Legendary director William Friedkin is getting his own career-spanning documentary with Francesco Zippel’s feature debut Friedkin Uncut. In a similar vein to Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow’s 2015 film De Palma, which allowed that eclectic director to discuss his filmography in-depth, Friedkin Uncut provides an opportunity for the filmmaker to discuss his early successes and his eventual financial failures.
One of the dominant voices in independent 1970s cinema, with his back to back classics The French Connection and The Exorcist, Friedkin, like most New Hollywood directors, couldn’t sustain his critical and financial success, creating a string of financial failures with Wages of Fear remake Sorcerer and erotic thriller Cruising, two films that have only gained critical stature in the ensuing years. A constant voice in independent film, Friedkin’s output has been steady, if somewhat under the radar with his most recent films, including his last two Tracy Letts collaborations, 2006’s Bug and 2011’s Killer Joe.
Featuring interviews with Friedkin contemporary Francis Ford Coppola, in addition to actors Matthew McConaughey, Ellen Burstyn, and Michael Shannon and fans Quentin Tarantino, Damien Chazelle, and Wes Anderson, Friedkin Uncut looks to unpack the influence of one of New Hollywood’s most under-appreciated filmmakers.
The film will open theatrically in NY and LA on Aug. 23 and 30th, respectively, before hitting streaming in the near future. Check out the full trailer below.
