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Showing posts with label Spinoffs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spinoffs. Show all posts
Thursday, 4 August 2011
Jose’s anticipation for W.E. (and concurrent retrospective bashing of The King’s Speech) got me thinking about all the plot points at work in Hooper’s Oscar winner. Granted, I liked The King’s Speech. I felt it improved upon multiple viewings unlike most films of its genre, but there are so many interesting concepts at work that could make for (more?) interesting cinema. Case in the point the relationship between David and Albert.
For someone I’m always wont to forget whenever he turns up in anything, Guy Pearce gave a particularly affecting performance as the abdicator (perhaps, I should dedicate a column of Forgotten Characters to him). Firth is great all around the film, especially opposite Rush and HBC but my favourite scene of his is opposite Firth at that engagement party of Wally’s. Maybe sibling drama doesn’t make for revolutionary cinema, but I find the dynamic between the brothers to be more than worthy of a footnote in a film.
The only reason that Albert has all those issues to sort out with his speech therapist/shrink is because his youth is saturated with significant issues. I’d love the idea of a Becket like history of the brothers in their youth, and because women make everything better we could throw in the courtship of Elizabeth for the hell of it. I like Hooper, so I wouldn’t mind him returning for the prequel. I say James McAvoy as Albert and Matthew McFayden as David with Anna Friel as Elizabeth perhaps and we have a winner.
Who’s with me? Is this prequel worth funding?
Thursday, 28 July 2011
I've been remiss about some of the running features on the blog and it’s been some time since I delivered on an episode of The Spinoff – wherein I find ideas for sequels (prequels, spin-offs – you name it) more inspired than what Hollywood is tossing out. Of course, in Hollywood’s defence that’s not a difficult task when the most recent sequel in production is Ghost Rider, but I digress.
CS actually had a post a few weeks ago about knowing when to keep supporting characters supportive so I should probably tread lightly in the resuscitating of the feature. But, I’m starting with a kick-ass supporting character – Matron Mama Morton from Chicago as played by Queen Latifah. Chicago was a major high in 2002, what with its 13 Oscar nominees and whatnot. And, sometimes people remember Queen Latifah’s nod as one of those coaster nominations but I think that’s a bit of an underestimation of the work she does. But, this post isn’t about her specifically – it’s about Mama.
Would you watch this spin-off? How would you rate it as against Hollywood’s own sequel ideas?
Thursday, 23 December 2010
In the face of constant aversion I’m still a hopeless fan of David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I’ll desist from launching into another interminable diatribe on why it deserves praise, but I will say that one of the things I like about it – that’s quite obvious, but oh well – is gamut of characters covered. True, it’s almost a bildungsroman as all these characters unsubtly help Benjamin develop. I’m loath to picking favourites but – taking Ben, Daisy and Queenie out of the race, gun-to-my-head and I’d single out Tilda Swinton’s Elizabeth Allen who in a weird way emerges as one of the film’s most poignant characters even if she doesn’t really do anything.
This is a woman who visibly has a story to tell, that first meeting with Benjamin in the elevator is a lovely moment – what I love most is how Fincher frames Elizabeth as the antithesis of Daisy without ever making her a foil to that inevitable pairing. As a staunch fan of Cate, I don’t ever think of her while Elizabeth is on screen. I’ve never been able to submerge myself in the effusive love for Tilda across the blogoshphere; I haven’t seen enough of her work to. But her attention to subtleties is one of the things that defines her brilliance in The Curious Case of Benjamin, and although structuring Elizabeth’s story as one about swimming is a wee bit bland – I’d be most interested in seeing her do a variation on this character for the duration of an entire film. She has a knack for playing characters with harsher tones, and Elizabeth is no patsy – but there’s that palpable warmth emanating from her, I’d like to see Tilda get on that.
