A Real Head Scratcher

Franchise seems to be the key word in Hollywood right now. They've mined everything from comic books, to action figures, to video games, what's next? Why not board games!

Seriously, is it just me or are studios getting obsessed with making money off licensed properties? It was just reported a week or so ago that the classic board game Risk was going to be getting the big screen treatment, as well it is already confirmed that a film version of Monopoly is on the way with director Ridley Scott (Gladiator) eying it as his next project, and with rumors of a Battleship movie in progress, this doesn't seem to be a trend that will go away anytime soon.

At least with comic books or video games, even with certain toy lines, there is a story to go along with it, but with most board games, there is not. You know how depressing a LIFE film would most likely be? Or what about Monopoly, or Risk? And Battleship? If you wanna make a movie about naval combat, then find some cool historical battle and start from there, don't try and slap a brand name on it to sell more tickets. I mean, what are they gonna transform into a film next, checkers?

The only film based upon a board game ever made that was worth any of its salt was the film Clue from the '80s, but there and again Clue is an exception. The game actually has a very good story that accompanies it, thus it was ripe for a big screen adaptation, where as it's the complete opposite with most other board game properties.

Maybe I'm just being the ultimate cynic. Perhaps these films based upon board games will be good. I'm not sure, but as for now I'm just left scratching my head.

(500) Days and the Academy?

I've been fairly satisfied with many of the films I've seen this year. One of the finest was the indie-hit (500) Days of Summer. It was a romantic comedy told with a hip swagger that appealed more so to the guys in the audience than the women.

Up till now any Oscar talk for this film has been merely for Best Original Screenplay, but I was thinking, with the recent failure of Amelia, could that be what (500) Days needs to get into the Best Picture race?

Both (500) Days of Summer and Amelia were released by Fox Searchlight. After Amelia was panned by critics and failed to make it at the box office, Fox Searchlight's biggest Oscar contender was out for the count, thus opening up the race for one of their other films to get the Oscar push instead of Amelia. Out of all the other films Fox Searchlight has released this year, the one that has the best shot with the Oscars is (500) Days of Summer. It actually makes sense as well. It is one of the more successful indie releases of the year, and it was well-received by critics (in particular Roger Ebert gave it four stars), so why not this film for Best Picture?

Fox Searchlight has a good track record with the Oscars, from Little Miss Sunshine to last year's winner, Slumdog Millionaire. Now with 10 nominees and Amelia out of the picture, (500) Days of Summer might have a shot at Best Picture glory.

Even if this doesn't pan out, the film is still one of the frontrunners for Best Original Screenplay, so it is very likely for it to still get a nomination there, and possibly even a win. Of course this is all speculation, I have no clue what Fox Searchlight plans to do in terms of the Oscars, this is just my own two cents.

To Boldy Go to DVD!

One of my favorite films of the year thus far was J.J. Abram's Star Trek. I've never been the biggest Star Trek fan before this film, I always preferred Star Wars, but after seeing this latest Trek film I've become a believer. I saw it two times in theaters, both times I was simply blown away. The film was action-packed, at times channeling the best of the adventure movie genre from both Indiana Jones and, dare I say it, the original Star Wars films themselves. A sequel is already confirmed and should be in theaters sometime within the next 2-3 years.

Well, the film will be hitting store shelves on DVD and Blu-Ray this Tuesday. I already plan on buying the two-disc special edition DVD come this week and I am so excited to see this film again. Of course I'm also a bit of a nut when it comes to DVDs. I love the special features discs. As a filmmaker, I enjoy watching how the movie was made, how it was pieced together, hear stories about the production. Is it a waste of time? Yes, but I find it highly entertaining.

The two-disc edition will feature what looks to be solid featurettes detailing various aspects of the production, as well the set will include the standard director's commentary on the film along with deleted scenes and a gag reel. It sounds like it will be a purchase well worth your money. To heighten anticipation for the release, I've found this clip from the DVD's special features online to tide us all over. Live long, and prosper.

