He also walked off the set when his own wife at the time fleetingly mistook Woody Allen for Sellers.

I've always thought that Stray Dog is the best of his contemporary (as opposed to period) films.  I know the Ikiru faction may disagree.

I've always thought that Stray Dog is the best of his contemporary (as opposed to period) films.  I know the Ikiru faction may disagree.

The Mt. Fuji/meltdown reminded me very strongly of Godzilla actually— the scientist in his horn-rimmed glasses, the pseudoscientific explanations, the mass air of panic.  When I spotted Honda's name in the credits of Dreams I assumed Kurosawa had consulted him on recapturing that 50's atomic-disaster style.  I didn't…

The Mt. Fuji/meltdown reminded me very strongly of Godzilla actually— the scientist in his horn-rimmed glasses, the pseudoscientific explanations, the mass air of panic.  When I spotted Honda's name in the credits of Dreams I assumed Kurosawa had consulted him on recapturing that 50's atomic-disaster style.  I didn't…

What about Ran?

What about Ran?

Absolutely true.  Kurosawa's always being feted as a model for action movie directors, but whereas his action sequences are impeccable, it's the emotional assurance surrounding them that makes them so stirring.

Absolutely true.  Kurosawa's always being feted as a model for action movie directors, but whereas his action sequences are impeccable, it's the emotional assurance surrounding them that makes them so stirring.

That's certainly true, yes.  I'm definitely in the Elaine Benes camp as far as The English Patient is concerned.

That's certainly true, yes.  I'm definitely in the Elaine Benes camp as far as The English Patient is concerned.

It was pretty a successful film in the mainstream sense though, right?  Not that that necessarily exempts it from being a cult film.

It was pretty a successful film in the mainstream sense though, right?  Not that that necessarily exempts it from being a cult film.

Malkovich is pretty great in the part— physically he's not how I'd have envisioned the character from the books, but psychologically he's ideal.

Malkovich is pretty great in the part— physically he's not how I'd have envisioned the character from the books, but psychologically he's ideal.

I would say that ambiguity rather than straightforward homosexuality is central to the novels.  Whereas there's certainly an undercurrent in the first novel, he goes on to lead an apparently satisfying married life— though perhaps more satisfying socially then sexually, that's really never stated.

I would say that ambiguity rather than straightforward homosexuality is central to the novels.  Whereas there's certainly an undercurrent in the first novel, he goes on to lead an apparently satisfying married life— though perhaps more satisfying socially then sexually, that's really never stated.

But who the hell's going to play Sam Peckinpah?  Johnny Depp again?

But who the hell's going to play Sam Peckinpah?  Johnny Depp again?

This scene, especially starting around the 3-minute mark: