The legendary Schrader’s latest film stars Isaac as a professional gambler who finds a chance at redemption when he befriends a troubled fellow former serviceman and tries to steer him away from exacting revenge on a mutual enemy.
Schrader obviously is no stranger to critical acclaim with such directorial efforts as First Reformed, American Gigolo and Blue Collar on his resume, and his latest film sees him once again garnering kudos from reviewers, as The Card Counter currently holds an 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Of course Schrader’s directorial output only tells part of the story, as he’s also received wide acclaim as a writer, having penned the scripts for the Martin Scorsese masterpieces Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and The Last Temptation of Christ. Schrader’s last film First Reformed saw him receiving his first career screenwriting Oscar nomination, and it appears he’s in line for another one with The Card Counter.
Indeed it seems everyone is lining up to applaud Schrader these days as he continues building up his legendary filmmaking resume. But Schrader’s Card Counter stars Isaac and Dafoe, and First Reformed star Hawke, had a different gesture in mind when they recently posed for the camera to send their director a message. When posting the image to Facebook, Schrader captioned it “Here’s what my stars think of me.” See the image in question in the space below:
Obviously the three stars featured in the above image are only kidding around as they flip the bird at Schrader. Which isn’t to say that Schrader can’t sometimes be an irascible fellow who arguably earns a good middle finger fired in his direction. Indeed Schrader has long been controversial both for the subject matter he tackles in his films and for things he says in interviews and on social media. Given his uncompromising nature, it’s certain that there can be moments of friction on Schrader’s films as well. No doubt the good-natured joking implied by Isaac, Dafoe and Hawke’s triple-bird is only half the story.
Indeed it’s true that Schrader can be abrasive and sometimes even offensive in the remarks he makes and the images he puts on paper and on screen. But it’s also true that he has become one of a handful of genuine living legends of American film over the course of an incredibly accomplished career that is only continuing with movies like The Card Counter. Undoubtedly, Isaac, Dafoe and Hawke mostly feel respect and iration for their director, even if they also sincerely want to flip him off.
Source: Paul Schrader/Facebook
