One of the year’s most eagerly anticipated movies (at least among dedicated filmgoers) has finally arrived. The reviews are in – and they’re damn good (84% on Rotten Tomatoes, with many of those “fresh ratings” being 4 or 5 stars). Inception struck a chord with audiences in its first weekend as well, earning a better-than-expected $60.4 million in its first three days. Yes, Christopher Nolan’s latest head-trip is getting a lot of love from both critics and the general public. So, naturally, one has to wonder: will it get some love from The Academy as well?

Let’s take a look at Inception’s best chances at Oscar gold:

It’s a Lock

Even if Inception follows in the footsteps of Nolan’s last film, The Dark Knight, which was shut out of most major categories, it’s sure to get some recognition for its technical achievements (many forget: TDK did earn a total of eight nominations two years ago, with seven being in technical categories).

With that in mind, we must recognize the film’s absolutely breathtaking visuals. The worlds created during the various dream-sequences will surely catch the Academy’s attention and net nominations for both Visual Effects and Art Direction. The only way Inception will miss out on either of these two categories is if the movie is shut out completely. Also, the visuals are captured through the lens of Nolan’s incredible DP, Wally Pfister; a Best Cinematography nod is very likely as well (he was nominated for his work in Nolan’s last three films, don’t expect that trend to end here).

The same thinking should apply to the stellar sound work present in Inception. The Academy tends to favor movies loaded with fast-paced and complex action scenes (see: The Dark Knight, the Bourne films and The Matrix); there is no shortage of such scenes in Inception. So, recognition for Sound Mixing and Sound Editing are sure things. We can also tack on another nomination for Oscar-winner Hans Zimmer’s amazing, bombastic Original Score.

The last guarantee is for the biggest award of the night, Best Picture. This film is fantastic enough to have earned a nomination back when there were only five slots, but the expansion to ten makes a snub impossible – especially after the backlash the Academy suffered when it failed to nominate TDK.

It’s Likely

Now that I’ve promised seven nominations, I’m going to offer up a few more that I think are pretty safe bets.

Along with a Best Picture nomination often comes a nod for the film’s Director as well. Nolan has proven himself over seven films now that he is as deserving of Academy love as anyone working today. With Inception’s solid story and perfect production values, the Academy will probably bestow a nomination on the man who brought it all together.

Speaking of story, there’s a very good chance Nolan will also be nominated for his complex and riveting Original Screenplay. Inception would not have succeeded on visuals alone, it took a solid story with strong characters and pertinent dialogue to make those visuals hold any real weight. Also, bringing that screenplay to life in a way that makes sense to an audience and keeps the pace moving took some stellar Film Editing. Look for some additional Academy love there.

The next accolade that should come Inception’s way is a Best Actor nomination for its star, Leonardo DiCaprio. DiCaprio is great in everything he does, and Inception is no exception. Stunning visuals and intense action aside, this film is largely an exploration into the psyche of his character, Dom Cobb. Without a stellar performance from Leo, the emotional aspects of Nolan’s script would have fallen flat. Honestly, the only reason I didn’t include this in the “locks” section, is that, per Academy rules, the same actor cannot be nominated in the same category twice – they may choose to recognize his work in Shutter Island instead, though my money is still on Inception.

It’s a Stretch

The rest of the Inception cast turned in amazing work as well and, in my book, should also be recognized. While it’s far less likely, the supporting cast may join DiCaprio among this year’s Oscar nominees.

Marion Cotillard, an Academy Award winner, might get some recognition in the Supporting Actress category for her work as Mal. Joseph Gordon-Levitt should get a Supporting Actor nomination, both for his stellar work here and to make up for his being snubbed last year for his work in (500) Days of Summer (we all know how much the Academy loves the good ‘ole “we’re sorry” awards). In a perfect world, Tom Hardy would also get a Supporting Actor nomination, but I’m not counting on it.

There you go: seven sure-things, four-safe bets and three long-shots. That’s fourteen total for those of you who are bad at math – which would tie the record set by The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King seven years ago. My guess is that the actual number will most likely be around ten, but we’ll have to wait until the nominations are officially announced on January 25th to find out for sure.

