2011. Dir: Michel Gondry. Starring: Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Cameron Diaz, Christoph Waltz and Tom Wilkinson. ●●●○○
Is the lure of a large budget just too much for some of cinemas most idiosyncratic directors? Do these often visionary and talented helmers think they will be the one to tame the studio system and allow their ideas shine? How else can you explain Michel Gondry signing for The Green Hornet, the latest in a long line of comic book style superheroes brought to the big screen? Gondry's done what he could with the material, but it's still a mishmash of styles and themes with an inescapable feeling the writers, director and producer all had different ideas of what the final product should be like.
The hornet started life as a radio series in the 1930's, moved into theatres as a supporting serial for a while before finding it's ideal location in 1960's TV where it is mostly remembered for introducing the world to Bruce Lee as the enigmatic chauffeur/martial arts expert Kato. On it's way to the screen this version of the story has had as many amendments and personnel changes with directors, stars and villains bailing at every opportunity.
Britt Reid (Seth Rogen, looking almost sexy now he's lost a bit of weight) is the lounging Lothario son of media mogul Tom Wilkinson with whom there is a complex father-son relationship. No sooner than can you say expositionary scenes Wilkinson is lying dead on the veranda and Rogen most take over the family business. Through a chucklesome and clever drunken prank Rogen and Jay Chou (playing Kato) end up being identified (largely by his glamorous secretary Cameron Diaz) as a pair of small time gangsters with the ultimate aim of muscling in on Christoph Waltz's criminal empire.
As the whole appears to be three different films tacked together I'm going to try and break this review into those separate slices:
The Script by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg is in the same vein by the work they've done together in the past on Superbad and Pineapple Express with it's fair share of homoeroticism and un-PC banter between the fighting duo. The one-upmanship and petty jealousies that form the backbone of their relationship make perfect sense in respect to their respective childhoods and the nature of their employer/employee background. Unfortunately the further away from this bond the less competent the writing, Diaz's Lenore Case is little more than a receptacle for T&A comments and her comic potential is utterly wasted and characters like Edward James Olmos's sub editor and David Harbour's DA are simply there to advance the plot.
The Direction by Gondry is recognisable, with delightful touches like Kato time, the garage kissing and the moment where Rogen works it all out that recall the practical effects and quirky style we've come to see from him. The opening scene also nicely sets up the different ways Rogen and Wilkinson view the world and wholey explains what will happen later in the movie. On the other hand we're not in the Gallic helmer comfort zone, some of the fight scenes are frantic and poorly lit with key mobsters just disappearing in the dark - I'm still not sure what the final fate of Waltz's Chudnofsky. There is also a strange disconnect between scenes, with rarely a flow from one section to another - you could easily walk out to get a coke and come back and not need to know what happened in between.
The Studio probably bear the biggest brunt for the failures of the film, so far we have a flawed but fun action flick with adequate central performances from Rogen, Chou and Waltz (reprising his Inglorious Basterds schtick but with more self doubt) and then it's gets spoiled with a shoddy and unnecessary 3D conversion which has the bizarre consequence of making the special effects look cheaper. When flaming lumps of building are coming towards you they oddly look less real than when they're not.
Overall I would say this is one third a good film, one third OK and one third unforgivable. Watch it for the first two, and enjoy the good parts.