Previously
Natalie Portman expands her bit role from Cold Mountain
Patricia Clarkson takes centre stage, from her character Judy in Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Richard and Susan examine their marriage troubles from Babel
Meredith Logue and Tom Ripley continue their journey in The Talented Mr. RipleyNatalie Portman expands her bit role from Cold Mountain
Patricia Clarkson takes centre stage, from her character Judy in Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Richard and Susan examine their marriage troubles from Babel
Thursday, 14 October 2010
I vaguely remember in the wake of the, somewhat, mixed reactions to Nicole Kidman in Cold Mountain a slew of bloggers suggested that Natalie Portman would have been a more ideal choice for Ada Munroe. I’ve never read the book, so I can’t say anything about the translation to screen. I am a big fan of Anthony Minghella, and Nicole Kidman so I loved Cold Mountain. It’s nowhere near Minghella’s best, but it’s admirable – and its cast is top-notch.Even if I don’t cherish the prospect of young Ms. Portman as Ada I do appreciate the performance she gives in the film as a young woman who Inman meets on his journey. Like any story divided in two one take precedence and Ada and Ruby are more interesting that Inman’s trek across the country – even if Jude Law is brilliant. But the moment where his journey gets most poignant is in the scene with Sarah. I’m vaguely fond of Portman, but I’m not wholly bowled over by her talent. Case in point, I think she’s fine in Closer, but still the least impressive of the quartet. When it comes to taking small roles and making them memorable her incarnation of Sarah ranks at the top. Everything in those few moments works in a way that I don’t expect. We are salivating waiting for Inman to reach Ada but for that scene we’re completely focused on Sarah.
It’s the type of role I’d like to see Natalie tackle. My excitement for Black Swan is slightly tamp though I’m still anxious to see Portman hold down an entire film. Perhaps the role of a woman waiting at home for her husband to return from war is generic, but an inspired writer could always do wonders with the story. It would be a fine piece for Natalie to tackle, she’s the sort of actor who’s good when pushed but is easily lost in the shuffle in an ensemble. I wouldn't mind seeing her headline something like this.
Previously
Meredith Logue and Tom Ripley continue their journey in The Talented Mr. RipleySaturday, 2 October 2010
Other than Cairo Time when was the last time Patricia Clarkson was front and centre in a film? She’s been constantly popping up in movies, with some significant parts here and there but rarely have I seen her anchor a film – and it’s not for a lack of talent. I remember watching Vicky Cristina Barcelona and being strangely interested in Patricia’s bored wife. Depending on you speak to Woody’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona is either horribly bland, placid and different or just horrible. I’d say everyone does a good job, it was some time before I became a complete believer in Penelope’s Marie Elena but I was immediately struck by Patty’s Judy. She seems to be explicitly exist as a character from some other Allen film (Husbands & Wives). 
One thing Woody has always been able to do is convince you that his supporting characters are leading players in their own worlds and I could only imagine what the life of Judy must be. Patricia brings such a ridiculous self-absorption to the role that’s sometimes easy to miss. But, more importantly she plays Judy as a desperate housewife but not a pathetic. I’ll probably be a believer in Woody’s talent for life even if he doesn’t all get the ace in the hole. Only recently Burning Reels suggested that Woody turn to his former heroines (Dianne, Diane, Mia) to make a film about the older girls, but I think a prequel on Judy’s apparently tedious marriage could be just as interesting. I probably was one of the few that liked Whatever Works, and Patricia was smashing in it. I’d like to see her tackle Woody again.
What about you? Would you be interested in seeing Patty holding down a Woody film?
Previously:
Thursday, 16 September 2010
I have a soft spot for Babel. I know many people consider it to be Crash’s less distinguished foreign cousin, which generally irks me. But I’ve grown out of my initial loathing for Crash and descended into righteous dislike...but I digress. Babel, like so many ensemble dramas there are so many characters to take note of ...so many characters we could spend more time with. I’d single out Adrianna Bazzara as the film’s strongest performer, but my second choice is someone that’s often forgotten – Pitt. I’m still confused as to why Pitt was virtually ignored that year, but then he was also ignored for a brilliant turn in The Assassination of Jesse James (and once again, I’m digressing...)
Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt play the married couple, Richard and Susan Jones. They're a couple with obvious relationship trouble, she gets shot in the neck at the beginning of the film and he spends the duration of the film ensuring that she doesn’t die. Cate and Brad showed us later that they have amazing chemistry (evidence) but I like the idea of them in Babel even if Cate’s role was slight. I’m not sure if the idea of a spin-off (prequel?) that has me interested, after all marriage dramas are nothing inventive at the moment...that being said, what is? It’d be interesting to see them travel that territory again, though.I'd be willing to sit down and watch two hours of Cate and Brad biting each other's head off.
