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Thursday, April 19, 2012

Mel Gibson, on recording, out of control


Mel Gibson ranted and raged out of control in his biblical battle with Hollywood screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, according to a new audio recording released by the screenwriter.

The recording — which TheWrap.com said it got from Eszterhas — reportedly was made by Eszterhas' son during a group getaway in Costa Rica in December. It includes references to Gibson's long-running film project "The Maccabees" as well as his ex, Oksana Grigorieva.

The "Braveheart" star groans and growls in the two-minute recording and shouts at Eszterhas for not having delivered a script yet.

"What the f--- have you been doing?" he screams at Eszterhas at the top of his lungs, according to the tape posted on The Wrap.

“It’s her," he rages with a loud, gutteral voice, in apparent reference to Grigorieva. “I am earning money for a filthy little c--------- who takes advantage of me!”

A loud crashing sound can be heard in the background, which was Gibson reportedly knocking down a totem pole.

"Who wants to eat?" the maniacal voice shouts, dripping with disdain. "Who the f--- wants to eat?"

It ends with a long series of obscenities.

Eszterhas launched a blistering attack against Gibson last week, saying the director never planned to make his movie about Jewish revolt — rather he pretended to be interested to combat ongoing accusations he’s anti-Semitic.

The firestorm started when The Wrap obtained a private letter Eszterhas sent Gibson detailing grievances over the failed script process. It continued with a denial letter by Gibson and Eszterhas telling NBC's "Today" show he had recordings to back up his claims.

In his stinging nine-page screed, Eszterhas concluded the reason Gibson rejected his script about the Jewish Maccabee revolt in the 2nd Century B.C. was "the ugliest possible one. You hate Jews."

He claimed Gibson repeatedly used anti-Semitic slurs against Jews and called the Holocaust into question.

Ezsterhas, most famous for writing the movies "Basic Instinct" and "Jagged Edge," claimed Gibson even confessed at one point that his mission in making the movie was "to convert the Jews to Christianity."

Gibson, 56, responded with his own letter saying the "great majority" of Eszterhas' accusations were "utter fabrications."

He admitted he can be "intense" and quick with the "colorful" language but also struck back saying Eszterhas was the one who acted unprofessionally, delivering a weak script that missed its deadline.

"I would have thought that a man of principle, as you purport to be, would have withdrawn from the project regardless of the money if you truly believed me to be the person you describe in your letter," Gibson wrote in the reply obtained by The News.

"Contrary to your assertion that I was only developing 'Maccabees' to burnish my tarnished reputation, I have been working on this project for over 10 years," he wrote. "I absolutely want to make this movie; it's just that neither Warner Brothers nor I want to make this movie based on your script."

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