JULY, 17

HUMAN AXIS

Sci-Fi / Drama

The Cast: Ewan McGregor, Jennifer Connelly, Joseph Fiennes. Voices of Donald Sutherland, Rebecca Romijn.

The Director: Christopher Nolan
The Screenwriter: David Makalaster

The Plot: 2420 AD. A research team (Particle physicist Jarvis – E.McGregor), Astronomer Lethi (J.Connely) & Engineer Harwell – J.Fiennes) stationed in orbit around Mercury in order to study the sun and it's interior are shocked to find two aliens literally walking on the surface of the sun, holding eachother firmly. The aliens notice their observers as well and waste no time making telepathic contact and identify themselves as Together (R.Romijn) and Alive (D.Sutherland), names chosen because the concepts they represent to us are most similar to the alien's goals.

Together wants to move the sun and merge it together with several other stars in order to create a giant star that will in time, and with some nudges from her, amass several other planets into orbit, that will support life and become a system teeming with life "gardened",so to speak, by her. She assures that Earth will be brought to the new sun as well in oh,say... a few thousand years.

Alive wants to preserve the life that is already on those planets, which will invariably be extinguished being ripped from their current orbits. He hopes to do this by inducing the sun to go nova, killing both him and Together.And earth, as well, unfortunately but he reasons that to save many, one must be sacrificed.

Both aliens are evenly matched however in their psionic battle, but ask that
the researchers and indeed, all mankind, join one of them, tipping the scales. After an initial panic the researchers start to debate among themselves, and with the aliens, what to do. Together argues that mankind will finally be part of something grander as it's always wanted while Life equates it to committing mass murder followed by suicide.Jarvis, the more spiritual of the three, initially sides with Together while Lethi sides with Alive. In their arguing they suggest that they contact earth, so that all of mankind may help decide it's fate but
Harwell stops them, saying that it will only serve to cause great panic and suffering, moreso than quick unknowing death.Jarvis & Lethi continue to argue while Harwell disappears. When they realize this and go look for him they find him in the OMT (Orbit Maintenance Thruster) control room. He was planning to use the thrusters to force the station out of orbit and towards the aliens, hoping to kill both in one blow.

Neither Jarvis nor Lethi agrees that it would help because the aliens can withstand even the surface of the sun, but come around as they realize it's the best option for them. At best, they kill both aliens. At worst, the aliens remain deadlocked until humanity next return, by which time it might be better prepared. The three of them setup the system to break orbit and return up to the observation deck where they sit, musing over their end and for how long
mankind might be safe. Jarvis blurts out that however long mankind actually lasts, it don't matter none to the rest of the universe.Lethi compares their actions to ants that die while fending off an antlion; nearby humans won't care but the anthill will survive and thrive.

Harwell is just fascinated when he realizes how calmly the three of them actually reacted to being the first to contact extraterrestrial intelligence. As the alarm klaxons sound and the heat shields start to evaporate they all take one last swig of fine brandy that Jarvis managed to smuggle with him from earth in an old hipflask, and the station finally crashes into the sun and right onto the two beings. Violent sunflares erupt and the surface is shakened as the last of the station evaporates and all is again still with no sign of anything, alien or human.

Until, in the distance, two familiar figures take shape as if growing from the sun itself.They cast one last glance towards where the station hit and walk off.
Together: "Very selfless of them..If that's a common trait of their species, I may bring a few samples of them."Alive: "They're not going anywhere. They're too stubborn to realize they're not important."

As the movie ends, we see the surreal scene of the two aliens walking towards the sun's horizon, where Mercury can be seen setting.


Stark’s Comment: An adult audiences oriented Sci-fi production. Although a very different movie, Nolan tried before to make ‘serious’ Sci-fi with ‘Monolith’ and it only worked partially well. Anyway, I like this production and hope it will work decently. It’s a quality product and, sadly, that does not necessarily mean box office’s success.

