SEPTEMBER, 5


THE RUNNING MAN

Action / Sci-Fi

The Cast: Mark Whalberg, Famke Jansen, Woody Harrelson, Chris Cooper, Abigail Breslin, Sean Patrick Thomas, Jamie Foxx, Jaden Smith

The Director: Danny Boyle
The Screenwriter: Ben Tyler

The Plot: The story is set in 2032, ten years after the onset of the Second Great Depression. The world's oil supply is nearly depleted, and those lucky enough to find a job are usually assigned to menial labor, regardless of their education level. Ben Richards (Mark Wahlberg) is a hard-edged, cynical working-class man who needs money to get medicine for his gravely ill daughter Cathy (Abigail Breslin). Not wanting his wife Sheila (Famke Jansen) to continue prostitution to pay the bills, Richards turns to the Games Federation, which runs several violent TV game shows seen on the Network. Contestants win money by surviving challenges such as Treadmill to Bucks, where a person with a heart or respiratory condition runs on a treadmill, or the self-explanatory Swim the Crocodiles. After rigorous physical and psychological testing (including a Q&A session with a psychiatrist played by Steve Buscemi), Richards is selected for the most popular game, The Running Man.

The rules of the game are elegantly simple: Richards will be declared an enemy of the state and then released with a twelve hour head start before an elite group of "Hunters" (led by a man known only as McCain [Woody Harrelson]) set out to kill him. The contestant earns $100 per hour they remain alive, an additional $100 for each law enforcement officer or Hunter he kills, and $1 billion if he should survive for 30 days. The current record is eight days and five hours. The Network pays civilians for confirmed sightings of the fugitive.

The runner is given $4800 cash, a two-day advance on his winnings, before he leaves the studio. He can travel anywhere in the world, and each day he must videotape two messages and courier them to the TV show. Without a videotaped message, he defaults the prize money, but the Hunters will continue their search. Despite the producer's claims to the contrary, as soon as the Network receives a videotaped message, the Hunters immediately know from the postmark the runner's approximate location. When the runner is caught, he is killed live on TV.

Richards eludes the Hunters long enough to break the previous survival record, first traveling through New York to Boston. In Boston, he is tracked down by the Hunters and only manages to escape by setting off a fire in the basement of a YMCA that kills five police officers and escaping through a sewer pipe. Next he hides in the impoverished Boston ghetto. A local resident named Bradley Throckmorton (Sean Patrick Thomas) and his younger brother Stacey (Jaden Smith). Bradley arranges for Richards to hide out inside the home of his friend Elton Parrakis (Jamie Foxx), an unemployed former ecologist, who explains that the air is polluted on a massive scale (citing the readings on his homemade pollution counter, as well as numerous computer models), and that the poor live in appalling conditions, with high rates of asthma, emphysema, lung cancer, and bronchitis. The Network serves as a propaganda machine to keep them docile so they will not revolt against the government.

Richards' next destination is Manchester, New Hampshire, where he disguises himself as an elderly, half-blind priest. Richards manages to evade detection from the Hunters by having his tapes sent through a remailing service. After a restless night accompanied by terrifying nightmares, Richards goes to a safehouse in Portland, Maine. When the police close in, Richards is wounded, and hides in a partially finished shopping center.

The next morning, Richards realizes that he only has until noon to mail his tapes directly to the Network; there is no time to use the remailing service. Commandeering a car, Richards takes a hostage and makes his way to an airport. Richards holds a lengthy standoff at the airport, and manages to bluff his way past the Hunters' leader and onto a plane.

Dan Killian (Chris Cooper), the show's producer, offers to let Richards take over as lead Hunter and informs him that his wife and daughter were brutally murdered ten days earlier, even before Richards first appeared on the show. Richards overpowers the flight crew and is shot, suffering a mortal wound. With his last strength, he overrides the plane's autopilot and sets the plane to fly right into the Games Building, home of the Network and "The Running Man." The last thing Killian sees is Richards in the cockpit giving him the finger as the plane slams into the building.


