2010. Dir: James Mangold. Starring: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Jordi Mollà and Viola Davis. ●●○○○
Oh, Tom. I wanted this to be good - I really wanted to enjoy this throwback to cheesy thrillers of the 60s. I as hoping to be able to jump on the couch with unbridled joy at your fun loving performance. Instead I can't help thinking what a wasted opportunity it was and how Knight and Day tried far too hard and ended up being loved by no-one.
The plot, such as it is, involves hapless classic car restorer Cameron Diaz (I know) getting caught up in rogue CIA operative Tom Cruise's plan to evade the spook community and transplant a convenient MacGuffin to nerdy scientist Paul Dano. (On a side issue does anyone remember when scientists stopped being older guys that are easily distracted and became younger guys who are perpetually nervy?) We then follow our mismatched duo from plane set piece to train set piece from New York to the Azores to the Alps. As I sit and type this I can't even remember all the locations or why...
Therein lies the problem. Hitchcock used to be able to take a flimsy excuse to set an Cary Grant sized everyman on a trip across the globe and it would all be so much fun that the reasons didn't matter. Did anyone really care why Cary was heading North by Northwest? Of course not, we just fell in love with the character and wanted to follow him all the way.
Neither of our leads here can even come close to matching Cary Grant (a tall order, I admit). Cameron comes off better, her natural comic timing aiding vastly with the continuous barrage of silly action scenes. Indeed her expressions when leaning over the back set and trying to drive a car or facing off against a hit man are the only moments of the film that made me stifle a giggle. Cruise comes off a lot worse, the fact that the character always appears to be in control is not endearing at all (and don't get me started on his habit of drugging Diaz) and whilst his overplaying of the off-the-wall elements come close to banishing the sofa-leaping Cruise from our sub-conscious the tongue in cheek feel of the part seems too calculated for that to really work.
If the leads are underwritten then the supporting characters really have problems with the two main baddies being particularly nonthreatening - at no point do you imagine anything other than a happy ending for out lead pair. Not that either of them really try. Spoiler alert Peter Sarsgaard barely can be bothered to phone his performance in - it's closer to having been e-mailed.
Apart from the initial battle on the plane none of the action sequences are even remotely heavy enough to work and it marks a major step back from James Mangold's last picture 3.10 to Yuma. The final five minutes of the film, set in Poploma during the bull run, are preposterous in terms of the carnage shown and offensively illogical when it comes to dispatching of Sarsgaard. All this without any ironic quips which would at least confirm the whole things meant to be a comedy.
It's not the worst film of the year, nor is it the most irritating, but it is a major mistake in just about everyone's CVs and will deservedly be found in supermarket bargain bins before long.
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Knight and Day
Saturday, 9 January 2010
20 for 2010 - Knight and Day
It's true, I've been holding back on writing up number 9 on the countdown all evening, but here is it Knight & Day.
I am, after all, expecting some stick for this one. The title is awful, the trailer looks confused and neither Tom nor Cameron are the draws they used to be... But dammit this could be so much fun. The sort of fun we've forgotten about when we go to the movies.
Over the last few years fun has disappeared from the action movie template. We have darker than black Batman films, depressed teen vampires, moody Bonds and parables about the decline of our natural world. Even the last Die Hard movie was po-faced.
The trailer for this does show that Cruise is having a good time, being a bit bonkers, almost playing to the character type we've defined him in his personal life. I think this will be utterly barmy, leave your brain at the door action.
Director James Mangold has shown us he can manage effective action scenes in the past (Cop Land, 3:10 to Yuma) so we know that that side will be competent. Lets just relax about the way this film is being marketed and get ready for 2 hours of rollercoaster fun.
Saturday, 30 May 2009
Film News (30/05/09)
We have had slow news weeks before but this one really takes the biscuit. And although it looks like Stephen Daldry's The Hellfire Club and the Mad Max 4 movie are one step closer to being made on IMBD, they shall be ignored as there has been no press release or anything.
Wichita
After months of speculation from Tom Cruise and James Mangold about what their collective next films would be it seems they have decided to work with each other on the spy romance, Wichita. Also starring Cameron Diaz, Cruise will play an international spy who keps bumping into Diaz (presumably on his weekends off).
Whether this means we won't be seeing Juliet, The Materese Circle or Mangold's life assurance drama remains to be seen, although it would be shame if all these projects were shelved, or postponed indefinitely.
And really that was all the news I had.