What do you think? Am I being to optimistic? Is my love for the movie clouding my judgement? Leave your thoughts below…

We like to play the “What If” game here at FlickSided. So far we’ve imagined if Tim Burton and Johnny Depp never met, an Apocalypse Now remake and six other actors who could’ve been Iron Man. For the latest installment, we are turning our attention to rock and roll music.

Movies and music go hand-in-hand. Both exist to entertain, move to emotion and provoke thought. Take either away and the world suddenly becomes a lot more boring place to live. Since the two art forms share so much in common, we thought it might be interesting to match some of our favorite flicks to some of our favorite rock bands.

Movies and bands both tell stories. With this in mind, let’s see which stories are simpatico.

Casablanca and The Beatles

Arguably the greatest film ever made alongside arguably the greatest band to ever hit the stage. Casablanca’s story, characters and plot have been copied and borrowed for six decades. The Beatles remain the most influential and lauded band in the history of rock/pop music.

The Road Warrior and AC/DC

When we think of in your face balls-to-the-wall action, we think The Road Warrior. It still features some of the most intense action sequences ever filmed and more than holds up by today’s standards. When we think of in your face balls-to-the-wall rock, we think AC/DC. They’ve been shreddin’ for over thirty-five years and remain one of the hardest and most popular bands in the game.

The Matrix and Radiohead

Seeing The Matrix for the first time was a kick ass, eye-opening experience. The plot, characters and special effects were cutting edge and genre busting. Listening to Radiohead for the first time is like dissolving into another plane of existence. The band’s unique sound is unlike anything heard in alternative rock.

Star Wars and The Who

The movie is an epic space opera considered by many to be the best sci-fi/fantasy story ever told. The band is an epic rock opera considered by many to be the best band ever formed.

Die Hard and Metallica

Back in 1988, Die Hard smashed the big screen like a Mike Tyson uppercut. Its stylized, adrenaline fueled action is often copied, but rarely duplicated. Back in 1983, Metallica released the album Kill ‘Em All and introduced a fist-pumping, head-banging sound that gave new meaning to the term “heavy metal.”

Titanic and U2

For over a decade, Titanic held the title of highest-grossing movie. It appeals to both males and females and helped launch the career of one of this generation’s greatest actors — Leonardo DiCaprio. For the decade of the 2000s, U2 held the title of world’s most popular band. Their music appeals to both males and females and helped launch one of the most inspiring and influential voices in rock — Bono.

A Clockwork Orange and The Sex Pistols

The “Droogs” were a gang of thugs who thrived on ultra-violent behavior and despised authority figures. The Sex Pistols were a punk band vehemently opposed to social conformity known for wreaking havoc wherever they went.

Pulp Fiction and Guns N’ Roses

Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction is the epitome of cool. It walks the walk and talks the talk. Love it or hate it, it’s still one of a kind. Guns N’ Roses meteoric rise to the mountain top in the late ’80s was a giant middle finger to the glam rock bands that dominated the era. G N’ R didn’t give a shit what anyone thought about them. They lived by their own set of rules.

2001: A Space Odyssey and Pink Floyd

2001 is science fiction in its purest form. It delves into the depths of the human mind and explores the outskirts of infinite space. Pink Floyd cannot be lumped into any one category. Their psychedelic sound is experimental, innovative, ostentatious and utterly bizarre.

Raging Bull and Led Zeppelin

Scorsese’s Raging Bull is a masterpiece of cinematography and editing. On a technical level, few other films can compete. Led Zeppelin’s heavy, blues influenced rock is inventive and precise. On a pure talent level, few other bands can compete.

The Godfather and The Rolling Stones

Great art stands the test of time. Both The Godfather and The Rolling Stones have been immortalized for their noteworthy contributions. Like fine wine or aged cheese, the older they get, the more respect they gain. Each has earned the right to be called icons.

