A Little Push - Thoughts on the Hollywood Machine 11.01.08

Posted by Rick Tym on 11.01.2008

Nolan talks Batman (and Justice League), Millar talks Supes, Solace is good, the King is returning and more!

The insert proper adjective here Nolan Returns!

Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves a Nolan sighting. Actually, we had ourselves a few Nolan sightings earlier this week, so let's get to it.

Our first confirmed glimpse of Nolan came as he was taking a break from his vacation (I would make one of my patented funny comments at this juncture but I feel the man deserves his rest). While speaking with the Los Angeles Times he was asked, predictably, about returning to do another Batman film. For those who may have missed the postings here on 411, here is the response direct from the man himself:

"Well ... let me think how to put this. There are two things to be said. One is the emphasis on story. What's the story? Is there a story that's going to keep me emotionally invested for the couple of years that it will take to make another one? That's the overriding question. On a more superficial level, I have to ask the question: How many good third movies in a franchise can people name? [Laughs.] At the same time, in taking on the second one, we had the challenge of trying to make a great second movie, and there haven't been too many of those either. It's all about the story really. If the story is there, everything is possible. I hope that was a suitably slippery answer."

Oh, that Nolan. He's a wily one. I like his use of the word "superficial" but the problem he posits is anything but; you all know from your own personal experience as well as the musings often put forth here in the Push that third installments are indeed things to be wary of and never fully trusted. Unless, of course, we are speaking of Ghostbusters 3. But I haven't heard any rumblings on that particular pot of stew, so let's keep the Batman train rolling.

I have seen a lot of message board postings after this newsbite went public that stated this was Nolan's way of subtly suggesting to Warner Bros. that it would once again have to be his way or the highway in order to guarantee his return to the franchise he propelled to such great heights. Normally one would think that this is a serious example of misreading between the lines, but I can understand the sentiment. As a matter of fact, I can kind of see it if I look really close. And you know what?

GOOD.




Low, gravelly voice: "I told you, I only work with Nolan."

Listen, it's an understatement to say that we Batman enthusiasts want Christopher Nolan to come back and helm the next film. What's really understated and perhaps even unspoken by most is that he should only come back if he is fully committed to the continuation of the franchise mega-reboot he had such a large hand in creating. The incredible effort that was Batman Begins grew at a rate that no mathematical term can describe when considering The Dark Knight. Love it, hate it, or think it's overrated, there's simply no denying what a monumental effort that film was, and just how exhausted Nolan must be simply thinking about coming back. Of course he's also going to be worried about not putting out a respectable third film; the number 3 is the death knell of many a series, or at the least their respectability, except when you're talking about Jedi or Return of the King. (No fair citing The Last Crusade anymore in this argument, Indy fans.) The right blend of story, actors and sheer plain luck need to happen again for any subsequent production to be as good as the first two films, as is the case in almost all franchises in Hollywood history. That's why the great sequels and three-quels are discussed in hushed, reverent tones when we dare speak of them, because they're such a rarity in the film industry.

Well, I'm sure that Nolan, his brother and David Goyer are smart enough to craft another gem of a story that fits within their established Batman universe. It's extremely unfortunate that Heath Ledger is no longer with us, as I am convinced we were not supposed to see the last of him in The Dark Knight. I'll save my opinion and speculations dealing with recasting for another time, as we all have our wish lists when it comes to seeing the Joker onscreen again. Suffice to say that there are many storylines out there in Batman canon that are ripe for the plucking that can fit in the "real world" Gotham they have created. I for one would not even mind some new villains being introduced into the mix. A lot of fans cry heresy on that option, which I will never understand—if one of their favorite comic writers did so, it would be heralded as "groundbreaking" and "genius." If the Nolans and Goyer even think of it, all of the sudden it's like somebody you-know-what-ed in their Cheerios.

So when you think about the ingredients needed for the mix I mentioned above, I think that Nolan and company are smart enough to have most of them already on the shelf. Actors? Check. Story? Sure, I believe in them enough for a check. The best chefs to prepare that particular style of cuisine? Check. Luck? Well, we all know lightning doesn't often strike twice in the same place, but it did with Begins and Knight. At this point I think they can make their own damned luck.

I've seen the phrase floating around the comments sections here at this very site, but I'll say it again as a reminder and mantra as we move forward: In Nolan, we (should) trust!




If only the proposed Justice League movie could look so good…

That's not all, folks! Mr. Nolan must have really gotten some good rest on the beach counting his Dark Knight coin as he was fanned and fed grapes by supermodels. (Note: author's interpretation of the director's vacation. Not to be taken literally. Although if this description is somewhat close, good for him.) Later during the same interview he was questioned about the possibility of his incarnation of Batman appearing in the proposed Justice League of America movie, and had the strength to deliver an even longer response. Once again, for those of you that missed it, the direct quote follows…

"I don't think our Batman, our Gotham [Nolan's emphases], lends itself to that kind of cross-fertilization. It goes back to one of the first things we wrangled with when we first started putting the story together: Is this a world in which comic books already exist? Is this a world in which superheroes already exist?

