Hack Attack

Joanna's comments in another thread made me think to create a new thread here. Has anyone read the book and if so, what are your thoughts on it?

Yes, Katie. Have it, and just started it. One Hot Potato! Went to the hacking trial as well, and Coulson was giving evidence.

A huge volume full of every possible leading name.........personally I think the film will be a long time coming - and I hope they bring Nick Davies, the author, on board to help script it.....fascinating that one Rupert Murdoch is very much a leading light, and in his spare time they tell me he runs the odd newspaper, Sky and Fox!!

Fascinating stuff to come..........

Damn just looked it up on Amazon - 448 pages! Yikes! I was thinking of getting the Kindle edition but I'm finding not as much pleasure reading a book where I have to swipe instead of turning the pages. I guess I'm more old school than I thought.

I do use the kindle to watch movies but reading not so much. Maybe I'll wait till more folks read it and decide to give their reviews before taking the plunge.

PAN, the book is it written in a documentary way like "what really happen"....or is this book wraped up in a love story or science fiction story based on the facts? Do you know what I mean?

Purely factual, Nicky,........and long and complicated with many many very well known characters..........

Think "All the Presidents Men" with many more characters in it.

I tried to read the book but I found it quite boring. It is extremely detailed and there are too many people to keep track of if you aren't familiar with the UK. I think the story could still make a great film, as they will have to cut out a lot to keep it at 2 hours.

I think maybe it will only appeal here in UK as we lived
through all the real events as it unfolded on TV.
It was horrifying to learn of all the phone hacking and deceit by police and journalists.

I think media hacking is a universal theme, but for the film to sell worldwide they'll have to find characters who are internationally known or create composite characters who could be from anywhere. If it's too UK specific people might not go to see it because they wouldn't  know who these people are.

If people are interested in journalism and it being
true and accurate and honest then maybe it will appeal.
Some top names who had their phone voice mail hacked include Hugh Grant,
Naomi Campbell, Charlotte Church, Heather Mills
(ex wife of Paul McCartney) some members of the Royal household.....my memory has given up now. LOL

It would be great if those people played themselves in the movie. Well, probably not members of the Royal household - I don't think that would fly - but the rest of them are household names around the world.

If the script is good enough this could be a real winner. I hope George and Grant put their best effort into it.

Interesting thing about this is of course that the man at the centre of all of it at every level is one Rupert Murdoch, possibly the most powerful man in the world given his empire, and capable just by the nature of his empire of influencing things like elections, prime ministers and people in all walks of life........so power is the key word I think........

I wonder if Murdoch being who he is, and having the power he has, will influence the project in any way. Will they have to censor themselves in any way to avoid repercussions from him? Or don't they care? I know they're not naïve enough to think there won't be consequences if he doesn't like the way they handle the material. Taking on the biggest media mogul in the world is a risky business, IMO.

Mm, that's why it's going to be fun to see it all play out, and see what His Nibs and friends make of it.............but I don't think they'll be going to Fox for their film production and  distribution, do you?

It's way. away down the track yet.......and there could be all sorts of legislative and legal implications along the way.....

Does anyone know if he and Grant are writing he script? Variety says they are producing under Smokehouse banner for SONY, and that George is directing. They don't say whether they're writing as well.

I don't think they are, but that might change. This is one of the plum writing assignments out there. Lots of major writers, from the US and UK, vying for it. So they will have their pick, if they decide not to tackle it themselves.

Way2Old- Am I a traitor for saying I hope someone else writes this - or at least collaborates? I like their movies a lot - they always choose great subject matter - but I think writing (pacing, actually and maybe editing - they like their work too much to edit it out) is their weak point. Except for GNGL (and maybe IOM) I've always felt they needed to tighten up.

Maybe it's just me. I'm really looking forward to this movie. If they do it right it could really solidify their reputations as top flight movie makers. They need something to be a mammoth hit.

Your are right LizzyNY. The writing for this movie is going to be challenging. I would like to read the book but it sounds like a lot of it will go over my head considering the vast list of characters, the amount of detail to absorb, and it being based in the UK. Some of the inside stuff would probably be lost on me. So to put this to film and attract an international audience will require a lot of talented writing. This story has to be compelling. It can be complicated in its storyline but it has to engage the audience.

You know who could probably nail it? Stephen Gaghan (Traffic; Syriana). He makes dense stories very watchable.

He spent a lot of time after his big successes being a script doctor and consultant for the studios, but I think he's back to spec writing and creating new material. He'd be on my call list, for sure.

Didn't see Traffic, but have to admit I was disappointed with Syriana. It was really well done, and George was great in it, but the ending pissed me off. It was SO the predictable liberal/pc ending. I know it was probably the obvious choice to make their point, but I knew what would happen 10 minutes into the film. Too heavy-handed on the message for my taste.

