Archive for the 'Film Thinking' Category
DOWN ‘N’ DIRTY: JEFF BOAM’S SUMMER MOVIE PREVIEW
From the pages of Electric City and Diamond City, two of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s premier arts and entertainment publications, comes Richlier founder Jeff Boam’s special Summer Movie Preview:
Every filmgoer remembers their first. And though this may bring to mind some PG-13-rated memories of grappling with Mary Jane Filmgoer’s training bra on a night out to the Multiplex during your junior high days, ‘first,’ in this case, actually refers to a movie—as in the first movie you remember seeing in the theater.
Your reviewer remembers his: Cannonball Run at the General Cinema in June, 1981. Given how utterly campy this kitschy piece of ‘70s fluff actually is, it seems like an unremarkable answer for a persnickety movie reviewer and award-winning filmmaker to level at the question before him. But this is a completely honest response! Your reviewer’s brother recollected that our mother took us to see Star Wars in re-release sometime before this, but – fortunately or unfortunately – Cannonball Run is the first answer that memory serves.
Surely, if your reviewer WAS going to lie, he would come up with something cleverer than a B-grade romp about an illegal coast-to-coast car rally car race starring Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Farrah Fawcett, Roger Moore, Dom DeLuise, and a beer-soaked Burt Reynolds. But you have to understand that my father really enjoyed auto racing, dear readers…REALLY enjoyed—like with the exuberance that pimply faced fanboys reserve for comic books these days. And at that time, all of Cannonball Run’s scenery-chewing hi-jinks proved monumentally entertaining even if this paycheck-cashing extravaganza nowadays plays out like Circus of the Stars on a used car lot.
Screenings of The Empire Strikes Back and Raiders of the Lost Ark soon followed, but Cannonball Run – though an inauspicious start - holds a special place for your reviewer so far as filmgoing. For a 5 year-old in 1981 American suburbia – right before cable TV started making home movie-watching accessible to a mind-rotting degree - it seemed pretty damn cool. It was your reviewer’s ‘first,’ after all…and it was also a summer movie.
Ah, the summer months! Never mind barbecuing outside with friends or hitting the shore points with the family. These sun-soaked days largely exist for H’Wood to throw some big-budget popcorn blockbusters toward the entertainment-starved masses! If last summer was any indication, the studios are finally embracing an emphasis on explosions AND story (Iron Man and Dark Knight, anyone?). Based on the list of upcoming films below, this season is shaping up to be quite the corker. But do not just take your reviewer’s word for it…some local celebrity-types have been asked to pipe in with their thoughts.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 1)
Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber
The last time that Wolverine unfurled his cutlery in X-Men: The Last Stand, that particular X-Men chapter clawed its way to the trilogy’s biggest box office payday yet ($234 million). Fans, however, were less than thrilled about the quality (the third entry ranks less than X-Men or X2: X-Men United on The Internet Movie Database’s Popularity Poll). Critics too – including this one- were mostly unkind. 20th Century Fox hopes that by delving into the past of a lead character, the series will see a creative return to form. In this PG-13-rated prequel to the hugely successful X-Men series, the violent and romantic past of Wolverine (Jackman) – including his transformation into a metal-clawed mutant – is explored. The Plus: The franchise. Despite the critical response, the last film DID pull some impressive numbers for Fox…enough to have them prepping an X-Men Origins: Magneto and X-Men: The First Class as follow-ups to Wolverine. Advance ticket sales are breaking records set by other super hero movies. The Minus: The players. Jackman has never been able to open a film big that did NOT have an “X” prefixing the title. Also, there were rumors that director Gavin Hood may have had some interference from studio execs…and this is never a healthy sign. The Static: “I actually liked the first X-Men but my tolerance for Hugh Jackman vanished with this year’s Oscars embarrassment.” - Alicia Grega, EC Current Events Editor “Hugh Jackman ain’t just singin’ and dancin’ in THIS one.” - Marko Marcincko, Musician/Educator “Hugh Jackman’s upset the film was leaked over