]]> http://flicksided.com/2010/05/what-if-famous-movies-were-famous-rock-bands/feed/ 2 http://flicksided.com/2010/04/what-if-six-other-actors-who-couldve-played-iron-man/ http://flicksided.com/2010/04/what-if-six-other-actors-who-couldve-played-iron-man/#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:03:36 +0000 Adam Best http://flicksided.com/?p=4495

What if Robert Downey Jr. was overlooked during the casting process for Iron Man? It’s fun to think about with Iron Man 2 right around the corner. Let’s be honest here, he wasn’t exactly a huge star back in 2006. Sure, his career was experiencing an upswing, but from a box office perspective he was far from a sure bet. That’s especially true when you consider that Downey Jr. had a troubled past and the role was going to be at least a half-decade commitment. Nonetheless, Marvel rolled the dice and found the perfect Tony Stark due to their willingness to gamble. But what if they hadn’t been so willing to go all in on Downey Jr.?

Here’s what their post-Downey Jr. thought process might have been like:

“Who else? What about Leo? Remember Catch Me if You Can? He’d be perfect as this vulnerable, genius, loner superhero. What? He won’t do superhero movies. Fuck! Well, we can’t do Tom Cruise either. He’s too polarizing. Besides, everyone will think Iron Man’s gay and that he sticks some weird Scientology crystal in his chest. Brad Pitt’s a lot of things, but I don’t see him as a brilliant engineer, scientist type. Hugh Jackman would be effing perfect, but he’s under contract to play Wolverine. Edward Norton would also be perfect, but he’s got a hard-on for the Hulk. Bale and Bana are out for obvious reasons. We have to go with an man, too. It’s Iron Man, not Iron Boy or Iron fucking Hunk. We’re screwed…”

Here are six other actors who legitimately could’ve been cast as Tony Stark, aka Iron Man.

Colin Farrell

It’s no secret; most of the staff here at FlickSided really digs this Irishman. He gets a somewhat bad rap, but Farrell cab really act his ass off. Could he play a talented, womanizing, badass alcoholic? Just by rolling out of bed every morning. The accent wouldn’t be a big deal either, as it was a non-issue when Christian Bale was napped to don the cape and cowl. His Miami Vice flop might have crippled his chances a bit, but I’m sure he was considered. The biggest stretch here would be him pulling off Stark’s genius. He doesn’t seem like a cretin, but a younger, cooler version of Steve Jobs? Yeah, that’s a stretch.

Sam Rockwell

Jon Favreau actually almost cast Rockwell. He was apparently super, super close to being the Golden Avenger, and Favreau has even admitted as much recently. Personally, I think Rockwell plays a better villain, but anyone who has seen Confessions of a Dangerous Mind knows he could own a role which would require him to be brilliant, reclusive, egocentric and slightly neurotic. Hell, after seeing Moon, I wouldn’t put anything past Rockwell. He’s got a good sense of humor, too, which seems to be an important part of Favreau’s directing formula.

Joaquin Phoenix

Phoenix has been so damn weird lately that we’ve all almost forgotten his amazing abilities as an actor. Think about the career-defining turn he pulled off as substance-abusing, ladies man Johnny Cash. Think about his arrogance playing Commodus. There’s certainly hints of Shellhead in both of those roles. It would’ve been a more serious Tony Stark, and probably one better suited for a different director, but a good one nonetheless. One has to wonder if he would’ve had this crazy, antisocial ZZ Top phase had he been cast in Iron Man.

Billy Crudup

The evidence that Crudup could have pulled off Iron Man? His previous superhero work as Doctor Manhattan in Watchmen. Check it out; brilliant scientist who suffers a tragic accident, somehow survives, but only as a weapon so dangerous humanity cannot handle his power even if he can. In many ways, in its essence it is the exact same role as Iron Man. They might not have taken a long look at him, but they should have. Especially considering that mean mustache he grows (remember Russell Hammond?).

