I didn't cover the new DVD releases last week but Alice in Wonderland andThe Wolfman (previously reviewed) debuted and I figured 'Why hold a poll to see which movie you want me to cover when I know that Tim Burton's blockbuster will win?' I'll write about that one (finally) soon. In the meantime, now that you've had a chance to look at Benicio all hairy, what say you? This morning I was suddenly wishing Johnny Depp had played the werewolf and Benicio the Mad Hatter. Mixes up expectations a little, no? In both cases the casting felt a little too "spot on", which is why it's so weird that Benicio was so terrible (and terribly bored) while playing wolf. And maybe the Depp / Blunt pairing might've been a truer bodice ripper?
From here on out the DVD reader request poll will be bi-weekly (starting next week) so that I can keep up with the reviews. Previously: An Education. Next: The Road and Alice in Wonderland.
Streep at 60 the series returns this afternoon. I hope you'll have plenty to say about one of her craziest star turns.
Today is the 88th anniversary of Judy Garland's birth (née Frances Gumm). Since Judy G is one of my ten favorite stars of all time, you know that the first thing I did this morning was click on over to Nick's Flick Picks to see him wrap up his Best Actress project with A Star is Born (1954). Oh, the torture! He's making us wait a little.
Confession: I've been on a TV binge lately. Maybe it's those upcoming Emmy nominations (July) haunting me and convincing me to get caught up on Dexter, United States of Tara, Nurse Jackie, Glee (I continue to be madly in love with Lea Michelle's voice. I could listen to her all day long.) and Friday Night Lights. Regarding the latter: I know that it's not an Emmy favorite but that's just one more knock against their validity as an institution. Last week's episode "The Son" had me crying harder while watching television than I have since Buffy's "The Body" some years ago. Some fans and media types are trying to energize a Zach Gilford for Best Supporting Actor campaign but Emmy, as my wisest TV guru friend Joe Reid reminds me, has a really tough time noticing a show ever if they don't notice it right from the start. And if Emmy can't see that FNL's lead actress Connie Britton is consistently worthy of the actual statue (I'm talking even better than great movie actresses gone TV like Holly Hunter and Glenn Close on their respective shows and skyscrapers above some other regulars), well... how would they notice a supporting actor? Emmy's loss. With the exception of Mad Men, there's not a better drama on television.
Sound off on all of this randomness in the comments. Surely you have feelings to share, be they of the couch potato, lycanthropic or friend-of-dorothy variety. * *
from left to right:Tim Burton (Jury President and Johnny Depp's #1 Fan), Alberto Barbera (Italian film festival biggie), Victor Erice (Spanish Director of the acclaimed Frankenstein picture The Spirit of the Beehive), Giovanna Mezzorgiorno (Award-winning Italian actress, Vincere recently boosted her international profile), Emmanuel Carrere (French writer), Alexandre Desplat (composer and last minute juror... this man must never sleep or have several clones of himself given his workload), Benicio del Toro (Oscar winning Puerto Rican actor and werewolf), Shekhar Kapur (Indian director of Elizabeth fame), and Kate Beckinsale (British hottie, vampire who hates werewolves).
Danger! Benicio's getting way too close to Beckinsale.
You know Tim Burton wants to direct this battle. Or at least art-direct the buildings and landscapes surrounding the battle. And though Desplat sorta already scored it (The Twilight Saga:New Moon) he'd have to toss that out like a temp track and find Danny Elfman for the real thing.
This jury is positively supernatural... frankenstein, werewolves, vampires.
<--- But monster mash aside, Kate Beckinsale knows how to make an entrance, doesn't she? It looks like she's stepping out of a technolor musical and floating seamlessly onto the most prestigious of film festival red carpets. Or like she's a model in one of those color fashion interludes in a black and white comedy like The Women (1939), maybe.
Zombies ruled the movie monster jungles for a good long while in the Aughts until Twilight and True Blood boosted the vampire back up top as the king of all supernatural beasts. When will it be the lycanthropes turn? If The Wolfman is indication, they'll have to keep waiting.
The Wolfman, a reworking of the 1941 monster classic, begins with the recitation of a gloomy gypsy proverb. It amounts to this: prayers won't save you from curses. Something unholy and accursed is definitely roaming the forests near the Talbot estate. Bodies are discovered dead and mangled. Sir John Talbot's (Anthony Hopkins) son goes missing and his fiance Gwen Conliffe (Emily Blunt) writes to the Talbot prodigal son Lawrence (Benicio Del Toro) to return home and help has father in the search. By the time he does, he's been traveling the world as a famous stage actor, his brother's mutilated body has already been discovered. Local gypsies are blamed and Lawrence seeks them out only to run into the growling monster itself.
You can guess what happens next.
Read the Rest @ Towleroad... Wherein I ponder the movies multiple mysteries, Blunt's misfortune and (briefly) the best actress race.