the Internet in early April. Let’s hope it’s not because he’s afraid the public will find out it’s a steaming pile of crap before it hits theaters.” – Randy Shemanski, EC Editor Star Trek (May 7) Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto In H’Wood-speak, a ‘remake’ involves filming a perfectly good movie over just because the original now seems dated to studio execs (see: Psycho); a ‘re-imagining’ involves an ego-driven younger director remaking an older movie because he/she feels that they could do better the original (see: The Wicker Man); and ‘reinvention’ involves starting from scratch when remaking and reimagining have already run their course (see: Batman Begins). In the case of Star Trek (the 11th film in the franchise), J.J. Abrams (creator of TV’s Alias and Lost) is taking dead aim at reinventing a sacred piece of pop culture with a whole new take on its iconic characters…and a lot of lucre. In this PG-13-rated reboot of the legendary sci-fi franchise, the origins of the young U.S.S. Enterprise crew (Pine, Quinto) are explored amid a vicious Romulan attack. The Plus: The players. Abrams is not only a television wunderkind (add Felicity and Fringe to those credits), he is also an acclaimed movie producer (Cloverfield) and director (Mission: Impossible III, the best entry in THAT franchise) as well. Paramount is so bullish that they have already slated another Star Trek sequel for 2011. The Minus: The expectation. With a reported budget of $150 million, the film will have to open at number one AND fight off Wolverine to turn a hefty profit and warrant said sequel. The Static: “This is not your father’s Star Trek”. – Marcincko “I definitely want to see Star Trek just because Sylar from Heroes looks just like Spock. I think the kid playing Captain Kirk looks strabismic (a medical term, the layman’s definition being “He’s got one good eye and the other one’s lookin’ at it.”), but my wife says I never have anything nice to say about a TV show or movie with a young, good looking guy in it. I’m sorry. I don’t buy kids who look just slightly older than my paperboy in big boy roles. (See: Leonardo DiCaprio).” – John Webster, Rock 107 Radio Personality Angels & Demons (May 15) Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor Dan Brown’s novel Angels & Demons is, as readers already know, a prequel to his international bestseller The DaVinci Code. So far as producer Brian Grazer and director Ron Howard are concerned, however, Angels & Demons is a sequel. Set after the events of their blockbuster smash The DaVinci Code, Angels sees the return of Tom Hanks as cryptologist Robert Langdon. And come September, filmgoers will get a sneak peek at Langdon’s next film adventure when Brown’s latest novel, The Lost Symbol, hits bookstores. In Angels, a PG-13-rated thriller, Langdon is called in to investigate after a mysterious group known as Illuminati hatches a nefarious plot to blow up the Vatican. The Plus: The players. Despite the fact that critics bristled at the result, The DaVinci Code made filmgoers a believer…to the tune of $217 million. Its Oscar-winning director (Howard, A Beautiful Mind) and Oscar-winning star (Hanks, Forrest Gump) surely had a heavy hand in this success. A change of hairdo for the latter’s character is another plus. The Minus: The competition. When DaVinci bowed in May, 2006, its stiffest competition was Mission: Impossible III (then in its third week) and the kid-flick Over the Hedge. Wolverine and Star Trek will not be lying down for Angels. The Static: “I read the book. Without saying too much, I’m not sure how the ending will play out on the big screen, so moviegoers should be forewarned.” - Shemanski Bruno (May 15) Sacha Baron Cohen Though he was educated in Israel and ultimately graduated from the upper crust and altogether proper British university known as Cambridge, Sacha Baron Cohen made a name for himself as a controversial, anti-Semitic, and altogether rude television interviewer. Cohen’s hip-hop-loving, Albanian, on-air alter-ago connected so well with British viewers that the hysterically over-the-top character was given his own show, Da Ali G Show. From this program (which he would later take across the pond to HBO), Cohen developed other popular characters including over-sexed racist Kazakhstani reporter Borat and the star of his latest film comedy, Bruno. In his R-rated follow-up to Borat, Cohen again terrorizes an unsuspecting public as a flamboyant Austrian fashion expert. The Plus: The players. Cohen proved a hit with critics and audiences