PREACHER: ALL AMERICAN FAMILY

Action

The Cast: James Marsden, Jennifer Garner, Josh Hartnett, Merryl Streep, Ray Winstone, Brad Dourif, Yaphett Kotto. Cameo by Ron Perlman.

The Director: Guillermo Del Toro
The Screenwriter: Matt Kubrick

The Plot: Since leaving Texas Cassidy (J.Hartnett) temporarily leaves Jesse (J.Marsden) and Tulip (J.Garner) and heads to Newyork City where he knows a man by the name of Arthur (B.Dourif) who has a knack for keeping track of strange happenings all over the world. But Arthur is hiding something from his old friend. He's a murderer that has been killing people. He then pretends to be trying to track down the killer himself. He is going to let Cassidy burn up in the daylight in his apartment when the cops kick down the door after making an anonymous call about bodies in an apartment. But Cassidy manages to play dead by pinning himself to a wall. He then tracks down Arthur and after beating him up he drinks his blood.

Meanwhile Jesse and Tulip thought they had left Texas for good but after stopping at a convenience store they are taken hostage by Jodie (R.Winstone) and TC (Y.Kotto) who are armed with shotguns. They are then taken to the large farmhouse where Jesse grew up and he comes face to face with his twisted grandma (M.Streep) and to Tulip Jesse will reveal the secrets of his past. Grandma locks them both in a room before telling them that she will have Jody kill Tulip in the morning. In Grandma's private room the hand of god reaches out and touches Grandma's face and tells her that Jesse's word will not work on them and after Tulip is dead he wants to be alone with the body.

Back in the room Jesse begins telling his long story. How his mom and dad met after veitnam and how when he was 6 years old they were kidnapped by Jodie and TC and taken to the farmhouse to live. Grandma wanted to raise him as a Preacher. His mother had runaway when she turned 19 and didn't want to have anything to do with her Grandma any longer. The only thing Grandma cares about is the next generation. A year later they try to escape but are caught and Grandma has Jody and TC kill his father. Then Jody drags his mother down to the river and shoots her and lets her fall in. Jesse tells the abuse he later suffered from his grandma's wicked ways and finally became a Preacher when he was broken.

As the morning rays leak into the room Jody and Grandma come inside and Jesse discovers that the word has no effect on either of them when Jody shoots Tulip in the head. They drag her off and leave her alone with god. He brings her back and tells her that he is a loving god that is why he brought her back and wants Jesse to stop looking for him and also tells her that the word will work on them once more. Tulip manages to escape the room and catches TC off guard and beats his head in with a shotgun. She runs into Jesse and tells him evrything that happened. They get a gase can and begin pouring it everywhere and light the place on fire. As they leave the burning home they hear Grandma yelling for Jody to kill them both because they have destroyed her beautiful home.

Jesse tells Jody he won't use the word on him and he wants to settle things like men and they have a brutal fight which leaves Jesse beat and bloody. But after managing to knock Jody to the ground he beats his head in with a rock. Behind them with Grandma screaming from a window the house explodes in a massive fireball. Jesse and Tulip both leave Jesse's past behind. Hours later since leaving the burnt building behind, the flames have died down. The Saint of Killers (Voice of R.Perlman) steps onto the grass and scours the landscape before saying not a bad start Preacher man.


Stark’s Comment: ‘Preacher’, directed by Zack Snyder, was released in Season 8 and it rapidly became a cult movie. It made a correct box office of 58 millions. Now, Del Toro takes control of the franchise after his previous experience at the Wild Cards saga with this sequel. My feeling is that this is an alternative product not designed to blow up box offices but to offer a non-mainstream quality comic adaptation for very specific fans.

