A Reel Preview - MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

In 1979, Australian director George Miller unleashed his wild vision of an untamed future in the form of the Mel Gibson-led MAD MAX, and then followed up the successful film with two sequels. This weekend, a new version of MAX roars into sight with MAD MAX: FURY ROAD. Here is everything you need to know about this highly anticipated film. 

What is this about? – In the year 2060, after the downfall of civilization, a loner named Max agrees to escort a small group of women across a desert landscape, while being pursued by a bloodthirsty band of savages and their souped-up killer war machines. 

Who stars? – Tom Hardy, who has thrilled audiences with his roles in THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, WARRIOR, BRONSON, and TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY, plays the role of “Mad” Max Rockatansky…which was once inhabited by Mel Gibson. Hardy is joined by Charlize Theron (MONSTER), Nicholas Hoult (X-MEN: FIRST CLASS), Zoe Kravitz (daughter of Lenny, also from FIRST CLASS), and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (TRANFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON). 

Who is directing? – George Miller, who just turned 70 this year, returns to helm the franchise that he created over 30 years ago. Miller’s recent output has been in animated family films as of late including the Oscar-winning HAPPY FEET (2006), and its 2011 sequel, along with BABE: PIG IN THE CITY (1998), and live-action films LORENZO’S OIL (1992), and the WITCHES OF EASTWICK (1987). 

Random Facts – Miller has been trying to bring a fourth MAD MAX film to screens for the last 25 years with Mel Gibson set to return. They were all set to shoot in 2001, but it was postponed due to the 9/11 attacks. By 2003 they were set to restart, but security restrictions halted production again (they were to film in Namibia), and Gibson lost interest after the cancellation * Once production picked up in 2006, Heath Ledger (Joker from THE DARK KNIGHT), was considered for the role of Max * Miller designed the film through storyboarding, which resulted in over 3,500 panels * Filming finally began in 2012 and wrapped a year later * Miller claims that 90% of the effects and stunt work, involving hundreds of souped-up trucks, cars, and motorcycles, were all practical (non-CG.

What to expect? –Starting with the director, if you’re going to reboot or remake (or expand) a franchise, you can’t be in better hands than the guy who started it all in the first place. Miller may be 70 years old but he knows the material and how to make it work, and his time in the animated film genre should certainly have taught him some delicate sensibilities over the years. Mel Gibson may have created an iconic character for the ages in the original role and seem irreplaceable, but if the franchise is to move forward then new blood is certainly needed (besides, even the original Bond got recast)…and there is no better new Max than Tom Hardy. Hardy is an elemental force in every film he appears in, and has the imposing physique and intimidating demeanor needed for the character. Miller’s dedication to practical effects, and thousands of fire-breathing vehicles thundering across the desert landscape is a breath of fresh air to those of us tired of non-threatening-looking CGI noise, and is a throwback to an earlier, more ambitious age of filmmaking. We can expect visual mastery and on-screen chaos, and hopefully some fun madness. 

*

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD opens May 15^th. 

A Reel Opinion: Women Can Be Heroes Too.

In case you just arrived on this planet and aren’t up to date on the current state of cinema, superhero movies are a pretty big thing these days. Critics, fans, and the general public love them, and major studios such as Disney/Marvel, Warner Bros/DC Comics, Fox and Sony have super-films lined up well into the next decade. But the one glaring chink in that super-armor has been the lack of female-led superhero films. As explained by Reel Speak last week HERE, although both Marvel and DC have plans for one such film a-piece, there has been a general lack of interest from studio-suits to greenlight more of them. However, the events of this past weekend makes this Blogger believe that a new hope is rising. 

Once again, this Blogger was pleased too once again attend Wizard Con Philadelphia. The 15^th annual comic-con had its usual grand collection of movie and TV stars, vendors, exhibitors, gaming displays, and of course…cosplayers. This year’s comic-con had its usual share of female cosplayers doing sexed-up versions of Harley Quinn (more than usual this year, thanks to the upcoming DC film which features the character), Catwoman, Wonder Woman, Poison Ivy, and Black Widow. But there was a new character to be seen on the floor…that of Marvel’s relatively new character, Agent Peggy Carter. 

Portrayed by actress Hayley Atwell, Agent Peggy Carter first appeared on the big-screen in CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER in 2011, and would later reprise the character in Cap’s sequel THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014), along with AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015), and this summer’s ANT-MAN. The character became so popular that it inspired an ongoing TV series called AGENT CARTER, and at this year’s comic-con in Philadelphia, also inspired many young women, and girls, to dress up as the 1940’s version of the character. In an age when cosplaying for women usually means showing off midriffs and letting cleavage hang out everywhere, it was certainly something different to see so many costumes in the conservative-manner that Agent Peggy Carter appears in. 

