2012. Dir: Ridley Scott. Starring: Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba and Logan Marshall-Green. ●●●○○
The levels of anticipation for Ridley Scott's Prometheus have been extraordinary, which does make it very difficult to review. I suppose I should start by saying that if want to see Ridley returning the "Alien" universe, albeit with a film that isn't a sequel or a direct prequel, then you should do so without reading any reviews and without - if at all possible - watching the trailers. That is not to say you should be wary of spoilers (I'm always wary of people who over concern themselves with spoilers, it's an Alien movie people will go to space and most of them will die is the basic plot). I say it because I feel you as an audience member need to have the opportunity to make your own mind up about the film and about the points it's trying to make.
Prometheus itself, named after the mythological anti-hero who stole fire from the Gods, is the exploratory space ship looking for life forms on planet LV-223. Headed by archaeology professors Noomi Rapace and Logan Marshall-Green their aim is to identify whether a collection of cave drawings and hieroglyphs that indicate ancient civilisations worshipping at the feet of intergalactic beings point to the creators, the engineers who created mankind. Meanwhile corporate bigwig Charlize Theron is there to keep the expedition under control on behalf of the Weyland Corporation with the able yet sinister support of android Michael Fassbender and oddly laid back ships captain Idris Alba. There's even an extended cameo from Weyland himself, a holographic Guy Pearce with shit on his face (apparently the 80+ actors like Kirk Douglas or Max von Sydow we'd have love to see in this weren't available) pulling strings from the other side of the universe.
There are other crew members - the on-screen exposition tells us of a crew of 17 - but only 6 others have names and not all of those have any sort of character depth. It's like over half of the crew have been plucked from the Star Trek list of doomed minor characters. Not that cannon fodder is a bad thing but it's indicative of the change of tone between Scott initial explorations into space and the much larger canvas he utilises here. In 1979 the major topic of conversation - even after the star beast started to chew on the crew - was the rate of pay and the improvised devices used to stop it. In spite of the occasional nods to it's origins here we have more concern over the bigger picture, and the number of philosophical questions thrown at us is astounding:
If we were created by aliens can there be a God?
Who, then, created them?
What is it to be human?
Do genetics or shared ideas matter more to creating family?
Why do we die?
et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
I like a good philosophical point to a film as much as anyone, long term readers will know how I like to think deeply about certain mattters, but here the reeling off of questions dulled the senses, preventing me from choosing one to fix on and actually engage with. (For the record if anyone wants to discuss those points in the comments I would be delighted to do so)
The intrepid scientists head off to a possible settlement to search for further clues and stumble upon the chamber with the giant head and collection of egg like cylinders as seen in the poster above. In exposing the chamber to the atmosphere a chain reaction is set off and one by one our crew begin to meet their makers either singularly or in larger numbers where expedient for the plot. We get a glimpse of Alien like creatures, parasitic worms and sapphic organisms as well as discovering the identity of the macguffin space jockey from the initial movie.
Noomi Rapace does an excellent job in the lead role, proving there's more to her than a dragon tattoo, with her character's faith and emotional well-being tested through ecstatic pleasure, grief, betrayal and panic. There is one scene in particular where where has to deal with the death of another character then perform an medical procedure on herself to prevent her own death which is both grotesque and a surprisingly well performed set-piece.
Elsewhere the performances are fine, if a little one note, Theron is a bitch with daddy issues, Elba is salty and pragmatic. Many reviewers have praised Fassbender's performance as the android David and whilst technically virtuoso with it's influences of Peter O'Toole as T.E. Lawrence, elements of fey valets and a keen physicality, but personally I was shocked by his emotion which felt inappropriate. There are moments where other characters discuss whether David is more than machine and you can tell he is taking on board what they think and responding to it - taking it on board to use it later. Unlike Ian Holm's malevolent programming Fassbender appears to be choosing his own destiny - he is capable of decision making in a way none of his android counterparts in the franchise were able to do.
