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Super Fantastic SWAT-down
This morning's edition of 'Le Journal de Montreal' claims that Superman will now shoot here in Montreal. Apparently because of the scare of SARS, my city beat out Toronto. 'Le journal' even goes as far as saying that the film will begin production in June with a $265 Million American budget. They also report that Son of Mask and that an untitled Gene Hackman/Ronald Reagan presidential film have left Toronto for Montreal. Usually 'Le Journal' is extremely reliable but the article is filled with errors. Superman doesn't have a director and the $265m figure is way too high. My guess is that Superman will begin pre-production in June with a $265m CANADIAN dollars budget(it would equal $190m US). Gene Hackman isn't doing a movie about Ronald Reagan but is playing a retired President in Welcome to Mooseport. That production was supposed to shoot later this month in Ontario. So it could be very well possible that it was moved here. They also mentioned another production headed here, Secret Garden, written and directed by David Koepp and starring Johnny Depp. That project based on a Stephen King short-story will start lensing at the end of this month. I'll keep you posted on anymore development...
SWAT script review
S.W.A.T. is a big Hollywood summer movie. By that I mean it has tons of action, high profile stars and not an ounce of depth. The 2002 draft of the script that I'll be reviewing is based on the television series of the same name. George Huang (Swimming with Sharks) is credited as the original screenwriter, with revisions by Ron Mita, Jim McClain, Lem Dobbs, Chris Morgan, Craig Fernandez and most recently, David Ayer (Dark Blue, Training Day). Quite a laundry list. I wish I was making it up. Huge numbers of screenwriters on a project usually serve as a red flag and this script is no different. Colin Ferrell (Daredevil, Phone Booth) and Samuel L. Jackson (Basic, Changing Lanes) will be the stars with Clark Johnson (Third Watch, NYPD Blue) directing.
The story follows Jim Street (Ferrell), a member of LAPD's SWAT team. He and his partner are demoted for failing to follow orders, despite successfully saving hostages in a robbery from certain death in an action packed opening scene meant to highlight the impressive efficiency of a SWAT team. His partner quits but Street hangs in there and waits for his shot at redemption. He spends the next couple years handing out equipment and ammuntion for other officers. His chance finally comes when another SWAT member, Hondo (Jackson), gets promoted and has to assemble a new team. After an extensive period recruiting and training a new team, Hondo is satisfied and Street is returned to the job he loves. Things soon get interesting when they capture a major crime lord. They make the mistake of bringing this crime lord to a press conference announcing his capture. He takes the opportunity to tell the world that he will pay $100 million to anyone who can free him. Naturally every creep in the city with a gun comes out of the woodwork to try and claim the prize.
This is not what you would call a script brimming with ideas and originality. It is however one overflowing with gunfire. The script reminds me superficially of the original Lethal Weapon. Both feature a young maverick cop, caught between great talent and an inability to follow rules and respect authority. Paired with him is a veteran more focused on procedure. Both films feature considerable violence. The difference is that here we have a forgettable villain and fairly uninteresting heroes. Coupled with a thin plot, there really isn't anything to interest the viewer, never mind make them care. Lethal Weapon developed a pair of well drawn characters in Riggs and Murtaugh who develop a deep friendship, Street and Hondo don't approach the same depth of character or relationship. In fact, the two barely have a relationship. We get to know Street fairly well but a lot of it is written description that won't translate to the screen. Hondo is a mystery. The only thing we learn about him is that SWAT is his life. That would be fine if he was drawn as a mysterious figure but the script treats him as a blue collar kind of guy, making the lack of detail baffling.
What bothered me most about this script can be summed up in two words: Street reacts. That phrase turns up incessantly in the script. The main reason that the characters come across as flat and virtually interchangeable is that phrase. So many scenes contain the phrase "Street reacts" or "Hondo reacts" as a response to something that this script can literally be taken in any direction. Serious action? No problem. Melodrama? Easy. Slapstick comedy? You got it. Seriously. So much is left undescribed in this script that the final product will be heavily determined by what tone the director wants to set. Let's look at a little section to show you what I mean.
HONDO
Okay guys. The winner of this fight gets to be on the new team I'm putting together.
Street senses a set-up. Wary of Bermudez.
STREET
Hondo, if I kick his butt, I can be on your crew?
A beat. Hondo is on the spot, but his money is on Bermudez.
HONDO
Yeah. I'll see what I can do.
(grins, RE: Bermudez)
He's a triple black belt.
Street reacts.