alike when Borat became the comedy hit of summer, 2007 ($128 million). The director, famed comedy writer/director Larry Charles (TV’s Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm), has also returned for Bruno. Based on the trailer, they are serving up more of the same hilarity. The Minus: The expectation. Borat became such an instant classic that it will be hard for this second act to meet filmgoers’ lofty goals. The Static: “The only movie on this list I’m excited about is Bruno. Sacha Baron Cohen is a mad genius. I’d watch him pick his nose.” – Grega “I am totally psyched for Bruno. If he can make people believe that he was a culturally- retarded third world traveler as he did in Borat, then I can’t wait to see his new ruse: a gay Austrian fashion expert! I’m sure it will be politically incorrect which will make me want to see it even more. In fact, I might just sashay on down opening night! We need something funny in these times!” – Jumpin’ Jeff Walker, 98.5 KRZ Radio Personality Terminator Salvation (May 21) Christian Bale, Sam Worthington While critics and audiences alike saw the now-classic Terminator and its 1991 blockbuster sequel Judgment Day as revolutionary filmmaking, the follow-up (Rise of the Machines) proved another story altogether. Though the film ultimately netted Sony back its investment capital, its production never had the blessing or guidance of franchise creator James Cameron. It also marked star Arnold Schwarzenegger’s retirement from acting. As Empire recently pointed out, however, Rise’s apocalyptic can’t-avoid-destiny closer did put forth possibly the best ending of the series…and set up this further continuation. In the PG-13-rated Salvation, John Connor (Bale) is leading mankind’s war against the machines just as the arrival of a stranger (Worthington) threatens to alter the future of humanity. The Plus: The new players. Bale already has one legendary franchise under his belt (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight) and can surely shoulder another. Also, director McG (Charlie’s Angels) has made a believer out of fanboys with a trailer so compelling that it erases any memory of Rise of the Machine. The Minus: The old players. Cameron – though he reportedly suggested actor Worthington to McG - still has not given his blessing. Also, after much flotsam and jetsam, there is still no confirmation that Schwarzenegger will be returning…in the series that made him an icon. The Static: “Salvation can’t come soon enough for me, please!” – Marcinko “Batman as John Connor? Say it isn’t so!” - Shemanski Up (May 29) Voices of Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer After 10 successful, groundbreaking, animated films (A Bug’s Life, Monsters, Inc., Cars), Disney-owned Pixar Animation seems that it can do no wrong. In fact, the Mouse House will follow its latest new release with re-releases of old favorites in digital 3D. Look for Toy Story and Toy Story 2 to hit three dimensions very soon (October 2, 2009 and February 12, 2010, respectively)…just before the brand-spanking-new entry Toy Story 3 hits theaters next summer. In the latest G-rated Pixar film, a grumpy old man (Asner) escapes from society with a balloon-powered house only to find a stowaway aboard (Jordan Nagal). The Plus: The studio. In addition to being money makers, the Pixar films are also Oscar award-winning fans of critics as well (Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and WALL*E all took home the trophy for best Animated Film). The Minus: Consumer confidence. Wall Street investors have publicly aired their skepticism as to Up’s prospects creatively and financially in this blockbuster-driven summer. The Static: “The old man is grumpy and the kid is cute…an up, up, and away hit for Pixar.” - Marcincko Land of the Lost (June 5) Will Ferrell, Danny R. McBride Brothers Sid and Marty Krofft may not have household names, but their offbeat family television programs surely made a mark on any child of the ‘70s. Rife with colorful puppets and psychedelic imagery, their prolific roster of Saturday morning programs (Sigmund and the Sea Monster, H.R. Pufnstuf) was capped by their most memorable success, ABC’s 1974-76 hit Land of the Lost. In this PG-13-rated re-imagining of that low budget program, three explorers (Ferrell, McBride, Anna Friel) find themselves thrust into a strange world of dinosaurs, monkey people, and reptilian Sleestaks. The Plus: The players. Again (Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy) and again (Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby) and