"Lambs" Afganistan
This Michael Fleming description of Matthew Carnahan's Lions for Lambs, which Robert Redford will direct and co-star in for Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner's revived United Artists, is more intriguing that the one I read in his Variety column in mid-October.
It's basically three intertwining, almost Babel-like storylines: Cruise as "a congressman who interacts with a journalist (Meryl Streep); Redford as an idealistic professor who attempts to inspire a privileged student in his class; and a third storyline about a pair of American soldiers wounded in enemy territory, one of whom is Redford's former student." I can see this...it sounds good.
The third storyline takes place, if I recall Fleming's earlier summation correctly, in Afghanistan. I think now is the time for everyone to remember that in The Hot Rock, the 1971 caper flick which Redford co-starred, the words that trigger a state of instant reactivated hypnosis in a safe-deposit-box manager are "Afghanistan banana-stan." Think about that.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 15, 2006 at 12:31 PM
comment #1
actionman
says ...
well this sounds pretty awesome
Posted by actionman
at November 15, 2006 12:48 PM
comment #2
cleopatrajones
says ...
Robert Redford denied working with Cruise.
http://www.accesshollywood.com/news/ah2281.shtml
Posted by cleopatrajones
at November 15, 2006 1:18 PM
comment #3
Daniel Fienberg
says ...
That was three weeks ago, cleopatra. Some people in the industry are professional enough that they known need to issue a press release when they're thinking about going to the bathroom. They wait til they're actually on the can to alert the media. Redford's a pro and didn't feel the need to comment on a leaked report in variety before, as he said, there was anything to actually report.
-Daniel
Posted by Daniel Fienberg
at November 15, 2006 1:25 PM
comment #4
ArchiveGuy
says ...
Actually, I'm pretty sure it was "Afghanistan Banana Stand"
Posted by ArchiveGuy
at November 15, 2006 1:50 PM
comment #5
JD
says ...
This movie sounds good, Babel similarities notwithstanding (at least these stories appear to be connected). But why does Robert Redford have to direct it?
PS - The Hot Rock... rocks!
Posted by JD
at November 15, 2006 2:17 PM
comment #6
Dixon Steele
says ...
I've seen THE HOT ROCK numerous times, Archive Guy.
The hynotist in the elevator says, "Afghanistan, Bananastan".
Posted by Dixon Steele
at November 15, 2006 5:24 PM
comment #7
George Prager
says ...
The Hot Rock is worth seeing if only for the helicopter ride past the under-construction Twin Towers. Unbelievable. You see right through the buildings close-up.
Posted by George Prager
at November 16, 2006 7:54 AM
comment #8
donnyboy
says ...
The real drama will be: will either Cruise or Redford be lit the best?
That’s how their two characters will be "connected"...
Now that’s drama!
Posted by donnyboy
at November 16, 2006 6:59 PM