Ridley is in his element here, planet building on a massive scale. It was filmed predominantly in Iceland and sound-stages but you buy LV-226's geographical set-up and the organic superstructures that house the chambers. He does a fine job of wringing the tension out of the screenplay, deftly allowing the grand themes to carry us along, although it's worth noting this has none of the sense of impending doom we felt in the original Alien movie. Although I would point out my theory that Scott is only as good a director as the script he's given is not challenged here.
Damon Lindehof is probably responsible for the weakest element with much of the dialogue feeling false and unnecessarily expositionary, far from the naturalism of Dan O'Bannon.
The design of Premtheus is fascinating, more sleek and apparently hi-tech than the Nostromo it shows the importance Weyland industries places on the mission's success.
I really don't trust the biology of the film. I struggle with understanding how certain creatures can grow at such incredible rates without taking in any food (this always struck me as the weak link in the Alien life cycle) and if we are created from the DNA of alien lifeforms how come our DNA strands is so similar to other creatures on Earth, evolution is given a brief mention but batted aside by the faithful. There are also many more questions than answers in this episode, what is the effect of the infection on the brain, how does the space jockey breath, what is David motivation and whilst I agree a good film leaves you with questions there seem to be too many here. I am also reminded of the old joke about a man ran over by a train who was asked why he didn't run up the embankment to escape and replied "If I couldn't outrun it on the flat how could I outrun it going uphill?" You will have to watch until the end to get that.
Overall I can recommend the spectacle of Prometheus and would even go as far as saying it should be seen in cinemas, but I won't pretend it's a great film and I expect they're be much better sci-fi's and blockbusters in the coming months.
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Prometheus
Sunday, 3 April 2011
Is the tide about to turn? (Film News - 02/04/11)
It's an odd week to be writing up, very little on the news front that could possibly excite anyone. That said I was interested in an unusual box office related piece which taken in conjunction with one film that I was planning to bury after the jump makes a fascinating leader.
Untitled Yang Guifei project
Or why Hollywood may stop being the Holiday destination for talent.
At CinemaCon's annual conference for U.S. theatre owners an interesting statistic was dominating the first day. Warner Bros. noted a 65% expansion in the Chinese Film Market in 2010, and with 3 new screens opening every day on average the total take in China is likely to outstrip the U.S. within the decade. Given the pummelling the U.S. box office is getting at the moment this could come sooner than they project. Overall studios will therefore need to be more mindful of the potential of overseas, especially Chinese, exports.
At present there's a strict quota on American films shown in China but whilst the Communist government is planning to relax that it will take more to persuade the audiences to switch to non-homegrown talent. Just look at France which still enjoys a thriving market for French produced films. As audiences and box office take increase the knock on effect will be an increase in budgets for Chinese films. With increasing budgets comes increasing salaries and before you know it everyone wants to work for the Chinese film industry.
Which brings me to the second story - it has already started. Antoine Fuqua, the very American director of Training Day and Shooter has been recruited to direct a tragic period epic about the relationship between the 8th Century Emperor Xuanzong and of the four most celebrated beauties of ancient China Yang Guifei. It's an immensely popular story in China, celebrated in poetry, art (like the example below) and opera over the years and it will certainly be a challenge to bring it to the silver screen.
With a budget of 200m Yuan (about $30m) it will add considerable international cachet to both the project and Fuqua which could substantially improve it's international box office potential. Whether Fuqua is the right (most subtle) person for the job is another question, as is the delayed Tupac Shakur biopic which he was due to film this summer.
Whatever happens though this is definitely something to watch out for.
Read on for Zombies taking over the world (if they can get the money) and politically challenging women (being fought over by men). Plus the latest casting news and round up of new projects kicking off production.
World War Z
Those of you who thought the big screen adaptation of Max Brooks' excellent Zombie Apocalypse novel was dead in the water (excuse the pun) fear not as funding discussions between Paramount and other studios in order to get together enough money to do it justice. The bad news is that they obviously think they need a lot of money to do it justice - given that the unique selling point of the book is that it's all done in interviews which shouldn't need much cash at all that makes me think it will be a lot more expansive and - potentially - rubbish.
