Milius (2013) User Reviews

Changed The Way I Saw Post-1960s Hollywood

[gavin6942 · 8/10 · 6 June 2014]

A look at the life of filmmaker John Milius, the greatest filmmaker nobody knows.

In this documentary, Milius is played up as the best writer of dialogue, someone who recognized how people actually talk. Again and again he is mentioned as the dialogue guy, and Sean Connery thought he was the only one who could write good speeches.

It is certainly interesting to see how close he was with George Lucas at USC, making "Marcello I'm Bored" (1967) together, and more or less being good friends since then. Not knowing much about Lucas, it seemed an odd match.

Milius came up through American International Pictures (though apparently not under Roger Corman) and went on to make "Apocalypse Now", "Jaws", "Dirty Harry" and more... Charlie Sheen loves him, which means something. The UFC is mentioned as connected, with Milius having helped create interest in the sport on the part of investors and television outlets, and John Goodman in "Big Lebowski" may have been influenced by him.

Worth it for the interviews alone

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 9 September 2016]

I didn't know too much about John Milius before I sat down to watch this documentary, other than that he scripted some great movies and was responsible for one of my favourite fantasy flicks, CONAN THE BARBARIAN. So this was an eye-opening journey for me, and one which was a lot of fun. It's a documentary mainly comprised of talking head footage which looks at Milius's career in Hollywood, his rise, fame, and eventual downfall, in a snappy and amusing way. The requisite clips from his films play out and although familiar they don't lose their charm.

My only real problem with this film was that some of the animated linking scenes were pretty silly but that's a very minor niggle. The sheer breadth and wealth of Hollywood talent that has been assembled here is impressive in itself, with Spielberg and Lucas nestling alongside George Hamilton and Schwarzenegger. A lot of them have very interesting anecdotes to share, anecdotes which when put together build up a good portrait of the maverick that is Milius. While he might not be quite the legend that the filmmakers seem to believe, this is still highly watchable viewing.

Outstanding (and overdue) examination of a fascinating filmmaker

[Mr-Fusion · 8/10 · 29 April 2014]

Aside from "Dirty Harry", John Milius has never been my cup of tea. That, and "Used Cars". I've just never gravitated towards his stuff. But here comes "Milius", a documentary that, just in its first three minutes paints a enthralling picture of the larger-than-life man's man storyteller that makes for great subject matter. This movie had me glued to the screen, wanting to know more about the guy whose passion governed his movie-making; who brings a gun into a story meeting; the inspiration for Walter Sobchack, one of my favorite movie characters; the rebel filmmaker, always going the other way.

And "Milius" is a terrific movie, chock-full of entertaining stories and no shortage of commentary from industry pros. It's a movie that absolutely needed to be made, and I'm wholeheartedly glad I got to see it.

8/10

What happened to this guy?!

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 20 April 2014]

This documentary is about a Hollywood legend who deliberately cultured an anarchistic and ultra-macho persona—one that irritated the life out of many of the politically correct in Hollywood. However, for some time, the film industry had to put up with John Milius' strangeness because the man was extremely successful. With films like "Dirty Harry", "Magnum Force", "The Wind and the Lion" and "Apocalypse Now" to his writing credits, he was greatly in demand and was friends with the biggest names in Hollywood—like George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. However, in recent years, Milius' output on the screen has dropped considerably and the prestige of his projects has dropped. And, in the last few years, his output has dropped to nothing. What happened? What led to this fall?

The film begins with a very brief discussion of Milius' childhood but spends most of the early part of the film talking about his time in film school—where he attended classes with the two men mentioned above as well as a few other future filmmakers. It then proceeds to discuss his projects chronologically—and pays special attention to his most successful and critically acclaimed pictures. Additionally, I noticed that Milius' IMDb credits actually are missing much of his work, as he was apparently the go-to man when producers needed re-writes or wanted to punch up scenes—such as when he contributed some dialog for the films "Jaws" and "The Hunt for Red October". His track record during this time was pretty amazing. But as I mentioned above, there was a fall—but I really don't want to say more, as it would spoil the film.

The best thing going for this film is how much many ultra-famous people love and respect Milius. Because of this, TONS of exceptionally big names contribute to the film—such as Clint Eastwood, Sam Elliott, Oliver Stone (who didn't seem to like him but respected his abilities), Francis Ford Coppola, Richard Dreyfus, Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Arnold Schwarzenegger and many, many more. Even a bad documentary would be great and well worth seeing with these folks appearing in it!! And, fortunately, this is NOT a bad film at all. It is a loving portrait of a strange and deliberately out of sync man. Think about it—in the bastion of liberal thinking, Hollywood, Milius was serving as an officer for the NRA and would carry guns about him to meetings with studio execs!! I admire someone who deliberately tweaks the noses of those around them, as provocateurs make like a lot more interesting!