again (Step Brothers), Ferrell has proven to be a box office piped piper, luring comedy-craving filmgoers to the theaters in droves. Also, director Brad Silberling has done big-budget family entertainment before and done it well (Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events). The Minus: The material. Filmgoers approaching middle age - possibly even with their own tykes in tow - are not exactly clamoring to revisit EVERY facet of their childhood (Underdog, anyone?). Fortunately or unfortunately, the Krofft brothers are back to acting as producers on a project that may have lost its viability in 1976. The Static: “Sleestaks, T-Rex and Will Ferrell telling Matt Lauer he can “suck it!” I don’t know—sounds like fun to me!” - John Mikulak, producer/director, The Man Who Would Be Polka King (European World Premiere in June) The Taking of Pelham 123 (June 12) Denzel Washington, John Travolta As a rule, classic films should not be remade. If the original was somewhat lacking in quality, however, there have been some select times when a fresh set of eyes did wonders with the material. Take Ocean’s Eleven, for example. Though the original boasted the likes of The Rat Pack in all of their booze-swilled glory, the end result surprisingly lacked a lot of punch. Steven Soderbergh’s inspired remake, however, proved to be one of the smartest and cleverest heist capers in years. Sony is hoping for an Ocean-sized payday with a new take on the little remembered 1974 Walter Matthau/Robert Shaw thriller The Taking of Pelham 123. In this R-rated remake, a New York City subway dispatcher (Washington) becomes the unwitting pawn of a criminal mastermind (Travolta) out to hijack a subway car full of civilians. The Plus: The players. Washington (Inside Man, American Gangster) and Travolta (Hairspray, Wild Hogs) have enough star wattage between them to open a dog food commercial at number one. Also, director Tony Scott is certainly no slouch in this department either (Spy Game, Man on Fire). The Minus: The competition. This film has exactly one week to clean up before Transformers swoops in and wipes out the box office. The Static: “Being a ‘70s film freak, I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never seen the original. However, with the less talented Scott brother at the helm of the remake, I have a hunch the film will include tons of long-lens shots, overused gradiated filter effects, maybe some stylized strobed slo-mo and will most likely suck!” - Mikulak Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (June 24) Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox Back in 1986, animators were working overtime to bring audiences Transformers: The Movie, an adaptation of the TV cartoon series and children’s toy starring no less than the voice of Citizen Kane impresario Orson Welles. Then, some 21 years and innumerous pimply faced virgins later, computer animators worked overtime to bring director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg’s vision of the popular plaything to the screen…to the outstanding tune of $319 million at the American box office. Now, in this PG-13-rated sequel, Transformers stars LaBeouf and Fox re-team with friendly robots-in-disguise for an action-packed globetrotting battle against a gi-normous baddie from their home planet. The Plus: The potential franchise. Transformers decimated the international box office as well and put toymaker Hasbro in the good graces of their stockholders. The Minus: The expectation. The film reportedly has a budget of $200 million, which is quite a nut to make back, so…hello, is anybody still there? Oh drat, you’re already lining up for tickets, aren’t you? The Static: “The first one rocked and Megan Fox is SMOKIN’! Count me in!” - Shemanski Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (July 1) Voices of Ray Romano, Queen Latifah In 2002, 20th Century Fox had a mammoth hit on its hands with the family ‘toon Ice Age. 2006’s Ice Age 2: Meltdown gave audiences more of the same but did even better for its parent studio, nearly breaking the $200 million mark in the U.S. Fox is hoping for a three-peat when Manny the Mammoth and friends step back into theaters this summer. In this third installment of the animated Ice Age series, Manny (Romano), Sid (John Leguizamo), Diego (Denis Leary), and Ellie (Latifah) return to face their new pre-hysteric neighbors. The Plus: The players. Joining Romano (whose been around since the beginning) and Latifah (a holdover from Meltdown) are Denis Leary (TV’s