Untitled Gertude Bell biopic
British minor aristocracy meddling in the Middle East seem to be the order of the day at the moment. A few weeks ago we looked at the potential biopic of Lady Hester Stanhope and today it's Gertrude Bell CBE (above), the archaeologist, writer and all-round good egg. Active on behalf of the British Government during the First World War she is credited, along with T.E. Lawrence of uniting the Arab tribes in order to fight the Ottoman Empire. After the way her work was instrumental in establishing what is now Iraq. Ridley Scott is saying he wants to direct a film of her life (cannily mixing the proto-feminism of Thelma and Louise with the geopolitical knowledge of Kingdom of Heaven) but he'll have to duke it out with Werner Herzog who's been planning a film of her life for many years. Now that's a celebrity death match I'd pay to see, my money's on Herzog getting out of the gate first after all Scott's already linked to about a dozen other projects.
Casting News
The biggest casting story this week is for Roger Michell's Hyde Park on Hudson, which we briefly discussed last week, not that we have a replacement Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter (as the British royals on a jolly to the States) but Bill Murray has signed on as Franklin D. Roosevelt. Superb casting there, both with the look and the mix of humour and gravitas that only Murray can bring to the screen. We're on cameo alert with the confirmation that Johnny Depp will paint a little in Martin Scorcese's Hugo Cabret and the latest potential obligatory Avengers trailer for Thor which might be Jeremy Renner in full Hawkeye mode, which at least makes more sense than Samuel L.'s Nick Fury who we've met before (I still doubt it's necessary). Talking of Renner some websites have been reporting he's close to being announced as Matt Damon's replacement for The Bourne Legacy. I doubt that's true - wouldn't the character be just a bit too close to his Mission: Impossible franchise-stealing Brandt.
Production News
I've been on IMDb again. So sue me. The following projects, all of which we've mentioned before, have kicked off the production process: TV to movie adaptation The Man from U.N.C.L.E, Ski dramedy Woodchucks, Monk Meditation Silence and the Anjelina Jolie version of Cleopatra (now with David Fincher rumoured as director). This is on top of Hype Park on Hudson and the Yang Guifei project mentioned above.
The following, though, I had never heard of until I checked this week.
Bumped
Well, it existed yesterday, but it's already been pulled into obscurity (in development) on IMDb. I know nothing but it's a comedy called "Bumped" from the director of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and Man of the House so could be great fun or utterly dreadful.
Castro's Daughter
A biopic of Alina Fernandez, the exiled daughter of Fidel Castro (natch), who fled Cuba in 1993 (disguised as a bewigged Spanish tourist). Since then she's written a tell-all autobiography (below) and now hosts a Miami based radio programme which looks at Cuban politics. It's unlikely to be completely balanced.
Sunday, 1 August 2010
You Rang Mr. President (Film News - 31/07/10)
Summer must be here. I say that because it's been another slow week for film news with very few headlines appealling to me. That said we have a bumper collection of release date changes with 9 new ones that I fancy watching as well as 4 changes. You will also have noticed that this post is a day late. I'm afraid I'm going to have to settle into a new routine over the coming months now that I'm about to start my corporate work, looks like Sundays are the new Saturdays, but more on that on my personal post which may arrive tomorrow. Instead we'll go straight to the headlines:
The Butler
What does it take to finance and greenlight a film with adult themes in todays Hollywood? It seems more than talent and stories based on major political upheavals in 20th century America are needed with the news that Lee Precious Daniels (below) is set to abandon his civil rights epic Selma due to lack of funding. In spite of the notable and talented cast Daniels may have to change priorities and postpone. This surprises because Daniels latest film was so well received, picking up 2 Oscars and 4 more nominations, that you would have thought he would be free to choose his own project next.
If he does it's looking likely that his next film will be the biopic of Eugene Allen the maitre'd of the White House who started as pantry man in 1952 (under Harry S. Truman) and worked up the chain of command until his retirement in 1986 (Reagan) - passing through a total of 8 Presidents. Denzel Washington is rumoured to be taking the role should the film end up going ahead.
As much as we can admire Allen's efforts I very much doubt his story is as compelling as that of the civil rights struggle on the streets of Alabama. (Please feel free to contradict in the comments.) It worries me that Hollywood moguls would still rather put forward a film about a loyal employee of the White House than one that looks at the complex and violent history of segregation and racial intolerance in the US.
