The career of outspoken and exciting director William Friedkin is one of the most fascinating in Hollywood. He's a firebrand who pushed back on studios, did things his way, and gave some of the best interviews of all time.
Seriously, the guy never holds back and delivers the best snippets. It's hard to pick a favorite movie he's done, but I would have to say Sorcerer holds a special place in my heart because it's audacious and stunning.
Friedkin's Sorcerer had the unfortunate timing to premiere the same weekend as a little movie called Star Wars. While that movie overshadowed it in every way, every year I've heard of new people finding Sorcerer and falling in love with the thriller.
Recently, I came across this tweet from All the Right Movies, which features a clip of Quentin Tarantino and Francis Ford Coppola waxing philosophic about Friedkin's Sorcerer.
Check it out below.
Tarantino and Coppola both hold Sorcerer in high regard and consider it a classic of its genre.
Tarantino has been quoted as saying that Sorcerer is a "masterpiece" and that it is one of his favorite films. He has also praised Friedkin's direction and the film's suspenseful atmosphere.
Coppola has also spoken highly of Sorcerer, praising its cinematography, soundtrack, and overall production design. He has called it a "great movie" and a "forgotten classic."
Both filmmakers acknowledge the influence that Sorcerer has had on their work and considered it to be a major influence on the action and suspense genres.
In the clip, both those directors laud Friedkin for doing something extraordinary and then shooting it.
'Sorcerer'Credit: Universal Pictures/Paramount Pictures
What Practical Effects Were Used in Sorcerer?
As Friedkin explains it, all of the effects in the film are all practical effects that he meticulously planned and oversaw. He preferred to use physical effects over computer-generated imagery whenever possible, as he believed it created a more realistic and tangible sense of danger for the audience.
Some of the practical effects used in Sorcerer include:
- Miniature Models: Friedkin used miniature models to create many of the film's explosive sequences, including the film's iconic truck crash.
- Stunt Work: The film's many dangerous sequences, including the truck and bridge sequences, were performed by real stunt drivers and performers.
- Special Effects: Friedkin used pyrotechnics and other special effects to create realistic explosions and fire.
- Physical Sets: The film's extensive use of real sets, including a full-size truck rig, helped to create a more immersive and tangible world for the audience.
Overall, Friedkin's use of practical effects in Sorcerer helped to create a more intense and realistic experience for the audience, and it remains one of the film's most enduring elements.
The most famous of these awe-inspiring scenes is the truck crossing the bridge. As Friedkin tells it, he had hydraulics under the bridge, making it sway.
Then, the trucks were physically attached to the bridge as well. While a few fell in while shooting, they ultimately got the shot they needed, and that one shot that will live in infamy.
Let us know what you think in the comments.