Since this is more a fact-based story maybe their political leanings won't be as obvious. Just the fact that they're making the movie tells you where they stand.

Lizzy...."but I knew what would happen 10 minutes
Into the film"
Did you really Lizzy ? Wow...You clever gal.

I must be so thick....I had to watch Syriana twice
to understand even part of it.
The trouble is, the first time I watch a Clooney film I'm too busy just watching his character, then I have to watch it again to absorb the film as a whole.
Does that make sense to anyone ?

You mean there are other people in his films and there are actual stories?  Oh dear...

melbert wrote:You mean there are other people in his films and there are actual stories?  Oh dear...

Lizzy youre amazingly smart. That film is really hard for me to understand and I have to watch twice too. Didnt predict anything let alone the ending.
George should really take serious on this project by hiring a good writer...then he has potential to direct a great movie out of that.

Hate to disappoint, guys, but not really so smart - just a good, old fashioned American liberal. Considering the subject matter and knowing the party line on petroleum politics, the ending was easy to predict. The good guys had to die.

I'm not sure what else they could have done to make their point, but since the situation is so complicated I just wish the ending had been more creative or unexpected.

I really found Syriana challenging to keep up with. It reminds me of Traffic and Crash, except it was harder to keep it all straight in my mind. And for me the politics of the Middle East and oil only complicated it for me. There are these separate stories playing out but they all have a common thread. Ive watched it about 3 or 4 times now and for me I've enjoyed it more each time because details of story become more familiar.

Every time I see a Clooney fillm for the first time I'm watching George. I also have to watch it again so I can focus on the story. But I always watch George movies over and over. You know how that is!

Oh yes Donnamarie.....most of us here know
how that is !!
I agree with you about Syriana. It's a good film that needs more than one viewing in order to fully appreciate the whole story. Some really tense scenes too.
Lizzy....you're still a smart gal in my eyes ! LOL

Jo- Thanks for the vote of support. I have a feeling you'll understand Hack Attack a lot better than I will. At least you'll know who most of the people are. I wonder if that's going to be a problem for audiences outside the UK, or if they'll write it so that it doesn't matter. I hope so, because this could be a great movie.

Here you go...

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George Clooney’s ‘Hack Attack’ To Be Adapted By ‘Theory Of Everything’ Scribe Anthony McCarten
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by Mike Fleming Jr

October 29, 2014 1:05pm





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[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]EXCLUSIVE: The Theory Of Everything writer-producer Anthony McCarten is in talks to adapt the Nick Davies bestseller Hack Attack for Sony Pictures, George Clooney and his Smoke House partner Grant Heslov. Clooney, the son of a journalist who helmed the high-water-mark-in-journalism Edward R. Murrow film Good Night, And Good Luck, plans to direct a film that looks at the seamy side of the craft.
Related
Why Did Stephen Hawking Film 'Theory Of Everything' Take A Decade? Scribe Anthony...


The film focuses on the scandalous practice of how British tabloids routinely hacked into the phones of politicians, celebs, cops, hookers, royalty and terror attack victims to get scoops. The low point came when journos hacked the phone and deleted messages of missing 13-year-old schoolgirl Milly Dowler, who later was found murdered. The results were seismic: The 168-year-old tab News of the World folded, and a government inquiry aired the unsavory business practices. It was a giant embarrassment to Rupert Murdoch as celebrities including Hugh Grant went public with how their privacy had been compromised for salacious tabloid stories.
The book by The Guardian reporter Davies was published August 12 and was bought by Sony in early September in a splashy sale.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Numerous parties competed for those book rights, including some who’d been victims of hacking. Finding a narrative is the key for this to be an All The President’s Men-type tale that Clooney envisions. McCarten is an intriguing writer to figure the movie out. He is basking in acclaim for The Theory Of Everything – the film’s Hollywood premiere was last night –after taking a decade to figure out how to turn the romance between Stephen Hawking and his first wife Sally, the young woman who fell in love with the physicist when he was an able-bodied college student. She refused to allow his genius to be silenced, even after his motor skills failed him and he was confined to a wheelchair, unable to speak or move much at all.
The James Marsh-directed Focus Features film is shaping up to be a strong contender in all categories of the Oscar race, including Best Adapted Screenplay by McCarten.
McCarten is repped by ICM Partners.

Way2Old - Thanks a lot. If MCarten can turn Hawking's story into an award-worthy film he should be a good choice to write Hack Attack. That would leave George free to concentrate on directing - which, IMO, he does really well. If they can form a good collaboration this could be a great movie.

For those of you that have read this book already....what other main roles are there for actors other than the role of Nick Davies?

Gosh, where to start? Quite a few already listed above, but you could include royalty, government ministers, leading lights in all walks of life, definitely Rupert Murdoch and all his organisations......

Here's a quick lowdown from the Financial Times...

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