Director Jim Sheridan to 'Plus Minus': Cinema is threatened by AI and streaming

Polish cinema magazine 'Plus Minus' had the opportunity to speak with the legendary Irish director Jim Sheridan during his visit to Krakow. At 77, with six Oscar nominations to his name, Sheridan is a towering figure in filmmaking, responsible for launching the careers of stars like Daniel Day-Lewis.

Sheridan presented his latest film, 'The Verdict,' which is set to premiere in Polish cinemas on May 22nd. He articulated his artistic vision for the film, particularly its departure from the prevalent 'true crime' genre conventions. He cited Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood' as a common template, which he feels often presents a simplistic 'here's the perpetrator, here's the punishment' narrative.

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I wanted to counter what has dominated the true crime genre, namely the Truman Capote methodology from the novel 'In Cold Blood.' Today, 99% of all productions look like this: 'here is the person who did it and here is the punishment they deserve.'

Instead, Sheridan drew inspiration from the 19th-century English essayist Thomas De Quincey, who, according to Sheridan, was more interested in exploring the 'why' and the complexities of a crime, even when the culprit was known. This nuanced approach, focusing on the intricate human elements rather than just the outcome, is what Sheridan aimed to bring to 'The Verdict.' The interview highlights Sheridan's continued engagement with challenging cinematic narratives and his concern for the evolving landscape of film.

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And I would say that a more interesting writer than Truman Capote is the 19th-century English analyst Thomas De Quincey. He always said who the murderer was, but the reason he did it was to show that this person couldn't have done it. And that's how I approached working on 'The Verdict.'