Ape Surprise

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20th Century Fox's Rise of the Planet of the Apes opens this Friday, and the town's big-gun critics only just saw it tonight. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the standard term for showing a movie this late in the game is "hide the ball." Which publicists tend to do when the movie in question isn't very good. Except Rise of the Planet of The Apes is really good. It's easily the best Apes movie ever made, and that includes the original.

Rise is sharper, tighter, more emotional...lacking a Statue of Liberty finale, okay, but nonetheless with a "better" story in a sense. And without the perfectly styled, Vidal Sassoon ape coifs that bothered me so in the Charlton Heston original. Not one orangutan had a single hair out of that place in that film, the reason being of course that the prosthetic makeup guys felt more compelled to represent the sartorial values of Beverly Hills, ape-appearance-wise, than the corresponding particulars in a world first imagined by French novelist Pierre Boulle.

We're talking about a gripping, compassionate, well-plotted sci-fi fantasy popcorn film -- riveting, amusing at times, state-of-the-art CG, movingly acted by performance-capture guy Andy Serkis, etc. No, I'm not exaggerating. It has excitement, intrigue, humanity, empathy, soul. And the story is primarily an ape POV thing -- the human actors are strictly backup, speaking the same kind of rote expository dialogue that James Arness, Joan Weldon and Edmund Gwenn spoke in Them!.

So what was 20th Century Fox thinking? Why didn't they show the whole thing at ComicCon instead of just clips? Why did I have to ask to attend tonight's screening? Why did Hitfix's Drew McWeeny, who knows fantasy-genre stuff better than most of us, have to plead to get in? I don't get it. And telling reviewers to hold until Thursday is just...what? This is a really good film. It's not out of line to say that a franchise has probably been reborn, if they want to go there.

And don't listen to guys like Lewis Beale, who earlier this evening called Rise a "fun, not-intellectually-taxing summer entertainment." C'mon...it's much better than that. It's a compassionate look at imprisonment and oppression, and a rousing saga of rebellion and revolution. And it all levitates courtesy of some of the best motion-capture CG I've ever seen.

Okay, the apes seem a little too "CG"-ish and animated here and there but let's not be crabby. This is a very strong, very on-target entertainment.

What could have been just another blah-blah origin story has been turned into a simian Spartacus....or more precisely the first act of Spartacus, which ends with the slaves breaking out of the gladiator school in Capua. That's precisely how Rise concludes, so to speak.

James Franco plays a nice-guy genetic scientist -- intelligent, tactful, bland -- who's trying to find a cure for Alzheimer's Disease by performing serum tests on apes. He soon realizes that a serum given to a chimp mother named "Bright Eyes" (remember who had that nickname before?) has been passed along to an orphaned baby chimp named Caesar. The little chimp soon proves to be a major-league achiever and learner. Franco also tries out the serum on his Alzheimer's-afflicted dad (John Lithgow), and it's Awakenings all over again. But Ceasar's passion and curiosity leads to complications and the authorities seize and lock him up.

This is when the Spartacus stuff kicks in. We're not going to take this any more, fellow apes, and I'm the one to lead you guys out of this, because I'm smart and ballsy and a good strategic thinker. (Harry Potter costar Tom Felton plays roughly the same part that Charles McGraw played in Spartacus. Or the "Fritz" role that Dwight Frye had in Frankenstein.)

Franco hooks up with the beautiful Freida Pinto early on, but this is of no consequence as she has no extended dialogue scenes of any kind. As always, she's very pretty. She obviously has to do more that just look great if she's going to last. Her best chance at showing what she's got will probably come with Michael Winterbottom's Trishna, an Indian-set adaptation of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles.

