Jim Jarmusch Accused of Plagiarizing Broken Flowers
Here’s something I never thought I’d be saying, but it looks like indie filmmaker Jim Jarmusch is being accused of plagiarizing the script for his last film, Broken Flowers. A fellow by the name of Reed Martin, who is a freelance journalist and professor of film marketing at NYU, claims that his own movie Heart Copy shares a startling number of similarities to Jarmusch’s. He is suing for $40 million, which is how much money the film pulled in at theatres last year. Martin says his agent even gave copies of the script to Focus Features co-president David Linde, along with actresses Julie Delpy and Sharon Stone, who ended up starring in the movie. Coincidence? Jarmusch wrote in to the Boston Globe denying the allegations, insisting that “anyone who is familiar with my films and my writing process will know that his claim is ridiculous”. I don’t necessarily think this guy is making the whole thing up (if he were, why would he go after such a small-time indie flick?), but I really find it hard to believe that Jim Jarmusch would rip anything off. The guy is one of the most original filmmakers working today. Unfortunately, it seems like there’s almost nothing new that can be done in art nowadays… there’s always going to be someone out there who thought of it first.
Comments (3)
who doesnt plagiarize in the movie industry, give the guy a break.
Posted by Chopper on June 29th, 2006In September 1994 I wrote and registered a film treatment entitled SNAKES. Synopsis: Poisonous snakes are freed from a crate on a passenger airplane while in flight over an ocean. The pilot is soon bitten and dies. Ultimately, the copilot, the flight attendant, and the passengers must join forces to destroy the snakes and safely land the plane. It was pitched as “JAWS” on an airplane. Snakes on a Plane? I later turned it into a screenplay, registered May 1998.
Posted by R.A. (Rick) Smith on June 29th, 2006Personally, I was really disappointed by this movie regardless, I totally agree with you. It’s difficult to be an innovator in the art world. It’ll be interesting to see how this turns out.
Posted by themarina on June 29th, 2006Leave a Reply