Johnny Depp

This is probably the most obvious actor on this list. Depp and Downey Jr. are similar actors with off-the-charts charisma and ridiculous versatility. They both also possess swashbuckling sensibilities that make them throwbacks to the Golden Age of Cinema. Honestly, I’m not sure that Depp would be right for this role. Or that he could have even taken it on due to his POTC contract. But I have this theory that anything Downey Jr. can do, Depp can do and vice versa. It would be fun to see that theory put into practice with Depp doing his version of Tin-Britches.

Clive Owen

This is some inspired casting here, but I think had Downey Jr. not have worked out Owen might have been the next best choice. Rugged. Dashing. Manly. Sophisticated. Smart. Tough. Charming. Handsome. Even funny when he has been asked to be. He turned down Bond, but was versatile enough to be cast as Theo in Children of Men, a damaged alcoholic turned reluctant savior. He also rocked Sin City as bad boy good guy Dwight. It’s like he’s had all the prerequisite training necessary to play Stark.

How do you improve on perfection? The easy answer is, you don’t. However, that hasn’t stopped Hollywood producers with visions of dollar signs dancing in their heads from remaking classic films from yesteryear.

Certain movies should be untouchable, but in reality, nothing is sacred these days. Despite monumental failures like 1998′s Psycho and 2008′s The Day the Earth Stood Still, the powers that be are not shying away from updating some of the big screen’s best. Like for instance, The Wizard of Oz, which is being considered by four major studios.

The box office success of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and Peter Jackson’s King Kong will only serve to reinforce the notion that revisiting classic works isn’t only a smart idea, but a necessary one in an age when audiences have several ways to get their entertainment fix that don’t include paying for a ticket at the local multi-plex.

If a Tinseltown executive believes he or she can milk the cash cow, any project, no matter how questionable, will get a greenlight. I would like to think no one would dare touch masterpieces such as Citizen Kane, Casablanca and The Godfather, but the cynic in me knows better. Trusting anyone in the biz would be foolish.

Which brings me to one of my favorite movies: Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 war epic Apocalypse Now. My sincere hope is a remake would never be attempted, but that doesn’t mean I can’t play a game of “What If?”

As a purely hypothetical exercise, what might a re-imagining of Apocalypse Now look like? Here’s one possible scenario.

The Story/Location

For those unawares, the film is partly based on Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness, which tells the story of Marlow, an ivory trader in Africa dispatched to sail downriver to bring a mysterious man named Kurtz back to the civilized world.

Apocalypse Now changed Marlow to Willard, made him a soldier, and moved the setting to 1969 Vietnam. But the journey downriver, and all its symbolic implications, remained pretty much the same. What better place to set a story about man’s innate instinct to destroy one another and the environment he exists than one of history’s most famous wars?

So, where would the updated version take place? The original text and the film both used jungle locations. In order to keep the war theme intact, which is important, the filmmakers would have to go where the fighting is. With this in mind, Iraq makes the most sense.

The parallels between the Vietnam War and the current conflict in Iraq are too hard to ignore. Bogged down in an endless battle that has become increasingly unpopular with the American public and the rest of the world is just the most obvious comparison. The unorthodox tactics used by the Viet Cong and insurgents would be another. If an Army Colonel is going to lose his shit and turn rogue, it wouldn’t be too big a stretch to have him do so inside Iraq.

We need a river. As luck would have it, Iraq has two: the Tigris and the Euphrates. The Tigris, which runs up the heart of the country and into Turkey is the winner. The area surrounding the river is marshy, fertile and full of vegetation and forests. It’s not a thick jungle, but it’s still remote enough to make a suitable setting for the story.

The Tigris River

A U.S. Army Patrol Boat on the Tigris.

Kurtz has crossed the border into Turkey and is holed up in the mountains with an enclave of loyal Kurdish rebels. He and his gang have been attacking suspected insurgent hideouts throughout the northern sections of Iraq and as far south as Baghdad. The Army brass wants him dead, so they task Captain Willard to take a patrol boat up the Tigris to find Kurtz and assassinate him. It’s the same story, just updated for the modern era.

