Betting, boxing, and boozing: when literary and film legends clash
“Toback vs. Mailer: The Incident” is the story of an epic altercation within the written world. In one corner, Norman Mailer. Two-time pulitzer award recipient, notable novelist, journalist, essayist, playwright as well as a filmmaker and actor. In the other, James Toback. Oscar-nominated filmmaker, screenwriter, self-acclaimed LSD record holder as well as a respected non-fiction writer and essayist. Suffice it to say, they both had chops.
Sibling directors Josh and Benny Safdie (HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT, LENNY COOKE) teamed up with producer, Chris Isenberg of 8-time Staff Pick recipient, Victory Journal to tell this unique story of sport and culture colliding. The team first caught wind of the feud between Mailer and Toback through their good friend Michael Chaiken, who also appears in the film. Chaiken is a friend of Toback’s and was also Norman Mailer’s archivist, so he is the connection between the two warring factions. Benny Safdie explains, “[Chaiken] had first heard through [Toback] and then through his Mailer connects was able to confirm a lot of it. Chaiken’s got a picture of a Norman Mailer with inscription to Toback that reads, ‘To the only motherfucker crazier than myself who managed to succeed at it.’”
The story now confirmed through this credible source, the Safdies created “Toback vs. Mailer: The Incident” in the manner that you hear most stranger-than-fiction tales, with a group of friends gathered closely around a table as they swap stories over a meal. A grainy black-and-white New York City provides the backdrop, with busy streets reflecting on the diner window where the group sits. A long lens peers transforms the viewer into almost a peeping tom, peering through the diner window from the outside as Toback recounts to his friends and colleagues how he found his belly at the other end of Mailer’s fist.
Diverging from their other work, the Safdies employ acclaimed illustrator Sammy Harkham in this film, his animated drawing bringing to life Toback’s ribald face-off against Mailer. Beads of sweat dripping down a younger, animated Toback’s face and the furtive, darting eyes of Mailer comically capture the ultimate absurdity of the situation.
Benny Safdie became friends with Toback back in 2008, when Toback began a flirtation, albeit an innocent one, with Safdie’s then-girlfriend. This pseudo love rivalry eventually led to Toback offering Safdie a role in his film SEDUCED AND ABANDONED, which Safdie turned down. He recalls, “[Toback] asked me to play the part of a young hotshot filmmaker who was sucking up all the financing in Cannes. He wasn’t offering to pay, cover my travel or stay, so I passed, but we remained friends, sometimes close ones.”
Toback has since become almost a mentor to Benny Safdie, in that he marches to the beat of his own drummer and lives life on his own terms. Safdie explains, “[Toback] quickly became a living inspiration for a lot of what I believed was iconic and legendary.” A multi-hyphenate in his own right (in addition to his many filmmaking duties, he is also an exhibited photographer), Benny Safdie might just turn out like his mentor Toback one day… perhaps with a legendary feud of his own, if he plays his cards right.
So Vimeo, lean into your seat and enjoy “Toback vs. Mailer: The Incident” one of the odder tales of competition, respect and sucker punches from the literary world.
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Originally published at Vimeo.com