Stark’s Comment: Danny Boyle returns to Sci-fi after ‘The Caves Of Steel’ in a breathtaking action feature based on Stephen King’s book. It could be considered a remake of Arnold Schwarzennegger’s 80’s movie inspired by the same material but, in fact, there are differences enough to present it as a brand new feature. I have the feeling it will do great in box office as it is a wonderful popcorn show.

THE ICE PRINCESS

Animation / Adventure

The Cast: Cameron Diaz, John Lightgow

The Director: Andrew Adamson
The Screenwriter: Matt Kubrick

The Plot: In a far away kingdom a young girls parents are tragically killed when insurgents take over the palace. A wizard named Ash leaves her with a family to keep her safe. He tells them her name is Anya (C.Diaz) and that one day he will return.

Anya grows into a beautiful young teenage girl unaware of her important heritage and the kingdom has been ruled under an iron fist. One day as Ash returns for the girl just as her family are struck down by soldiers.

The Ruler named Darnoth (J.Lightgow) has learned where the missing girl is and knows she will be a threat. Ash saves the girl once again and takes her away.

Anya learns of her heritage and of her duty to protect the kingdom. She will be forced to leave her friends behind and begin a new life. Ash gives Anya a necklace infused with a magic energy that reveals the truth to her and the fate of her real parents. Slowly they build a small army to fight the tyranical ruler.

As they continously win battles against Darnoth, their army grows larger and larger until they are able to attack the castle itself. A battle of magic erupts between Ash and Darnoth but only the power that lays within the princess is enough to stop him. When the magic is released a bright light brightens the whole kingdom and Darnoth vanishes into thin air.

In a beautiful ceremony the princess becomes queen and order is restored to a now peaceful land.


Stark’s Comment: I am always scared with animation movies. We have worked hard on this one: nice budget, sophisticated production design, solid screenplay… but who knows? I can only cross fingers and wait.

THE KILLING RUN

Thriller / Action

The Cast: Joshua Jackson, Eva Mendes, Hugh Laurie, Derek Luke, Michelle Williams, Ryan Reynolds. Cameo by James Woods.

The Director: Peter Berg
The Screenwriter: Dawson Edwards

The Plot: What does it take to become President of the United States? It may be too much to find out.

Joshua Jackson stars as Jonathan Hill a Harvard graduate on the fast track to the oval office with the equally intelligent and sexy Sloan Wright (Mendes) right behind him. But getting to the White House may prove to be just a fantasy as fellow politicians such as Marcus Williams (Derek Luke) and Evan Mitchell (Reynolds) make the competition even more intense.

As the election campaign nears those favored to win start dropping like flies for what seem to be explained but fluke reasons. As 3 politicians remain, the candidates start to suspect there may be something or more specifically someone behind the deaths of two potential presidents. Wright starts to fall back into a dark pill popping filled past as she fears her life is at major risk by being a potential nominee. Unfortunately, the day she is to announce her backing out, she’s found dead on her couch, doctors say from overdose.

But that’s all but too convenient for Hill who is determined to become the President, despite President Robert Woods (Hugh Laurie) warning him that the job is not for the weak of heart. Hill is soon approached by CIA retiree who only goes by Harrington (R.Reynolds). Harrington tells Hill that the general public hasn’t noticed a thing about these absurd deaths and none of the deaths are leading into any criminal investigation. Harrington promises Hill he won’t let him become another victim of Woods reign. As Jon soon finds out, Woods death triangle isn’t the only White House secret, turns out Harrington is also the step brother of President Woods.

