Nice Shrug

Except for the cartoonish, over-the-top CG, I don't have a problem with this Hancock tailer. So I don't get the disdain and skepticism voiced yesterday by the New York "Vulture" guys. As long as the story is tight and the other basics (acting, dialogue, character, attitude) are nicely finessed, there's a place (even in my sometimes sour universe) for good, empty, rambunctious fun by way of Will Smith, Charlize Theron and director Peter Berg.

Hancock (Sony) opens on 7.2.08 -- a nice long holiday weekend, and a good empty fit. It could, as EW has predicted, become the summer's third highest-grossing film, and perhaps even the second-highest, as I'm wondering for some reason about the legs of Prince Caspian. The only problem I'm sensing.... naah, leave it alone. Okay, I'll mention it -- the TV credits of the two screenwriters, Vincent Ngo and Vince Gilligan, are less than encouraging.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on April 24, 2008 at 12:10 PM

comment #1

storymark Author Profile Page says ...

You kidding? Vince Gillagan wrote some of the best X-Files episodes. His involvement is what interests me the most.

Posted by storymark Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 1:03 PM

comment #2

storymark Author Profile Page says ...

Er... Gilligan.

Posted by storymark Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 1:05 PM

comment #3

Geoff Author Profile Page says ...

BAD BLOOD....easily loved by just about anyone.

Posted by Geoff Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 1:08 PM

comment #4

Joel Author Profile Page says ...

Looks pretty solid, even if that trailer gave away just about everything.

Posted by Joel Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 1:11 PM

comment #5

MDOC Author Profile Page says ...

This trailer really kicked it up a notch and made me eager to see Hancock. The earlier trailers seemed a little goofy with the whale stuff. This gives the impression that Hancock is a legitimate action movie. A couple comic movies are going to stumble, this isn't one of them. 200 million domestic shouldn't be a problem, but I still can't believe they never found a better name for this thing. Granted Hancock is way ahead of "Tonight He Comes" which frankly just sounded pornographic.

Posted by MDOC Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 1:12 PM

comment #6

scooterzz Author Profile Page says ...

first, it was jason segel's man-boobs...now, it's prince caspian's legs....

Posted by scooterzz Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 1:13 PM

comment #7

MAGGA Author Profile Page says ...

I think you're underestimating Batman.

Posted by MAGGA Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 1:22 PM

comment #8

berg Author Profile Page says ...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/23/congo_panic/ coming soon from Apatow and company

Posted by berg Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 1:23 PM

comment #9

fnt Author Profile Page says ...

Please. This was seriously rewritten by at least John August and Akiva Goldsman. There are several reasons to doubt it, but Ngo and Gilligan's credits aren't one of them. In any case, Gilligan's draft was fantastic, though I'm not sure how much relation it bears to the current movie.

Posted by fnt Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 1:43 PM

comment #10

breadlymoore Author Profile Page says ...

Looks like Berg still gets a hard-on from the handheld camerawork.

He's a one-trick pony, that's for sure. Can't wait for shaky-cam DUNE.

Posted by breadlymoore Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 1:48 PM

comment #11

AndrewOwens Author Profile Page says ...

Interesting that the trailer does not mention the romantic aspect of his relationship with Theron in any way - in fact she appears in that trailer for only a second. Seems like Hollywood still thinks we aren't ready for an interracial romance between a black man and a white woman just yet. I'll be surprised if it gets mentioned by the marketeers in any way before release. Still at least they didn't go for the usual "give the black lead a Hispanic girlfriend" route.

Sorry, that was all very cynical. Hollywood "patterns" and repeating bad habits really grinds my gears.

Posted by AndrewOwens Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 1:54 PM

comment #12

arch451 Author Profile Page says ...

The Dark Night is absolutely going to be the #1 comic book movie this summer. I think the top 3:
1) Indian Jones
2) Wall-E
3) Batman

Posted by arch451 Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 2:19 PM

comment #13

Josh Massey Author Profile Page says ...

Peter Berg hasn't made a bad film, and The Kingdom was his best yet. Can't wait.

Posted by Josh Massey Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 2:34 PM

comment #14

Edward Author Profile Page says ...

I think I liked it better when Hancock was a troubled superhero. His transformation back to respectability makes it look recycled.

Posted by Edward Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 2:53 PM

comment #15

Jack Price Author Profile Page says ...