Okay, now let's consider this. What if Street reacts like Curly from the Three Stooges? And why not? It worked for Mel Gibson in the Lethal Weapon movies. On the other hand, what if he reacts by bawling like a baby? Or maybe he plays it straight and strikes a fighting pose. Obviously I've hit some extremes here but you can see my point. The script defines characters so vaguely that I couldn't really tell you how Street reacts. With more than half a dozen writers involved with this script, you'd think somebody could have scrounged up a few extra words to describe a reaction. I don't believe I've ever read a script that so heavily depended on actors before. The writers have basically said "In Colin Ferrell and Sam Jackson we trust." Good chemistry and acting might actually make people think well of this platoon of writers. Luckily for them the film stars two talented actors who can handle action. If it had starred Freddie Prinze Jr. and Richard Gere the writers might never work again.
Before you think I totally hate this script, I should point out that it has numerous action sequences that could help an audience forgive some the script's offenses. If the director is competent at shooting action the film should at least be entertaining on that level. The actors will have to be on top of their game to make us a give a damn though. The script leaves it all in their hands. No matter how great the action, most audiences will still expect some substance to make them take an interest in the characters.
SWAT is far from the worst script I've read but it is one of the sloppiest. As an editor, this thing made my teeth hurt with its constant spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. I hope that means I had a very early draft and that subsequent rewrites (how many writers do you think that could add to the list?) have addressed the problems I've illustrated already. I realize that spelling and punctuation problems are unlikely to affect the final product but bad grammar could. Mostly I mention it because the errors indicate and unprofessional job and a failure to treat the project with respect. Hopefully that is merely a symptom of too many people being involved in the script. I would hate to think that a big budget film had been launched on such a half-hearted effort.
It is entirely possible that the efforts of Farrell, Jackson and Johnson will generate an entertaining film. The script is so loose that really anything is possible. The quality of the final product all comes down to those three gentlemen. The writers did nothing to help them out.
(Submitted by John Shea)
Definitely not a 'Fantastic' idea...
I rarely like to comment on rumors but this one was too easy to pass up. Harry Knowles claims that Avi Arad, president of Marvel Films, wants George Clooney to play Reed Richards a.k.a. Mr. Fantastic in 20th Century Fox's Fantastic Four film. What a dreadful idea. Don't ge wrong, I'm a big fan of George Clooney. I stopped watching ER when he left the show. I actually paid money to see The Peacemaker and Batman & Robin, while Out of Sight still ranks as one of my ten favorite movies of all time. His transition from television to movies was at first horrible. I think it took some time for moviegoers to appreciate Clooney's talent. His best work has been with Steven Sodebergh and The Coen Bros. (Intolerable Cruelty should be another bonafide hit). Clooney's rare Hollywood blockbuster ventures have either been awful or just very bland.(The Perfect Storm, Batman & Robin even Solaris to some extent.) Would anyone buy Clooney as Dr. Richards, one of the world's most brilliant scientific minds? He's suave, funny and cool as hell. Not a lab geek or definitely not a college professor. Arad's casting choice is downright ridiculous.
Who should play Reed? Believe me, this idea isn't mine but I think everyone has thought for a second that Dennis Quaid should be Dr. Richards. I'm not a big fan of his, but he looks exactly like a walking/talking version of Mr. Fantastic. You can't deny that Quaid has the acting skills for the part too. He's never been hotter career-wise then right now. The Rookie was a good hit and his turn in Far From Heaven was splendid. He has a strong role in The Alamo and 20th Century Fox handpicked him to headline their 2004 Summer Blockbuster The Day After Tommorrow. Since they're already in the Quaid-business, he would be a logical choice for Fox. Adding a big name like Clooney for a Marvel Film won't mean more box-office. Look at what Affleck did for Daredevil. His name didn't do anything on the final tally.
I do have another casting idea. George Clooney's charisma is electric but it seems deeper at times. He doesn't resemble any other major stars out there. I think there might be one Marvel character for him after all... Tony Stark/Iron-Man. I can already hear the fans saying that character looks too much like Clooney's Bruce Wayne. Well give George a goatee or a beard and we wouldn't look anything like Bruce Wayne physically. He wouldn't have Robin or the Batmobile. But the key for that story is the humanity of Tony Stark. Something that Warner long forgot for Batman. If New Line is game, they should definitely pursue Clooney for that project.
Stay tuned...
That's all folks...
Jean-François Allaire (aka DeadPool)
Questions, comments, praise etc. Email me at deadpool@tnmc.org
Jean-François Allaire is TNMC's first columnist. At only 24 years old he has become a respected entertainment journalist, with his columns appearing in Corona's Coming Attractions and Scr(i)pt magazine. He also writes a monthly column in Screenwriters Monthly entitled 'The Last Word.' Hailing from Montreal this young writer is determined to dig up all the details on the movies before they hit your local theater. If you're part of a movie production then you really need to be talking to him.