Jon eventually relays all this information back to Marcus who in turns calls Hill a serial killer waiting to happen. There is no chance of Williams backing away from the election. Hill has no choice but to get to the bottom of the scandal by himself seeing as he doesn’t trust the brother of the enemy. The campaign is strenuous with Hill looking over his shoulder for any sign of foul play. As the election nears, Marcus suffers from an apparent severe heart attack and is no longer fit to run leaving Hill unopposed. Instead of taking this as a relief and easy victory, it is all clear in Jon’s mind that the government is out to kill.

Jon is then approach again by Harrington who offers his services of protection and friend. But in return he asks Jonathan to be willing and able to do the right thing when the time comes. One night after a very long day Jonathan is being escorted to his limo to take him home, when he realizes none of the guards look familiar. He tries to make a break for it but is soon tackled and stunned. He awakes long after in a small room complete with only one chair, which he happens to be sitting in. Jon is soaking wet and is face to face with President Woods.

Woods tells him that the country needs someone to lead them into glory. Someone to erase the problems with not only themselves but the world, and says that person can only be himself. As Jon is listening to Woods rant about being a 3rd term president, he interrupts by saying if he dies then people will start to investigate. After a few hardy laughs from Woods he responds to Hill by telling him that even with an investigation there is no proof, if he’s dead. Then gunshots are heard outside of the door along with a scream and a thud. Woods takes out a gun and waits for the door to open.

When it does the two are greeted by no other but Harrington and Williams. Shock and confusion is clearly shown on Hill’s face, but that only increases when Woods returns his gun to his side and introduces his new Vice President in Williams and head of Secret Service in Harrington. Harrington cocks back his gun and fires a shot into each of the Presidents legs. As Marcus panics he is then knocked unconscious by Harrington, who approaches Hill still tied to his chair. Harrington unties Hill, and says “Your Welcome Mr. President”.

All is then well as both Harrington and Hill give all the detailed information to the authorities and media for President Woods to most certainly do hard time.


Stark’s Comment: A classic conspiracy movie with the White House and the CIA involved. CMP has looked to politics and the US presidential campaign from different point of views – the mock documentary ‘No More Bush!’, the musical comedy ‘Only In America’… - so now we make the ‘conspiracy approach’. Not a too high budget. But it might give us a surprise in box office. These concepts usually work decently enough.


THE RUNNING MAN
by Ben Tyler

Hollywood seems to be suffering from a dearth of original ideas lately. Remakes, sequels, and adaptations seem to be flooding both theaters and production schedules. I mean, they're doing a remake of Bill and Ted, for crying out loud. So if your first reaction to hearing about The Running Man was to groan "Oh, great...another remake," I don't blame you one bit.

However, this movie is different. This is a movie that actually NEEDS to be remade. This "Running Man" is actually worth seeing.

Allow me to explain what I mean.I've always been of the mindset that in order for a remake to be warranted, it needs to be able to bring something new to the table; something that the original did not or could not bring. Whether this is a better script, better pacing or production values, or a different thematic outlook, there needs to be something new to prevent it from being overshadowed by the original. This is why a Citizen Kane remake would be unnecessary - it's perfectly find the way it is. To me, the best example of this philosophy is the new Ocean's Eleven movie. Steven Soderbergh took a fairly obscure (but pretty good) Rat Pack heist film and updated it for modern audiences, with high-tech gadgetry, faster pacing, and an A-list cast.

So what does this version of The Running Man have to offer? Simple - unlike the 1987 version, this movie is true to the original novel on which it was based. The novel has a distinctly darker and more cynical tone to it than the goofy Schwarzenegger vehicle.

Still, this wouldn't be a good thing if the novel's vision of the future were dated or irrelevant. Fortunately, a film adaptation of The Running Man could not be more timely or topical. With reality television being as popular as it is, The Running Man is actually even more relevant now than it was when it was written. We have shows where we watch people try to survive in the wilderness, lose weight, and even answer embarrassing personal questions for money. Can Swim the Crocodiles really be that far behind?