Vincent Ngo's draft bears almost no relation to the film that's been shot, which in many ways is a shame because there's some wonderful material that was excised for this alternative take on the anti-superhero.

Suffice to say, the previous version ("Tonight, He Comes") was like a postmodern telling of Shane, mixing classic comic book iconography with a healthy proportion of adult neuroses. The title was also as deliberately sexual as it sounded, and they didn't make any attempt to overexplain the origin of this superhero (which from what I've heard has become the case with Hancock).

Posted by Jack Price Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 2:59 PM

comment #16

breadlymoore Author Profile Page says ...

"Peter Berg hasn't made a bad film, and The Kingdom was his best yet."

Many would disagree with both statements.

Posted by breadlymoore Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 3:41 PM

comment #17

Mark Author Profile Page says ...

Is it just me, or was this at one time a 2-1/2 minute trailer that was cut down to 2 minutes by some grade-school amateur? I mean all the lines are cut off, there's no pace, and I can barely understand what is happening.

Posted by Mark Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 3:53 PM

comment #18

Josh Massey Author Profile Page says ...

"Many would disagree with both statements."

Many would disagree with most statements; it doesn't make them not worth making.

The Kingdom, Friday Night Lights, The Rundown, Very Bad Things - all solid flicks, and all better than they should have been.

Posted by Josh Massey Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 4:23 PM

comment #19

Josh Massey Author Profile Page says ...

Ok, just actually watched the trailer. That thing is going to be huge. As in "beat Indiana Jones, #1 movie of the summer" huge. If Smith can get Hitch and The Pursuit of Happyness to $160+, this is hitting $300.

Posted by Josh Massey Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 4:30 PM

comment #20

Pelham123 Author Profile Page says ...

Peter Berg is underrated as a director. I loved "The Kingdom", a movie which seemed to be misunderstood by everyone and "The Rundown" has no business being as goofy and funny an action movie as it turned out to be. I still haven't seen "Friday Night Lights", but that's only because the book was great and I really can't see the movie measuring up. As for "Hancock", isn't Michael Mann one of the Producers on this? The trailer looks great.

Posted by Pelham123 Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 4:57 PM

comment #21

D.Z. Author Profile Page says ...

MDOC: Sorry, but Hancock's gonna be Smith's first bomb since Bagger Vance, since it falls under the same "annoying superhero" category already tread by "My Super Ex-Girlfriend".

Posted by D.Z. Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 5:18 PM

comment #22

Josh Massey Author Profile Page says ...

Yes, DZ, as usual you're right.

Will Smith = Uma Thurman.

Posted by Josh Massey Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 6:01 PM

comment #23

MDOC Author Profile Page says ...

Massey,

Thanks you saved me another exasperating go round with DZ.

Posted by MDOC Author Profile Page at April 24, 2008 8:28 PM

comment #24

Howlingman Author Profile Page says ...

You mean to tell me there's a movie coming out in the next four months that ISN'T based on a pre-existing property? I am shocked and horrified.

Posted by Howlingman Author Profile Page at April 25, 2008 8:28 AM

comment #25

almirtovar Author Profile Page says ...

Well, in Brasil this movie is waaaay under the radar. Nobody even know about this thing, except for the movie maniacs - and even among them, it hasn?t come up too much on conversations. Around here, i would say Indy, Wall-E, and either Batman or Iron Man would end topping the BO.

Posted by almirtovar Author Profile Page at April 25, 2008 11:12 AM

comment #26

D.Z. Author Profile Page says ...

And really, why would the 18-25 crowd go for a movie named after a guy who signed the Declaration of Independence? I see those John Adams ads being tagged all the time.

Posted by D.Z. Author Profile Page at April 25, 2008 4:29 PM

comment #27

Rich S. Author Profile Page says ...

Will Smith is Hollywood's last, bona fide superstar. I Am Legend, one of the most downbeat actioners ever made, grossed over $250 million. And, to continue the porn analogy, that train crash is a money shot. Hancock will do just fine.

Posted by Rich S. Author Profile Page at April 26, 2008 5:33 AM

comment #28

actionman Author Profile Page says ...

This looks fucking awesome. My #3 to see behind Indy and Dark Knight. Love the look of this film. Peter Berg is massively underrated. Will Smith looks terrific. Love Bateman. Hope this movie kicks lots and lots of ass

Posted by actionman Author Profile Page at April 27, 2008 7:59 AM

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