Furious on Film Movie News 06.04.08

Posted by Arnold Furious on 06.04.2008

Ridley Scott hoping for more sci-fi, Prince of Persia casting plus a look back on previous video game adaptations, Transformers 2 casting, potential Warners blockbusters, plus reviews and Kim Basinger!

Furious on Film Movie News 06.04.08

Ridley Scott hoping for more sci-fi, Prince of Persia casting plus a look back on previous video game adaptations, Transformers 2 casting, potential Warners blockbusters, plus reviews and Kim Basinger!

Issue 142

HERE IS THE GNUS



Mel Ferrer (1917-2008)



It's always sad to report deaths. The Cuban-American star from the 50's and 60's passed away on June 2nd aged 90. He was one of many actors to appear in the Longest Day. He also starred in War and Peace (with Audrey Hepburn who he also married), Lili and Scaramouche. He also enjoyed some time behind the camera and directed then wife Audrey Hepburn in Green Mansions in 1955. He is survived by wife Elizabeth and six children. RIP.

Ridley Scott guns for third sci-fi classic

Credit: Eclipse Magazine

When asked about potentially making another sci-fi film during a recent interview Ridley went on the record…

"I am going to do one. I waited for a book for 20 years and I have got the book. I am not going to tell you what the book is but that film is going to probably be written within the next month. That will definitely be what I do next after Nottingham, the Robin Hood film that I am doing now in England."



When you keep in mind what Ridley has done with sci-fi before…



It'd be safe to say I'm quite interested in whatever he's got planned. His record in the sci-fi market was Alien and Blade Runner. Both considered classics. Both heavily influenced sci-fi films for a long, long time after their release. Hell, Alien has influenced the look and feel of practically every space based sci-fi film since it's release with the odd exception (Apollo 13, Mission to Mars) that have been based on more factual appearances. Whatever he's got lined up should be wildly entertaining at the very least. On the flipside we've got another Robin Hood movie in the meantime, but it will star Russell Crowe. Robin Hood has been a frequent favourite of Hollywood, with adaptations meaning made on TV and film on no less than 87 occasions dating back to 1911. He was memorably played by both Douglas Fairbanks and Errol Flynn. He was also played by Sean Connery in the 70's and by John Cleese in Time Bandits. Michael Praed turned in a fine performance on the UK TV show Robin of Sherwood during the mid 80's. But he's not made a big splash onscreen since 1993's Robin Hood spoof Men in Tights starring Cary Elwes. Mainly poking fun at Kevin Costner's turn in Prince of Thieves two years earlier. Russell Crowe may well be ideal to provide a slightly darker Robin Hood and give the character a little more edge.

Bruckheimer & Disney start casting Prince of Persia

Credit: Variety.

"Alfred Molina will join Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton and Ben Kingsley in Disney's "Prince of Persia," the Mike Newell-directed adaptation of the Ubisoft fantasy actioner. Jerry Bruckheimer is producing. Molina will play Sheik Amar, who becomes a mentor to the prince."



Gemma Arterton, in case you were wondering.

I know how you crazy kids love your video games these days. I vaguely remember playing Prince of Persia and it didn't really grab me. But it is an excuse to have a quick chat about video game adaptations and how well they've worked out. Let's take a look see shall we?