Given all these factors, writing this script and making this movie was really a no-brainer for me. This is a movie that needs to be made, and made well. So I wrote a script that stays as faithful to the novel as possible and hired a top-notch cast and director to make a movie that everyone involved can be proud of. And I think we succeeded in doing just that.


PREACHER: Zach Snyder already has a starring couple for his adaptation of this comic. James Marsden will play the Preacher himself in his first work for the Studio. Jennifer Garner returns to CMP after her legendary flop with ‘Tales Of The Jedi’ and her successful work in ‘Planetside’. It is also known that Colin Farrell has rejected the offer to play a peculiar supporting role in this production.

LIEUTENANT USA AND HIS WARM STEEL GANG 2: Here it comes the awaited sequel of the most successful CMP’s comedy ever, written by John Daws. As it is known, there will be some changes in the gang. Zach Braff is not returning to the group, being replaced by no other than Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. So now the most famous CMP’s gang includes Steve Carrell, Jack Black, Owen Wilson and The Rock plus an old Skoda with the voice of John Ratzenberger.

THE FUNERAL DRUM: Green light for a tough cops drama co-written by James Bradley and Joey Stark. Another kind of gangs here, the violent LA’s latin gangs. Michael Mann (‘Dark’, ‘Dive In The Sun’) refused to direct ‘The Running Man’ to direct this one. And it will have a shining starring couple: GMA Nominee Sean Penn, whose last work for CMP was behind the cameras directing ‘American Heartland’, and also GMA Nominee Julia Roberts (‘Court Appeal’, ‘The Passion Beneath’, ‘Warland’).

NIGHT CAB: The main appeal of this action comedy is going to be its starring couple. A hard to imagine one. George Clooney is the hitman on the cab. And the driver will be no other than Sasha Baron Cohen (‘No More Bush!’, ‘The Metal’), playing a sij inmigrant, turban included.

HITMAN: SHADOW OF A LEGEND: And from one hitman to another… The cast of this fifth episode of the saga is completed with some more names: Ian McKellen, seen past Season in ‘Faction 12’ and ‘He-Man. The Power Of Greyskull’; the CMP’s debutante Ben McKenzie, and Arnold Vosloo, retaking his character in the prequel of the saga ‘Hitman: Pain Of Destiny’.

Q*BERT: Jackie Chan’s deep acting works will continue after his work in ‘Ultraman: Afraid Of The Clones’, playing a kind of parody of Karate Kid’s Mr. Miyagi teaching the secrets of the game ‘Q*Bert’ to Will Ferrell. Amazing… but true.

BULLET WITCH: As we knew past week, Hugh Jackman refused to be in this movie as he preferred starring ‘Fallout’. But the replacement is already known: Eric Bana (‘The Avenger’, ‘The Library’, ‘Paperback Story’, ‘Planetside’) returns to CMP as the male hero of this breathtaking action show.

FALLOUT: There are three different groups trying to rule the world in this Richard Franzwa’s sci-fi production. The first one is commanded by Hugh Jackman. The other two will be commanded by Hugo Weaving (‘The Legend Of Zelda’) and the GMA Winner Robert Downey Jr., right before he becomes again Iron Man in the upcoming sequel of ‘The Avengers’.

WILD CARDS: DOUBLE SOLITAIRE: Director chosen after McG abandoned the project to direct ‘Bullet Witch’. Matt Kubrick has wanted to work with him for long and this is the perfect chance as he fits like a glove to the Wild Cards’ universe: Guillermo Del Toro finally joins CMP directing this fourth episode of the main saga.

DR. JONES 2: There is no definitive title yet. Nothing is known about the plot yet. Cast is not completed yet. But CMP has already green lighted the sequel of ‘Dr. Jones and the Sword Of Faith’. So here is the second adventure of Indiana Jones’ father in his younger years. Two things are for sure: Steven Spielberg will be directing and producing it and Ewan McGregor will play again Indy’s father.


