Had to Happen
Righteous Kill (Overture, 9.12) -- a.k.a, the new DePac -- "may not be dead on arrival after all," a Manhattan media friend wrote yesterday. "I attended the New York premiere and despite the hassle of being forced into an overflow screening room across the street from the Zeigfeld, the film played fairly well in a non-industry room of 100 or so.
"I honestly don't know why [Overture hasn't shown] this until two days before the release date. It's fun to see these two guys. The script gives them plenty of eye-rolling moments, and it's obvious DeNiro took Pacino into a private trailer and said 'If you do the hoo-hah guy in this thing I'm walking off the movie.'
"But that said, it's a fairly mediocre thriller with two amazing guys. And that's worth the price of admission simply because they will probably never do it again. The film does have one trick up its sleeve that I thought worked pretty well, But once it's revealed the thing goes on too long.
I was asked yesterday by a journo friend about DeNiro and Pacino's diminished leading-man, tough-guy cred. I didn't have any hot info so I just spewed opinion.
"The bottom line is that they're both well past their leading man days -- DeNiro is 65, Pacino is 68 -- and nobody wants to see a movie about a couple of grandpa-aged urban detectives. 13 years ago they were beautiful in Heat -- lean and muscular and in their middle-aged prime with great haircuts. Today they're softer, grayer, saggier...less cool. It's a hard pill to swallow, but they're just not top-dog machismo types any more. It's over.
"But of course, they knew this going in when they signed to make Righteous Kill. Producer Avi Lerner is an older, behind-the-curve rug-merchant producer in the Golan-Globus tradition and was willing to pay them their fees, so they said 'sure, why not? How can we lose?'"
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 12, 2008 at 8:07 AM
comment #1
berg
says ...
I would never confuse Jon Avnet with a world class director but RK is so much better than 88 Minutes
Posted by berg
at September 12, 2008 8:30 AM
comment #2
actionman
says ...
It's a crime that an ultra-hack like Avnet directed this flick. But from what I have read, the problems intially stem from the script. In theory, the idea of an R-rated cop film with DeNiro and Pacino in it means that I am in the theater opening night. But considering how terrible the reviews have been, I will unfortunately be waiting for DVD.
On another note, last night I re-watched A Bronx Tale. That is an fucking fantastic film.
Posted by actionman
at September 12, 2008 8:38 AM
comment #3
btwnproductions
says ...
Pacino has enviably flowing hair, but too much plastic surgery. It's not bad work, necessarily, but it's distracting.
Posted by btwnproductions
at September 12, 2008 9:15 AM
comment #4
nemo
says ...
13 years ago? Was Heat really made 13 years ago?
Man, even Ronin was made 10 years ago, and de Niro looked good, tough, and believable in that part.
Now, hell, I'm over 50 and even to me both these guys look too damned old and sour to be remotely believable as NY detectives. But I'll probably see it anyway.
Posted by nemo
at September 12, 2008 9:49 AM
comment #5
Mike
says ...
Whenever I see that black and white pic of Pacino for the RK ads he looks almost identical to Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood. That can't be a good thing.
Posted by Mike
at September 12, 2008 10:41 AM
comment #6
T. S. Idiot
says ...
Caption for the photo above: "I just love it when you look grim, darling."
Posted by T. S. Idiot
at September 12, 2008 11:03 AM
comment #7
Josh
says ...
How cant these two find an actual good project to do together?
Posted by Josh
at September 12, 2008 11:23 AM
comment #8
btwnproductions
says ...
The 76-year-old Robert Duvall as a NY police chief in WE OWN THE NIGHT was another real stretch in the credibility department. These guys are all pensioners.
Posted by btwnproductions
at September 12, 2008 11:42 AM
comment #9
BurmaShave
says ...
I was going to debate a bit until I watched that Letterman clip. Jesus christ they're old. Letterman, basically a contemporary, seems 20 years younger.
Posted by BurmaShave
at September 12, 2008 1:37 PM
comment #10
The InSneider
says ...
RIGHTEOUSLY KILL ME
Two old guys
Playing cops
Past their prime
Stars of flops
Horrible script
Ridiculous plot
Let me assure you
“Heat” this is not
Predictable twists
Obvious turns
The whole movie
Crashes and burns
Russell Gewirtz
One-hit wonder?
For this is
A major blunder
Script should have been
Torn asunder
More howling lines
Than “Tropic Thunder”
Lazy writing
Tells, not shows
This stupid movie
Really blows
Ending steals
Straight from “Heat”
Weak climax
These guys look beat
50 Cent
Can’t act at all
Why’d his agent
Get a call?
Carla Gugino
Makes me erect
Shame Jon Avnet
Can’t direct
Only hit
Was “Green Tomatoes”
His career is fried
Like French potatoes
Avnet produced
“The Mighty Ducks”
Too bad this movie
Really sucks
De Niro and Pacino
Gone to waste
I wish they had
Better taste
“Righteous Kill”
So bad it’s funny
Go rent “Heat”
And save your money
Posted by The InSneider
at September 12, 2008 2:10 PM
comment #11
Spacelamb
says ...
btwnproductions, not so sure how much of that flowing hair is really his. Pop into a good wig shop and you too could have such flowing locks! His hairline has been all over the place for a few years now and a google search will bring up a few sites with some hard-to-explain pics.
Posted by Spacelamb
at September 12, 2008 10:34 PM
comment #12
frankbooth
says ...
I think Mira has found his metier.
Possibly your least sucky post ever.
Posted by frankbooth
at September 13, 2008 1:55 AM
comment #13
Cadavra
says ...
Jeff, are you absolutely certain you want to use the term "rug merchant" to describe a producer born in Israel?
Posted by Cadavra
at September 13, 2008 11:09 AM
comment #14
The InSneider
says ...
Thanks, Frank. Now shut up and suck a fuck, dickhead.
Posted by The InSneider
at September 14, 2008 4:45 PM
comment #15
janee
says ...
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Posted by janee
at May 18, 2011 2:31 AM