ONCE UPON A TIMELINE – Video game to screen

• 1993. Super Mario Bros. Quite why Super Mario Bros was selected to be the first ever comic book adaptation is anyone's guess. Popularity is one thing and some misguided studio executive believing video games to be solely a child's market is possibly another. Bob Hoskins stars as Mario and didn't even know he was making a movie based on a video game. He later went on record as saying it was the worst film he's ever made. It is quite terrible.
• 1994. Street Fighter. Hard to imagine that Super Mario Bros could lose it's mantle of "worst video game adaptation" so quickly. Street Fighter was at the time hugely popular and had a massive potential market. The film, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and (oh boy) Kylie Minogue, was met with a luke-warm response from the public who believed that the film industry simply wasn't taking these adaptations seriously. Also released in 1994 was Double Dragon starring Robert Patrick and Mark Dacascos, which was horribly cheesy and made so little money that most people don't even know about it.
• 1995. Mortal Kombat. And finally someone gets closer to the mood of the actual game in cinematic form. Much maligned sci-fi director Paul WS Anderson helmed this flick and didn't do a bad job. The fights had greater intensity than Street Fighter and the film was good enough that a sequel was ordered!
• 1997. Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. No Anderson this time around. He was busy doing something better (Event Horizon). He was replaced by rookie director John Leonetti. Most fans refer to this as a steaming pile of shit. I didn't bother watching it to be honest.
• 1999. Wing Commander. Yeah, this one bombed too. It was a good idea in theory because everyone likes intergalactic wars. But casting Freddie Prinze Jr and Matthew Lillard to star was perhaps not the brightest of moves. I vaguely remember seeing it and it looked like a cheap knock-off of an assortment of sci-fi movies. That was pretty much the problem for any video game adaptation; trying to create that alternative to the mainstream that the video games, with their imagery, had created already. But doing so on a budget was difficult and video game movies didn't make any money. Largely because everyone knew they sucked.
• 2001. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. Arguably the best and certainly the most attractive looking video game adaptation to date. The animation allowed for more creativity and made it a far more memorable viewing experience. If only it hadn't been so shallow and lightweight. It literally had potential to swing the whole video game adaptation world around and very nearly did so. But for all the pretty graphics it still came up short leaving many fans disillusioned in the film making process and yet hopeful that if movie makers could come this far then one day they could do better.
• 2001. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Angelina Jolie is perfect as Lara but the film isn't up to much. Should be all rights have been the film to break the run of bad video game adaptations and had enough material to break free from the jinx. It didn't but like a lot of other ventures it was getting closer.
• 2002. Resident Evil. And we were so close to something good here too. Resident Evil did an excellent job of capturing the feel of the game. Once again Paul WS Anderson was at the helm. I'm torn between the Resident Evil films and the Final Fantasy flick for ‘best video game adaptation'. None of them are really great films but at least they don't outright suck.
• 2003-2006. Since the first Resident Evil we've seen a slew of adaptations. Almost all of them have been awful. Doom, starring the Rock, was pretty atrocious. House of the Dead, Alone in the Dark and Blood Rayne all got thrown on the crapola pile. I never got around to watching any of them. Silent Hill had a decent pop at breaking the run of crap in 2006 but I ended up being very underwhelmed by that film too.

Transformers 2 casting continues

Credit: MTV

"He's a fast-rising British actor most recently seen in action-heavy flicks like "Rambo" and "Resident Evil: Extinction." Now, 34-year-old Matthew Marsden may have finally landed the high-profile film that could transform him into a star.

MTV News has learned that Matthew Marsden is the newest addition to Michael Bay's "Transformers 2." He joins a high-powered cast returning for the sequel to last year's blockbuster, including Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel and Tyrese."



Warners go low key for 2009

Credit: IESB.net

Warner's only major film Summer 2009 is Terminator 4 (renamed Salvation: Fight for the Future to Return of the Terminator by McG although that could be a joke). This has set DC racing at an attempt to throw another superhero movie the way of Warners for 2009. After all there's enough budget knocking around Warners to support another major release. They'll have a lot of support for their cause if Dark Knight delivers like Warners think it will and frankly I'm getting quite desperate to see the flick myself. Chris Nolan's latest interview called it "Heat with clowns". Warners also could use another major film after the *SPOILERS IN LINK* T4 ending got leaked this week. Oops. The release date isn't for another year. What the fuck? DC is starting to get its shit back together although it was Warners who pulled the plug on Justice League coming out in 2009. It would make sense to follow suit on Marvel's example and launch some other superhero movies. Green Arrow is one that looks most likely. However Warners could go in a different direction and make Jonny Quest. End of the day; there's a slot to be had in next summer's line-up and that's very rare for major studios. Expect more news on this to be coming along soon!



I must admit…I prefer Hawkeye.

That ends the news…

What do you mean you've never seen…?

Remember in High Fidelity where the potential record buyer is confronted by Jack Black? "Don't tell anyone you don't own Blonde on Blonde?" Well, if you were to enter a serious film buff's rental place, which sadly doesn't exist nowadays thanks to Blockbuster and online rentals, and happened to make a comment about liking movies then I like to think somewhere out there that a clerk still exists who would chastise you for not having seen certain movies. Seeing as that place doesn't exist you'll just have to imagine you're walking into my rental place and happened to mention multiple time Oscar winner Katherine Hepburn. Clearly the better remembered star and more memorable actor than her onscreen partner for many films, including Adam's Rib, Spencer Tracy. But what's that? You've never seen…

#12 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)



I was never really a big fan of Spencer Tracy until I Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. His final film sadly. He died a mere 14 days after shooting was completed. And its that sense of morality that resonates through his performance as the father of a girl about to marry a black man. At the time the subject matter was highly controversial. It wasn't until 1967 that mixed marriages were allowed across all of the US states. Prior to that year there were several states where such marriages were illegal. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner caused quite the ruckus on its release as a result but the heavyweight support of acting superstars Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy helped matters immensely. Not to mention director Stanley Kramer who'd previous shot both heavyweight (Judgement at Nuremberg) and comedy (It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World) with great success.