A tepid DVD release day unless you like 'em hairy. Links go to Netflix.
White Night Wedding was Iceland's Oscar entry last year. The comedy, which is supposedly a riff on Chekhov's Ivanov, is from the director of 101 Reykjavik and stars his frequent collaborator, Icelandic star Hilmir Snær Guðnason(pictured left in various films) who inspires indecent thoughts and creative pronunciations in his fans.
Grace has the ickiest horror premise I've heard of in a long long time. An unborn child with a bloody appetite. Ewww. In other words, I'll only see it if I hear that it's totally brilliant. It also has one of the fastest windows to DVD ever, having opened in theaters last month.
An American Werewolf in London (1981) and The Wolf Man (1941) both get special editions today although we're currently between full moons and we're still more than a month away from Halloween. Not sure what that's about. I'm planning to watch The Wolf Man soon -- maybe you'll join me? -- since I'm on a Claude Rains kick and I don't remember a lick of it and I want to be familiar before the remake arrives in February.
If you like your hairy beasts to remain bipedal once activated, there's also Hugh Jackman and his mutton chops in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I imagine the box office hit will be big on DVD because there's no accounting for taste and old habits die hard. I'll love the X-Men forever -- I almost can't imagine my childhood and adolescence without them -- but I love the cinema more and damn that movie reeked. It's not the worst superhero movie ever made but I firmly believe that it's the most joyless, give or take the craptacular Elektra. How do you make a superhero movie and forget to have fun? Even the heavy ones with the bat cowls feel somewhat buoyed by the joy of shooting and acting in them. Will anyone ever understand the leaden ugly weight of this thing now that they can skip chapters, freeze frame on Jackman's ass and watch it while they're playing video games? Probably not. I should stop. Yeah, I hated it, OK? You got a problem with that, bub?
As the decade winds down, vampires have finally begun to reclaim their monster movie throne back from the zombies who ruled for most of the Aughts. When will it ever be the lycanthropes turn? I suppose it doesn't help that werewolves aren't as metaphor-flexible as erotic bloodsuckers or mindless hungry drones. To complicate matters, the metaphors those wolves are arguably best suited for are the ones they almost never touch on (puberty and/or menstrual cycles) since they're usually about adult men. The other rich thematic playground they inhabit, that of mankind conquered by his beastly urges, they have to share with all the other monsters. They're a stepchild monster.
But what can you do? As we wait for The Wolf Man to arrive (February 12th, 2010), I thought we'd celebrate the sexy beasts during the full moon each month.
Julie Delpy as "Serafine" in An American Werewolf in Paris
Embarrassing confession: I used to dislike Julie Delpy. I first saw her in Europa Europa (which I loved at the time) but my next Delpy experience was Three Colors: White which I didn't understand. I consequently shrugged it off as a stumble between the emotionally exquisite Blue and the intellectually thrilling Red. I know I should revisit it now that I'm older. So, get this, I skippedBefore Sunrise because I wasn't impressed with her. I didn't see it until 2004. How sick is that?
My third Delpy rendezvous was An American Werewolf in Paris (1997) which didn't help her cause. We first spot the French beauty crying atop the Eiffel Tower. Yeah, it's that kind of movie. She's suicidal and leaps from the architectural "We're in France!" shorthand. But, you know, who am I to judge? It's not like leaping into movies you've already seen and hated for blog fodder isn't masochism, suicide's timid cousin. The French girl leaps but the American in Paris (Tom Everett Scott) saves her from herself with the help of absurd special effects and some fake looking rope. How can rope look fake? It's not like the real stuff is made of gold brick. Prop department, hello?
Soon Tom Everett is involved in all sorts of awkward attempts to win Julie's heart while he and his co-stars indulge in thickheaded fratboy humor. [Tangent! This movie was born in that split second when Hollywood though Tom Everett Scott might happen. The second that immediately followed That Thing You Do! Turns out he's a good fit for television. Have you seen him on Southland?] Scott is shamelessly bad in the movie (on purpose?) but I still kind of love looking at him. I blame the huge puppy eyes and sloppy stung lips.
But back on topic. As with most romantic monster movies, the animalistic side of the supernatural human (Delpy) excites the regular human (Scott) ... even if the human can't quite put his finger on what is so unusual about their object of lust. Scott's dumb American doesn't read the signs even when Delpy starts growling. The plot is the plot and I shan't relay but she saves him from a certain massacre by other werewolves and just in the nick of time. It's a full moon and she's a beastie herself. We see the transformation. Cue requisite yellow contacts.
Werewolf Julie. It's a look.