UNITED I STAND

Drama

The Cast: Ivana Baquero, Adriana Barraza, Antonio Banderas, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Luis Guzman, Gael Garcia Bernal

The Director: Alejandro González Iñarritu
The Producer: Gran Island Movies
The Screenwriter: Josh Collins

The Plot: This story is of a young Spanish girl (I.Baquero) who was one of the nearly 2,000 wounded survivors of the Spanish Train Terrorist Attack of 2004, aka 11-M or 3/11 and her parents were one of the nearly 200 who were killed. English is not her second language, but she can speak it well enough to not make the film foreign.

Ivanna is inherited to her grandmother who lives in the U.S, Adriana Barraza, who already has her hands full running her house with her grown children who just won't leave, and has also been on a waiting list for years to get citizenship, also grieving over the loss of her daughter and son-in-law in the attack. Her murdered daughter was really the only successful child she had. Antonio Banderas, Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz are the other kids. Antonio is the criminal, drug addict of the family who smuggles it in and out of the country and when he is finally caught in the film, he faces deportation.

Javier is always in and out of jobs and has always lacked ambition. He is not proud of his Spanish heritage and feels it has only held him back from moving up the ladder in any job he's had.

Penelope is an ungrateful daughter who is pregnant with her Puerto Rican boyfriend, Luis Guzman's child. She doesn't want the child and is planning on dumping the kid on Luis when it is born. She is also fooling around with Gael Garcia Bernal, one of Luis' friends who intends to marry Penelope after she dumps Luis.

Ivana had never even been on American soil before and she gets to take the audience on a look at the country through the eyes of a child who had never seen America. She sees that the family she had been entrusted to struggles just as much as any other American family. She sees that despite what many other countries think of the U.S, it's really no better than any other normal country. Sure they don't slaughter their citizens for not believing in the government and they allow citizens all kinds of rights, but it's not all a stuck up "better than everyone" kind of country.


Stark’s Comment: Collins returns to drama but not with one of those hyper-dramatic stories he usually does. This is a softer story about a young girl trying to fit in a new world for her. Very Spaniard in all senses, so as a Spaniard myself I’m curious about how it will turn out.


KINGDOM: Finally, the long and allstars cast of this epic fantasy adventure directed by Zack Snyder and written by Matt Kubrick is beginning to be made public. We already know the starring couple: Megan Fox, seen this Season in ‘Wild Cards: Battle Of The Rox’, and Chris Evans, whose only previous work for CMP was ‘A Horse With No Name’. Other names known include Aaron Eckhart (‘Blood Meridian’, ‘A Man Called Dan’), Chris Cooper (‘Killer On The Road’) and GMA Nominee Michelle Pfeiffer (‘Only In America’).

MORE TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED: Second installment of the successful Ben Tyler’s short stories project after the success of the original one. Again, three mystery stories will be directed by three different directors. This time, the chosen ones are Gus Van Sant (‘Powerhouse’); David Fincher, who has recently released ‘L.A. Wolf’ and no other than Matt Kubrick, now directing ‘Foul Karma’.

SILVER SABLE AND THE WILD PACK: Green light for the sequel of Bryan Singer’s movie based on the sexy heroine. Singer directs and produces again based on a Joey Stark’s screenplay. And, of course, Katherine Heigl returns as the heroine herself. ‘Silver Sable’, released on Season 9, made a very nice box office of 130 millions generating 113 millions of net gains.

BULLET WITCH 0: It seems like ‘Deep Silence 2’ has effectively resurrected director Renny Harlin’s career in CMP because he has been chosen to direct this prequel. Rumors say that there are being quite a bunch of problems to put up the cast of the movie, as some stars proposed to be in it have rejected the offer. One thing is for sure: the lead female role will be played by no other than the two times GMA Winner Kate Hudson, who moves from drama and comedy to big action with this one.

TRACKS OF BLOOD: The Tarantino / Rodriguez / Kubrick trio have decided to make out of the cast of this sequel of ‘Reform School Girls’ a kind of family reunion with talents they have worked with before. ‘The idea is having fun with good old friends’, have said Tarantino about it. Two of those friends joining the cast will be Deanna Russo, seen in Kubrick’s slasher production ‘Sisters’, who will be playing here Eliza Dushku’s friend and lover, and Mickey Rourke, whose voice was heard in the Game Boy movies but has never played a live action character in CMP before.