The Director

The obvious choice to helm this epic, besides Coppola himself, would be one of his peers, like Spielberg or Scorsese, but neither would accept the job out of respect for their pal. Guys like Michael Mann (The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, The Insider) and Christopher Nolan (Memento, The Dark Knight, Inception) would be excellent choices, but I’m going with a guy on the cusp of greatness. Mexican writer/director Alfonso Cuarón.

Cuarón has directed smaller, personal films (Y tu mamá también), big budget blockbusters (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) and bleak science fiction dramas (Children of Men). He’s more than capable of staging elaborate action sequences and has experience shooting scenes of intense combat. He’s also a two-time Academy Award nominee for Best Screenplay, so he’d be able to adapt the story to the Iraq conflict without much difficulty. Of all the up and coming filmmakers, I think Cuarón could handle this daunting task.

The Cast

Besting Marlon Brando and Martin Sheen is impossible. In order to approach any sense of legitimacy, heavyweights must be cast to play Kurtz and Willard. No messing about with fresh faces or old faces looking for a comeback. You go right to the top of the heap. First up, Daniel Day-Lewis as Kurtz.

DDL is 52, roughly the same age age as Brando was in the late ’70s. He is in the prime of his acting career and anyone who saw Gangs of New York and There Will Be Blood knows he can pull off the villainous wacko with ease. At this point, I don’t think there is anyone on the same level. The only other guys in his league are probably Sean Penn and Leonardo DiCaprio. Speaking of Leo, he’d make a fantastic Captain Willard.

Again, Leo at 35 is in the same range as Sheen was when Apocalypse began filming. DiCaprio’s resume speaks for itself. He puts in the work and delivers every time. He also proved in Blood Diamond he can portray a brooding soldier of fortune who is both hero and anti-hero. Leo and DDL together again has a nice ring to it.

What about Lt. Colonel Bill Kilgore, the slightly deranged, but ultimately badass commander of the Air Cavalry Regiment? Sounds like a job for Brad Pitt.

Kilgore’s antics make for some of the most memorable moments in Apocalypse Now. You need an actor who can be both tough and funny, which makes Pitt the pick. He doesn’t have to be front and center for an entire movie, as evidenced by his ensemble work in Snatch, Babel, Burn After Reading and the Ocean’s series. Watching him bark orders at his men, and trade barbs with Leo would be entertaining as hell.

Rounding out the cast:

Giovanni Ribisi as ‘Chef’ – Ribisi is good. Most of the flicks he’s appeared in are shit. Nevertheless, he has the chops to play the high-strung saucier from Louisiana.

Michael Pitt as Lance – Pitt’s boyish good looks and naive demeanor will suit him as the surfer turned soldier who loves to drop acid. All he needs is a few trips to the tanning salon.

Michael B. Jordan as ‘Clean’ – Jordan killed on HBO’s The Wire and can currently be seen on Friday Night Lights as quarterback Vince Howard. He’s fairly unknown, just like Laurence Fishburne was back in ’79.

Anthony Mackie as Chief – Mackie stole a lot of thunder in The Hurt Locker. He’d steal some more as the by-the-books Chief of the boat.

Sam Rockwell as the Photojournalist – I think of Rockwell as the modern day Dennis Hopper. He’s a bit of a wildman who would thrive in the role.

Special Effects/Production

CGI and blue-screens were virtually non-existent back in the mid ’70s, and for Apocalypse Now, that was a good thing. Coppola went to hell and back trying to corral the necessary military equipment needed to recreate Vietnam. All the helicopters and explosions were the real deal. The authentic look and feel to the film is one of its strongest attributes. Using today’s arsenal of effects would likely subtract more than add.