The apes are the soul and the spirit of the film. They're fascinating, fully-emotional and fully-dimensional characters. Much of Rise is non-verbal, and appropriately so. Serkis, I should add, tends to over-emote at times. The facial expressions he gives to the young Ceasar -- the lead ape protagonist -- are just a tad too expressive for my taste, a wee bit too "actor"-ish. But I'll probably be in the minority on this issue. There's already talk about Serkis deserving a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination. I would have no argument with that at all. The AMPAS actors branch, traditionally fearful of CG-emoting, will probably try to nip this notion in the bud.

Stinking Pause<< previous | next >>Serkis for Best Supporting Actor? Yes -- Totally Valid

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 2, 2011 at 9:50 PM

comment #1

Rashad says ...

"It's easily the best Apes movie ever made, and that includes the original"

Them is big words. The original is still one of the most watchable movies and it's been over 40 years. I'm glad there is mostly positive word about this.

Serkis deserves an honorary Oscar in the future.

Posted by Rashad at August 2, 2011 11:49 PM

comment #2

Wiggumx says ...

"Serkis deserves an honorary Oscar in the future. "

Rashad got something right! +1!

Posted by Wiggumx at August 2, 2011 11:55 PM

comment #3

actionlover says ...

Nice. I'm now officially looking forward to this.

One thing though.....

"James Franco plays a nice-guy genetic scientist -- intelligent, tacful, totally bland -- who's trying to find a cure for Alzheimer's Disease by performing serum tests on apes."

Remember "Deep Blue Sea"?

Saffron Burrows played a nice-gal genetic scientist -- intelligent, tacful (sp), totally hot -- who's trying to find a cure for Alzheimer's Disease by performing serum tests on sharks.

Posted by actionlover at August 2, 2011 11:57 PM

comment #4

Jonathan Spuij says ...

I saw the new and better trailer last night and I was absolutely amazed. Looked like an entirely different film than the depiction from the other trailers made it seem. The personal angle, growing up with Franceo etc. It really took me.

Posted by Jonathan Spuij at August 2, 2011 11:59 PM

comment #5

Luke Y. Thompson says ...

"The shaaaaks got smaaahtaahhhh"

Anyone else wondering if the Alzheimer's cure aspect is a veiled Charlton Heston reference?

Posted by Luke Y. Thompson at August 3, 2011 12:09 AM

comment #6

reverent and free says ...

Deep Blue Sea will always have a little affection from me for Samuel L. Jackson's speech scene. For me, that's the best play on audience expectations since Hitchcock. I remember the whole theater jumping and then laughing and applauding at how well done the surprise was.

Posted by reverent and free at August 3, 2011 12:26 AM

comment #7

DiscoNap says ...

Wish they'd called this CAESAR. The clunky title is the only really grating thing.

Posted by DiscoNap at August 3, 2011 12:29 AM

comment #8

dkaye says ...

I wouldn't say it's better than the original, which is a stone-cold classic, but this is easily a far more intelligent and weighty film than the sequels and blows the awful Burton fiasco right out of the water.

There's a lot of heart in the movie and kudos to Serkis and the special effects guys for pulling off one hell of a job to give Caesar and the other apes such personality.

The rest of the cast is so-so and there were few too many inside jokes for my taste (they really pushed it with Felton's last line), but this is one of the summer's winners. It's a mystery to me too why it was shown so late.

Posted by dkaye at August 3, 2011 12:33 AM

comment #9

LexG says ...

There is LITERALLY NO WAY this is better than CONQUEST.

Pinto is pretty hot, but no Nova or Estella Warren.

Posted by LexG at August 3, 2011 12:34 AM

comment #10

BobbyLupo says ...

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but the standard term for showing a movie this late in the game is "hide the ball.""

I remember the last time WETA was involved in an ape movie, it kind of did the same thing. Perhaps the reason is the same -- complicated effects that they were working on literally as long as they possibly could.

Posted by BobbyLupo at August 3, 2011 12:36 AM

comment #11

The Criterion Guy says ...

Passing.