It's a look. But, it's not a flattering look for the Gallic lovely. Delpy's transformation is accompanied by shirt ripping. Her breasts burst out... Unfortunately for those with the prurient interests that this juvenile movie encourages, the boobies appear to be created by computer technicians rather than the benevolent diety that sculpted the rest of Julie Delpy. So you get boobies but there's more than two of them... just like a dog, get it? And they're hairy. In a stronger movie, this might have been a good sick joke, teasing the horndog audience and punishing them at the same time. But it's over in a flash and the next time we see Delpy she's naked and generous with her body. She's nursing Scott back to health with sex, which kind of defeats the earlier 'be careful what you wish for' hairy bitch joke.
You can touch Julie Delpy's boobs, but then you have to drink her Human Organ Frappucino. It's a trade-off
See Delpy knows her dumb stud is becoming a werewolf, too. Lycanthropy is always super contagious in movies. One little scratch and you're howling at the moon monthly for the rest of your days.
Scott doesn't believe her lycanthrope tale but soon he's sniffing out another girl, eating raw meat and howling and growling as he mounts his one night stand. She screams "You're hot" while his body starts to steam, getting ready for the "change". Yeah, it's that kind of movie.
If this sudden inexplicable post about a movie no one remembers reads a little juvenile, please let me blame the movie. The 1997 horror comedy is so dumb and horny that by the end when Scott is fighting an evil werewolf in a subway, I was reading dumb sex jokes into everything.
Your Internet Movie Rule: Robert De Niro is... Sunset Gun Kim Morgan talks to Tarantino <---Empire what film will director Bryan Singer do next? I'm just going to admit it: I don't really get his career. It seems so directionless despite a collection of generally good films MNPP Michael Fassbender Four Times (he's fast becoming someone I totally care about!) A Blog Next Door with a surprise observation about Adaptation (2002) Coffee Coffee and More Coffee on the import/export game, the shrinking market for foreign films and how Hollywood doesn't play fair INF "Aniston: Zellweger Stole My Man" I've never made a secret that I'm not a fan of Jennifer Aniston and her trademark 'abandoned woman' victimhood. On the other hand, I think all tabloids, celeb mags and gossip blogs ought to pay her tithing each year, you know? If Charlie Parker... frames within frames. Lovely
Did you see The Wolf Man trailer? Benicio Del Toro plays the fuzzy wuzzy. I'm so pleased to see Hugo Weaving again (see previous post) but was it really a good idea to cast Anthony Hopkins in this? Seems like the choice is too obvious, too directly reminiscent of Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992).
Topless Robot expresses what I suspect will be widespread feelings about this film before it opens. Poor lycanthropes. They never get any respect when it comes to monster movies. It's gotta be vampires, don't it?
Hey Suits, What's up you guys? So... Ummmm, wow, you're weird. First you fire the director of a movie that made $190 million and then you make me beg (wolf howl!) for the role Ialready played in Twilight for its sequel. Okay, okay, that's history. So two hours in the gym every day. I show up on set with 26 lbs of new muscle and a 6 pack (abs not beer -- I'm 17!!!).
$190 million and you still can't up the wig budget?No you didn't!
Greetings everyone and thanks to Nathaniel for inviting me to pitch in while he’s away. For those of you who don’t know, I’m a regular contributor at Awards Daily.
I’d like to use this opportunity to reflect on several upcoming adaptations, starting with a campy television classic.
The Film:Dark Shadows, currently slated for 2010 and listed as “In Development” over at IMDB.
The Source: The popular supernatural soap that ran from 1966 to 1971, and inspired devoted fandom (from pop songs to conventions), two earlier films, a short-lived television resurrection in the early 1990s, and a 2004 WB pilot that failed to take off. The plot featured vampires, witches, zombies, werewolves, beatniks, drunks, and clueless virgins mixed up in a sudsy and melodramatic cocktail. Audiences sat enthralled each weekday afternoon to the highs, lows and accidental live burials of the aristocratic Collins family, owners of the Collinwood mansion in Collinsport, Maine.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the show, here's a DVD teaser featuring grave robber Willie Loomis, who's in for a nasty surprise:
The Skinny: Last summer Variety reported that Warner Bros. was teaming with Johnny Depp’s Infinitum-Nihil and Graham King’s GK Films to develop a feature. The rights deal was made with the estate of Dan Curtis, who created the series and served as its director/producer. Depp and King are listed as producers along with David Kennedy, who ran Dan Curtis Productions until Curtis died in 2006.
Depp, who has expressed his childhood love for the series in interviews, is expected (rumored) to take on the iconic role of Barnabas Collins, the centuries old vampire known for his fashion sense (dapper Ohrbach’s suits, flowing Inverness cape and wolf cane) and knack for overreacting. If I had a dollar for every time he uttered the line “[Insert character name here] must DIE!” (dum dum dummm) I’d be very wealthy.