But the real revelation came at Hayley Atwell’s question-and-answer forum which was attended by several thousand fans…with most of them young girls. The 33-year old Atwell was seemingly humbled by the attention she was getting, and most especially by the feedback from the young ladies who were fortunate enough to make it to the microphone to speak to her. The young ladies and girls made sure Atwell knew how much of an inspiration she had become in their lives by way of touching stories and outright gratitude. Atwell in return shared a story or two about the response she gets daily from young girls, including one story with ending with “women can be heroes too”. There was something special in the air at this forum; a feeling of gratitude going both ways…along with a new generation of superhero fans who are finally getting what they have sought after for so long…a hero of their own. Ms. Atwell seems to accept her new responsibility with grace and humbleness, and the impact she has had on those in attendance could be felt as strong as a punch. This Blogger has attended many conventions over the years, and this one was by far the most memorable and powerful. 

As explored by Reel Speak HERE last week, the reluctance of studios to put a female in the lead role of a superhero film may just be the tip of iceberg, and points towards the larger issue of women being underpaid and often overlooked in Hollywood. But in the meantime, they all should take notice of the incredible shift that was evident in Philadelphia’s Wizard World comic-con. The increasing involvement of women at comic-cons and at the movie theatre will be a long-lasting step in the right direction…and finally give them the leading cinematic heroine that they, and the world needs and deserves. 

A Reel Review: MAGGIE

When Arnold Schwarzenegger returned to acting in 2010 full-time after a long hiatus, he picked up right where he had left off; making crappy movies. During his time away from Hollywood, the zombie-genre became mainstream; inspiring straight-up horror films, comedies, and love stories…just about to the point of overexposure. Here in 2015, the Austrian Oak sheds his usual machine-gun wielding, wise-cracking routine…and spends time in a zombie movie which strives to break away from the normal brain-eaters. 

In a post-apocalyptic world where a deadly epidemic is turning people into deadly zombies, Wade (Schwarzenegger) rescues his daughter Maggie (Abigail Breslin) from a clinic after she has been bitten and infected by a pack of zombies…and brings her home to wait out her inevitable transformation. 

It doesn’t take long to realize that MAGGIE is a departure from the stock zombie flick, and is certainly not the usual Schwarzenegger vehicle. There is nothing more powerful than bringing home a sick child knowing that she is going to die soon, only this time the death/transformation would mean danger to the rest of the family. As Maggie begins her slow turn, Wade is faced with three choices; to turn her over to a concentration camp/quarantine facility where she would inhumanly spend the rest of her days, or to slip her a drug where she would pass away quietly, or to end her life quickly via gunshot. It’s a choice that no parent should ever have to make, and this is the heart and soul of MAGGIE which separates it from the usual zombie-flick. 

While the film tries really hard to be different, director Henry Hobson has a lot going on which does not mesh well. MAGGIE starts out as a horror film, then it turns into a family drama, and then a teen drama, and then back to family and back to horror. There are many different genres going on at once that never quite mesh into one, and it often feels disjointed. There also seems to be some lapses in the film’s own logic; the world is dying and things are bleak, and yet teenagers are still able to hang out and party as if it was 1999. 

There is still a lot to admire in MAGGIE. Hobson shoots the film with an intimate touch that brings out the human heart, and with the natural mood-lighting and haunting score, the film has a trance-like quality to it. The drama between family members is where the film is at its best, and the choices the they are forced to make are heartwrenching. There is an arthouse quality to MAGGIE, as it is slowly paced, beautifully shot, and never once mentions the term “zombie”. Maggie’s transformation is  fascinating and horrific thing to see as she goes from spooky, glossed-over eyes to decaying flesh to labored breathing…to an appetite for meat which doesn’t involve bacon. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger turns in the most mature acting job he’s ever done. Playing the role of a father facing incredibly difficult choices, it’s a role that he could not have done during his younger days as it certainly requires an element of age. With his grey beard and leaner physique, he looks older and wiser than ever, and his acting matches it. Abigail Breslin shows great chemistry with Schwarzenegger, and it’s never a stretch to buy the two as father and daughter. Joely Richardson struggles with her southern accent, but turns in a good role as Maggie’s step-mom. 

The finale is a bit predictable, but makes sense considering the place the characters were in…and while the world MAGGIE takes place in has little to no hope, it still leaves us with a good feeling. Slightly flawed but smart enough to stay interesting, MAGGIE gets more than enough right to earn a viewing. 

BOTTOM LINE: See it

A Reel Opinion: Where are the Female Superheroes?

Last week, Disney and Marvel Studios’ 11^th entry in their series of superhero films, AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, opened to a massive box office take and good-to-great feedback from fans and critics. With the fans on their side and further films in their series planned well into the next decade, it seems Marvel can do wrong. Until…

A leaked email from Marvel CEO Ike Perlmutter, dated last year, has surfaced on the internet courtesy of WikiLeaks. In that email, Perlmutter shoots down the idea of greenlighting any female-led superhero movies. He cites past critical and financial flops such as SUPERGIRL (1984), CATWOMAN (2004), and ELEKTRA (2005) as reasons to stay away from the idea. 