Posted by The Criterion Guy at August 3, 2011 12:39 AM

comment #12

berg says ...

what cements this film are the looks Caeser gives to Franco in the jail scene .... once humans start to give compassion to animals then perhaps they can give compassion to each other, okay off my soapbox ... When Caesar comes riding like an Avenger on a horse I knew I was a fan ... Franco is kind of a dick in this film and rightly so

Posted by berg at August 3, 2011 12:46 AM

comment #13

actionlover says ...

Nova. Oh, my precious Nova. Played by Linda Harrison, who ended up marrying Richard Zanuck. It's nice to run a studio.

Along with Raquel and a few others the reason why I as a lad I began my lifelong love of curvy, big-eyed brunettes.

Posted by actionlover at August 3, 2011 12:47 AM

comment #14

berg says ...

Linda Harrison ... Bracken's World ... Elizabeth Allen, LH, Lorranie Stephens, Karen Jensen ... if you weren't watching television in 1969-70 then you will never know the reality of the now

Posted by berg at August 3, 2011 12:54 AM

comment #15

LexG says ...

Can someone at least assure me that, good or not, half of this takes place in THE WOODS?

It's NOT a Fox tentpole movie if it's not shot in that same cheap-ass Vancouver forest they've used for EVERY FOX MOVIE of the last decade

Posted by LexG at August 3, 2011 2:22 AM

comment #16

JLC says ...

I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, so I assume it's not in there. But I would love to see a throwaway scene of someone watching television as Colonel Taylor and his crew are boarding the Icarus. It would tie everything up in a big nifty bow. Lost opportunity.

Posted by JLC at August 3, 2011 4:41 AM

comment #17

trollywood says ...

Jeff, the Hollywood Reporter is speculating on Serkis's chances of landing a Best Supporting nomination. Any possibility of that happening?

Posted by trollywood at August 3, 2011 4:49 AM

comment #18

THE MovieBob says ...

Heading in to see this now - super-pumped.

Serkis has deserved an Oscar nod for this stuff since Gollum, but there's no chance in hell he gets it. The AMPAAS "actor's bloc" of votes is dominated by older journeyman pros who tend to have an SEETHING hatred of effects-assisted performances in general and mocap in particular. A vote for Serkis would be, to them, a vote for CGI animators "takin' their jerbs!!!"

Posted by THE MovieBob at August 3, 2011 5:57 AM

comment #19

littlebigman says ...

I just woke up.

It is 645AM, for Chrissakes. I assume most of you who have seen the film are here in LA -

When do you fucking people sleep?

Yes. Saw it last night - after that fucking traffic jam at Fox I was happy I was not ready to revolt against the movie-

Which is marvelous indeed.

Serkis is fabulous.

Posted by littlebigman at August 3, 2011 6:24 AM

comment #20

bobbyperu says ...

Gabe, sorry, but no. Way off. If you checked your watch (which I did) when the apes go loose it's about 73 minutes into the film, which has a very careful and slow-build set-up for the most part (save the opening sequence where Bright Eyes goes berserk and a brief moment with the neighbor being attacked).

This is no set-piece -- when the credits roll at 100 minutes and the action doesn't begin until the last half hour, this is certainly no set-piece, unless you define that word other than the traditional understanding.

Posted by bobbyperu at August 3, 2011 6:30 AM

comment #21

coxcable says ...

So when one purchases tickets for this, what's the least dorkiest way to phrase it?

"Hi. Yes, two for...

A) Rise of the Planet of the Apes
B) Planet of the Apes
C) Planet
D) The Apes
E) Wait... what's opening today? Ah, yes, two for that one."

Wells to Coxcable: "Two for the ape movie."

Posted by coxcable at August 3, 2011 7:10 AM

comment #22

Eloi Wrath says ...

After that chimpanzee freak-out that left that woman without a face, people seem more scared of monkeys than they used to be. You used to able to laugh at chimps all dressed up like a city gent, carrying a briefcase and drinking tea. But then they LITERALLY TORE THE FACE OFF that woman and all of a sudden you're constantly aware that the funny monkey in a suit can turn on you at any time.