Read on for sci-fi rewrites, poaching singers and Sandra Bullock's next role.
Alien Prequel
The "Lost" writer Damon Lindelof is giving the Alien prequel script a re-write. "So what", I hear you say. Admittdly it's not uncommon for this sort of high concept movie to go through several iterations and I certainly wouldn't think it was worth mentioning if it hadn't said of his meeing with Ridley Scott "the exchange of ideas between them sparked a take that could well turn out to be a free-standing science fiction film." (from Deadline) If that's true it brings up the total number of film projects on Ridley Scott's directorial list to 11:
2 * Alien Prequels
Brave New World
The Forever War
Monopoly
The Passage
Red Riding
Wolf of Wall Street
The Gucci family biopic
Larry McMurty's Western
and this new sci-fi.
If Ridley takes the same time to make these films as he took to make the last 11 features he will finish them around 2025 when he'll be 88. My advice to Mr. Scott (left, from the last time he directed an Alien picture) is to please stop saying yes to new films.
Dirt Music
Tim Winton's Booker prize winning novel (right) has been rumoured to be heading into production for some time with stars like Heath Ledger, Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz all attached at some point. It's looking like Russell Crowe is the latest actor in the frame as a country singer turned poacher in the Aussie outback building up a relationship with a neighbour and the world in general. Philip Noyce, who can shoot his native Oz like few others (see Rabbit-Proof Fence), is set to helm with Crowe also providing some of the music.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
When Sandra Bullock celebrated her birthday earlier in the week I stated my surprise that she has yet to find a suitable follow-up to her Academy Award winning turn in The Blind Side. Good news for her fans and perhaps galling news for her doubters - Sandra's been talking with Stephen Daldry about the role of the mother in his next project. As the parent of a precocious New Yorker coming to terms with his fathers death in September 11 it could be a good chance to flex some actorly muscle.
Release Date News
As I said earlier it's been a very busy month for changes in release dates. Here are just the films that caught my eye.
New York, I love You - It has a release date again! I have been looking forward to this collection of shorts themed aroung love in the Big Apple for over 2 years and I'm hoping this (third) release date is written in stone. Walk hand in hand through Central Park on 01 October 2010.
Hereafter - Clint Eastwood's forst foray into the supernatural focussing on three different ghosts stories in three cities seems like an interesting diversion for the veteran director and given his auteurial themes of guilt and redemption it could be a worthwhile piece. Get spooked on 28 January 2011.
Restless - Competing against the above is Gus van Sant latest teen romance concerning terminally ill teenagers and Kamikaze ghosts, I'm thinking this may be high on the navel gazing scale of van Sant pictures. Attend a funeral for someone you don't know on 28 January 2011.
The Debt - Shifting back into 2011 UK release is standard procedure for prestige films on the road to Oscar so few surprises to see this Mossad action/Drama make the move. Hunt for ex-Nazis on 11 February 2011.
Rango - the surreal trailers for Johnny Depp's animated lizard movie has certainly piqued my interest and even if it turns out to just be a light-hearted pastiche of Western tropes I think it could be worth a gander. Chase the clockwork goldfish on 04 March 2011.
Red Riding Hood - I'm still unsure how this fairy tale with adult overtones will position itself in the market and a March release indicates the studio are unsure too - will it be a disaster? Check out the size of grandma's teeth on 11 March 2011.
Hanna - shifting just a couple of weeks is Joe Wright's new murderous child movie - I just want this to go as quickly as possible so we can move on to Indian Summer. Rediscover your past on 08 April 2011.
Footloose - The original has to be a guilty pleasure for most people who grew up in the 80's - average quality but immensely enjoyable and hit the zeitgeist - the remake has a lot to live up to. Dance like there's no tomorrow on 15 April 2011.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - As awful as the 90 second teaser released thi week was I've not been put off yet and will still be seeing the 4th episode of the popular pirate franchise. Shiver me timbers on 20 May 2011.
Contagion - Rumour has it Steven Soderbergh will be using 3D technology for his virus action thriller, which leads me to ask how is that going to work and what sort of film will this be? Can't wait to find out. Avoid a cold on 21 October 2011.