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
The Green Hornet
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Breaking up is so very hard to do (Out this week - 14/01/11)
We're still wading through prestige pictures here in the UK, with some awards calibre performances ready to shine through. Whilst I personally am checking out the low brow option at the multiplexes the other two top scorers both look interesting, with the clear film of the week being: 
Blue Valentine
Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams (both of whom are very close to oscar nods for their work) headline this make-up/break-up relationship drama from director Derek Cianfrance. The process by which they made the film is as fascinating as the story - using different film stocks for each of the time periods covered, putting up the actors together in a house so they really know each others thoughts etc.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Conviction
Tony Goldwyn's true life-tale of a mother who enrols in law-school in order to begin a 18 year battle to free her wrongly convicted brother almost screams movie of the week, but it's empowering story and A-list cast (Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Melissa Leo, Minnie Driver and Juliette Lewis) are enough to make it worthwhile.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
The Green Hornet
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg may seem an unlikely pair of writers to embark on a superhero movie, given their last collaboration was Pineapple Express, but then the hornet is no ordinary superhero. As the deconstruction of comic book fanboy cinema continues it'll be interesting to see where this fits in the canon.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●○○○○
Henry's Crime
Just when you thought it was safe to return to the cinema Keanu Reeves has returned with this low key crime caper (he's robbing the same bank, again) with Vera Farmiga and James Caan lending some credibility.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●○○○○○
Yamla Pagla Deewana
It's the Bollywood films that will probably benefit most from the recent changes in my grading system - whether it will be enough for any of them to be film of the week remains to be seen. This one's about a prodigal son returning to the bosum of his con-artist family.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Final Sacrifice
Also known as Last Letters from Monte Rosa it's a low budget second world war movie focussing on the relationships between German and Italian soldiers during the Allied invasion of Italy. I'm not sure about relationship between this film and Ari Taub previous war movie The Fallen is, but it looks like a very similar feel.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Travellers
It seems unlikely but this is the second week running where I've issued a one blob rating, and I fully stand by it. This dreadful looking indie brit follows a group of high flying city boys as they go into the Wilderness (of Surrey!!!) and get involved in a deadly game of cat and mouse with some Irish travellers.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●○○○○○○○○○
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Tuesday Trailers - The Green Hornet
The studios clearly aren't sure what to do with this Comic book adaptation maybe because of the difficult production history and slightly fun look to the trailer. Originally slated for a Autumn release it's been pushed back into the gravyard of January Stateside. Of course I'm going to go to reward the Seth Rogen weight loss plan which seems to have done wonders for the formerly chubby comedian.
The Green Hornet is released on 14 January 2011.
Monday, 4 October 2010
Christoph Waltz
Happy Birthday to
Christoph Waltz
54 today
Christoph managed to waltz (sorry) out of nowhere last year to steal Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds from his more well known co-stars and nab an oscar for his multi-faceted multi-lingual performance as Col. Hans Landa, The Jew Hunter. Since then he's been signing up for an interesting mix of Hollywood projects, including villian roles in The Green Hornet and major stage adaptation God of Carnage.
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Edward James Olmos
Happy Birthday to
Edward James Olmos
63 today
Olmos, who's an accomplished rock musician as well as actor, has been a major player in 2 highly regarded television programmmes. "Miami Vice" and "Battlestar Galatica" may have been set literally worlds apart but his commanding and austere presence has been a rock in both for the other characters to cling to. And unlike many performers Olmos regularly visits schools in deprived areas to show kids there is a way out of the slums and cycle of violence they are in. Look out for his next appearance in The Green Hornet.
Saturday, 12 December 2009
Tom Wilkinson
Happy Birthday to
Tom Wilkinson
61 today
He certainly isn't the biggest star I will namecheck on the birthdays, however Tom is the most prolific. Currently he has 5 projects on the go for 2010 which I want to see. First up will be The Debt about 3 former Mossad spies finding their past returning to haunt them. If Roman Polanski isn't spending the next couple of years in goal then The Ghost may get a release. We'll also be looking out for The Green Hornet, The Conspirator and the English language remake of After the Wedding.
Saturday, 15 August 2009
Film News (15/08/09)
Four new rumours piquing my interesting this week, and a couple of castings that I felt it prudent to mention. I'd even go as far to say that the news has been more interesting this week than the actual films released.
Battlestar Galactica
The Battlestar Galactica TV series has recently ended, worshiped by many for it's clever and insightful reworking of the original and the quality thesping from the international cast. What pleased many is that over the five series there was a clear definable storyline which (lasting an impressive 70 hours altogether) tied everything up in the end. So, with the cans still warm, Universal have decided to use their film rights to the property to reimagine the series once more.
It all seems a little soon and a little dangerous. The sci-fi fans, who lets face it are the audience for this, will not want to see such a successful programme trampled into the mud so soon. Also lets not forget that Battlestar was popular with the critics who normally sneer at sci-fi as well as the public. These are big shoes to fill.
Bryan Singer is working on the project as producer and possibly director, which makes sense as he first planned to make a film based on the concept back in 2001, and if he brings the X-Men skills he has to the table it may be worth seeing. But I still have my doubts.