Posted by Eloi Wrath at August 3, 2011 7:24 AM

comment #23

The Criterion Guy says ...

They are dirty, filthy animals.

Posted by The Criterion Guy at August 3, 2011 7:34 AM

comment #24

Eloi Wrath says ...

Actually, if you check out the history of that mad chimp, I'm sure the writers had some of this stuff in mind when they were developing the film: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travis_(chimpanzee)

"Travis was able to open doors using keys, could dress himself, watered plants, was able to feed hay to his owner's horses, ate at a table with the rest of the family, drank wine from a stemmed glass, and was so fond of ice cream that he learned the schedules of passing ice cream trucks. He logged onto the computer to look at pictures, watched television using a remote control and brushed his teeth using a Water Pik. On television, he enjoyed watching baseball. Travis had also driven a car on several occasions.

Posted by Eloi Wrath at August 3, 2011 7:38 AM

comment #25

lbeale says ...

Okay, Jeff -- I'm surprised you liked it this much. I really did like the film, but I guess on a more mindless level. I honestly thought, coming out of the screening, that it would be savaged by the critics, maybe because it takes on too much, maybe because it's a bit too self-reverential, whatever. Besides, it still might get dumped on. That said, you're right -- Serkis is great, and I think the plot is worked out really intelligently. That ending really sets up a sequel. I also thought Rupert Wyatt's direction was aces. The film really moves.

Posted by lbeale at August 3, 2011 7:55 AM

comment #26

lazarus says ...

So this is basically a remake of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. And unless a big fan of that film (or the series in general) tells me this is better, I don't know if I'll get around to seeing it.

1. Escape
2. Conquest
3. Planet of the Apes (original)

4. Beneath
5. Battle

98. Burton's abomination

Posted by lazarus at August 3, 2011 8:05 AM

comment #27

Alboone says ...

I think there's a lot of unfounded hatred aimed at Burton's remake. Yes Whalberg was miscast and all the human characters were as bland as bland can be, but the apes were well done. Tim Roth was amazing.

Posted by Alboone at August 3, 2011 8:38 AM

comment #28

Chase Kahn says ...

On the whole, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes was fairly poor, but it did have some genuinely touching moments.

As far as the five original films go, the most worthless are Beneath the Planet of the Apes and Battle for the Planet of the Apes, but the original and Escape (a smart little satire at times) are, I would say, very good.

I still don't like the direction they're going with this, I much preferred the idea of Caesar being that he was the offspring of Zira and Cornelius. I take it no reference is made to them whatsoever. The whole "testing" angle seems well-worn, although on some level it was the purpose of the original story.

Posted by Chase Kahn at August 3, 2011 8:46 AM

comment #29

Chase Kahn says ...

And I don't hate the title at all, really. I like that they're staying with the tradition of keeping "...Planet of the Apes" in the title.

Posted by Chase Kahn at August 3, 2011 8:52 AM

comment #30

Chase Kahn says ...

And while everyone is taking a dump on Burton's remake (rightfully deserved), it reminded me how fucking great Danny Elfman's opening titles are. After I saw that opening, it took me almost 45 minutes to realize how shitty the movie actually was that followed them.

Posted by Chase Kahn at August 3, 2011 8:56 AM

comment #31

Rashad says ...

lazarus is on drugs

Posted by Rashad at August 3, 2011 8:56 AM

comment #32

Chase Kahn says ...

"So when one purchases tickets for this, what's the least dorkiest way to phrase it?

"Hi. Yes, two for...

A) Rise of the Planet of the Apes
B) Planet of the Apes
C) Planet
D) The Apes
E) Wait... what's opening today? Ah, yes, two for that one."

Wells to Coxcable: "Two for the ape movie."

Automated ticketing machines?