DAMNATION ROAD

‘Damnation Road’ is probably the most violent movie ever produced by CMP. With a limited release due to its explicit violence and nudity, the movie made a decent box office and soon became a cult movie for many fans of the exploitation genre. With strong reminiscences of Rodriguez and Tarantino’s movies – specially ‘Kill Bill’ and ‘Grindhouse’ -, ‘Damantion Road’ can be considered as the most representative work of its screenwriter, Matt Kubrick, as it clearly shows all his declared influences. Charlize Theron, who plays the vindictive newly married, made a brave work in the movie, accepting a challenge not many big stars would have dared to accept. In conclusion, a brilliant ‘B-series’ spirit movie to enjoy without prejuidices.


The ‘Damnation Road’ Two Discs Special Edition includes:

- Audio commentary by director Rob Zombie, producer Matt Kubrick and star Charlize Theron

-A makeup effects documentary: Go behind the scenes and see how the bloody gruseome effects were achieved.

-‘Road Rage’ : This documentary takes a look at all the stunt work with the men and women and the filming of the dangerous epic highway chase finale.

- And for a limited time each purchase of Damnation Road comes with a poster of the scene with Charlize Theron carrying a severed head and machete down the highway.


ANIMATION IN CMP

Animation movies have always been a hit or miss experience for CMP. The Studio has not been very lucky with traditional animation movies although, on the other side, the ‘Game Boy’ movies, mixing live action and digital animation, are on top of box office’s hits. This week, the Studio will give another try to animation with a PG rated movie written by Matt Kubrick and directed by Sherck’s director Andrew Adamson. A good moment to look back at animated features previously released by the studio.

ROBOTECH (Directed and Produced by Michael Bay, B.O.: 127 mill.): The first animated feature from CMP, adapting the 80’s cartoon, was a surprising success. No stars voices in it but a creative production design in a movie that became the beginning of a franchise for the Studio.

ROBOTECH 2 (Directed by Tony Scott / Produced by Michael Bay, B.O.: 121 mill.): The first sequel of ‘Robotech’ repeated the success, this time with even higher net gains. Tony Scott, before beginning his work in the Hitman franchise, gave a try to animation. Later, he would return successfully to 80’s comic adaptations with the live action blockbuster ‘He-Man. The Power Of Greyskull’. The voice of Heath Ledger, playing also Captain America for the Studio by the time, could be heard in the movie.

HAPPY HAMSTERS (Directed and Produced by Robert Zemeckis, B.O.: 24 mill.): One of the first Marcus Trax’s pitches was this child audiences oriented movie. A nice story about hamsters that didn’t work in box office as expected.

CALVIN & HOBBES (Directed and Produced by James L. Brooks, B.O.: 6 mill.): Brooks, producer of ‘The Simpsons’, tried luck with this adaptation of the popular comic strip written by Kubrick. And the experience joined the list of CMP’s biggest flops. No less than 33 millions were thrown to the wastepaper basket with this production.

ROBOTECH 3 (Directed and Produced by Michael Bay, B.O.: 85 mill.): The lower box office but the highest net gains (74 millions) of the saga. After this success, Matt Kubrick announced another three upcoming movies for the franchise. But time passed and they were never written. The Robotech Trilogy was released on a special DVD box set by the Studio and have become a classic for CMP.

GAME BOY: SOULS OF THE USA (Directed by Robert Zemeckis / Produced by George Lucas, B.O.: 211 mill.): The failure of ‘Happy Hamsters’ and ‘Calvin & Hobbes’ made the Studio abandon animated productions for a while. Nobody knew at the Studio what would happen with this ambitious production written by John Daws. Daniel Radcliff played the only live action character among a bunch of popular console characters digitally generated with an allstars cast of voices, including Will Smith and Keira Knightley. And the success was so big it instantly became CMP’s alltimes worldwide gross top 2 with 242 millions of net gains.

