I saw a movie trailer at the theatre last night that looked so good, I didn’t want to see the feature anymore.
I’m serious.
Have you heard about The Conspirator? Directed by Robert Redford, the film tells the story of Mary Surratt, the lone female charged as a co-conspirator in the assassination trial of Abraham Lincoln, and the reluctant lawyer who agrees to defend her.
Based on that description, you may think, “Huh. Historical drama. Could be interesting, could be mind-numbing.” But wait until you hear the lineup of actors Redford has assembled.
Robin Wright as Mary Surratt. James McAvoy as her lawyer. (It’s about time he returned to the screen. I know he was a voice in Gnomeo & Juliet, but that doesn’t count.) Tom Wilkinson. Kevin Kline. Evan Rachel Wood. Jonathon Groff. Stephen Root. Danny Huston. Justin Long. Alexis Bledel.
Heck, it usually takes a lame movie like Valentine’s Day to get that much talent in one room.
But this film looks great — epic even. I could hardly get through the trailer without cheering. I was disappointed when it ended and I had to watch Unknown, the movie I had gone to see. (Don’t get me wrong — it was actually pretty fun…lots of car chases and plot twists and turns.)
But McAvoy and Redford together? Hell, that’s a movie event!
Come on, April 15th — tax day never looked so good!
Not again
Making movies cost the big bucks, it’s true.
So perhaps we shouldn’t judge producers too harshly when they remake blockbusters from years past to ensure box office success…like The Great Gatsby or Footloose.
This may also explain ‘sequel-itis’…although quality seems to figure less in that equation.
Case in point: New Year’s Eve from director Garry Marshall.
(Sorry; it was that bad.)
I’m not surprised actors are drawn to the sequel; it’s the easiest money they’ll ever make. And Garry Marshall probably just used the Valentine’s Day shooting script and changed the California locations to New York City.
But why do it at all?
Critics skewered the first film, and audience reviews were only slightly warmer. And while Valentine’s Day did break $100 million at the box office, there were a lot of celebrity salaries to pay.
Well, after seeing the trailer, I think I’ve figured it out.
Garry has directed a train wreck of a film…and we all know how hard it is not to look at one of those.
Cha-ching!
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Posted in Celebrities, Commentary, Entertainment, Holiday, Humor, Life, Movies, Relationships, Valentine's Day
Tagged California, celebrities, cliched storylines, cliches, commentary, entertainment, Footloose movie, Garry Marshall, Holiday, Humor, Justin Bieber, life, movie box office, movie classics, movie critics, movie director, movie producers, movie remakes, movie reviews, movie sequels, movie stars, Movies, New Year's Eve movie, New York City, Relationships, The Great Gatsby movie, Times Square, Valentine's Day movie