Posted by Chase Kahn at August 3, 2011 9:00 AM

comment #33

reverent and free says ...

Chase, it was the same for the original. Goldsmith's rousing score does a lot to distract from the cheesy elements, that and Schaffner's eye for composition.

I'm glad the apes are the protagonists. The trailers work hard to make it look like the apes are the menace.

Posted by reverent and free at August 3, 2011 9:08 AM

comment #34

THE MovieBob says ...

Saw it. Loved it.

MILD SPOILER

I'm especially appreciative that they avoid making it solely a "science killed us" movie - the idea that the human race is doomed because ONE suburban Alpha-Douche is way too hung up on his stupid car is delightfully appealing.

Posted by THE MovieBob at August 3, 2011 9:10 AM

comment #35

poseidon72 says ...

This is a reimagining of the 4th film in the Original series Conquest. Ceaser leads a revolt against humans and the Apes take over the Planet. It can be looked at as a prequel to the Charlton Heston original classic.

Posted by poseidon72 at August 3, 2011 9:14 AM

comment #36

Rashad says ...

"Goldsmith's rousing score does a lot to distract from the cheesy elements"

The opening with Heston in space lamenting about the world. and hist disdain for humanity is a fantastic opening, especially since he has to be the one that ends up defending man.

Posted by Rashad at August 3, 2011 9:14 AM

comment #37

THE MovieBob says ...

@Rashad,

That's what EVERYONE misses about the orignal, though - its the most CYNICAL, nihilistic "fuck you, audience!" ending EVER.

The film sets Taylor up as an arrogant elitist prick who needs to learn a lesson about his blanket contempt for mankind, then spends an entire story appearing to teach him (and "us") that lesson... Only to turn around at the very end and CONFIRM everything that he (and Dr. Zaius) originally thought about us was RIGHT! "Gotcha! It was Earth, we fucked up, we really ARE a pack of doomed, self-destructive savages, so fuck off." Show me anything made since as widely-seen with a darker denoument.

Posted by THE MovieBob at August 3, 2011 10:17 AM

comment #38

lsj2011 says ...

pass

Posted by lsj2011 at August 3, 2011 10:29 AM

comment #39

nodirectionhome says ...

Its a shame Fox decided to muddle the title by attaching Planet of The Apes rather than just calling it Ceasar as originally planned. Definitely looking forward to this on Friday.

Posted by nodirectionhome at August 3, 2011 10:34 AM

comment #40

The Bandsaw Vigilante says ...

Show me anything made since as widely-seen with a darker denoument.

The ending of Beneath.

But yeah...agreed 100%, there. And if anyone cares a whit about the original Apes films, they owe it to themselves to check out the unrated BD cut of Conquest, which is easily twice as bloody and violent as the theatrical version, and the only version I watch now.

Posted by The Bandsaw Vigilante at August 3, 2011 10:36 AM

comment #41

Movie Watcher says ...

Jeff, that's a bold statement, saying it's better than the original. The apes movies are on cable this week so I'm checking those out, except the Burton one. 1968:Planet of the Apes and 2001: A Space Odyssey. What a year.

Posted by Movie Watcher at August 3, 2011 10:42 AM

comment #42

JLC says ...

"That's what EVERYONE misses about the orignal, though - its the most CYNICAL, nihilistic "fuck you, audience!" ending EVER."

That's Rod Serling for you.

Posted by JLC at August 3, 2011 10:46 AM

comment #43

Ponderer says ...

I'm so glad people are celebrating the absolute nihilism of the original film. I can't think of any other major film whose main character is predicated on the premise of, "I hate humanity," especially without a scene showing the hero as hiding a secret heart of gold. Heston's Taylor is fun and darkly witty, but he's a total prick and the film never shies away from that. A true misanthrope. Genius turn.

Posted by Ponderer at August 3, 2011 11:00 AM

comment #44

moviemaniac2002 says ...