I’m excited, but…: Last year at Awards Daily I shared my initial thoughts about the possibility of Depp playing this role, noting that the Oscar nominee is the perfect actor to help Barnabas rise from the Collins family crypt. Post-Sweeney Todd, I still think he can do it, but I worry that his actorly tics (especially if they are directed by Tim Burton) could push Dark Shadows too far across the stylistic camp line. That said, one reason Sweeney Todd worked for me, despite the un-Broadway-like voices, is because Burton and Depp managed to get the tone right. I can’t imagine them sinking their creative teeth into Dark Shadows without scaling gothic heights, but my hope is they keep the pathos and find the right balance. Jonathan Frid, who played Barnabas in the soap, injected the character with humanity, even when the script called on him to deliver seriously clunky dialogue.
In the Director’s Chair: In addition to the gothic aspects of this story, Dark Shadows lends itself well to a Burton/Depp collaboration due to the original series’ tendency to flirt with Ed Wood-like badness. Bad acting, line flubs, wobbly sets and visible boom mics were part of the Collinsport lore. To be fair, the series was shot at a break-neck pace, with nearly every scene done in one take. If an actor messed up, they would correct themselves right in front of the camera. Another possibility for director is Quentin Tarantino, who is also a fan of the original series and even sports his own Barnabas Wolf Cane.
Cast Contemplation: Besides Depp as Barnabas, other key roles include Victoria Winters, the hopelessly naïve ingénue; Maggie Evans, the slightly less naïve ingénue, the aforementioned pathetic man-servant Willie Loomis, tough doc Julia Hoffman, Collins family matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, and bitchy witch Angelique Bouchard.
The 1991 revival diminished the role of Maggie and put more emphasis on Vicki, though I think Maggie is more interesting (despite Vicki’s “my name is Victoria Winters” opening monologue). So my hope is that Maggie is restored to her full Josette-reborn, 18th Century doll clutching, “count the bricks” glory.
The actress chosen to take on this character should be more Kathryn Leigh Scott (the original Maggie, pictured left, from Collinwood.net) than Alexandra Moltke Isles (the original Vicki). As the object of Barnabas’s confused lust, she needs to project innocence but intelligence. Actresses I could see in the part include Natalie Portman, Rachel McAdams or Anne Hathaway. McAdams would probably be my first choice.
Actor John Karlen (who would go on to later television fame on Cagney & Lacey) originated the role of Willie and gave his characterization perfect shades of “pathetic underling.” While an obvious choice would be Steve Buscemi, I’d like to see the filmmakers go against type, but with actors who can pull off creepy. I’m thinking Jude Law or Matt Damon. The question is this: Who would you rather see Johnny Depp beat with a wolf cane?
Grayson Hall (an Oscar nominee for Night of the Iguana), originated the role of controlling shrink Dr. Julia Hoffman, whose questionable methods and attitude make her my favorite character (so far) from the original series. The epitome of Barnabas’s foolishness is that he can’t see how fabulous the not-so-good doctor is since he’s blinded by the boring (but youthful) babes. If Burton ends up directing this, I’ll expect Helena Bonham Carter to take on this role, and since she doesn’t have to sing, I think she’d be a pretty good choice. Other actresses I see filling Dr. Hoffman’s bouffant-do include Nicole Kidman, Diane Lane or, in a brilliant retro-casting choice, Winona Ryder.
Fans of the show have posited that Leigh Scott should return to the series to take on the role of Elizabeth, created by actress Joan Bennett. She does seem like the one original player who could best fit into a new screen version. Other actresses I could see in this regal role include Susan Sarandon or Glenn Close.
I’m least familiar with the character of Angelique, originated by Lara Parker (shown in the image at the top of this post, from her web site), since I'm still making my way through the series DVDs and haven’t actually gotten to her debut. But based on what my boyfriend (my Dark Shadows “enabler”) has told me, the actress in this role would have to be good at going over-the-top. Two actresses come to mind in terms of delivering that kind of diva-like performance without edging too far into cartoon-y: Michelle Pfeiffer and Angelina Jolie. Madonna, a fan of the original series, would also be an intriguing choice. If Tarantino takes the directing reigns, his blonde goddess Uma Thurman would probably be considered. I'm not sure if either has the dramatic grit to temper the camp.
Bonus Casting Tip: Lindsay Lohan as Carolyn Stoddard (originally played by Nancy Barrett), the rebellious daughter of Elizabeth, who briefly dates a beatnik named Buzz (Ben Foster?) just to get back at mom for agreeing to a blackmail-induced marriage to sleazy Jason McGuire (a brilliant cameo by Bruce Willis).
Deliberation: This project, if it ever moves beyond the development stage, is ripe with cinematic possibilities. But given the overabundance of movie vampires, can it really stand out or will it be weighed down by its cult and campy status? Whether you attend the Dark Shadows Festival annually or not, I welcome your input in the comments.
To help inspire you, I end with another video, this one from 1970's House of Dark Shadows:
