Zebo]

i actually enjoyed Apocolypto.

Good fuckin movie. Didn't get attention it deserved because of mels drunken triad and media blackout but easily one of his best.

 

[MotionMan]

Meh hearsay. I tend to believe Mel more than writer though due the the fact he's even bothering making such a movie. It's not like he needs money or good graces with holly wood anymore he's close to a billionaire.

Which came first, this thread or your avatar?

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

So, is the general consensus now that Mel is actually NOT Anti-Semitic?

MotionMan

 

[Zebo]

So, is the general consensus now that Mel is actually NOT Anti-Semitic?

MotionMan

People say things they don't mean all the time especially under druken influences.. Especially with an truly antisemitic non apologetic father that poised his mind from day 1. Some say is it was a lapse/breakdown since he has Jewish friends who backed him but some ppl don't forgive... seems about 70/30.

I've had avatar awhile more to do with what's going to happen when ppl stop buying US treasuries...P&N stuff.

 

[Jadow]

esterhauz didnt have a problem with it when he thought the movie would be made

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I have to say, Eszterhas sounds like a total fucking tool here. I'm pretty sure Mel Gibson has some angst towards Jews; I don't know why he does, but given his past, it wouldn't surprise me at all if he had used some anti-Semitic language. But sending the guy a nine page letter just swearing at him? And it's not like Eszterhas has some sterling reputation going for him; the guy is a shitty fucking writer. Mel Gibson probably figured a story about the Maccabees penned by that guy would make him look like an even bigger anti-Semite than everyone thinks he is now.

And, just because I can't write about Mel Gibson without thinking about his crazy tirades, sugartits.

 

[CZroe]

Man. In light of this, some would say that Mel was absolutely right to feel like "the Jews" were out to get him during his DUI rant, even if the cop wasn't actually pulling him over for that. IOW, it may not have been a racist/anti-semitic rant if he was genuinely being treated like this by his Jewish peers. Misplaced? Yes. Made things worse? Also, yes. Really true? Possibly.

 

[jagec]

"the reason you won't make [it] is the ugliest possible one. You hate Jews".


Wow, that guy either has a serious lack of imagination, or a serious case of self-centeredness. I can think of 10 things uglier than antisemitism off the top of my head.

 

[sdifox]

Shitty writer picking on easy target...

 

[PokerGuy]

The guy goes off the deep end only after Warner Bros rejected his script as a basis for the movie. I think I have to side with Mel on this one.