Box Office News
Release Date News
Frozen River - Minor change in the release date for Melissa Leo's oscar nommed role smuggling illegal immigrants into the US. Back a week to 17 July 2009 when it will open opposite
Crossing Over - which is another tale about illegal immigration, although this time it's more in the Crash/Traffic mode of multi storylines which all converge. Ray Liotta and Harrison Ford will be sleazy and stoic respectively on 17 July.
The Soloist - it's had a middling review and box office success Stateside, so they've shifted Joe Wright's true life story of schizophrenic cellist (Jami Foxx). Now out on 25 September 2009.
Where the Wild Things Are - Last month I was really excited because the release date for this children's classic adaptation had moved forward, so naturally it's bounced back to the original date of 11 December 2009.
Dear John - Are you fed up of watching films that might be good? Well worry no more. Lasse Hallstrom directs, from a novel by Nicolas Sparks, and starring Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum. Expect some serious attempts to pull your heartstrings on 5 February 2010.
Alice in Wonderland - Tim Burton's all star retelling of Lewis Carroll's nonsense novel shifts a week, just to confuse us. I'm surprise it won't be opening on a Tuesday and only playing backwards. See it on 12 March 2010.
Finally I won't be reporting a release date for the fascinating typtrich Tokyo!, even though it's done reasonably well in the US ($341k so far) and been massive in France ($513k), as it opened directly to DVD this week. If I get a chance to see it I'll let you all know what I think.
Box Office Report
The UK box office continues to be as predictable as ever (on animation, one Zac Efron, a Rom-Com and 2 big effects/testosterone heavy hits - although no puppies in April were good enough), including the fact that I correctly identified the top film for April, although perhaps even more predicatable I haven't actually seen any of the films in the top 5. By the way, Wolverine is a tough one to put in, as it opened on the Wednesday 29 April or the weekend starting of 1 May. I have included it here as I'd rather it ame second than potentially beating Star Trek during next months face off (sneaky, eh?).
1. Monsters vs. Aliens
2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
3. Fast & Furious
4. 17 Again
5. The Boat that Rocked
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Film News (28/03/09)
I could give you more exuses as to why this post is late - but I won't, please just accept my humble apologies.
Robin Hood
It's definitely coming - the Ridley Scott version of the classic tale of men in green tights. After a six month delay due to the wrong leaves filming commenced this week with Russel Crowe as Robin Hood, Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian and Vanessa Redgrave as Eleanor of Aquitaine (it's the first time I've hears of Eleanor being wove into this story so it could be interesting to see how they handle one of the most charismatic women on th Middle Ages). No casting on the Sheriff of Nottingham or Friar Tuck just yet.
I grew up loving the stories of Robin Hood so I'll definitely be in the front of the queue for this one. My concern is that Scott isn't a great director, and never really outperforms his material. Although on the plus side it's been written by Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential, Mystic River), so there could be a good starting point.
Freedom Formula
Another week, another comic book/graphic novel adaptation (and this is the first of 2 I'm mentioning this week). This one isn't a million miles away from Iron Man in that it concerns a pilot in a fighting suit, although in this case he finds he can alter society dramatically. In a way I'm disappointed as it looks like Bryan Singer (Valkyrie, X-Men) has picked this up as his next project. I'm disappointed because he was due to make You Want me to Kill Him?, a much smaller picture about 2 boys who get together on a chat room and decide to kill off a bully - almost a cross between Elephant and Strangers on a Train and I'd much rather see Singer explore different aspects of cinema.
Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft
The second comic book adaptation, of a graphic novel which will only be published next week, is a blend of fact and fiction about the influential horror writer H.P. Lovecraft blending in his works of fiction, and themes of mental illness and writers block. If it works it could be a 30's set Adaptation.
True Grit
The Coen brothers have chosen thier next project, and it isn't Hail Ceasar, Surbicon or The Yiddish Policeman's Union. Instead it's a remake of the 1969 John Wayne starrer, True Grit. They will be working more form the book than the original film so there will be more focus on the girl seeking revenge for the murder of her father and the tone will also be potentially darker. So serious Coen it is. Saying that there still could be an opportunity for an aging actor, who's been ignored by the academy, to pull a great performance out of the bag as Rooster Cogburn. I'd like to see Donald Sutherland give it a go (so many good films, not so much as an nomination) but who do you think?
Untitled James Mangold Picture
Would you believe it's be 5 whole weeks since a picture was annouced with James Mangold involved. Well, not to worry here's another. This time it's a rom-com with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, but apparently not Vanilla Sky 2. I'd like o see Tom do another rom-com, and Cameron used to be a great comic actress. I'd also love to see Mangold commit rather than keep dangling these projects in front of us, but I guees you can't have everything.