Having Alfonso Cuarón at the controls would balance the production. He understands how to employ CGI from his days on Harry Potter, but he also excels at letting the camera and characters set the tone and pace the action as he did in Children of Men. Going bonkers with intricate CGI would be a mistake. Let’s face it, you’re not going to get better than this:

Fucking epic. Although shifting the attack to an insurgent compound and using Apache Gunships would make for some cool shit. Imagine watching eight or ten of these monsters pound an enemy location into oblivion:

Coda

Should Apocalypse Now be remade? NO!!!!! Could it be redone? Yes, provided the right people were put in charge. I think the scenario I’ve laid out would result in a damn fine movie. It wouldn’t be an improvement on the original, but like Scorsese’s Cape Fear, it wouldn’t be a complete disaster either.

Now, if you think what I’ve proposed is ridiculous, it could be worse. For example, hiring Michael Bay to direct and getting John Travolta to play Kurtz and Will Smith to play Willard. See what I mean?

In Too Depp?

Imagine an alternate film universe. One in which Johnny Depp never became an A-list actor, but instead was still a telemarketer who moonlighted as a musician. In this Depp-less universe, Johnny never met Nicolas Cage, and in turn never met Tim Burton. As a result, Burton wouldn’t have cast Depp for pivotal roles in five different films.

What would Burton’s career look like if he wasn’t able to lean so heavily on Depp? Would it have gone better? Worse? For starters, there aren’t a lot of actors who would have been good casting choices at the time for any of these roles, let alone all five. If Burton went with five different actors who had enjoyed success at the time of each film, the following actors might have been cast in the Depp roles.

• Edward Scissorhands/Edward Scissorhands – Keanu Reeves
• Ed Wood/Ed Wood – Nic Cage
• Ichabod Crane/Sleepy Hollow – Edward Norton
  
• Willy Wonka/Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Kevin Kline
  
• The Mad Hatter/Alice in Wonderland – Brad Pitt

Here’s where you see just how valuable Depp has been to Burton’s career.

The Replacements

Keanu Reeves

Reeves is by no means in the same league as Depp, but his look and naivete would have served the Scissorhands role well. He would have made a terrible Ed Wood, and an even worse Mad Hatter or Willy Wonka. It’s unlikely that he could have pulled off the Crane role either. Despite remaining a fringe A-list actor for the entire span of the aforementioned films, Reeves couldn’t carry any one of these films the way Depp did. In fact, I’d be surprised if Reeves could carry a briefcase; most of his hits did well in spite of him, not because of him.

Nicolas Cage

Cage is a box office enigma, but he remains one of the biggest stars in the business after roughly a quarter century in the spotlight. He would have made a terrific Ed Wood. But can you picture Cage as Edward Scissorhands? Subtly is not exactly a big part of Cage’s skillset. He would have been hammier than Christmas dinner with the in-laws as either the Hatter or Wonka, and he would have been distracting as Crane. Basically, even if Cage was as good a fit for Ed Wood as Depp, he would have been terrible filling in for every other role.

Edward Norton

Edward Norton would have kicked ass as Ichabod Crane — he’s perfect for the role. But his Primal Fear breakout performance didn’t occur until 1996. He wouldn’t have even been available for the first two roles. He also was too young for the Willy Wonka role, and he just feels off for some reason when you try and imagine him as the Mad Hatter. Once again, we have another 1-for-5er.

Kevin Kline

Honestly, Kevin Kline probably would’ve been a better Willy Wonka than Depp. Then again, that would depend on Burton’s direction. If he wanted Kline to try and pull off Depp’s hybrid of Mary Tyler Moore and Michael Jackson, I’m not sure he or anybody else could have. But he would have nailed the character much the same way Gene Wilder once did. As for the Scissorhands role, he’s too old. He would have been fine for both Crane and Wood, but he doesn’t seem like a good fit for the Mad Hatter. Additionally, Kline has never really been the household name that Depp has been for most of his career.

Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt is probably the most interesting name on the list above. Pitt is at his best when he’s playing kooks, so he would’ve owned the Mad Hatter role. But how would he have fit everywhere else? Scissorhands? No. Crane? Too pretty — no. Wood? Can’t see it. Wonka? Maybe. Pitt is arguably a bigger star than Depp, and he’s the same age. But he just isn’t a good fit for most of these roles.

Check out the next page to see who could fill Depp’s shoes…