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 - The Twilight saga reaches it's emotional climax (the first half of it anyway) with frightening pregnancies and decisions to be made - more than just a metaphor for itself. Finally pick Team Edward on 18 November 2011.
New Years Eve - I don't know why I'm writing about the style follow-up to Valentine's Day as I slated that on it's release. I suppose I'm just being drawn to the car crash. Find relationships predictable on 09 December 2011.
All these new releases are great to hear but we must remember the dates can be pulled away as easily as moss from a stone and this month we are especially sad to see Gavin O'Connor UFC movie Warrior disappear from the schedules. Given recent revelations about star Tom Hardy's youthful daliiances I'm sure he won't mind if we stare at this pic and imagine what we're missing.
Sunday, 20 June 2010
No Courtroom Dramas Here (Film News - 19/06/10)
A day late on the movie news, very poor show, and I don't even have an adequate excuse - I do have a feeble one though ... I was cleaning the house in the morning, then I had a rehearsal in the afternoon and then went for a few cast bonding drinks and by the time I got home I was only good for sticking a pizza in the oven and watching repeats of "QI". Anyway it's been as action packed a news week as last weeks was feeble and forgettable. We've got vague rumours, casting news and stories of films in the can that we previously knew nothing about. SO much in fact that the story I was going to lead with back in the first half of week I've effectively dropped, it ties in with this week's title and the odd litigation cases surrounding the still unseen Black Water Transit and the James Ivory's latest City of your Final Destination both of which still look exceedingly unlikely to hit UK cinemas.
Legends
I'm going to start with positive proof of my theory from a few weeks ago that fairy tales are the new big idea in Hollywood with the news that the graphic novel Legends is being adapted for the big screen. The story takes those classic Grimm characters - Goldilocks, Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretal etc. - and reinvents them as mercenaries and serial killers having to work together to defeat an unkown foe. 
The cover art looks suitably kiddie friendly.
I have very serious doubts about whether this sort of idea can actually work - partly because this sounds like The League of Extraordinary Gentleman in a medievil forest - but also because I can't imagine how the studios will market the projects. They will have to be kids films - will many adults want to see films with children's character protagonists? - and therefore there will be artificial limits put on the 'darkness' of the film adapatations (I question this because young children love being terrified so a certain amount of thrills will probably work in it's favour). This combination will probably make for the worst possible result; a film that tries so desperately to subvert the genre yet panders to test screening opinions of what children want to see.
Read on for lost wizards, some mush for Father's day, housebreaking, animals at war, Albanian blood feuds and two more scripts that Ridley Scott's read.
Oz: the Great and Powerful
With Sam Mendes seeming to be undecided about his next project the Wizard of Oz origin story has had to pass to new hands and it's now to be directed by Sam Raimi. It's probably a much better choice in terms of the look and feel of the project, Raimi has proved time and time again that he knows how to handle the action pieces that should fill at least the first half of this extravaganza. 
Tom's Dad
Perfectly timed so I could mention it on Father's Day is Patrick Demsey's (left)latest vehicle, where he will play a 1960's vaudeville star who's career is stuttering to a halt when his young son comes looking for him. No idea when or if this will kick off, but I imagine the response to Sofia Coppola's Somewhere wich appears to use familiar territory will be a big decider.
Trespass
Joel Schumacher to direct Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman in a blend of Panic Room and Funny Games. It's either going to be brilliant or appalling and I can't wait to find out which one.
War Horse
Steven Spielberg must be serious about making War Horse his next project (book cover on the right) as not only is there a US release date pencilled in for next August, but he's also gone and announced a full international cast. RSC and National alumi Jeremy Irvine takes the lead (th boy who owns the horse, not the horse itself) and will be joined by a host of quality actors including Emily Watson, Stephen Graham, David Thewlis, Peter Mullan and Niels Arestrup. It's definitely moving up my list of films to look out for with that sort of cast.