DEADLY FORCE: Also some casting problems for this one: GMA Winner Sean Penn has refused the offer to play the villain of the function, so Jack Hammer is urgently looking for a replacement. Also, it is known that Brad Pitt made one condition to repeat again his character: he should also be the producer of the movie. CMP accepted it. Pitt produced before for CMP the western ‘Dakota North’, that did not work in box office. Talents confirmed to be in the cast are Ray Liotta (‘Journey Into Darkness’) and Paul Walker, who has just starred ‘Aquaman’.

SHOTGUN JOE: More stars for this action exploitation co-starred by Kurt Russell and Eva Mendes. Josh Brolin, who already worked with Kurt Russell in ‘Nick Fury’; Brian Dennehy, already seen this Season in the megahit ‘Devil Trigger’; and a debutante in CMP, Rosie Perez.

FOUL KARMA: As it is known, this peculiar story co-written by Kubrick and Josh Collins and directed by Matt Kubrick himself, only has two characters. One of them is played by Matt Damon. Now it has been made public that the other one will be played by Samuel L. Jackson, who will work again in front of a camera for CMP after lending his voice lately to some productions like ‘Bird of a feather’.

CROSSOVERS: James Bradley returns as director for the third time after ‘Celebutantes’ and ‘The 6th Avenue Castaways’ with this urban comedy about crossed relationships. Infidelity and romance will be the central theme of the story from a comedic point of view. Sienna Miller, who was already directed by Bradley in ‘Celebutantes’, and Ben Affleck, returning to CMP after the Syndrome series, are two of the members of the cast.

CHECK, PLEASE: More names to add to this comedy, also focused on sentimental relationships: Jeremy Piven, already seen this Season in ‘Blood Meridian’, and Maggie Smith, in her first work for CMP.


DAVID MAKALASTER – ‘HUMAN AXIS’

After his two recent hits this Season, ‘Devil Trigger’ and ‘Hawkeye’, Makalaster has become one of the most profitable authors for the Studio. He has focused on big budget productions lately and this week he releases another top budget movie, ‘Human Axis’, where the big show is mixed with personal conflicts in a sophisticated movie directed by the always interesting Christopher Nolan.

1.It seems like Human Axis is a peculiar sci-fi movie, more based on drama, dialogues and personal conflicts than in action or special effects...

Yes, it is kind of odd isn't it. Of course, the events still have galaxy-wide repercussions, as any sci-fi movie deserving of the name should claim, only they're examined through the closeup view of the three unluckiest people in the solar system. First of all, it was inspired by a quote by a person I completely lost the name of; "Despite our deluded sense of self-importance, the universe does not revolve around a human axis." I wanted to slightly counter that, in that while the threat remains in the universe at large, the three still literally make a world of difference.

2.After the big impact in audiences of 'Devil Trigger', do you feel the pressure of success?

Well, no. I've long since faced the fact that I am not the master of my own mind when it comes to that creative schtuffs. If a movie tops B.O. lists, great,(A real surprise about Devil Trigger there, seriously.) but if it doesn't (And I think I mentioned this in the first interview too) I am glad to just have the idea out of my head.

3.Some critics say that, in some way, you have sold your soul, as you are now releasing big productions like 'Devil Trigger', 'Hawkeye' or 'Magic-The Gathering' instead of more auteur movies, like 'Little Tin Goddess'. What do you think about it?

Some critics are missing the bigger picture here, that being that while the movies in themselves, one at a time seem disconnected and designed for profiting at the cost of creative vision, if you look at the whole franchise (Hard to do before release I know, but be patient) there is a greater whole, that is on the same level of depth and creativity as say, Littlle Tin Goddess. If I have my say against the box office, there will be at least 6 movies in the full Magic: The Gathering series which will create a living, breathing world. Devil Trigger may well recieve a similar treatment, I have some plans for that war Attuan prevented..