The film's ideals may seem somewhat antiquated in modern day society, not just the mixed race marriage but also the idea of having to gain permission to marry from the brides parents, but the core of the film is about love fighting the odds. Something Spencer Tracy knew plenty about. As a Catholic he didn't believe in divorcing his wife Louise when he started his relationship with Katherine Hepburn in 1942. They were together for 25 years but couldn't marry because of Tracy's existing wife and often faced criticism over their relationship, which naturally was very public. When Tracy delivers his 8 minute speech at the films denouement the emotion he gets into the speech is incredible. He's channelling a life of love into one last performance. It's made all the more remarkable by his ill health. He had congested lungs at the time and the studio didn't believe he'd survive the shoot. His death occurred just two weeks after the final scene. Hepburn's reactions during the scene aren't so much acting as her real reactions to his very real sentiments expressed in the film. If anything else about the film is heavy handed then Tracy's performance is above that. Stark and nuanced it showed the layers of emotion that Tracy's father character was going through. Everyone else, Hepburn aside, becomes scenery in the process. Including an already Oscar worthy Sidney Poitier who looks nervous around such lumieries of the big screen. Unable to press home his performance because of Tracy's abilities. He happily goes from forgetful old ice cream lover to irritable driver in the space of 30 seconds. All done with his usual panache but where in other films there's no hidden depth here there's oceans behind his eyes.

BEST BIT – Spencer Tracy's final scene as an actor and indeed as a human being. Wonderful delivery. Sadly the YouTube doesn't include him on the terrace saying "…well I'll be a son of a bitch", which contained as much emotion in eight words as many films do in their entirety.



SHILL – With the popularity of MMA these days why not check out some personal defence training from everyone's favourite psychotic MMA fighter Bas Rutten! This guy needs his own TV show. Maybe he could guest on every other reality show and kick everyone's ass.



DINGA-TA-DINGA-TA-DING. BAM-BAM-BAM. That's the left elbow right there!

THIS WEEK'S REVIEWS

Beowulf, The Beat That Skipped My Heart

Beowulf (2007)



EXPECTATIONS – Beowulf's trailer revealed some pretty serious overlaying of CGI. Much like with the Polar Express only with monsters and fighting instead of trains and kids. I've been a fan of director Robert Zemeckis since Romancing the Stone & Back to the Future in the mid-80's. Zemeckis has had a varied career since producing such diverse work as What Lies Beneath, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Cast Away, Contact and Forrest Gump. There are few directors who have such eclectic tastes when it comes to movie making. One thing he has always aimed for is special effects. More often than not effects are at the centre of what he does. Hence the Polar Express in 2004, perhaps as a trial run for the process, and now Beowulf.

TRAILER –



PLOT – When the Kingdom of Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins) and his young wife Wealthow (Robin Wright Penn) comes under attack from the monster Grendel (Crispin Glover) he sends word for a hero to help them. The hero in question is the fearless Beowulf (Ray Winstone) but will Grendel's mother (Angelina Jolie) put up with attempts on her son's life so easily?

OPINION – My first reaction to the animated style of Beowulf was that some of the minor characters looked like they dropped out of the background from Shrek. That's not really a great start. After all with an increased interest in making films more fantastical by incorporating CGI, going back to Roger Rabbit, when you try and make everything look realistic in full blown CGI then smaller characters really need attention paying to them. Luckily this early visual style passes somewhat as the Grendel arrives and starts tearing people in half. The bloodshed is heavy and certainly designed for an adult audience. In one shot Grendel bites the head off a soldier and eats it. The crunching of skull as he's chewing is unsettling. Where Beowulf succeeds is with both a strong visual style and an interesting script. The written side of things is the work of Neil Gaiman (Stardust) and Roger Avary (Killing Zoe). An unusual combination even though most of Gaiman's work is rooted firmly in the world of fantasy. The opening merriment followed by a tonne of violence makes Beowulf very easy to stick with in the early going. The introduction of the sexiest monster ever ©, in the form of Angelina Jolie in a skintight motion capture outfit…with a tail, comes just after this opening volley of debauchery and violence. I was quite disappointed with how little screentime Angelina was given. Frankly I think I could have watched a 2 hour movie of her just walking around wearing nothing but a bit of gold paint. Down boy! Then in the final third the film visits an older battle weary Beowulf and introduces a huge fucking dragon. So it's a film of three acts and three monsters. Each as entertaining as the others. This creates an even flow for the movie. And seeing as I saw it in glorious HD I was able to fully enjoy the visuals, which are stunning. They take a little getting used to but as soon as Grendel is tearing up the great hall you should be suitably riveted.

