Superheroes, Shakespeares, Stonewalls, and Series Endings
Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 2:00PM Lukewarm off the presses: Here's a collection of things we didn't get around to talking and/or linking to for your enjoyment or conversation prompting. We always hope for both. And I'm always hoping to empty out my "things to write about immediately" desktop folder... which is never emptied out.
• Terrence Malick's new movie (the one right after Knight of Cups) will be called Weightless (no cracks about how skinny Portman, Blanchett, Fassbender, and Rooney Mara, who star, are) but it's about music and its set in Austin. Apparently there's Madonna, Bob Dylan and Arcade Fire songs or something? Who knows. In truth I don't know why I'm sharing this info. Fact: Malick movies are only interesting in the watching of them, not in the hearing about their development since that's always totally vague.
• Glenn Kenny wrote a lovely piece about his mother's love of Alfred Hitchcock movies (she recently died) and he brings up an interesting point about how older audiences of either gender remember and loved his work. Do you know what your parents favorite Hitchcock's were?
• Look! It's Jeremy Irvine in action director Roland Emmerich's first gay drama Stonewall (2015) -- that and plenty of other things are after the jump...
Stonewall (2015)
Stonewall (1995)
Which is not to be confused with the gay indie Stonewall on the same topic (the 1969 Stonewall riots) and it probably won't be as that tiny low budget film was fairly underseen and is already 20 years old (have any of you seen it?). The earlier film starred Scandal's assassin back when he was a tiny wisp of a thing unlike the bulkier guy he is now and his boyfriend was played by Frederick Weller, who I always hoped would have a bigger film career after a promising start (he's good on stage, too). The 1995 used fictional characters to portray the real drama and I believe the new film is doing the same. Out director Roland Emmerich is of course best known for doing massive (and massively dumb) action movies (10000 BC, 2012, Independence Day, Universal Soldier and such). Literally the only non-action flick he's directed since moving to Hollywood from Germany, is that 'Shakespeare was a fraud' drama Anonymous (2011) which got one Oscar nomination (costume design). Roadside Attractions will be pushing it in the fall (presumably with awards hopes) but what to make of its awards chances? I'm guessing no unless it's a critical surprise. Hey, you never know...
• Here's another weird movie vs movie with the same title thing. The new Macbeth, which we were just fantasizing about -- the one with Marion Cotillard and Michael Fassbender -- isn't even locked yet and there's talk of ANOTHER Macbeth. This time it's Martin Scorsese directing Kenneth Branagh in the role.
• I wrote about the casting of Alone in Berlin, a new thriller starring Emma Thompson almost a year ago. The possibility of the movie was tantalizing, not just for Emma in a semi-rare lead role but a GREAT co-star in Mark Rylance, the little seen (onscreen) theatrical giant. But now all the reports of the movie say her co-star is the oft-seen (onscreen) Brendan Gleeson. What happened? Nobody even mentions a casting switcheroo in articles about the production but it's filming now.
• When I first saw this photo of Mrs & Mrs Bates on the set of Downton Abbey Season 6 I almost joked "okay, whose murder are they suspected of this season?" These two are always being arrested for murder. (Once you do something twice on a soap opera with the same characters it's "always" so writers rooms, beware -- don't be embarrassing like that!) As it turns out they only have time to be accused of one more murder since Season 6 will be the last. The actors contracts are up and since Maggie Smith was 100% bolting, one suspects everyone else, including Julian Fellowes, gave up. 'Well, if Maggie's leaving ratings will plummet.' A truth.
• And yes "Looking" just ended and I should say something but I'm still sorting out my feelings.
• Have you seen how The Thing looks in the new Fantastic Four movie? It's very rock monster from Never Ending Story. Poor Jamie Bell. The movies never do right by him.
• I'm trying not to be excited about Netflix's Daredevil. There is no proof yet that anyone knows how to do superhero shows for television even if that's where they'd fit most naturally (given that their adventures are so serialized). Yes, yes, I like "The Flash" too but the CW is the CW and there's always something a little, oh, assembly line generic casting (tv beauty above acting gifts / charisma / memorability) and demographically studied and, well, juvenile about their shows. But Netflix's track record is pretty good so far and Daredevil has great material if someone does it well. Plus we NEED something good to wipe everyone's memories of that awful 2003 movie.
That said I can't get a bead from the previews as to whether or not it's going to be any good though I love this color saturated casting call like presentation from the latest teaser with the vocal baton passing form character to character as they all line up. If the actual series has this kind of gift with color and composition (I sincerely doubt it will) it'll be just gorgeous. True Story: I don't much like Vincent D'Onofrio as an actor so him as DD's arch-enemy Kingpin is not so promising so I have to pin all my hopes on Charlie Cox and Deborah Ann Woll who are both delicious. Thoughts? Hopes?