Rescue Me), John Leguizamo (Righteous Kill), Seann William Scott (Role Models), and Simon Pegg (Star Trek). The Minus: The odds. Both Ice Age and Meltdown opened in the cool days of March when the box office competition was not nearly as hot as in the summer months. The Static: “I secretly love animated films. I’ll watch Shrek or Ice Age anytime they’re on. But I’ve noticed that as the studios try to turn these films in franchises (everything is a trilogy these days) the quality of the movies degrades severely. Look, I have no illusions. I’m going to see a talking mammoth run for his life from a T-Rex—this won’t be Oscar fare! But by and large these sequels are about as entertaining as John Ashcroft at a dance marathon…which is to say, not very.” – Sam Falbo, film/theater actor Public Enemies (July 1) Johnny Depp, Christian Bale Though Bryan Burroughs’s hard-hitting book Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the F.B.I., 1933-34 is cited as this film’s source material, director Michael Mann reportedly first took a stab at scripting the adventures of legendary bank robber and lothario John Dillinger soon after directing his breakout 1981 hit Thief. As with many H’Wood projects, it got pushed to the backburner. In the meantime, however Mann went on to direct Heat, Collateral, and Miami Vice, so there is no doubting his credentials as to crafting crime thrillers like Public Enemies…and just to prove it, he is also credited as one of the screenwriters. In this R-rated true crime drama from Mann, Dillinger and his gang blaze a trail through the American heartland with G-Man Melvis Purvis (Bale) hot on his trail. The Plus: The players. Mann is a tour-de-force filmmaker with a specialty for crime (modern classic Heat ends all arguments). His handpicked cast, however, includes Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean), Bale (The Dark Knight), Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard (En Vie en Rose), and Channing Tatum (Step Up). The Minus: The material. Bio-pics of this ire usually pop up in the fall when H’Wood is rolling out its award-baiting fare—not the popcorn blockbuster months. The Static: “The last time I got stoked for an on-screen pairing like this, that movie was called Righteous Kill. To say I’m skeptical is an understatement. And the odd choice of scenes they put together for the trailer hasn’t done anything to make me feel like this movie will be as good as I want it to be. But I’m going to see it. Depp and Bale re-enacting a famous cops and robbers story has got to be good, right?” - Falbo “Heat is one of my all-time favorite movies and we all know what Depp and Bale are capable of, so the potential could be endless.” - Shemanski “Christian Bale is in Terminator Salvation and Public Enemies. I hope he’s not going to use that Christian Bale pretending he’s Clint Eastwood pretending he’s Batman voice in these movies too.” – Webster Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (July 17) Daniel Radcliffe, Ralph Fiennes When the final Harry Potter novel hit bookstores in July, 2007, Muggles half-heartedly prepared themselves for the closing chapter in J.K. Rowling’s phenomenonally successful young wizard series. In terms of films, however, Warner Bros. still has one installment yet to go into production after this…better make that two. The studio has decided to split Potter’s seventh outing, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, into two separate films, with Part I due in 2010 and Part II due in 2011. In Half-Blood Prince, the PG-rated sixth chapter of the Harry Potter series, another year at the Horwarts wizard school convenes under the looming threat of Lord Voldemort’s (Fiennes) return. The Plus: The franchise. The five films already in release magically conjured up over a billion dollars worldwide. David Yates, who directed the critically acclaimed fifth entry to the tune of $292 million (The Order of the Phoenix), has returned to stoke the cauldron fire. The fact that he and the original cast are already signed for the last installment speaks well for the series’ commencement. The Minus: The delay. The film was originally due to hit theaters last November, but Warner Bros moved it to this summer. Though last year’s writer’s strike is chiefly to blame (with few other big prospects in development, the WB was left with a sizable gap in the money-making summer months), any number of reasons could actually be behind the studio’s decision—including creative. The Static: “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince? I