Women in superhero films as a whole tend to get stuck in supporting roles. As of this writing, there are only two (2) female-led superhero films on the way; Marvel’s CAPTAIN MARVEL in 2018, and Warner Bros./DC Comics’ WONDER WOMAN in 2017. Outside of that, women who are given the chance to fight alongside, or against the men, are never given the lead role. Perlmutter seems to be following a trend in Hollywood and it is full of holes. 

To begin with, it isn’t fair to use past examples as a basis for staying away from a lady in the lead. SUPERGIRL was made during a time when no one knew how to make a good superhero movie no matter who was in the tights, and CATWOMAN and ELEKTRA were done during a time before the genre became legit at the theatre. Perlmutter also seems to be ignoring the popularity of his own products; Marvel’s cinematic version of Black Widow, Lady Sif (THOR), and Agent Carter (CAPTAIN AMERICA) have been immensely popular among all fans…with Agent Carter earning herself her own TV series. And speaking of the small screen, Marvel has developed a mini-army of strong female characters on their movie-connected AGENTS OF SHIELD show, and most recently introduced a female supervillain with powers. These characters are popular with fans, and it isn’t just limited to Marvel; DC Comics has developed strong characters in their ARROW TV show and have a new SUPERGIRL series on the way. Perlmutter seems to be overlooking this, and is passing by a great opportunity to capitalize on great characters flying under the radar. 

With such faulty logic, the situation with Perlmutter’s attitude perhaps points to a bigger issue going on; sexism in Hollywood. There is a lack of female-led films outside of superheroes, women are paid less than men, and there is a troubling shortage of female directors (DC Comics has been struggling to find a female director to helm their WONDER WOMAN film)…and the issue was brought up by Patricia Arquette at her Oscar acceptance speech this year. The issue is bigger than superheroes, so Perlmutter may just be one small nut in the bucket. 

Back to the immediate topic, it’s also unfair to have such a narrow definition of what a female hero should be. Should they be limited to super-powers? Certainly not. Cinema has given us very strong female heroes in the past in the form of Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley in the ALIEN films, Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor in THE TERMINATOR, and recently, Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss in the immensely popular HUNGER GAMES franchise.  But if it has to be about superheroes, Marvel would be wise to stick to the philosophy that has gained them so much success and that is to embrace your characters and give the fans what they want. The popularity of the characters today point towards a demand for them, so it’s fair to say that if Marvel builds it, they will come. At the very least…the ladies should be given a chance to show what they can do. 

*

WONDER WOMAN arrives in theatres June 2017. CAPTAIN MARVEL lands in 2018. 

Reel Facts & Opinions: STAR WARS News and May the Fourth be with You.

The anniversary of the first STAR WARS film is May 25^th, but in our current punchy-title-happy, social-media driven world, May the 4^th has become known as Star Wars Day; with the appropriate “May the Fourth be with You” tagline being spread all throughout the galaxy. Whether or not you are still harboring resentment over past decisions made in the STAR WARS films, or if you’re still a little skeptical about the upcoming 7^th episode in the series, there really is no reason to not celebrate that far, far away galaxy that was brought to us in 1977. If that means re-visiting the films or the TV series, listening to John Williams’ magnificent music, posting STAR WARS related items on social media, or re-connecting with your fellow fans…STAR WARS has always offered something for everyone, and everyone can find a way to celebrate if they choose.  

With the STAR WARS franchise ready to blast off once again, there has been no shortage of news lately concerning the upcoming films. The first headline-maker came late last week, when it was announced that director Josh Trank was departing from the second planned film in the upcoming ANTHOLOGY series…a set of films taking place in-between episodes. Trank, director of the 2012 sci-fi hit CHRONICLE, cited a “personal decision” to leave the film, while other sources are saying that he was flat-out fired…with rumors of erratic behavior swirling around as well. 

Is this a disaster for STAR WARS and the parent company, Disney? It does take a precious amount of time to put a STAR WARS film together, and the film Trank was attached to was, and still is, slated for a 2017 release (the first ANTHOLOGY film is slated for next year). There may be some scrambling going on at Disney, but the good news is that this opens the door for some much better directors out there. Trank may have wowed the world with CHRONICLE, but the reactions to his upcoming superhero flick THE FANTASTIC FOUR have not been good (maybe he was canned because Disney got to see it), and he was likely not the guy on a lot fans’ wish-lists. With Trank out those wish-lists are back, and this Blogger’s list includes Brad Bird (THE INCREDIBLES), Joss Whedon (AVENGERS, SERENITY), Duncan Jones (MOON), Gavin O’Connor (WARRIOR), and Alfonso Cuaron (GRAVITY, CHILDREN OF MEN). 

In other news, this Star Wars Day got an early start the night before, when Vanity Fair magazine previewed their upcoming STAR WARS-heavy issue. The issue has a stunning collection of photographs by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz of the cast and crew, along with a few surprises. 

It's great to see Harrison Ford give us that cocky Han Solo smirk again. The rest of the photos can be seen HERE

*

STAR WARS EPISODE VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS opens December 17^th of this year.

STAR WARS ANTHOLOGY: ROGUE ONE opens in 2018.