Untitled Woody Allen London Summer Picture
The crowded picture has now gained another familiar face in the guise of Nicole Kidman. The last time he had this sort of star power in a film was Everyone Says I love You - and I don't see that as a good sign.
Box Office News
Release Date News
Frozen River - Melissa Leo's Oscar nominated performance will finally get a UK release, nearly 12 months after it's release stateside on 10/07/09.
Away We Go - This curious baby on the way quirky comedy from Sam Mendes will be hitting our screens on 18/09/09. The trailer hasn't done much for me, but a lot of people are interested and it has a likeable cast.
Nine - The 8 1/2 musical with the extraordinary all star cast has chosen 27/11/09 as curtain up. I was worried that this wouldn't come out for ages after it hit the States (gotta love the Weinsteins) but it's looking like a day and date release so maybe they've worked out that we Brits love musicals.
Robin Hood - It's already had a mention once in this post, but you'll need to look out for Crowe hiding in the undergrowth on 14/05/10.
Salt - Anjelina Jolie will be vanquishing Russian Spies on 13/08/10. Good for her, eh?
Straw Dogs - I'd forgotten completely about this unnecessary remake from Rod Lurie, as I'd not heard anything about it since 2007. Apparently it's still on it's way, and due to be released on 17/09/10.
In less good news 2 films - Everlasting Moments (already trailered) and Vintner's Luck have both lost their release dates and are now in limbo. I can only hope it's because, in the first instance, the US release was too successful ($186k and counting) so they're rethinking their UK stratge, and in the second case it's being repositioned in the awards season. We'll see.
Box Office Report
Way out ahead from the February releases is Bolt, proving that kids films about Dogs are always a top seller here in the UK. Further down the scale at number 5 is Hotel for Dogs, as well, although I expect Gran Torino to take the fifth slot after this weekend. Still can find no reason for it's strange release strategy, other than it not appearing on this list. Bizarrely as it stands I've not seen any of February's top 5 (although I did recommned CCoBB as my pic of the week).
1. Bolt
2. He's Just not That Into You
3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Buton
4. Confessions of a Shopoholic
5. Hoel for Dogs
Saturday, 14 February 2009
Film News (14/02/09)
February must be a good time for butering up studio execs, or at least making the press teams work overtime as there's been another 7 stories worth mentioning this week.
The Matarese Circle
Robert Ludlum was a reasonably successful writer during his lifetime, but in the a5 years since his death his books have really taken off cinematically. The Bourne trilogy is as obvious example. This week two of his books have been the subject of news. The Parsifal Mosiac, which has been optioned by Universal, and The Matarese Circle which is going into production later this year. The film will star the incredible pairing of Denzel Washington and Tom Crise as enemy spies who have to join forces, and if that wasn't enough to get me going David Cronenberg is set to direct. Now I don't know much about action thriller franchises, but starting with the director of Scanners and Crash is certainly going to be fascinating.
Gemini Man
The script of Gemini Man has been drifting around Hollywood for over ten years and it looks like it's finally going to start production soon under the guidance of L.A. Confidential director Curtis Hanson. I like Curtis, his direction is usually assured, but he's an unusual choice for this clone assassin starts trailing his "father". His only action film to date, The River Wild, is hardly a great barometer of his suitability.
Inception
Christopher Nolan has annouced his next pic is the self-penned contemporary adult sci-fi Inception. Nolan will have a lot to prove after The Dark Knights massive success, so let's hope this isn't a Fountain.
Leap Year
I feel a bit bad about my anti-Amy tirade in the Doubt review. I actually love Miss Adams to bits - her performance in Enchanted was divine - so any chance I get to see her in a romantic comedy I will jump at. In Leap Year she will enlist the help of newly cast Matthew Goode to cross Ireland in order to propose to her beau. Somehow I think they'll fall in love on the way. Ahhh.
Nottingham
Apparenly Cate Blanchett has signed up to play Maid Marian in Scott's revisionist tale of men in green. No, I can't see that casting work either.
Untitled James Mangold picture
Another month another rumour about James Mangold. His next film is now based on a true stroy where a pair lawyers from New Orleans faced off against a Multinational Petrolium Giant in order to get compensation for families who lost their loved ones overseas. As with all James Mangold stories including my recent story of Juliet, I will wait until the camera starts rolling before I believe it.
Untitled Woody Allen Picture
I already slipped in the news on Josh Brolin's birthday buit just to reiterate Brolin and Anthony Hopkins have signed up to star in Woody's next UK based film which will shot later this year. Could be brilliant, could be pants - you never really know with Woody. (By the way picture is proof you can never have too much Brolin)