Joshua Marston's Untitled Albanian Picture
Joshua Marston burst onto the American indie scene in 2004 with his sublime drug mule portrait Maria Full of Grace. Since then he's been working mainly in television with a well received segment in New York, I Love You being his only foray back into the cinemas (not that I'd know it still hasn't been released over here!) Apparently he's not just been working out what to do next. In a complete surprise he's just wrapped filming an Albanian set drama with a mostly non-professional cast. It's about a family that get dragged into a blood feud casusing all the men to put themselves under house arrest and the women must become predominant breadwinners. Based on cultural events that still affect communities in Eastern Europe the film will explore the shift in the relationship between the family, concentrating on how the power shifts to the women in this situation. Sounds challenging but certainly worth the wait.
Forever War/Yet another Ridley Scott untitled project
So Sir Ridley has two Alien prequels, the Monopoly film, Huxley's Brave New World, a one film version of Red Riding, The Passage and a Gucci family biopic all on his shelf. You'd think he'd stop reading things, wouldn't you? Apparently not, in an interview during the LA Times sponsored Hero Complex film festival (you honestly couldn't have made that up) he announced he was also working on a big screen adaptation of Joe Haldeman’s Forever War - a seminal Sci-Fi novel and anti-war (especially Vietnam) treatise - and that Larry McMurtry (Hud, Brokeback Mountain) has a Western in it's final stages of writing for him. Both of these sound like films that should be seen but honestly Ridley give some of these projects up - there are plenty of qualified and capabl directors out there who could do these stories (all 9 of them) justice.
Two book covers and one graphic novel cover in one article, you can tell I'm still a bit hung over.
Ronald Neame 1911-2010
I just want to close with a brief memory of British director Ronald Neame, who passed away on Wednesday aged 99. His filmography includes diverse and substantial critical and commercial hits such as Tunes of Glory, The Poseidon Adventure and, my personal favourite, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Robin Hood
2010. Dir: Ridley Scott. Starring: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Max von Sydow, William Hurt and Mark Strong. ●●●○○
Russell Crowe famously exclaimed "Are you entertained?" at the end of his first Gladitorial contest, and whilst I could answer a very definite yes when watching his first collaboration with director Ridley Scott here in Robin Hood I could only say that whilst I was entertained a little it was only sporadically during the film and probably not as much as I should be when watching the 'origin' tale of the bandit of Sherwood forest.
The film starts well with a frantic siege on a French castle, as the virtual bankrupt English King Richard pays for his return to Britain. We are introduced to a bunch of expendable knights and our heroes Robin Longstride (Crowe) and some Merry Men. Not only is this the best action scene in the movie, you can't fail with boiling tar and castle storming, but it also thankfully puts the Robin Hood legend into some historical context. Medieval fiefdoms essentially controlled large parts of the country with the King as only a figurehead that they report to is an important concept to put forward, as well as the appalling levels of violence and political unrest.
We also cut to London where Eleanor of Acquitaine (Eileen Atkins channelling Katherine Hepburn) is attempting to control her wayward son Prince John (the unfeasibly good looking Oscar Isaac) as he cheats on his wife and goads the French king into war. The French King who is in cahoots with John's childhood friend Sir Godfrey (Mark Strong) to attack England at it's weakest.
So far we've spent most of the film with the royal bit characters with Crowe only used as a blatant example of the british heart of oak, naturally historical accuracy helps to balance this out with Richard's untimely death and a number of convoluted twists leading Crowe back to England with the Crown (which he safely delivers to the new king) and the name and Sword of Nottingham's most influential knight.
On returning to the East Midlands he's persuaded by the cantakerous blind father of said deceased knight (Max von Sydow) and the widow Marion (Cate Blanchett) to take his place in order to prevent the state taking their castle - is this a thinly veiled support of Conservative plans to increase the Inheritance tax threshold - and to generally restore order to all of Britain.
On the plus side the script is more coherent than Kingdom of Heaven, Scott's last foray into the Middle Ages, but it does suffer from the same saggyness and lack of humour. At times we appear to be going in circles with superfluous battles and unnecessary plotting - why, for instance, does Robin's lineage have to be both significant to the plot and unknown to Crowe - and on the other hand supporting characters are given no chance to develop themselves. Why does Sir Godfrey want to help the French? Does John really believe the points he's making? Why does William Hurt consumate politician not think before he ever opens his mouth?