Additionally, the film is well-constructed, filled with wonderful clips and archival footage, is fascinating and you cannot help but gain an appreciation for this very odd man. Well worth seeing—especially for anyone who wants to be somebody in the film business.

Great documentary!

[jellyneckr · 12 January 2014]

To casual moviegoers, the name John Milius is probably not one that is instantly recognizable. Although he worked steadily throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the director never achieved the marquee name status of his contemporaries like George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Martin Scorsese. However, to huge film buffs, Milius has long been seen as an underrated and, in some genres, iconic auteur responsible for having a hand, either as a screenwriter or director, in creating some of the greatest films action ever made. MILIUS, the new documentary by Joey Figueroa and Zak Knutson, aims to give Milius his due and shine a light on the filmmaker's life and contributions to cinema.

Perhaps the most immediately striking aspect of MILIUS is just how many of Milius' famous fellow filmmakers Figuerora and Knutson were able to get together for interviews. The list of famous directors who serve as talking heads here is simply staggering: George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Oliver Stone are only a few of the names that appear to pay tribute to their old friend. In a lesser documentary, these men would simply show up, say a few brief general sound bites about the nature of the film industry, and the result would be a minute or two of screen time for the sake of having household names in the film. This is not the case with MILIUS as everyone interviewed seems to genuinely care and have great interest in both the documentary's subject as both a filmmaker and as a man. Nobody appears bored or uninvolved at any point. And in an industry where some directors wants to take credit for everything, it's refreshing to see these filmmakers share stories of how valuable Milius was on films that they directed that could therefore be seen as "their films." In particular, Coppola comes across as greatly appreciative for having Milius as a co-writer on APOLCALYPSE NOW, and Spielberg smiles with glee as he retells the story of how Milius wrote a famous monologue from JAWS. It is in these scenes that Figueroa and Knutson do a fantastic job of highlighting Milius' great, although often uncredited or ignored, work as a screenwriter. As screen writing in general is a subject that is often either overshadowed or minimized by the subject of directing in documentaries, this is by far one of the most engaging and interesting sections of the film.

Because Figueroa and Knutson do such an incredible job covering Milius' screen writing career, it's disappointing that some of the movies he directed are discussed less than they should be. In terms of box office and cultural impact, Milius' 1982 adaptation of Conan the Barbarian is his best commercially successful movie, so it's a bit strange that the segment on that movie only lasts about five minutes. It's almost like the segment is in there for obligatory reasons from the way it seems glossed over in some respects. Arnold Schwarzenegger shows up to discuss how the character of Conan impacted his career and it's hinted at why Milius didn't return to the franchise, but there is much more that could have been said about the film that is considered by many to be a classic. Still, what is featured in the segment in regards to behind-the-scenes footage and production stills is informative and entertaining.

As MILIUS reaches its conclusion, the last twenty-five years or so of Milius' career are somewhat skimmed over, partly due to the fact that Milius hasn't been given as many career opportunities as he once had, but mainly because the filmmakers have a much more important topic to discuss: the stroke that left Milius suffered a few years ago. The details regarding the aftermath of his stroke are filled in by Milius' children and his close friends, and it's at this point that the documentary becomes something deeper. Alternating between incredibly sad and incredibly inspiring, the last act of MILIUS is the most powerful part of any documentary I've seen in quite some time. Milius refuses to let the last few years of setbacks stop him from continuing to work as he continues to write his long-in-development Ghenghis Khan biopic, which sounds like it has the potential to be the best project Milius has ever done. When the end credits of MILIUS roll, there is a complete picture of an extremely talented, tough, and larger than life man, one who still has plenty left to say and several more stories to tell, either on paper or on screen. Watching MILIUS makes one eagerly await the big screen return of a fascinating filmmaker, hopefully sooner rather than later. Highly recommended. 9/10

Outstanding Documentary.