What will the next cast photo look like?
The Descendants
Alexander Payne has realised that his plan to minaturise Paul Giamatti in Downsizing may take more pre productions than he's used to, as well as more financing, so whilst he's planning that The Decendants has moved up the priority list. Based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings it concerns a Hawaiian father who tries to find his wife's lover after she falls into a coma. Sounds like a perfect fit for the man behind Sideways and About Schmidt.
The Green Hornet
You can breathe agian, the comic book adaptation with revolving casting couches has turned up another Cato - this time in the form of Taiwanese actor-singer Jay Chou. There have also been some internet gossipings that Edward james Olmos (Adama in the Battlestar series - I do like it when coincidence strikes) is joining the cast - but no official confirmations yet. Filmings due to start soon, so hopefully there won't be many more changes to the line-up.
Paprika
Paprika is a 2006 anime about a machine that can manipulate dreams which falls into the wrong hands leading to bizarre episodes where the line between reality and imagination are blurred. Only a girl called Paprika can stop it. Sounds like barmy fun to me.
Secret River/A Walk on the Beach
The IFP this week annouced it's line-up at the Independent Film Week exhibition in New York. The event is essentially a chance for part funded projects to tap investors. Previous alumni include Cheri, Frozen River, Half Nelson and Maria Full of Grace - not an insignificant set of independent films, I'm sure you'll agree. The biggest profile film this year is Jodie Foster's Cockeyed, but for me it's the two I've plonked in the title that I'll be following. Directed respectively by Fred Schepisi and Luis Mandoki, lets wait to see if either go any further .
Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps
Frank Langella and the ever-so-hot-right-now Carey Mulligan (below) have both signed up to Oliver Stone's Wall Street follow-up as a old school mentor for Shia Labeouf and Michael Douglas' estranged daughter (respectively). Stone's due to pick up the camera any day now in preparation for a spring release.
Saturday, 25 July 2009
Film News (25/07/09)
The world is going crazy, there's so much news and previews it's enough to make your head spin. That's right it's Comic-Con, long since evolved from the origins of San Diego comic book geeks to packing in the screaming Twilight geeks. Whether it works as somewhere to showcase footage or to pump the audiences is another question, but whilst the stars and studios continue to swarm there the news will eventually bubble out. And for the non-Comic-Con news there's an interesting recurring theme of indecision but first:
Batman 3, or is it 7, or 8?
It's no surprise that after the astonishing success of The Dark Knight that a sequel would be made, although the proposed direction of Nolan's new/old trilogy may well have been massively altered by the untimely death of Joker Heath Ledger. However Gary Oldman (Commissioner Gordon) has let it slip - and I'll let you believe it wasn't planned if you want to - that filming starts next spring for a 2011 release. I personally think that 2011 is already a bit crowded with Spider-Man 4, Green Lantern and Thor but I expect Warner Bros know what their doing.
Cosmopolis
In our first indecisive director news David Cronenberg is developing Don DeLillo's novel about a multi-millionaire who starts hemorrhaging cash during a stock market rash and must dash across Manhattan to stop it. Whether this will be closer to Wall Street or Falling Down remains to be seen. Already this year Cronenberg has talked about The Matarese Circle with Denzel Washington and Tom Cruise, as well as a Eastern Promises sequel, so goodness knows which of the projects he'll run with first.
The Green Hornet
Stephen Chow has finally dropped out of The Green Hornet completely, leaving a Cato sized hole in the cast of this 2010 comic book adaptation. They're still planning on lensing later in the summer, and have even confirmed Nic Cage as the bad guy and Cameron Diaz as a love interest so expect a new martial-arts master to be installed soon.
Master and Commander 2
Master and Commader: Far Side of the World was a superb, film. Rightly selected by the Academy for a best picture nod, how it didn't get some notice for Russel Crowe is beyond me. After umming and ahhing for some time Crowe is interesting in getting back to the high seas, with a script nearing completeion. Let's hope that the notoriously picky Peter Weir, who directed the original and has already stated he thinks a sequel is unlikely, can be persuaded to helm (ho ho) it.
