"I'd never wanna make a film someone calls 'high-octane'": James Mangold's Candid Take on 'Logan'
A look back at director James Mangold's reaction to the "high-octane" descriptor being applied to his film, 'Logan', advocating for an interpretation that aligns with his artistic vision.
Updated : October 20, 2023 05:25 PM ISTA look back at director James Mangold's reaction to the "high-octane" descriptor being applied to his film, 'Logan', advocating for an interpretation that aligns with his artistic vision.
There was a time when celebrated director James Mangold took a stance against clichéd film descriptors, a notable instance being when his brainchild, 'Logan', was casually deemed "high-octane." That retrospective moment still radiates the fervor of an artist defending the integrity of his work.
"I'd never wanna make a film someone calls 'high-octane'": The Mangold Manifesto
During a panel at the 2018 Writers Guild Association, as reported by Gizmodo.com, Mangold found himself in a verbal tangle over his film's identity. The culprit? The term "high-octane." Mangold's reaction, in his own words to Cinema Blend:
"How myself and Scott Frank and Michael, on Logan, you know, we were very clear that this is a movie... That’s why it broke my heart when Claudia described our film as ‘high-octane,’ it’s like stick a knife in my eye. I’d never wanna make a film someone calls fucking ‘high-octane.’"
Yes, Mangold's Logan was action-packed, and yes, it featured the gritty, resilient mutant Wolverine. But to Mangold, it was so much more.
"'I tried to make an Ozu film with mutants'": The Logan Paradox
Mangold went on to elaborate, "I tried to make an Ozu film with mutants." Here's a director aspiring to create a superhero film with the subtlety and nuance of an Ozu masterpiece. That "high-octane" label was, to him, a disservice to the meticulous craftsmanship that went into creating 'Logan'.
Hence, the Mangold Paradox. How do you weave a narrative that has the electrifying mutant Wolverine at its core and yet strives to be more profound, thoughtful and tragic than a run-of-the-mill action film?
We look back on Mangold's impassioned plea as a testament to his dedication to his art. It reminds us that beneath the action-packed veneer of 'Logan' lies a director's earnest attempt to push the boundaries of the genre, to create a superhero film that's more than just "high-octane."
Disclaimer:Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.