am more excited about seeing the beginning of James T. Kirk’s adventures than the end of Harry Potter’s.” – Frederick G. Ott, Box Office Assistant, Arden Theater, Philadelphia Funny People (July 31) Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen With former TV staples Star Trek and Land of the Lost set to hit movie screens this summer, filmgoers are left to ponder the film prospects of their other favorite programs … like, say, the critically acclaimed but little watched Freaks and Geeks? When executive producer Judd Apatow launched the ’80s high school dramedy on NBC back in 2000, he did not have the back-to-back successes of 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up under his belt yet. But he did help to launch more than a few careers including those of ER’s Linda Cardellini, How I Met Your Mother’s Jason Segel, Spider-Man’s James Franco and - one of the stars of his latest - Seth Rogen (Observe and Report). In the R-rated Funny People, writer/director Apatow presents the bittersweet story of a legendary comedian (Sandler) who begins rethinking his life after a brush with death. The Plus: The talent. Apatow is a veritable hit machine. In addition to those projects listed above, the man has also produced Superbad, Step Brothers, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and Pineapple Express. Also, Sandler (Click) and Rogen (Aliens vs. Monsters) can open this film big on their names alone. The Minus: The odds. Apatow has also produced the coolly received comedies Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and Drillbit Taylor. Also, Sandler’s last comedy, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, did not fare as well as expected at the box office. Eventually, every funnyman bombs. The Static: “Will Adam Sandler get 20 million for yet another variation on his crowd-pleasing mentally challenged Canteen Boy/Bobby Boucher character?” - Webster G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (August 7) Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum Since launching the first footage of G.I. Joe in a spot that aired during the Super Bowl, Paramount gave audiences a glimpse into what their ‘Real American Heroes’ would like on-screen. Following in the mega-successful footsteps of Transformers, The Rise of Cobra is based on the popular line of Hasbro action figures that first launched in 1964. In this PG-13-rated adventure, an elite covert military organization (Quaid, Tatum) does battle with a mysterious terrorist operation called Cobra and their main arms dealer, Destro (Christopher Eccleston). The Plus: The material. If G.I. Joe is given the same time and attention as Transformers, the sky is the limit so far as franchise potential. Also, director Stephen Sommers has already had great success with big-budgeted actioners (The Mummy). The Minus: The unknown. But this film, unlike Transformers, does have Steven Spielberg on board as executive producer. Also, other than the Super Bowl spot, filmgoers have seen nothing of G.I. Joe…and the footage that was already screened did not exactly build huge anticipation. The Static: “I’ve been waiting for this movie to happen since I was 5. I’m not always an action film guy, but - for this one - I’ll be in line the first day.” – Kyle Brannon, writer/director, Still (www.richlier.com); Asst Professor, American University Inglorious Basterds (August 21) Brad Pitt, Eli Roth In emulating the schlocky drive-in double features from the ‘70s, indie mavericks Quentin Tarantino (Jackie Brown) and Robert Rodriguez (Sin City) put together a Grindhouse two-fer to die for…only nobody came. Though Tarantino’s entry Death Proof was eventually given some plaudits by critics after a longer cut was released on DVD, the movie’s financial stall was seen as the first chink in this auteur’s armor (both Kill Bill chapters had netted healthy returns for Miramax). In Tarantino’s latest, the R-rated World War II film Inglorious Basterds, Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Pitt) leads an unscrupulous team of Jewish-American Nazi hunters (Roth, B.J. Novack) into German-occupied France. The Plus: The players. Tarantino gave film audiences Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, for Chrissakes, so his long-gestating World War II film deserves John Q. Filmgoer’s full attention. Also, having fan favorite Pitt (Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) on board this project can only help matters. The Minus: The odds. At two hours and forty minutes, Basterds is going to have to