[Colin-630-935811 · 9/10 · 19 January 2014]

I just caught this on cable yesterday,I had seen the trailer last year and jumped at the chance to watch the movie,and I was not disappointed. I saw Conan in '82 and it just blew me away,I was 18 but I knew I was watching something different,this was not the usual fare,there was a philosophy present,it was wonderful. Back then info on writers and filmmakers was tougher to find but eventually I found out about Apocalypse Now which I had seen 3 years earlier,Jaws and Dirty Harry,all done by he same guy,I was a fan but didn't even know it! The movie covers his whole career,his friends like Lucas and Spielberg deliver very insightful interviews which endear me to the man even more,despite him holding many political views the very opposite of mine. But it is his towering talent,his passion and integrity which really shine through,the filmmakers did a fantastic job of getting to the heart of the man,and I found it truly inspiring and eventually moving. I cannot recommend the movie highly enough,anyone with a love of cinema owes it to themselves to seek this flick out,it's really one of the best I have ever seen on a film maker,full of life,passion and fire,just like Milius himself.

Interesting documentary for certain film fans

[funkyfry · 7/10 · 15 September 2014]

I don't usually (or often) review documentaries on here, so not sure exactly what I want to say or how to say it, but here goes.... going into the film, I knew somewhat about John Milius as a person, having read a few books about Coppola and Lucas, and I knew a few of his films (especially "Conan the Barbarian", since I'm a Robert Howard fan), but I didn't realize how extensive his screen writing was in the 1970s. It was good to discover more about that, and it helps me to see more how his personality and his philosophy about film-making was distinct and new. I was expecting that you would have Lucas and a few other folks basically trying to make a big deal out of Milius because they're his friends, but the depth of comments and good stories from a variety of Hollywood folks actually impressed me.

If the film accomplishes anything beyond some kind of re-appraisal of Milius (and some reflection on his political relevance or irrelevance), it could be nice to see "Big Wednesday" given some kind of real release. I've never been able to see it, always been curious, so the bits that they showed in this documentary are the only part I've actually been able to see.

Well made look at a cool guy

[jellopuke · 8/10 · 23 August 2020]

It's a fairly standard talking head movie with lots of clips and interviews. Does a great job of letting you see him and his work. Well done.

I love the smell of Milius in the morning

[karmaswimswami · 7/10 · 19 April 2014]

"Milius" admirably susses out the life and essence of director, writer and movie maven John Milius, and does so without resorting to hagiography or caricature. Milius the man and the notion put the hook in me, to use his own expression, with his script for "Apocalypse Now" from 1979. He is a master of the outsize soliloquy that is relevant, indelible, written in urgent flaming large font, and always delivered with a sub rosa wink and nod. Milius in life is as bombastic, vexing and complex as his characters, and labels, slogans, and cliché cannot describe him. The filmmakers here do an exceptional job of getting past hype and drama to really figure out what makes Milius tick (or tock, as the case often is). One wishes Coppola in this film were more forthcoming with what must surely be deep insights into Milius he possesses, but aside from this dry spot, "Milius" is a nicely-woven film and warrants a watch.

One answer to: What was New Hollywood?

[Criticalstaff · 9/10 · 5 August 2020]

This documentary film is great. Even if you have no interest in the subject or filmmaking or Hollywood or any of it. Why? Because it tells first and foremost the story of a man, who is bigger than life. And it does with interviews and clips, but there is something more this film does. Every once in a while when someone is telling an anecdote the movie will recreate the scene using pictures and photo-collages. It is great, it is very well done and it gives the film a very dynamic feel. And I loved it. Of course, the documentary is well done overall. There is a lot of information presented here, as they go through Milius' whole life. Yet, it was never confusing or jumbled. The movie acts as a biographical film of sorts, and it gives a clear picture of who this guy was, even if some mystery remains. Not only that, but the documentary chronicles very well the culture and the environment from which the likes of Milius' emerged. The sixties, the counter-revolution and all that stuff. How did the Hollywood system operate and how it changed. It is not in focus, but it is present. For instance when they address Milius' politics and how it played with his industry reputation.

In a sense this documentary is the ultimate boomer chronicle. It shows how these guys that smoked weed and partied and were outcasts so to speak, later not only bent the establishment to their knees, but then became the establishment itself. It is the timeless story of how baby-boomer spent their youth and ideals fighting The Man, only to discover they became The Man. But that is just my commentary; the movie does not address this through that angle given that Milius remained somewhat on the fringes (or alternatively at the avant-garde).

Of course, Milius got scammed and lost all his money, but you can see on the margins that his influence (and most importantly his friends in high places) remained untouched. On the other hand, it is interesting to see that even at the top you have to balance artistic integrity and financial success. And maybe Milius was not as successful precisely because he was bolder and more radical in his expression. But you do get the feeling that despite all his fault he was a sincere artist.

This documentary film is important because it adresses a pivotal moment in Western culture, that gave birth to New Hollywood and furthermore the type of movies being made, and ultimately consumed. And Milius was always at the center of it.

