Why Is There Only One American Actor in a Movie Set in NY?

Posted on August 20, 2012 at 3:55 pm

“Cosmopolis” is a new movie based on a book by American author Don DeLillo. It is a story about Americans who work in the world of finance and takes place entirely in New York City. It stars British actor Robert Pattinson, best known for another American role, Edward in the “Twilight” series.

A number of British actors play Americans very convincingly, including Hugh Laurie in “House,” Tom Hardy in next week’s “Lawless,” and Christian Bale as Batman in the Dark Knight movies. And Americans play Brits, too, like Gwenyth Paltrow in “Shakespeare in Love,” “Emma,” and “Sliding Doors” and Meryl Streep’s Oscar-winning role as Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady.”

I’m in favor of casting the best actor for the role without regard to his or her native accent. But there’s more to the story in the casting for “Cosmopolis.” According to Slate, director David Cronenberg explained that the movie was a co-production financed by Canada and France, and so was limited to just one American actor. He wisely chose Paul Giamatti for a small but crucial role. Pattinson’s EU passport qualified as a part of the French component of the film.

I understand that compromise is a part of any project as expensive as this one. But I am sorry to think that decisions so central to the quality of a film are being made for reasons that have so little to do with the quality of the film.

When Tragedy Collides With Entertainment

Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:01 am

Both nationwide movie releases this week were intended to be light entertainment and both found themselves having to respond to real-life events that they inadvertently evoke. “The Watch,” an action comedy with Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, and Jonah Hill, was originally titled “Neighborhood Watch” until the Treyvon Martin shooting by a self-styled “neighborhood watch” member prompted the studio to change the name. And “Step Up Revolution,” the fourth in the series that features wildly creative and highly stylized dance numbers, jarred preview audiences with a scene featuring dancers wearing gas masks that triggered associations with the tragic shooting in Colorado last weekend. Reportedly, the studio considered deleting the scene. It is no longer featured in the trailer and advertising, but the scene is still in the movie. Summit said, “Because of last week’s tragic events in Colorado, Summit immediately removed television advertising that briefly showcased that scene from the film. The scene also briefly appeared in a trailer released three months ago that the studio is no longer actively servicing. Having taken these steps, Summit will open this inspirational, nonviolent film in theatres nationwide this weekend as originally edited.”

Some “The Dark Knight Rises” shows were preceded by a trailer for “Gangster Squad” that included a shoot-out in a theater. The trailer has been pulled from release and the movie’s opening has been postponed. It takes years to make a movie and there is no way to anticipate what the headlines will be when it is ready for release. “Step Up Revolution” reflects last year’s headlines with elements of the Occupy demonstrations and when it was being filmed the people who made it could not have anticipated that the gas masks would have painful associations. Unfortunately, sometimes audiences who go to theaters for an escape find themselves sharply reminded of real life.

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Responding to the Shooting at “The Dark Knight Rises” in Colorado

Posted on July 20, 2012 at 10:37 am

An excited and happy crowd bought tickets to the first showing of one of the most eagerly anticipated movies of the year, “The Dark Knight Rises,” in Aurora, Colorado. A half hour into the film, a man in a gas mask and a bulletproof vest came in through the exit door, threw out a canister of tear gas, and started shooting. At first, some members of the audience thought he was connected to the film in some way. But his guns were real. At this writing, twelve audience members are dead, including a six year old and a baby, and others are hospitalized. The suspect is 24-year-old John Holmes. It seems clear that he acted alone and was not connected to any terrorist groups and there is no indication that any other theaters or audiences will be at any additional risk. Warner’s has cancelled the high-profile premiere of the film in Paris and police are adding extra security in some locations.

The predictable immediate responses are coming in already — vague expressions of sympathy and support from politicians, statements from both sides about access to guns. It is another powerful reminder of how vulnerable we are. If we cannot find a way to keep weapons out of the hands of unstable people, we may find going to the movies or the mall is like going to the airport, with scanners and searches.

It is also a reminder of how vulnerable even the most well-established brands are. Batman has been around for a long time and this incident will not prevent the film from becoming one of the biggest box office hits of the year. But the storyline concerns massive terrorist attacks and audiences may find it harder to enjoy the comic book pleasures of the more destructive action sequences and brutally heartless villains. Next week’s action comedy release starring Ben Stiller was originally titled “Neighborhood Watch,” but has been re-named “The Watch” to minimize any connection to the Treyvon Martin shooting by self-styled neighborhood watcher George Zimmerman.

It would be nice if there really was a Batman to come to the rescue and prevent these tragedies. Without a superhero, we will need to have some difficult conversations about what we can do to make sure that the scary things that happen when we go to the movies are only on the screen.

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DVS: Making Movies Accessible to the Visually Impaired

Posted on July 13, 2012 at 8:00 am

Boston public television station WGBH is a pioneer in making movies and PBS shows available to the visually impaired by adding descriptive audio, called DVS. That is a quiet narration to explain the actions and settings, like “Jim runs to the door, chased by a dog.” To support this effort, visit their website to make purchases of descriptive audio movies through Amazon. It does not cost extra, but four percent of the purchase price goes to making more movies available. And contact the studios, to encourage them to make their films available to this audience.

Spider-Man Licorice and Other Weird Marketing Gimmicks

Posted on July 11, 2012 at 3:55 pm

Thanks to my friend and fellow critic Cynthia Fuchs for leading me to this list of marketing tie-ins for “The Amazing Spider-Man.” It’s funny that the Pez dispenser was the first reveal of the movie’s villain. I am not surprised by the fast-food and junk-food tie-ins. That ring toss is just weird. But, once again, I object to the toys that are designed for children much too young to see this PG-13 movie.