"If you think of Batman Begins and you think of the philosophy of this character trying to reinvent himself as a symbol, we took the position -- we didn't address it directly in the film, but we did take the position philosophically -- that superheroes simply don't exist. If they did, if Bruce [Wayne] knew of Superman or even of comic books, then that's a completely different decision that he's making when he puts on a costume in an attempt to become a symbol. It's a paradox and a conundrum, but what we did is go back to the very original concept and idea of the character. In his first appearances, he invents himself as a totally original creation."

Now go ahead and tell me he's not the right man for the job. No offense to anyone interested in Justice League, but we all know what the studio will likely push for here: a bunch of WB actors to don those famous superhero suits and lay the smackdown on villains everywhere, accompanied by MTV-style quick editing and a bass-thumping soundtrack. And before anyone jumps out of the shadows to attack, I have no problem with that!

Nah, I'm lying. Yes I do. Well, maybe half of a problem. Let me try to explain.

A cast of young actors in a movie adaptation featuring DC's well-known and beloved group doesn't frighten me that much. As I once stated, I am in my early thirties and therefore by definition not really an old, crotchety man, although the teens that visit this site may think so. I appreciate Tom Welling on Smallville and even liked, to varying degrees, what was done on that show with some of the Justice League characters (Aquaman and The Green Arrow) that were introduced in later seasons. Take that direction if you want to, Warner and DC. Be smart if you're going to go young and make sure you sign Welling, and get whoever you think will be a good fit for each and every other part. Make sure you have a good story, no matter what your target demographic may be.

But I said it in the 411 November roundtable, and I'll say it again here. There's no way that Christian Bale should play grandpa or even geriatric uncle to a team of up-and-coming superheroes if that's the road taken in Justice League of America. I'd like everyone out there who thinks that Nolan is being selfish by not lending his Batman, and thus credibility, to such proceedings to please lower their voices. It's not going to happen, nor should it. A parallel universe that need not concern itself with continuity issues sure to rear their ugly heads should Nolan's Batman even so much as make a cameo will serve the purpose of the Justice League movie just fine. It's perfectly acceptable to have two movie properties dealing with the same topic (comic book characters) running alongside each other. Audiences are smart enough to discern between the two and know whether they're watching a serious drama about a man who wears a bat suit or an action-adventure with a dash of comedy that stars Megan Fox as Wonder Woman.

Even if you think there's a 0.001% chance of Bale showing up in Justice League of America, I point once again to Nolan quote number two. Notice the emphasis on "our Batman, our Gotham" as described in the LA Times. He doesn't seem to take this stuff lightly, and fans of his films, not just Batman-related but all of his work, should be thankful. Here's a director who's committed to character and substance in an age where so many others would be willing to sell out their creative integrity for just a few more dollars on the back end. Finally, Hollywood has the hero it needs, not the hero it wants. Now, the city has…

You know, I was going to continue on in a parody of the final lines of The Dark Knight, but now all I can think of is that College Humor Batman/Superman video from last week and I have to stop lest I burst out laughing. (I hope you guys enjoyed it. I thought it was really funny. For those who missed it, click back to a week ago in the archives drop-down menu at the end of this column.) Instead, I'll remove the should from our mantra of Batman movie optimism and thusly state:

In Nolan, I trust!

From "Dark" to "Sad," the Latest Superman Rumor

What a wacky world we live in, huh? From Bats to Supes we go once again, to briefly discuss Mark Millar and his plans for a three part Superman epic. Apparently Millar has himself aligned with a director he would only describe as "big" and is preparing to shop his idea around Hollywood, which consists of an eight hour saga that would begin thousands of years ago on Krypton and end with Superman alone on Earth as the yellow sun supernovas, leaving him devoid of all powers.

I am going on the record right now and state that if this "big" director has the last name Bay, I am going to scream. Regardless of how you feel about the Man of Steel, this ain't giant robots.

I think this is a grand, ambitious idea for a take on Superman. I worry a bit about the origin story being retold again as I am a big fan of Donner's original and don't know if it's completely necessary, but if it's kept to fifteen to twenty minutes it shouldn't be a biggie. What fascinates me the most about Millar's treatment is the end, where Superman is left alone, his adopted brothers and sisters gone, and his adoptive mother (Earth) dying.




Is there no one left?

What I wonder about the most is whether or not Warner Bros. and DC will let such a grand Superman tale end on such a downer. I think it would be quite poignant to see Superman alone atop a mountain, watching the sun in its death throes, lamenting his fate.