THE writer of "Apocalypse Now".

[imseeg · 6/10 · 1 November 2021]

Great writer, below average director.

Larger than life as a person.

What's interesting about this documentary about the writer John Milius is that he was befriended with Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola back in the early seventies. All his friends did become famous and legendary directors, while John Milius did not succeed.

John Milius was lauded for his writing talents and his excellent screenplays by an incrowd of directors. But the man was larger than life and in day to day dealings with Hollywood many excecutives didnt fancy dealing with someone who had several wild antics, like gun slinging and threatening to shoot his gun, while he was in business meetings.

In the end this is a portrait of a great writer, but a failed director, whose movie career petered out quite quickly. He is still forever famous for writing "Apocalyse Now" though. If you havent seen that movie yet, you are in for a real treat!

Quite the introduction to one of the crazier "film brats"

[connorbbalboa · 9/10 · 5 December 2016]

When people usually think about the filmmakers of New Hollywood, the first name that comes to mind certainly isn't John Milius. The most commonly remembered names of that period are "The Big Four:" Spielberg, Lucas, Coppola, and Scorsese. Even Brian De Palma may come to mind. But almost nobody thinks of Milius. Which is a shame, because he seems to be one helluva talent.

This documentary covers most aspects of John Milius's life from his childhood to his stroke and continuing recovery (at that time). His whole career from his writing efforts to his few directorial projects have quite a bit of focus as well. He is probably best known as one of the screenwriters for Apocalypse Now, for which he got an Oscar nomination. Some may not even realize that he helped come up with dialogue like Dirty Harry's "'Do I feel lucky'" speech, or the Indianapolis monologue in Jaws. To know that he did both is bound to increase one's respect for his talent. What makes this documentary even more fun is that it feels like quite the party with all sorts of directors who knew him and were inspired by him participating, as well as many famous actors. I mean, you have guys like Spielberg, Lucas, Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Arnie, Stallone, and Harrison Ford all giving their thoughts on the man. And I'm just getting warmed up. You hardly ever see this much major talent participating in a documentary like this. It makes you feel like you're a new friend to all these guys and by the end, you really feel like their buddy.

Prior to this documentary, I've only seen one Milius film: Conan the Barbarian (1982), and it's a film I've loved more over time. Now that I've seen this documentary, I want to seek out more of his work, since he has specialized in big budget epics and one of the most common things that the interviewees in this documentary have cited him for is the way he writes dialogue. Knowing now about his efforts on Dirty Harry and Jaws, as well as Apocalypse Now, I believe it. Milius may not have a personality that is comfortable with everyone: George Lucas remembers a story of how Milius punched his film professor, he's been accused of being right-wing in a system that veers more towards the left, he's pro-war, and he seemed to love pushing people's buttons, but the more you understand Milius, the more you respect him. I may not agree with everything he believes in, but I won't deny what he's contributed to the film industry.

Before Milius suffered his stroke, he was working on a movie based on the life of Genghis Khan. However, it's been a while and the project doesn't seem to be reaching the daylight. Given how much work he put into Conan, a similar film, I hope that he can still make the film, given how much he seems to believe in it. You can do it, John. I know you can.

Wonderful Look at Milius

[Michael_Elliott · 11 May 2014]

Milius (2013)

**** (out of 4)

Wonderful, all-star tribute to writer-director John Milius who is best remembered for the screenplay to countless classics including DIRTY HARRY, JEREMIAH JOHNSON, THE WIND AND THE LION, APOCALYPSE NOW, CONAN THE BARBARIAN and RED DAWN. This documentary traces his early days at USC and how he started working at AIP before moving onto some of the biggest pictures of the 70s and 80s. This documentary covers the wild stories behind the man and how eventually all of his politics became too much and he was pretty much thrown out of Hollywood. Directors Joey Figueroa and Zak Knutson do a marvelous job at telling this story and much like the subject, they don't shy away from telling the truth about Milius. They don't shy away from some of his outrageous antics and they also aren't afraid to ask a pretty basic question about why such a talent just isn't being used as much. The film contains a terrific line up of people being interviewed including the likes of Scorsese, Spielberg, Coppola, Schrader, Stone, Lucas, Dreyfuss, Sam Elliott, Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Ed O'Neil, Stallone, Schwarzenegger and countless others. It's obvious that all of these people hold the subject in high esteem and after watching this documentary I'm sure you will do. The documentary tells a great story and the way it's constructed is another major plus. The interviews are all terrific but we also get plenty of wonderful clips from the movies themselves. There's no doubt that after watching this thing you're going to want to go out and see the movies.