Hey, don't knock the "Them!" dialogue...
Joan Weldon: (describing the underground giant ant nest): "These walls are held together with saliva.."
James Whitmore: Yeh, spit's all that holding me together too..."

Posted by moviemaniac2002 at August 3, 2011 11:36 AM

comment #45

reverent and free says ...

Movie Watcher, and the Ape makeup in 2001 was superior. It should have won the Oscar. Kubrick's apes actually have teeth and moveable tongues.

Posted by reverent and free at August 3, 2011 11:36 AM

comment #46

Abbey Normal says ...

I'm glad it's good, but man is that title clunky. Why not use a colon, something like "Planet of the Apes: The Rise," or "Planet of the Apes: Rising" (you don't even really need the colon for that last one).

Posted by Abbey Normal at August 3, 2011 11:45 AM

comment #47

Ghost072 says ...

Abbey, no offense, but both of those titles are terrible. I actually like the fact that they went with the classic convention with this one. Titles with colons are almost always bad, but maybe that's because they invariably remind me of Ballistic: Ecks vs Sever.

Posted by Ghost072 at August 3, 2011 12:59 PM

comment #48

Chase Kahn says ...

I believe the film was called Rise of the Apes at one point? Which is obviously cleaner, but once again, doesn't fit in with the rest of franchise.

Then again, if they're starting over, why not start a new trend?

Posted by Chase Kahn at August 3, 2011 1:04 PM

comment #49

CinemaPhreak says ...

Twice Bitten:

When it comes to fanboy movies, Wells is pretty poor guide for me when it comes to how well I will like the movie. Remember the recent rave for X-MEN FIRST CLASS and before that KING KONG?

The more cerebral movies, sure I will check it out based on his kudos but fantasy is not his genre.

Posted by CinemaPhreak at August 3, 2011 2:09 PM

comment #50

Baron Munchausen-by-Proxy says ...

Nope, Rashad...Lazarus has it correct. And, from reading above, you don't even "get" the one you like!

Drugs? Who knows wtf *you're* on.

-----

And calling Caesar's "not-Zira" mother "Bright Eyes" is a really endearing callback to the original itself. High hopes for this one!

Posted by Baron Munchausen-by-Proxy at August 3, 2011 4:31 PM

comment #51

Patrick Juvet says ...

This film was originally scheduled as Fox's Thanksgiving 2011 release. Somebody obviously saw something promising in the early footage when they decided to move it into the summer period a few months ago. My guess is the post-production schedule to make the summer date was too tight to be able to show it much earlier than this week.

Posted by Patrick Juvet at August 3, 2011 5:28 PM

comment #52

Rashad says ...

The original stands tall over all of them, and it takes a silly person to take on the sequels over it. Especially one so terribly contrived as Escape.

"And, from reading above, you don't even "get" the one you like!"

Nothing I said is any way incongruent with the first film. You have to be the most bitter person on here.

Posted by Rashad at August 3, 2011 5:54 PM

comment #53

Baron Munchausen-by-Proxy says ...

I realize that you are quite enamored with the word "bitter", having thrown it around willy-nilly at most every opportunity, but, no, sorry....most HE members entirely disagree with you in virtually every pronouncement and opinion, and it has absolutely zero to do with our "temperaments".

We just have much higher standards than you do. And the viewing, reading and writing comprehension you obviously lack.

Posted by Baron Munchausen-by-Proxy at August 3, 2011 6:29 PM

comment #54

ZayTonday says ...

This movie is going to bomb HARD. People groaned at the trailer, myself included. It appears to be another shitty cash in on the Apes franchise and Burton's version wasn't all that great. Plus it's a prequel where the basic story is basically laid out completely in the original. There are no surprises here as far as the plot goes, especially after seeing the trailer that seemingly gives away the whole story arc.

Posted by ZayTonday at August 4, 2011 2:35 AM

comment #55