You be the Judge: '30 Minutes or Less' Filmmakers Claim Ignorance to True Story that Inspired the Film
Original screenplay?
I'm not sure how many of you already read my piece detailing the true story behind this weekend's new release 30 Minutes or Less, but you will probably want to read it before devouring this piece as the Associated Press is reporting Jean Heid, sister to Brian Wells, the pizza delivery driver who was killed when a bomb handcuffed to his neck exploded following a bank robbery, is none-too-pleased the true story has been adapted into a Hollywood comedy. The studio, however, is claiming ignorance.
"Neither the filmmakers nor the stars of 30 Minutes or Less were aware of this crime prior to their involvement in the film," said Steve Elzer, the senior vice president who handles media relations for Sony Pictures' Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, in a statement. "The writers were vaguely familiar with what had occurred and wrote an original screenplay that does not mirror the real-life tragedy." Based on that last sentence you may want to click here and judge for yourself.
Heid sent the Associated Press an email in which she said, "It's hard for me to grasp how other human beings can take delight and pride in making such a movie and consider it a comedy… I don't think it's funny to laugh at the innocent who are victimized by criminals, who care nothing for human life."
Heid concluded saying, "I have no interest in seeing this movie. How would you feel if it were your family member being made fun of?"
Jerry Clark, a since-retired FBI agent that led the investigation and was on the scene when the bomb exploded and killed Wells, also tells the AP, "Having been on the scene the day that it happened and watching the device detonate, linking that with a comedy, that's sort of difficult for me to comprehend."
If you haven't read my piece on the film you can do so right here where I discuss the details of the true story and how they compare to the new film, which hits theaters this Friday, August 12. For more information on 30 Minutes or Less, directed by Ruben Fleischer and starring Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride and Nick Swardson, click here.
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"Having been on the scene the day that it happened and watching the device detonate, linking that with a comedy, that's sort of difficult for me to comprehend."
Too bad the filmmakers didn't realize this as well, because the movie is pretty awful.
Yeah, that's obviously bullshit. I don't even think there's plausible deniability there, and claiming it just encourages more scrutiny of the similarities.
This little snafu is lulzy. What a gaffe! Lol
I don't think anyone really ever cared to see this movie in the first place, so I'm not sure if this matters.
Movie is hilarious. People need to relax.
People like Jean Heid?
I don't mean to be insensitive but I'm pretty sure someone has killed their boss before and there was no huge scandal for Horrible Bosses. It is just a film, it's made to make people laugh, not give ideas on how to steal violently. I feel deeply sorry for the family and I understand their anger, but it is just a movie.
yeah i seriously doubt the likes of danny mcbride, nick swardson, eisenberg, and ansari would have gone through with making this movie had they thought it was based on this tragedy… CHILL OUT
A comedy inspired by tragedy gets a large write-up here, but when a movie inspires killers, nothing is said.
And rightly so. We don't want to add fuel to that nonsense.
Please. There's no way they weren't aware of the real life case. Danny McBride's convoluted motive is even the same as the "supposed" crazed woman behind it all- make someone rob a bank so they'll have money to hire a hitman to kill their father so he'd stop wasting their inheritance.
Production of a movie takes over your life. From pre-production to post you're working at least 12 hour days & almost everything you do & think is about the movie. I figure at some point SOMEONE in the production had to google "Bomb & Pizza Delivery Man", read an article on this, draw a few connections & go "Oh shit". These are ridiculous deniability claims.
The filmmakers knew. The actors knew. Hell, the writers for damn sure knew. It's just nobody involved in the production cares. They saw a news headline so ridiculously out there it wrote itself. Throw in a few cock jokes, maybe an explosion here & there, tag on a "friendship is important" coda, let the pizza guy live in the end & you've got a movie.
For ecsentuating how much a film takes over your life, you treat the writers like their lazy idiots who took a story and added a few jokes and a friendship. They may have been inspired so an extent by the story, but it wasn't made to make fun of the man who died. People really need to chill out.
Like Steve J said, "A comedy inspired by tragedy gets a large write-up here, but when a movie inspires killers, nothing is said."
I hope Danny Mcbride makes a comedy about my death, however it happens.
In terms of the original question – based on the available information I think the makers are probably outright lying if they are claiming ignorance of the real events. Or not doing a very good job of covering up that they did.
I also think most folks wouldn't actually care outside of the people directly involved in it. It wouldn't, I believe, be the first time it's happened.
It doesn't matter if the filmmakers were aware or not. It's just a movie.