Hawkeye is the same, but different. Some might think I wrote this only to flatter my 'main man' Orlando, but truth be told, I simply liked Hawkeye's backstory and thought it should be told. In part of it, I also got to try my hand at integrating a story of mine into an already established franchise which was.. interesting. So, there's more than just the cream on top of the cake.

My soul is not mine to sell, anyway...*evil laughter*

4.Back to 'Human Axis', do you think audiences will appreciate this peculiar concept? Christopher Nolan already directed another adult sci-fi movie, 'Monolith', and it didn't completely work in box office...

I wondered the same about some other movies and got proven dead wrong. Downright strange films like The Mothman Prophecies or Lost Highway found their audience, I think Human Axis will, too. And I don't think Monolith did *that* bad...

5.Tell us something to introduce that prequel in development, 'Bullet Witch 0'.

Ah yes, the loyal Bullet Witch fanbase will hate me for this... I wanted to improve on the story. In the game, Maxwell Cougar is a bland and very 2D character, only there for the requisite word count of the cutscenes basically. This way, I want to beef him up, give him some backstory and motivation. Without spoiling too much, I can say that it covers Maxwell's life going into the Demon Wars and it will affect him very personally.


In two weeks, the 10th Edition of the Golden Moon Awards will be here. So, as we usually do in this blog, to warm up things we dedicate this section to past awards winners. This time is the turn for Best Supporting Actress winners.

SUSAN SARANDON

What for? The lover of a rabbi suspect of murdering his wife in ‘Deadly Sins’
Against? The rivals – Demi Moore and Kirsten Dunst – were not too strong performing works.
Life after Victory? Sarandon has not been seen lately in CMP but still she has made some interesting works for the Studio like the western ‘Fortune City’.

CHARLIZE THERON

What for? The patient wife of an obsessive Russell Crowe in ‘Cathedral’.
Against? Scarlet Johansson and Rosario Dawson, both nominated for their splendid works in ‘Chevrolet’.
Life after Victory? Charlize seems to be a bit forgotten lately in CMP. Her last work for the Studio was a daring one: ‘Damnation Road’.

SHARON STONE

What for? The wife murdered by her own husband, the Presidential candidate John Travolta in ‘Wild Cards: Aces High’.
Against? Looking back, two acting works much more interesting than hers: Hillary Swank in ‘Home’ and Claire Danes in ‘The Great War Series: Darkening Skies’.
Life after Victory? Another star falling into oblivion lately in CMP. Her last work was in the dispensable ‘Lieutenant USA 2’.

DAKOTA FANNING

What for? Her talent acting and singing and looking sweet in the multi-awarded musical ‘Carousel’.
Against? Two previous losers in this very same category: Scarlett Johansson (‘Paperback Story’) and again Claire Danes again for the same character in The Great War Series saga. But Claire won Best Actress also for ‘Carousel’.
Life after Victory? Full of life. Her latest hit was ‘The Fantastic Mansion’.

WINONA RYDER

What for? A sweet deaf-mute girl in the nice ‘An American Stroll’
Against? Ariel Gade for ‘No Evil’ and Ziyi Zang for ‘Nagasaki Daydreams’
Life after Victory? Not much. Her last work was a minor role in ‘He-Man. The Power Of Greyskull’.

IVANA BAQUERO

What for? Her moving character as the daughter of a murderer and rapist in ‘Blink’
Against? Angela Bassett for ‘Dream Of A King’ and Katie Holmes for ‘Omega’
Life after Victory? Ivana is releasing this week the dramedy ‘United I Stand’ in her first lead role.

JODIE FOSTER

What for? The understanding mother of a teen lesbian in ‘Lyra’
Against? Two heavy weights: Frances McDormand in ‘Velcro’ and Michelle Pfeiffer in ‘Only In America’
Life after Victory? Jodie keeps being a regular in CMP.