I said earlier that the first action scene is the best, I think it's even more fair to say the last is the worst. The invading French army land at some very big cliffs perfect to be rained on by British archers and proceed to just stand their whilst the repelling English army rides across the country to trap them on the beachfront. Of course every speaking character who's still alive joins them. Would it be silly to have Marion and Friar Tuck (a woman and an obese priest) turn up on the South coast to fight the French, of course it would, but there they are...
On the acting side Crowe tries too hard with a wavering accent so comes across the least impressive from the major performances, Blanchett gives a suitable sarcastic performance and Max von Sydow shines in his thankless role. Both Mark Strong and Matthew MacFayden (virtually cameoing as the Sheriff of Nottingham) desperately try to out Rickman each other with both of them coming short.
I suppose that comparison may even be the major issue with the film. Whilst it is a solid piece of film-making (Scott continues to make me believe he's just a hack for hire who lucked out in his early career) it has none of the sexual chemistry, derring-do or fun of either Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves or The Adventures of Robin Hood. The film may be making interesing points about Hood's place in history but it fails to entertain whilst doing it, and that, for such a wonderful folktale, is unforgiveable.
Monday, 18 January 2010
20 for 2010 - Robin Hood
And so, a full 17 days since we started, here is my most anticipated film for 2010, hitting the bullseye is Ridley Scott's Robin Hood.
Perhaps it's an odd choice, delayed due to wrong colour leaves and with a revolving door for the cast list (Sienna Miller as Maid Marian - ugh, Vanessa Redgrave as Eleanor of Aquitaine - dropped out) there was lots to make you worry. There was also the Ridley Scott factor. I am not a fan of Scott. Whilst he has made some of the greatest films of the 20th century I think that's more luck than judgement - when things go right they go very right, but when things go wrong they go very wrong.
Consider his previous collaborations with Russell Crowe:
2000 Gladiator
2006 A Good Year
2007 American Gangster
2008 Body of Lies
Even in this small selection we can see massive highs (Gladiator) and stinking lows (A Good Year) and the others were closer to misses than hits.
But I believe this will be another high water mark. The trailer conciously echoes the feel of Gladiator and with Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential, Mystic River, A Knighht's Tale) on scripting duties hopefully it will be tight and without the wandering passages Scott likes to include.
The cast is also top notch, Crowe remains one of my favourite actors. His performance in even the weakest of films manages to be packed with a nuance and power that few of his generation can manage. Cate Blanchett is the perfect Marian, with the right mix of haughtiness and gentility. Casting group of largely unknowns as the Merry Men and current go-to baddie Mark Strong in a villianous role only help.
Finally I will confess a deep and abiding passion for the tales of Robin Hood. As a child one of my most thumbed books was about this extraordinary figure from English folklore. I have since devoured every version of this story, from the superb Curtiz film (the best so far) to the current BBC afternoon TV series via Disney and Kevin Costner. It's no coincidence that I ran the Robin Hood marathon last year.
The competition...
Thank you so much to Alex, Tom and Andrew for participating. Unfortunately you all missed the mark. I can understand why you guessed the films you did, The Last Airbender, Harry Potter and Toy Story 3 all look like interesting projects, and are all big summer releases. I will probably see M. Night Shyamalan's latest, but probably grudgingly. Whilst I want the Potter films to do well, I've only seen one at the cinema after having hated the first book. Talking about hating I've avoided Pixar at the cinema since my excruciating experience at Monster's Inc - I don't want to talk about it - saying that I loved Wall-E when I saw it on video and Finding Nemo is now one of my favourite films of the last 10 years so I may try and go again.
I suppose I could have given more clues, although Robin Hood was my most talked about film in the News posts from 2009, and today's birthday was no coincidence...
Anyway as no-one won, but you're all good readers who frequently make nice comments, I'm going to award a draw. I'll send small packs of minstrels - a taster rather than a chance to gorge - to each of you. Please e-mail addresses to ben-j-thomas@hotmail.co.uk and I'll pop them in the post to you.
Cheers