Red
Morgan Freeman has joined Bruce Willis in the comic book adaptation Red. Willis plays a black ops agent who returns to take on a high tech killer. Whether Freeman will be a collegue, a scheming politico or the killer himself remains to be seen.
Temeraire
Peter Jackson has been waxing lyrical about a number of projects he has involvement in at Comic-Con, but aside from Tintin, Lovely Bones and District 9 he had a brief synopsis about what is likely to be his next film to direct. It's set during the Napoleonic Wars, chronicling the bizzarely over-looked (cinematically) period in European history. Oh, and there will be dragons. I don't know whether to be completely psyched or shocked in disbelief.
Three Little Words
James Mangold has another project that means a lot to him, so much so that he wants to direct. It's not Wichita, or his Legal thriller, or Juliet, or Cyclops, but a totally new project based on one of these child abuse biographies that are clogging up book shops. By all means try holding your breath until James picks another film he wants to work on. It won't be that long.
Warcraft
The film adapataion of the popular World of Warcraft computer game has moved one step closer by appointing Sam Raimi as director. It's a complex internet community roleplay adventure so how that will translate into a three act structure is a mystery. Could be beautiful to look at, could be atrocious to watch!
Untitled Quentin Tarantino Western
Tarantino is another director who likes to keep ua all guessing what his next picture will be - after all Inglorious Basterds was first mooted some ten years ago. So at the UK premier of Basterds he tipped that his next picture will be a Western. I personally feel that its the sort of thing that Quentin could do very well if he tries to avoid all his stylistic twitches, after all what was Reservoir Dogs but a 90 minute Mexican stand off, and Kill Bill borrowed heavily from Western sensibilities. 
Box Office News
Release Date News
The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus - Falling back a week is Terry Gilliam's latest starring Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell and Heath Ledger as different versions of Heath Ledger. Artistically this looks like pure Gilliam, but it's fascinating to try to estimate how it will do financially. Make a deal with the devil on 16 October 2009.
Taking Woodstock - The Woodstock film, which only includes Woodstock as a backdrop to one families development in the late 60's, has also shifted back a week into the incredibly crowded November. Honestly - you won't be able to turn around for decent films in November. Grow your hair and put some flowers in it on 6 November 2009.
A Serious Man - The Coen Brothers have been keeping their latest film carefully under wraps with no shots or trailers yet. It's a dark comedy so it's hard to know which of their eclectic back catalogue to except it will emanate, especially as there doesn't seem to be an excessive body count this time round. Sleep on your brother-in-laws sofa on 20 November 2009.
Invictus - Whether this is a complete Nelson Mandela biopic, or whether it solely focuses on the Rugby World Cup, you can guarantee that Clint and Morgan will be getting Oscar nods for their efforts. Catch an odd-shaped ball on 05 February 2010.
Valentine's Day - In the least surprising release date news of the year it's been announced that the mishmash of intertwining love stories set around Valentines will open around Valentines. Smooch on the back row on 12 February 2009.
Alice in Wonderland - The teaser trailer came out this week, complete with angry red queen, soporific white queen, scary Cheshire Cat grin and what is set to be an immensely quotable "Alice! You're terribly late, you know. Naughty." from Depp's Mad Hatter. Go through the looking glass on 05 March 2010.
The Green Hornet - It seems impossible that this light comic adaptation will be finished in less than a year, considering the casting news above, but the gods of release dates are spoken. Have your sidekick do a kung fu chop on 23 July 2010.
Inception - Christopher Nolan is floating on a tide of good will right now following the monster returns for The Dark Knight, whether the tills will ring as much for a original property remains to be seen. Escape the barriers of your mind on 13 August 2010.
The Last Airbender - I don't think putting this against Inception is a good idea (even if there's is little crossover appeal), so expect another shift later in the year. For now try to control the elements on 13 August 2010.
Box Office Report
There's no surprise that Transformers has confidently taken the top spot over the June openers, as predicted right here (no points for that I know). It's bounded straight up to the second highest grossing film in the UK this year; although a certain boy wizard will be overtaking it before it surpasses Slumdog Millionaire. The rest of the top five are a mixed bag with a couple of comedies, an underwhelming Terminator film and a heartwarming tale about terminal cancer. We have very odd tastes here in the UK. Naturally I neither saw, nor recommended any of these films.
1. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
2. The Hangover
3. Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins
4. My Sister's Keeper
5. Year One
Saturday, 28 February 2009
Film News (28/02/09)
As February draws to a close you will note that I've added another section to the weekly film news - Box Office Review. This will turn up on the last Saturday of every month. We'll highlight any new release dates and reviwe who stormed the box office charts in the previous month. But all that is after:
Richard Pryor: Is it something I said
It looks like the Richard Pryor story is coming to the big screen. This will be both easy to do but hard to make it really good. Pryor has a fascinating life story including drugs, sex, early death from MS, and plenty of drugs. The problem is the film will only work if we really get an idea of how good Pryor was at stand-up. Without that people will wonder how much of an impact he really had (see the recent Notorious which botched the rap scene). It looks like Eddie Murphy is interested in the role - which is great news. As a stand-up himself Eddie can understand how Pryor paved the way for other comedians.
Clue
Normally I have a fairly live and let live attitude to remakes, however this week Varierty reports there are moves to make another film from Clue, the boardgame. Now I know the original didn't blow the box office away but it has become a cult item - ahh those parties when I was a student when we replayed the whole thing... Hopefully the new film will play it as a comedy as well. The thought of a serious whodunnit with Professor Plum and Miss Scarlett is too much to comprehend. It's like flames, flames at the side of my face. Heaving, heaving breaths...
The Green Hornet
The big screen adaptation of the more tongue in check superhero The Green Hornet (to be played by Seth Rogen) has found a new director in Michel Gondry. I'm thinking Gondry bizarre visuals will make this a must see. Stephen Chow is still signed on to play sidekick Kato.
Untitled Woody Allen Picture
Woody Allen's London set, Spanish financed project for 2010 is expanding it's cast with Naomi Watts, Frieda Pinto and Antonio Banderas all signing on the dotted line. I don't know whether this is a good thing - sometimes the more starry the cast of an Allen film th more banal it gets.
Howard Zieff
Little reported this week, but Howard Zieff, Director and Producer, passed away on Sunday. His output as a director was spotty but highlights like My Girl, House Calls and Private Benjamin won't be easily forgotten.
Box Office News
(With thanks to Pearl and Dean and Box Office Mojo)
Release Date Changes
Life Before Her Eyes: I thought this girl survives high school shooting, has problems with guilt film starring Uma Thurman would never see the inside of a cinema here in the UK. I was wrong - look out for it on 27 March.
Cheri: Everyone waiting for Michelle Pfeiffer as a coutesan falling for a younger man will have to wait a little longer. It puched it's release date back until 08 May, possibly afraid of competition with Life before her eyes?
Sugar: The story of a basball player from the Domincan Republic as he stuggles with integrating in America has fallen back a month to 05 June.
Shutter Island: Just a minor change here as the latest Scorcese/DiCaprio collaboration settles on 09 October.
Christmas Carol: The most filmed Dickens novel, this time starring Jim Carrey and Zemeckis' finely tuned computer animation. Latest date is 06 November.
Untitled Nancy Meyers Picture: I doubt Meryl Streep will be aiming to get an Oscar from this love triangle with Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, but you never know. Look out for it on 01 January 2010.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time: We're one day closer to seeing Jake Gyllenhaal prance around for a whole film with his body out. Mmmm. Can't wait until 28 May 2010.
The Last Airbender: Write this date in your diary and then plan to avoid the cinema that week, yes it's M. Night Shyamalan's latest magnum opus. At least if we don't see it we won't be thinking about how he thrown away all his credibility. Coming on 06 August 2010.
Box Office Report
As the dust settles from January there's a very clear winner in Slumdog Millionaire. It hasn't just won an Oscar for best picture but it's also taken £23m since opning. Putting that into perspective it's a similar haul to Iron Man or High School Musical 3, and it's still going strong. The rest of the top five is pretty much as you'd expect from January - a couple of so so comedies, a horror and a Tom Cruise film.
1. Slumdog Millionaire
2. Role Models
3. Bride Wars
4. My Bloody Valentine
5. Valkyrie