UMA THURMAN

What for? A humanoid not too trustable in ‘The Naked Sun’
Against? Rosario Dawson, in her second nomination for ‘The Funeral Drum’ and Sandra Bullock for ‘The Chinese Bride’
Life after Victory? Not seen in CMP since ‘The Naked Sun’.

JODIE FOSTER

What for? Her second win in this category, now playing an acid Governor in the experimental ‘Things I forgot to tell you’
Against? A cast mate in the same movie, Kate Winslet, and Franka Potente for her work as the mother of Hitler in ‘Tales Of The Unexpected’
Life after Victory? Jodie will keep working in CMP for sure.


This week’s picture reunites the main talents from the cast of ‘Preacher: All American Family’ – James Marsden, Josh Hartnett and Jennifer Garner - together with director Guillermo Del Toro at the lobby of the New York’s theatre where the world premiere of the movie took place.



Now it’s official. After watching past week’s releases, the horrendous ‘Aquaman’ and the even more horrendous ‘Deep Silence 2’, I am sure now that all CMP’s screenwriters suffer some kind of bipolar disease or double personality syndrome. Is there other possible reason to explain why a same mind can create both the best and the worst movies? To prove my theory, I have decided to dedicate my column this week to THE BEST AND THE WORST from CMP’s writers, showing how all of them are capable of both.

MATT KUBRICK

THE WORST: ‘Blood Beach’. Out of his many – and terrible - slasher movies, this one is still on top as one of the worst movies ever released by CMP.
THE BEST: ‘Sherlock Holmes’, a movie far away from Kubrick’s style that became past Season’s Best Picture winner at the GMA’s.

JOSH COLLINS

THE WORST: ‘Lying Wish’. If you are a writer with a tendency for drama, just don’t try to be funny.
THE BEST: ‘Lyra’. Still remembered as one of the best screenplays ever seen in CMP.

DAVID MAKALASTER

THE WORST: ‘The Holders’. Moviegoers are still trying to understand the plot.
THE BEST: ‘Devil Trigger’. Moviegoers did not understand the plot but they loved it.

JAMES BRADLEY

THE WORST: ‘Celebutantes’. Why a prestigious and serious writer decided to make his debut as movie director with a silly story about parishilton-esque girls?
THE BEST: ‘The 6th Avenue Castaways’. A most original dramedy about the two only survivors of human race after a cataclysm winner of the Best Picture GMA.

DAWSON EDWARDS

THE WORST: ‘The Killing Run’. Eva Mendes running for President? The US President turned into a murderer? The most hard to believe story ever seen on screen.
THE BEST: ‘Fallen Kings’. I don’t feel I’m exaggerating when saying that it is one of my favourite CMP’s movies.

RICHARD FRANZWA

THE WORST: ‘Fallout 2’. The weakest plot for a movie seen in ages.
THE BEST: ‘The Manor’. No doubt this strange story had to be written after taking suspicious substances. But, hey, they worked.

JOEY STARK

THE WORST: ‘Deep Silence 2: Red Code High’. That Jessica Alba’s shout – ‘Oh, my God, they’re back!’ – summarize all the stupidness of this screenplay.
THE BEST: ‘The Heirs’. Despite the strong influence of ‘The Godfather’, still an A-class work.

JOHN DAWS

THE WORST: ‘Lieutenant USA 2’. The perfect way of wasting the potential of a franchise.
THE BEST: ‘The Gunpowder Plot’. …or a how a Historical story should be told.

STEVE CONNORS

THE WORST: ‘Ultraman: Afraid Of The Clones’. I just can’t find the words to describe it…
THE BEST: ‘Mary’s Dark Side’. Classy and funny. A perfect comedy.

BEN TYLER

THE WORST: ‘Captain Planet’. Stretching a joke to turn it into a full-length movie may be too much.
THE BEST: ‘Tales Of The Unexpected’. Full of writing talent any way you look at it.