The bizarrely ironic reason David O Russell refused to work with Burt Reynolds
Pot calling kettle black is a phrase that comes to mind when thinking about David O Russell, a filmmaker who is allegedly concerned about doing the right thing after countless instances in which he has done the polar opposite. His filmography is littered with cases in which former collaborators and crew members have revealed harrowing on-set stories in which he allegedly verbally and physically abused them, ranging from A-list actors like George Clooney and Amy Adams to first assistant directors and runners.
However, the director apparently draws the line when it comes to working with others who display that behaviour, turning down the chance to work with another Hollywood actor as a result of their problematic conduct.
Of course, many directors have consistently continued to work despite being accused of various crimes and cases of abuse, with the likes of Roman Polanski and David O Russell being some of the many Hollywood celebrities who defy the law in their ability to roam free after ruining the lives of other people. It’s a truly lovely business.
But for Russell, there seems to be a gap in his self-awareness after refusing to work with none other than Burt Reynolds after hearing about some behaviour that he deemed unacceptable, which couldn’t be more ironic given his past. In recent years, many claims have been made against Russell, ranging from pushing crew members to the ground, screaming at actors until they burst into tears, and sexually assaulting his own niece. Notably, George Clooney has publicly condemned the director, saying that he would never again work with him and describing his incredibly disturbing way of running a set, using fear to intimidate and scare his colleagues.
It seems Russell may not have shown much self-awareness in this instance. The director once met with Reynolds to discuss a potential role in his 1996 film Flirting with Disaster, but reportedly decided against casting him after hearing concerns about Reynolds’ behaviour on the set of The Larry Sanders Show. According to Reynolds, the two had a pleasant dinner together, but he was ultimately passed over for the part, with Ben Stiller, Patricia Arquette, Mary Tyler Moore, and Josh Brolin instead joining the cast.
It raises an interesting conversation about the contradictions in Russell’s behaviour, with the director forming a firm stance against this kind of abuse when enacted by other people, but seemingly not being able to recognise this in himself. The director’s 2004 film I Heart Huckabees became the most notorious of his filmography, with leaked videos from the set showing his insidious treatment of his actors and revealing a nasty side to him.
But since then, he continued making films, with his most recent project Amsterdam starring the likes of Margot Robbie, Christian Bale and Taylor Swift. It seems his reputation has not been damaged significantly enough to impact his career, with the director still working with some of the most sought-after modern actors and continuing to make mediocre films.