BEST BIT – Gee, I dunno, Angelina Jolie strolling around practically naked (albeit animated)?



RATING - ***1/2. There are moments where Beowulf comes off as a little silly. Like Beowulf's insistence on fighting Grendel in the nude whereby various props suddenly come into play to obscure his private parts. A little farcical for the bloodshed that surrounded it. But then the screenplay keeps its tongue partially in cheek throughout. It's only at the MANLY conclusion that Beowulf and those around him seem to lose all sense of humour. Surprisingly violent and visually thrilling nonetheless.

The Beat That My Heart Skipped (2005)



EXPECTATIONS – This was recommended to me by Lovefilm.com. Considered to be "stylish and visceral" by RottenTomatoes. It's also the re-make of a Harvey Keitel movie from the late 70's called Fingers. I've not seen it.

TRAILER –



PLOT – Tom (Romain Duris) is a former child protégé on the piano who's followed his father into brokering real estate. After a chance meeting with his mother's former manager he prepares for an audition with the man and a chance to reclaim his birthright on the ivories. Only standing in the way are his mob friends.

OPINION – What a horrible, joyless film this is. Regardless of the subject material I always find it hard to back an anti-hero when said hero is completely without humour. Tom is just a complete prick. And yet everything seems to fall into place for him. He has talent, he has a way with women (Woody Allen-esque only without that man's sense of humour) and he's great at everything he attempts. So not only is he humourless but he's also successful. He represents every piece of shit I can't stand to look at in this world. The kind of people I wished didn't exist. People who can't have fun. Hell, even when he's out drinking with his work buddies they always get into fights. They're just a pack of naturally occurring assholes. The one guy Fabrice (Jonathan Zaccai) is such a scumbag I found myself begging the director to bring down some kind of karma on him. It never comes. The bad sleep well. That said the direction is superb from Jacques Audiard. He keeps the film nervous and edgy throughout. And yes, without a doubt, visceral. Every punch thrown, every drop of blood spilt feels like you're watching an actual fight rather than a cinematic presentation of one. At times Duris is bearable but even in the most simple of situations he feels the need to be a jerk. When introduced to his Chinese piano tutor Miao Lin (Linh Dan Pham) he's a complete knobber. When told he can't smoke, in her house mind you, he rants; "no smoking, no talking, what a pain in the ass". Keeping in mind this woman is merely doing him a favour and doesn't need this shit from him. His attitude towards her throughout stinks and he thinks he can get away with talking down to her because she doesn't understand French. And don't get me started on the epilogue where the story is neatly tied together in the most inconceivably awful way possible. How is it we're supposed to cheer this man for not killing someone when he never killed anyone in the first place? How about he doesn't use violence and lets his past go instead of getting into a fight about revenge? At no point did I buy into Duris' character and without that there is no film.

BEST BIT – Tom's horrible auditioning skills. Ah, now there's the karma. I laughed at his fumbling and weak excuses. A pity the film didn't end there.

RATING - **. A well shot film that I couldn't connect to. The relationships between the people were all ones I couldn't understand. I just don't come from a world where people are this deliberately unpleasant to each other and let themselves get away with it. Why isn't Tom wracked with guilt for his failures as a human being? Because he's a prick. And as I was watching I got increasingly angry with his character for not realising his own flaws when they were so glaringly obvious.

HOLLYWOOD WHORES

Kim Basinger. LA Confidential.

Kim has never been one to shy away from potentially dangerous women. After all she played the temptress Nemo Paris in 1984's the Natural before appearing in Nine ½ Weeks. After some rather lightweight roles in the late 80's (My Stepmother is an Alien) she mixed it up a little in the 90's. Once again playing a temptress in 1993's Wayne's World 2. This time it was for fun but perhaps she was even sexier there than during her earlier years onscreen. Either side of 1997's LA Confidential she took three years off. Prior to LA Confidential was 1994's Pret a Porter and afterwards I Dreamed of Africa before playing Eminem's messed up mother in 8 Mile.



The role in LA Confidential of Lynn Bracken, a less than typical tart with a heart, earned Kim an Oscar for best supporting actress. The film saw various hookers cut to look like Hollywood starlets. Basinger played a hooker who looked like Veronica Lake.



During the course of the film she beds several men including rival coppers Bud White (Russell Crowe) and Ed Exley (Guy Pearce). Not always for money.



Kim Basinger, ladies and gents!



You stay classy…Planet Earth.