GAME BOY 2: WARLANDS: (Directed by Robert Zemeckis / Produced by George Lucas, B.O.: 265 mill.): Even better than the first time. The sequel became the box office’s top 1. So it is predictable that there will be more to come in the future.

THE ICE PRINCESS (Directed by Andrew Adamson, awaiting release): After a few Seasons with out animation movies, the first traditional animation release since ‘Robotech 3’. Matt Kubrick returns to animation with this ambitious production related in its plot to other CMP’s movies like ‘The Legend Of Zelda’ or ‘Visionaries’. Will this be the resurrection or the definitive death of animation in CMP?

She hasn’t had a long – nor successful – career in CMP until now. Her voice has been previously heard in another CMP’s animation release, ‘Robotech 2’, directed by Tony Scott and produced by Michael Bay. It was a huge success. After that, the only time we have had the chance to see her in a CMP’s movie was the failed ‘Minos’, directed by Paul Verhoeven and produced by James Cameron. Now, she returns again with her voice only in this new animated feature. But, at least, we have had the chance to enjoy her beauty in the LA’s premiere of the movie.





This week, I will focus on CMP’s screenwriters. Who wants to know about stars when we have the men that put their words in their mouth providing as with gossips and news enough…?

According to CMP’s internal sources, this Season will be developed the last screenplay from a once very active and successful CMP’s writer, Marcus Trax. After announcing his temporal retirement due to private life commitments and then announcing a return, Trax finally seems to have abandoned the Studio. CMP still has one more story from him to produce: his fifth collaboration with director David Mamet and star Johnny Depp. And that seems the end for Trax in CMP. That means, besides losing one of its most creative talents, that some awaited sequels coming up from him – specially the third episode of the Dungeons and Dragons’ franchise – may never see the light. A shame.

A peculiar case is Dawson Edwards, the author behind this week’s release ‘The Killing Run’. This screenplay is the only pitch ever received from him. Since it was presented to CMP’s offices, nobody has never heard again from him at the Studio. So it all seems like ‘The Killing Run’ might be not only his first but also his only story written for the Studio by this mysterious author.

Ben Tyler and Matt Kubrick made the first screenwriters’ association in CMP with ‘Lobo’. After that, Kubrick and Collins’ co-wrote a horror story that was rejected by Stark due to its excessive violence mixed with kids. Now, another couple of veteran writers present their firs teamwork. GMA Winners James Bradley and Joey Stark, good personal friends, have worked together in ‘The Funeral Drum’, a cops movie just greenlighted.

And talking about Ben Tyler, what’s happening with him lately? The 6th Season Best Screenwriter GMA Winner keeps announcing to CMP’s Executive Board lists of his upcoming screenplays but, then, no screenplay is sent to the Studio. In fact, the author of ‘Schroedinger’s Litterbox’ and ‘Monolith’, may have a very little presence this Season, as he seems to have difficulties to finish his promised works.

Talking about promises, a confidential source from the Studio confirms me that Ted Froats has not sent yet the screenplay for ‘Cell Mates 3’. The story keeps waiting for its conclusion. Froats, known to be in Iraq by now (good luck, dude!) has talked about this story several times, but everybody at CMP keeps waiting to see the screenplay. It would be a shame if we all do not get to know how the story ends…

After being accused of doubtful in my past issue, Steve Connors has rapidly reacted announcing that his next story will be the sequel of ‘The Caves Of Steel’, the sci-fi movie inspired in Isaac Asimov’s works and starred by Bruce Willis. After that, Connors has the intention of writing a sequel for ‘The Shrinking Man’ and the cyber-thriller ‘Netchasers’ (luckily, he has not mentioned Ultraman in this public statement).

Oh, and some other time I will write too about ‘The Manor’, the strangest story ever, written by the talented Richard Franzwa…

And yes, next week will be the week to talk about Lieutenant USA and his guys. Another inside story coming up from me to you, CMP’s fans.