Category: Movies

Lee Goldberg & Simon Brand Present Victor Gischler’s GUN MONKEYS Test Footage!

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From Lee Goldberg’s site:

Covert Media is also producing my screenplay adaptation of Victor Gischler‘s Edgar-nominated novel GUN MONKEYS , which will be directed by Simon Brand. The development history of GUN MONKEYS goes back years. I optioned the book myself, wrote the script on spec, and for a long while it was set up with actor Kevin Costner and director Ryuhei Kitamura. That project came real close to getting made…and then fell apart. A new producing team came on board, offers are going out to big-name actors now, and we’re on track to shoot in late 2017/early 2018.

Back in September, Simon shot an action scene from my script as a camera/lighting test…and I’ve just been given the okay to share it now that he’s posted it on his site. The key parts are played by his friends and it has a voice-over that isn’t in the script — I wrote it just for this so that the action makes sense out of context. I think the footage looks terrific. Here it is. I hope you like it!

Gun Monkeys from simon brand on Vimeo.

I dig everything about this test footage.  Gun Monkeys by Victor Gischler is an excellent book.  Kudos to Lee Goldberg for having the faith in it and himself to option the book, write the spec script and stick with it until a deal was made.

Goldberg managed in a short video that is mostly action to create a main character that we care about, a feeling that everyone in the clip has a backstory, plus he gives us a twist at the end not only in the climax but how things are resolved.  Bravo, Lee Goldberg!

My hat is also off to director, Simon Brand and director of photography, Pedro Luque.  I certainly hope that they will work together to create this feature film.  I don’t know who the actors are in the Gun Monkeys test but I’d like to see more of the actors playing Charlie and Milt.

I’ll be in line to get a ticket when Gun Monkeys hits the big screen and will keep us posted on any updates.

25 Things We Learned from the “Kong: Skull Island” Commentary

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Rob Hunter and Film School Rejects present 25 Things We Learned from the Kong: Skull Island Commentary.  Here are three of my favorites…

5. The image that Bill Randa (John Goodman) hands Senator Willis (Richard Jenkins) was originally of Godzilla, but he fought against that as he felt the film needed to be about Kong from the beginning.

25. The post-credits scene almost didn’t make the cut as several voices felt it didn’t fit, but he argued successfully for its inclusion knowing that audiences would love the tease into the bigger monsterverse to come.

14. The helicopter occupant falling into Kong’s mouth is an homage to the 1933 film version where Kong actually ate people.

 

R.I.P. – Glen Campbell

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Glen Campbell has passed on.  From his official website:

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and legendary singer and guitarist, Glen Travis Campbell, at the age of 81, following his long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Glen is survived by his wife, Kim Campbell of Nashville, TN; their three children, Cal, Shannon and Ashley; his children from previous marriages, Debby, Kelli, Travis, Kane, and Dillon; ten grandchildren, great- and great-great-grandchildren; sisters Barbara, Sandra, and Jane; and brothers John Wallace “Shorty” and Gerald.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Glen Campbell Memorial Fund at BrightFocus Foundation through the CareLiving.org donation page.

I was and continue to be a Glen Campbell fan.  My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and fans.

“Death Wish” Remake Poster, Trailer and a Few Thoughts

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By now you’ve probably seen the poster and trailer for the new Death Wish movie coming out on November 22nd.  I’ll post my thoughts after the trailer.

I’m glad to see Willis starring in a feature (especially one heading to the big screen).  I’m a long-time Bruce Willis fan.  For the last few years we’ve seen him regulated to supporting roles with top billing in limited or direct-to-video releases.  So, yeah, it’s good to see him back.

Let’s talk the remake now.  First of all, why?  The original Death Wish with Charles Bronson is a classic. Perhaps the only (or best) reason is that if successful the remake could be a hit and spawn sequels.

In the original Bronson was an architect.  Making Willis a doctor does provide more conflict for the character.  After all, he did take an oath to save lives not end them.  Other than that it seems we have the same peaceful man turned into a killing machine.  In one earlier version of the script the idea was that the Bronson/Willis character would be a peaceful man but after his family’s murder we learn that he was once a violent gang member.  THAT could have been an interesting back story.

In the original film, Bronson’s wife and daughter get raped, his wife murdered and his daughter left in a coma with little hope of recovery.  Bronson has lost everything and gained a death wish.  In the remake Willis’ daughter appears well on the road to recovery.  Willis has something to live for.  For him to just go out to kill muggers treads the line of wanting to be a hero.  That gives the film a different vibe which still can work if done correctly.

The poster is not bad.  Not great and definitely has an 80’s feel with the tagline…

“They came for his family.  Now he is coming for them.”

(“Murdock, I’m coming for you!”  Rambo, anyone?)

The jury is still out on this remake.

Forty Essential Film Noir Classics

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JEC at Classic Movie Reviews posted his choices for Forty Essential Film Noir Classics.  His list is a good one.  I’ve seen all but about 10.  Using just JEC’s list, here are three of my favorites…

4   Double Indemnity 1944   Foolish insurance man meets one of the best femme fatale in this must see drama. JEC

9 The Postman Always Rings Twice 1946 Infidelity and murder. JEC

23 The Big Heat  1953   A tough cop, played by Glenn Ford takes on a well-connected mob. Gloria Grahame is great in this film. JEC

 ‘Atomic Blonde’: How They Turned One Amazing Action Scene Into a Seven-Minute Long Take

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Atomic Blonde has some of the best action sequences in movies.  The long fight scene on the stairway appears to be done in one continuous take.

It wasn’t.

Chris O’Falt at IndieWire talked with Sam Hargrave  (Atomic Blonde second-unit director and stunt coordinator) who choreographed and filmed the fight scene.  ‘Atomic Blonde’: How They Turned One Amazing Action Scene Into a Seven-Minute Long Take is well worth a read.