The Next Film Revolution, Just Around the Corner?

I was following up on a fellow filmmaker's blog this morning and I found a post where he was talking about the current state of the film industry. It was all spawned from an article in Variety talking on the recent news about the potential sale of MGM Studios.

In this current economic crisis, every facet of the feature film industry has been hit hard, even the studios. I mean, movies cost millions upon millions of dollars to make, and there is no guarantee that a film will be successful upon its release, thus this fuels the studios current mentality regarding the franchise. Studios want to take prekissed properties, like Harry Potter and Spider-man, franchises that already have a following, and transform them into films. By doing this, the studios are guaranteed to have some money in the bank. But who is hit the hardest by this current mentality?

The independent film industry is suffering due to the current economic crisis. Bottom line, no one really has the money to invest in these films anymore. If you're lucky enough to secure financing to get one made, there is no guarantee that even if you get into Sundance, Cannes, or Toronto that any Acquisition Executives will buy your film because the small independent film studios, like Miramax, Fox Searchlight, and The Weinstein Company are experiencing the same difficulties of the corporations who own them.

Now this isn't to say that no more independent films are being picked up for distribution, it's just now the studios are having to be more selective. For example, if at Sundance next year there are 15 really fantastic indie gems, more than likely only about 5-7 of those will be picked up for distribution where as in years past it might have been as high a number as 12 or 14 of those films. Does this mean there is no more hope for independent filmmakers? No. It just means that you have to have a five times better product than everyone else to get your foot in the door.

It's obvious that the film industry needs a shot in the arm to carry it forward into the next decade and beyond, but what is that something? A revolution? Some might say that the advent of 3-D is that so-called revolution, and it might be. I still feel we have to wait and see for James Cameron's Avatar before I pass any judgments on this supposed wave of the future, but it is a promising solution. 3-D tickets cost five dollars more than regular 2-D films, already, cha-ching! Of course they cost more to make, so do the math; as well, what will happen if 3-D becomes a staple, what then? No longer will audiences be enticed to see gimicky 3-D movies, they will want substance.

Revolution cannot come into affect without talent. Look at the '70s, probably the most revolutionary decade of film so far, where countless young filmmakers emerged with their ideas from the French New Wave and completely took the world of cinema by storm and saved it from extinction. I believe we're on the brink of another revolution such as this. The studio game is slowly collapsing once more. And what it's going to take is for young filmmakers, like ourselves, to stop waiting around for that perfect opportunity that may never come and make films. It's up to us as the next generation to spur this revolution with our abstract ideas and massive ambition.

This is my challenge for any other fellow filmmakers out there reading this: Let's try and spur this revolution, let's revitalize the film industry, take it by the horns and show that originality and concept aren't dead. The '70s was the most revolutionary decade of film thus far, as we venture forth into a new decade, let us young filmmakers see if we can do better.

Trailer Rush: Date Night

The new film Date Night kind of sounds like a horrible slasher flick, but instead it's actually a comedy starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey. The film directed by Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum) is about a married couple with kids who finally get to go out on a date one night without their children and the evening turns into a case of Hitchockian-mistaken identity.



It looks like a silly romp that will be pretty fun to watch. Whether or not the film will be remembered at the end of next year as one of the finer films of 2010, I'm not sure, but it does have what at least looks to be a slew of good cameo performances. Mark Whalberg and James Franco just to name a few.

I'll probably put my money down to go see this. Both Carell and Fey have been funny in the past, my only problem is this trailer shows them simply doing their usual shtick, which we have been accustomed to already for a few years. Still, I think anything that these two do right now will be pure gold at the box office, so regardless as to whether it's actually funny or not doesn't matter. It's Steve Carell and Tina Fey married, so you know it has to be funny. Right? (Sorry for that last bit of sarcasm there, I actually like both Carell and Fey, I just get annoyed by their fans typically).