, Director Doug Liman e'S 9 . never pulls a punch ByMICIIAflGlllZ \l\ dltc~" when it wm.. 10 rei "ion­ how close to the edge of talking , I'm directing a pilot for NBC in a ships, there is no happily ever about their relationship I could go. couple of weeks. IRECTOR Doug Liman has after. You live to fight another day. I do a lot of adventurous sports, quietly become one of Hol­ and it kind of tapped into that Are you ·glad when people say lywood's most successful You're not manied. How do you part of me. For people "Boume"'sIiould inspire the Bond Ddirectors, but not because know it's so tough? like Brad, Angie. Jen­ franchise to reinveat itself? he keeps his mouth shut. The 40- I've had some dooues of - nifer - I just can't First of all, you have to know I year-old New Yorker has been an fights in my relationship life, anything love James Bond. That's my fanta- outspoken observer of Hollywood and they're all-consuming. I have sy - to direct a James Bond ever since he broke througb with an outsider's perspective; which movie. It's in my soul They 1996's "Swingers." can be more honest than some­ Do you still over· would never even entertain He followed that up with 1999's body in the middle of it. see "The OC?" talkingto me. It is a little urre- "Go," and then came 2002's block­ We're done. We al that this untouchable. gold­ buster "The Identity," One reviewer said Jofle's Mrs. were involved the en franchise might actually starring . His streak Smith could wipe the ftoor with first two years. Now change as a result of "The might have ended among the Pitt's Mr. Smith. Do you agree? Bourne Identity." whirlwind of distracting pUblicity 1 do believe "helJ hath no surrounding the stars of his latest wrath like a woman Why didn't you direct "The film, the action-comedy "Mr. & . scorned." In the minivan Bourne Supremacy?" Mrs. Smith," out on DVD TueSday, when she's just finding I personally hated and 's out that he's been mar­ the script. romance got more attention than ried before. that's the movie. but it turned into a going to pump her And the "Mr. & massive hit. And in the middle of up and give her the Mrs. Smith" sequel? all that, Liman ·· executive-pro­ edge. Brad got Any other studio duced and shot the pilot for a little upset at me, but I woUld immediately churn TV show called "The OC." always thought she was a out a sequel. I've met with slightly better assassin. New Regency and we left "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" is all about without a great story. They marital strife, and it never gets easy. Did the gossip make doing the said, "Let's reconvene in a There was encouragement from movie more difficult? month and see if we have a the studio to really resolve the . No. I like to flirt on the edge great story idea." This studio film and have them live happily of danger. I ended up amusing will not just churn out a ever after. And I felt very strongly myself a little bit with sequel. It was refreshing.