fight hard to get filmgoers into the theaters during the last dog days of the blockbuster months. The Static: “I love the World War II film genre. Kelly’s Heroes is one of my favorite films of that vintage and this movie seems to have that kind of vibe. The potential exists for Tarantino to turn this into a campy, B-movie-slasher film that just happens to be set during World War II by overdoing it with the gore. I mean, did you see that trailer? But after the disappointment that was Valkyrie I need to see a good WWII pic and I’m in for this one.” - Falbo “Inglorious Bastards with Brad Pitt has B.J. Novack as a Nazi hunter? I better get my suspension of disbelief booster shot before I buy that ticket.” - Webster
Union Jack-Off
Your blogger is undeniably an Anglo-Phile. Very recently, he has deduced two English truths about himself. First, his last name almost certainly derives from the Birmingham/Leceister/Nottingham corridor of England, which is north of London by some two hours and change. Second, he loves English films. And by this statement, he does not mean uppity-crust Merchant and Ivory-style mannerly rogerings. He is, of course, referring to British Gangster flicks, Hammer Horror films and the James Bond canon.The former two shall be fodder for future blogs. Bond, however, is ripe for discussion even as The Man with the Golden Gun plays on your blogger’s flat-screen rear projection 50-inch Sony television (shaken martini in hand, of course). Having been an immense fan of the bone-crunching realism of the post 9/11 Bond reinvention (or Casino Royale, as it is better known), he has systematically watched every film in this series up to the 1974 film referenced at the beginning of this paragraph. It helps that Big Lots ran a sale offering every last one of these gems for $4 a pop.The early Sean Connery films are as good as the critics make mention. Dr. No is highly enjoyable and sets up the template in nearly every manner–dated trippy credits sequence, somewhat catchy song, and a megalomaniacal villain to boot. Connery is brash, built, and bucking the system. He seems almost blue collar in his mannerisms, looking great in designer suits but almost uncomfortable wearing them. He fits the role like a glove, however, and John Q. Filmgoer never once doubts his Double-Oh status.From Russia with Love is, very possibly, the best Bond film ever. It delivers a Sir Ian Fleming tale full of suspense, believably smitten femme fatales, and a down-n-dirty in-the-fray fight sequence aboard a train (indicative of the Daniel Craig films to come 45 years later).Goldfinger continued this trend of being harbinger, having M (the Boss) reprimand Bond (the employee) for being careless is his cavalier regards to the fairer sex. Thunderball took the series in a more gadgety direction but exemplified the fine storytelling of the series’ ’60s run. You Only Live Twice was the first average Connery Bond…but even average Connery Bond is better than most flicks. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was a revelation insofar as Bond history. Not only was Australian model George Lazenby good, he could have been a damn great Bond given the time and support (even producer Cubby Broccoli remarked this same sentiment at one time). He carried a great deal of the Connery traits (hair cuts, suit cuts, and cut-ups), but made a phenomenal impact for a first-time actor. It helps that the script is solid and marks a character-defining turn for the character (Bond gets married).A lot of people think that the arrival of Roger Moore marked Bond’s descent into pure ’70s camp, but it was Connery’s return to the franchise, Diamonds are Forever, that truly brought on the arch garishness. Moore’s debut, Live and Let Die, continued this campy trend, heavily relying on gadgets and arched eyebrow one-liners. But the distinctive Moore had more of a Britishness about him than Connery and his Bond seemed to despise violence despite being adept at it. Plus, his delivery immediately became iconic. And this, of course, brings all involved to The Man with the Golden Gun–the indulgent camptastic caper currently playing on in the background.Having been to England in July, your reviewer regrets not going to the Imperial War Museum to see the Sir Ian Fleming Exhibit that was then on display. He had raced out of Waterloo Station, which is practically right across the street, but the driving English rain had redirected him to a Public House for a pint. This move was, of course, to be expected. His name after all is Boam…Jeff Boam.
No comments