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Nolan…Christopher Nolan
Each actor who has portrayed the legendarily iconic James Bond (007) has done so with his own degree of vigor and personality that are exclusive to the most powerful, and ironically, most famous secret agent in the world.
2012 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Bond Franchise in movies, starring the character written into the world by Ian Fleming. The 23rd and most recent cinematic adventure was expertly titled, “Skyfall.” It earned more than $1 billion worldwide and was a sensational return to the top of the movie surface from the financial abyss the franchise found itself in a few years ago.
James Bond is back and not just in Hollywood.
The prospect of epic movie director (and Brit) Christopher Nolan directing the next 007 movie, sans any potential scheduling conflicts, has intrigued Bond fans because of his treatment to Bruce Wayne in the Batman trilogy and his producing role in the upcoming, “Man of Steel.” Not to mention his visually stunning and overwhelming mind-bender known as, “Inception.” The door in the theater showing the premiere of the 24th 007 movie is slightly cracked with a sliver of light and noise emanating from it with presumed hints of the most epic adventure in James Bond history.
Fans are already “air-violining” and orchestrating their own Hans Zimmer treatment in their imaginations. James Bond would very likely be thrown onto the biggest stage of his life.
However, reports are swirling that the once not interested “Skyfall” director Sam Mendes is in negotiations to direct two more Bond films. Full disclosure: Mendes did a fantastic job with “Skyfall.” It was a great movie with a great villain! And yet, the prospect of Nolan sitting in the director’s chair for the legendary franchise still intrigues with a feeling that James Bond would be taken to another level…
For one thing, Nolan would have the right 007, “reporting for duty.”
Daniel Craig is the strongest and most emotionally raw and conflicted James Bond the character has ever known. In modern film, our heroes are no longer assumed to be the strongest or to act with near perfection. Audiences want to see and feel strength, heartbreak, love, speed, struggles, intelligence, wit, flirting and, above all, humanizing qualities. For better or worse, this is the reality. Fans want to be shown that the adventures on screen could happen in the chaotic world we populate today by someone who lives in the same world we inhabit. They want to see familiar streets, recognizable landmarks and buildings, crowds of people, cars, markets, etc., all while following one of the most luxurious lifestyles of any spy in history.
We want to believe that 007 could, at some point, dash past us in an Aston Martin or sprint through a crowded sporting event in the street to catch the bad guy. The likelihood needs to exist where he can be broken down at moments, both physically, mentally and emotionally. In some cases, these bruises, in whatever form, carry-over for a period of time and, at some point, have to be confronted and dealt with in some way. Three movies in, Daniel Craig has achieved this rare feat.
With the ingredients of throwing in a flawed hero, destined for greatness, who has had to overcome a lifetime of loneliness, heartbreak and confusion, using the real world as his stage, creating an enemy with a sinister yet mesmerizing intellect, big explosions, luxurious surroundings, beautiful women, conflicting relationships, Michael Cain, and a richly complex and original story, the top-shelf lists of chefs have to include and feature master chef Christopher Nolan.
And, Nolan has stated publicly how he is a big fan of James Bond. The reason for mentioning this is that 007 would not be a résumé builder for him, but instead a passion and honor.
The hypothesizing/wishful thinking of contemplating the story, characters and their developments, casting, settings, soundtrack, enemies, etc. of a Nolan-directed Bond film will come in a future post. The very prospect sure does conjure up an “epic” aura…
For now, we can only dream…and then dream again…
The Power of a Horse
Aliens. Great White Sharks. A whip-happy, gun-slinging professor of archaeology. Dinosaurs. A horse?
(Rolling Stone)
Steven Spielberg, one of the greatest movie directors of all-time, has introduced the public to a wide-range of characters, most of which grab our attention from the title’s alone. “Jaws,” “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “Jurassic Park” are just a few examples. But what about, “War Horse”? First reactions do not stir up emotions of great excitement. It’s a story about a horse that was involved in World War I.
Okay…?
And yet, it is still Steven Spielberg after all. It is his impressive filmography that we can instinctively conclude that a great story is waiting to be told and that he is the perfect person for this job. Somehow, someway, we the audience will come to relate to a horse from a war. In some fashion, we will sympathize with a horse and be intrigued by its journey in a way similar to that of E.T.
Still though, this undertaking seems about as difficult as plowing a field scattered with rocks.
“War Horse,” to my surprise, is a beautifully tragic, yet inspirational story of unfaltering friendship. Throughout Joey’s life (the horse), he is connected to life all around him. As peculiar as it may read, Joey’s many relationships throughout his joyful and perilous journey resembled something remarkably close to kinship. Surprisingly, the love and admiration the various characters felt for Joey in their various situations was felt through the screen. We start to understand that a horse, in this instance, represents much more than a mere animal. Joey, to those who took the time, was profoundly more than power and dashing speed.
Watching this movie in the evening of Memorial Day was special. The themes of military service and, well, horses, sparked a flashback dating back generations. My Great-Grandfather, Albert C. Ziemann, served in World War I in the U.S. Cavalry at the independent age of 26. He registered for the draft out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was stationed in France.
The following are family recollections:
He was once in a weather observation balloon when it crashed into a French apple orchard. Like in the battle scene near the end of, “War Horse,” he too was gassed. Fascinatingly, General “Black Jack” Pershing (formally John J. Pershing) had, at one point, wanted a rare hawk of his to be stuffed. While asking up and down the ranks for an individual to assist him with this unique task, Ziemann, who enjoyed taxidermy as a hobby, volunteered his services to the General. For Ziemann, this was likely seen as a genuine win-win scenario because he would be doing taxidermy for the prestigious General and this job got him off the front lines.