• Speaking of supervillains... the first image of Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor arrived and it's as you might have expected, Jesse sans brunette curls. I love it. Bald is Beautiful. I heard some people griping that he's no Gene Hackman. Hey, I love Gene Hackman but I didn't love him as Lex Luthor back in the day -- too jokey for me, that interpretation.
Thoughts on any of these stories in the comments please -- and what else has been on your mind that we haven't discussed? I mean besides the Southpaw trailer. I'm running behind!
Reader Comments (12)
A friend of mine who worked on Daredevil told me that a) D'Onofrio *lost* weight to do Kingpin and b) it's some of his best work in awhile. So we'll see.
I remember the '95 Stonewall fondly. It was produced by indie producer-hero Christine Vachon, wasn't it? Fred Weller was so cute, and you can hardly recognize Diaz at all as the skinny drag queen.
Before watching Emmerich's film, you could also watch a very good documentary about Stonewall called "The Stonewall Uprising." It lays out the history really well. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/stonewall/
I don't have high hopes for daredevil, but you never know. I hope to be wrong. Flash is a strong show and Arrow was great prior to the most recent season.
My dad's favorite Hitchcock is and always has been The 39 Steps one because it's a good film but more so because he meet Madeleine Carroll on a hospital train during WWII when he was wounded and has loved her ever since. My mother has always favored Rear Window.
Nathaniel, would love to hear your thoughts on the cancellation of "Looking." I can only speak for myself but this cancellation really stings. I thought the show finally found it's voice in Season 2. How unfortunate.
Kenneth Branagh's production of "Macbeth" is amazing, and it seems that they are finalizing the details of bringing it to the screen. Directed by none other than Scorcese, and with the same cast as the original. I saw the National Theatre Live version over a year ago and Branagh as Macbeth was every bit as brilliant as you would expect. Alex Kingston was a worthy Lady Macbeth. It was a very muddy, bloody, and swift moving production - I'm just so pleased that it will be captured on film. Really good battle scenes.
Any movie with Emma Thompson is highly anticipated, but I had no idea until today that "Alone in Berlin" is written by Achim von Borries (“Good Bye Lenin!”). Now that makes me even more anxious to see it.
Nathaniel: If you are a fan of Mark Ryance you will be able to see him in "Wolf Hall" which should be coming to HBO soon. His performance brings back memories of Alex Guiness in "Tinker Tailor" - quiet perfection is the only way to describe it.
The idea of Roland Emmerich doing a movie about Stonewall is crazy and therefore marvelous, and I want to see it right away.
I don't think you can ever have too much Shakespeare. Unfortunately, what we usually get is too much bad Shakespeare.
I was in the '95 Stonewall. Diaz was so sweet. Weller............lets just say I think he has surpassed anyone's expectations for his career based on what we saw of his talent and attitude.
It was an interesting shoot. We shot in the Meat Packing district (back when there was still meat packing going on and I'm not talking about the butchers). They had to keep the costume truck locked because the working girls kept running in and stealing things. We shot in a very cold, damp Nov--dressed for a very hot, humid June. I saw a rough cut of about 30 minutes of the director's vision for the film. NIgel died before it was released and Vachon recut the film to fit her own vision which wasn't nearly as interesting. It was a lot of fun to work on, but it taught me that running in heels is not for the faint of heart and best not talk about cobble stone streets. The Stonewall Inn would not let us shoot exteriors or interiors (well, they would, but expected to be paid as if we were shooting Star Wars) which is why we relocated to MePa. I hear they have treated the new shoot in the same manner. This film is still one of my favorite work memories.
In our house, it was always The Birds. I was scared of fowl for years and I still shudder at certain flocks of feathered critters.
Ever since Breaking Bad, I can't take Jesse seriously. I realize it's a different name, but I made a connection the first time I heard it and have never been able to shake it and now with the bald head..............
That is an amazing anecdote, Henry.
I remember the 1995 film fondly. I caught it on late night TV around '99 and watched it secretly in my bedroom up close to the screen so I could quickly turn it off if my parents walked by. I like that movie, although I wonder if it stacks up. I remember the actor who portrayed the transgender woman really impressing me. I think I'm remember the role correctly.
As for the new one... well, look, I'm holding out some hope. If Roland Emmerich wants to make a movie like this then I'm not going to hate on it sight unseen (speaking of Looking...) although, yes, the lily white aspect of it does concern.
Two Hitchcock movies
Rebecca. And the Trouble with Harry
Great story, Henry!
I think it sums up that Nigel was trying to make something closer in tone to GBH and Vachon wanted Selma.