What about you?
Previously:
Saturday, 28 August 2010
It seems each time I start thinking about The Talented Mr. Ripley I get obsessed with writing about it. Watching it yesterday I still think that each member of the main quintet should have walked away with Oscar nominations – but I’m greedy like that. I gave you my pipe dream last week for a prequel about the life of Marjorie Mellor before she became wife to Jack and mother to Jenny and now I’m thinking about another sequel for The Talented Mr. Ripley. As brilliant as Gwyneth Palthrow is (and she really is) I can’t help being interested in Cate’s Meredith Logue whenever she appears on screen and Matt Damon and she have such good chemistry together. Earlier in the week I spoke of the ending and it’s implications for Ripley – a life of loneliness. Yet, what happens after? Does Tom (aka Dickie) ever meet Meredith again? Imagine the sort of film that could be.
Of course, Anthony Minghella is no more – he wrote and directed the actual film, but I’d still like to see Cate and Matt team up for a sequel picking up ten years after the credits rolled. I think Sam Mendes could do a nice job of handling it, even if he’s never done anything quite like that. Who knows what will happen? Perhaps Tom will eventually kill her too, but it’s sort of odd that Cate who seems to work with everybody hasn’t worked with Matt since. Maybe they’d go to another location, who knows? I just know I’d like to see more of Tom Ripley, and the actual book was a series of book so I’m sure there are loads of adventures he could get himself into.
Would you be interested in seeing more of Tom Ripley? Who would you put to direct?
Friday, 20 August 2010
When I mentioned a couple of months ago that I felt that there was eons of story beneath the characters in An Education it was Mrs. Mellor, played excellently by Cara Seymour, that stood out the most. Remember that moment when David stops in for a drink and Marjorie says, laughingly, of her past life “I’m trying to think what you missed. Nothing much comes to mind.” It’s little moments like that that get me thinking about Marjorie Mellor as a real person and not as a plotpoint in An Education of Jenny Mellor. And, really, wouldn’t that be a capital film. Sequels, spinoffs and reinterpretations are a big no-no right now, cinematically speaking. The thing is, the reason those end up doing so poorly is because there’s really nothing new to be seen. Same story, different protagonist. Sure, the convoluted action flick might be a moderate smash at the box-office…but it’s more than just about the money. Right?
It would be a whole other kind of An Education if we could see Marjorie as a young Briton in the forties. I did say she reminded me a bit of a Helen who’d taken the high road. Thus, who better than the actual Helen to play her? Rosamund Pike has been doing too many thankless supporting roles. She needs a leading role worthy of her brilliance. Bring back Lone Scherfig to direct and Nick Hornby to write the script and we could have a winner on her hands. How did Marjorie end up with her stick-in-the-mud husband? Granted, it’s anyone’s guess if Jack was always so uptight. And who to cast as the resident fuddy-duddy? Matthew McFayden, no less. He’s not as deliciously histrionic as Alfred Molina (who is?), but he’s a “safe” choice – the type of affable man who feels he is not good enough for his wife. Am I the only one getting the feeling that Mr. Mellor is well aware that he’s a lucky bastard for catching Marjorie? I love that moment near the beginning where Jenny’s asking for directions to St. John’s Smith Square and Marjorie says, “It’s in Westminster. Just around the corner from the Abbey.” Jack does the slightest of double takes, “How d’you know that?” Marjorie is unaffected, “I had a life before we were married, you know.” No passion – just a fact. Cara Seymour is just perfect in her role…and that only gets me wondering more, was Marjorie a prominent socialite?
I don’t quite know what the plot would focus on. Was she born in Twickenham? Did she always want to be a dutiful housewife? Perhaps she was a nurse during the war. Or perhaps she had hopes of becoming an actress in her day that were thwarted by a love affair with the amicable, if somewhat trite, Jack. Yes, my brain’s just hopping around but that’s one spinoff I’d pay good money to see.
Am I barking up the wrong tree, or would your interest be piqued at the idea of a prequel for Marjorie Mellor? Rosamund and Matthew…or someone else?
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