Stuffing the hawk was expected to be a two-day assignment, but it stretched out to two weeks. One of the most incredible stories of Ziemann was that he helped General Pershing take care of his horses! It’s assumed this coincided with the two-week hawk-stuffing project. Regardless, what a tremendous honor and experience.
Members of my family have recalled that Ziemann enjoyed riding horses. One day in 1963, he had been riding horses. Devastatingly, later that day, he died of a heart attack. Despite the sadness of this memory, it is important because it portrays how his love of horses was not a two-week and/or temporary crush, but likely a lifelong love affair. The connection between a person and a horse is special and can endure in times of war and peace.
During this Memorial Day, in 2013, I found myself reflecting back to almost one hundred years into the past to my Great-Grandfather, Albert C. Ziemann, all the while relating his experiences to those told in the magnificent story of, “War Horse.”
From all of this, two things are certain:
I am very proud and amazed of my Great-Grandfather’s service during World War I.
And that Steven Spielberg is one hell of a storyteller.
An Idea for a Super Premiere
Moore, Oklahoma will never be the same after the EF-5 tornado tore through with unfathomable destruction. But, the people and community will heal in time. They are proving to be extraordinarily resilient and they will rebuild, despite the fact the memories of this tragedy will never simply be seen in a rear-view mirror. Still, it will get better. And yet, what would probably help at this point, beyond treasure chest after treasure chest of money and comfort for the people who lost everything, including loved ones, are perhaps a few little glimmers of inspiration and help for afar.
The clean-up and rehabilitation of the town will be non-stop for years. In the midst of all that is occurring, I have a suggestion for something to take place about three-three and a half weeks from today. I propose that Warner Bros. and everybody involved (cast, crew, director, producers, marketers, studio heads, etc.) in “Man of Steel” visit Moore, Oklahoma for a weekend and help in any way possible. This would involve cleaning, building, searching, consoling and anything and everything that the town needs. In one area would be director Zack Snyder lifting heavy metal of a store with members of the community to producer Christopher Nolan helping to clean up a street unrecognizable now to families to Amy Adams and the ‘man of steel’ himself Henry Cavill moving rubble and offering comfort to families (especially children) in another area. This pattern of generosity would be widespread throughout the entire area affected by the tornado.
People helping people.
Then, on the night the highly anticipated movie was scheduled to premiere to the world, Warner Bros. would bring in a giant projection screen to a cleared field or area where everybody from Moore, Oklahoma, its many outside helpers and the actors, producers, writers, grips, executives, etc. would disperse throughout the crowd to watch on blankets and/or grandstand seats to watch “Man of Steel” for the first time anywhere in the world. There would be complimentary popcorn, drinks, food, you name it with “Man of Steel” packaging. If this weekend and movie premiere could offer the people of the tornado-ravaged community time to temporarily escape from their reality, then it would be a success.
It’s important to note that this event would not be publicized to the public before it occurs, but secretly arranged between the studio and the local government. In essence, it would be a complete surprise for the citizens of Moore, Oklahoma!
Movies are meant, in part, to offer the audience a time to escape, dream and to be inspired. Maybe what the men, women and children in this town needs is Superman. The character of Clark Kent was raised in the Midwest. In many ways, he’s the perfect superhero/savior for this community right now. This event could also give them some assurance that they are not alone and that people for all over do care well beyond the few days of initial media coverage by the networks.
To “Man of Steel” & Warner Bros.: Even if only for a day or two…even if only for a couple of hours, show the people of Moore, Oklahoma the new movie of the greatest superhero of all-time…all the while showing them what hope and spreading goodness to our fellow men, women and children looks like off the big screen.
“It’s not an ‘S.’ On my world, it means hope.”
P.S. A super big check would be a nice gesture as well! “The Clark Kent School” sounds pretty cool!
Or, just put the the Superman “S” on the front of a rebuilt school. How’s that for inspiration.
Time to Get Some Hats
Freedom. New Horizons. Curiosity. Adventure. Adrenaline. Limitless.
These words are meant to conjure a state of mind of time and inspiration. They should encourage us to embrace the wildly fearless and randomly proficient spirit of the one and only Kevin…Kevin Rawley that is.
“Little Fockers” was on television this past Saturday. Diving head first into the majestically blue waters of the ambiguously defined character of Kevin, the actor and professional wandering spirit Owen Wilson must first have a light shone on him. His films’ characters exemplify the motivation to look for exciting happenings, regardless of any preconceived notions or restrictions. Take virtually any scene involving him from the movies “Zoolander”, “You, Me and Dupree”, “Midnight in Paris” or the “Meet the Parents” trilogy (so far…)
In a variety of ways, he possesses an “it” factor for living life to its fullest. After reflecting on his many bizarre, yet hilarious scenes from “Meet the Parents” and “Little Fockers”, it sparked an internal curiosity of attempting to experience life as Kevin for a period of time. Perhaps the genesis of this experiment could be done during a Friday. Maybe a Friday and a Saturday. Sans the money from investing in Wireless IPO”s right before they skyrocketed, lower key endeavors are certainly attainable. Just like his characters’ many hats, we too must add our own threads of creativity and motivations towards new opportunities.
Could we carve, build and fashion a breath-taking altar from one giant piece of wood in about 70 hours? Probably not on our first day. But let’s start small, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll be able to teach ourselves to play a little Beethoven on the piano in the morning, prepare a deliciously authentic feast of the Fiji Islands in the evening and sail a beautiful coastline with the star of the Russian Ballet the next week.
Whatever speaks to us.
Keep Everything Vastly Imaginative Now!
Jimmy's Daily Planet 