Then he could take off before the supernova actually occurs, fly somewhere to another part of the universe where there are alternate Super-Energy sources and begin anew, introducing a whole new cast of characters, including unique villains for him to do battle with instead of continually worrying about Lex Luthor and his current real estate development plans.

That would be an interesting direction to go in.


Advance reviews are in, and apparently Solace kicks some major tail...

If you look really hard (or just use Google) you can see that some positive reviews are already rolling in from over the pond for the second 007 movie to star Daniel Craig as the ultimate spy, Quantum of Solace. A direct sequel to 2007's Casino Royale, the story begins an hour after the last film ended, as Bond looks to exact revenge for Vesper Lynd's murder and finds more than he expected in the form of a covert organization known only as QUANTUM.



Still shadowy, but does he get any cool gadgets this time around?

Everyone who was a fan of the first Craig-as-Bond vehicle should be happy to note that some of the only things which made that effort lag a bit, such as the poker playing scenes, have been minimized. In fact, one reviewer states that the new film more closely resembles the Bourne series in terms of the tried-and-true formula of an action beat every five minutes. Not in a bad way—there's said to be plenty of exposition, along with further bonding between Craig's 007 and Judi Dench's M, to go along with all the mayhem. A lot of people are looking forward to this continuation of a grittier, tougher Bond, and so is this columnist.

Only one request: some cool toys for Bond to play with. A video watch? Some poison cufflinks? An eight-in-one pocketknife? Please? Anything?


The King is back

A quick show of hands: who here has seen the excellent Bubba Ho-Tep? Okay, you can put them down now.

For the uninitiated, Bubba Ho-Tep is a small film that tells the tale of an elderly Elvis (Bruce Campbell) and his nursing home compatriot Jack (Ossie Davis), a black man who just happens to think that he is John F. Kennedy. An Egyptian mummy has been terrorizing their humble abode, and it's up to them to defeat the monster and save the souls of their dead friends. To say much more would enter spoiler territory.

(Quick aside: the film is based on a novella by Joe R. Lansdale, a Texan author who has for some reason remained under the radar for his two decades-plus career. Anyone interested in some quality fiction that consists of equal parts horror, mystery, and comedy would do well to check out his work.)




Bruce may not be back, but the King will be.

This film gained cult status due to the wacky antics of the lead actors, an engaging story straight out of an old EC horror comic, and the subtle symbolism contained within that spoke volumes about aging and friendship. Fans have been clamoring for a sequel for years now, and it seems as though their prayers have been answered. To an extent, anyway.

Ain't It Cool News reported a few days ago that it was full steam ahead with the sequel, currently being billed as Bubba Nosferatu (I'm sure you can all guess who the villain is this time around), but without the participation of geek fandom superstar Bruce Campell. Instead, Ron Pearlman (Hellboy, Sons of Anarchy) would be taking the reins as the King this time around.

I love the idea of a sequel, but hate the thought of Bruce Campbell not returning. His portrayal of Elvis made the first movie such a great treat, and his presence will be missed by more than just me. That being said, any movie that gets green-lit that involves an aging Elvis battling vampires will most assuredly be on my must-see list.



Outtro

Hopefully everyone had a safe and fun Halloween. By safe I mean not only no razor blades or poison in your candy, but that you all made it home smartly and soundly, no matter what your manner of celebration. Things around here were relatively low key, but I plan to continue enjoying a scary movie or two as I consider Halloween to be a weekend-long event, no matter what the calendar may say.

Went to see Saw V as mentioned last week, and my thoughts are the same as the reviews you can see on this site. Not too good, not too bad. Disappointing because I was looking forward more to the story than the gore, and it was a bit dull, to be honest. I just don't think that Costas Mandylor has the acting chops to pull off being the new Jigsaw. One of the reviews here at 411 said that he couldn't really rise above a persona more intimidating that a mafia street guy, and I chuckled and nodded in agreement.

This week I think it's time for everyone to forget the gloom and doom, as much as we may love it, and go out and have a few laughs. Unless, that is, you hate Kevin Smith films.






Bringing the funny (and lewdness) to theaters near you.

Entertainment Weekly has said that Zach and Miri Make a Porno (no, I will not edit the title, kind censor) is childish and perhaps a bit tacky. Well, what else would you expect from Smith and his crew? All of his movies are made up of similar modus operandi and after the initial adjustment to his profanity most critics find the soft spot that is the center of the tale he is really trying to tell. Other than EW, which many of you will maintain has no credibility anyway, many reviews have been positive. So, if you want to forget the blood and guts (and in Saw V's case, that tiny bit of boredom) check out Zach and Miri and have a good time. I think that seeing this with an audience of like minds will yield extremely positive results.

Thanks for reading, and see you next week for the next Little Push.