Chalk up another project for Glen Powell. Recently, the Hit Man star was announced to be in talks for the new unknown J.J. Abrams project. He was also announced to star in the thriller Huntington, which puts him alongside Margaret Qualley and Ed Harris, as well as joining Anthony Mackie and Laura Dern for the legal drama titled Monsanto. The Hollywood Reporter has now revealed that Powell is now set to star in a reimagining of Warren Beatty’s Heaven Can Wait for Paramount. Stephen Gaghan, who won an Academy Award for his script for Steven Soderbergh’s 2000 crime film Traffic, has been tapped to pen the screenplay for this update.
The 1978 Warren Beatty film was based on Harry Segall’s play of the same name and garnered nominations for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture; however, the movie would only post a win for Best Art Direction. In the original, it saw Beatty as an NFL quarterback who dies prematurely due to an antsy angel, so he returns to Earth in the body of a recently murdered millionaire. Beatty had directed the film with Buck Henry and co-wrote the script with Elaine May. The play was also adapted into the 1941 film Here Comes Mr. Jordan, where the main character was a boxer and then reimagined for a Chris Rock comedy in 2001 called Down to Earth. This new film with Powell will not feature him as a football player, but the film’s premise will remain intact.
Powell can be seen in a couple of new projects this year with Netflix’s Hit Man from Richard Linklater and the Lee Issac Chung movie Twisters. Recently, Powell spoke about the experience of working on Twisters and how he was able to bring his own history with a tornado encounter to the film, “It’s actually something I got to incorporate a little bit into the movie,” Powell said. “I had an experience with this tornado in Jarrell, Texas. It was an F5 – one of the big ones. It decimated Jarrell. I was outrunning it with my aunt Taffy, and a car full of cousins. And I remember us having to take shelter. It didn’t get close enough to do any damage to us, but I remember the fear of being on the road when, you know, the biggest imaginable one was kind of coming through.“
The first season of X-Men ‘97, the animated series on Disney+, is over. The show was a stunning continuation of the classic ‘90s cartoon that managed to blend nostalgic appeal with sharp storytelling that masterfully applied the mutant metaphor to modern-day issues. There is already a season two on the way, but if you…
The first season of X-Men ‘97, the animated series on Disney+, is over. The show was a stunning continuation of the classic ‘90s cartoon that managed to blend nostalgic appeal with sharp storytelling that masterfully applied the mutant metaphor to modern-day issues. There is already a season two on the way, but if you…
PLOT: Russell Hatch an Interpol operative who takes on the role of father figure to Jayden, the son of an informant killed in a routine raid gone wrong.
REVIEW: It’s nothing new for an action star of the past to show up in these lower-budget films. Geezer Teasers have often been a great way for action stars to cash a quick paycheck. But they tend to amount to nothing more than a bit part, while some younger actor does the majority of the action. So I was pleasantly surprised to see Jean-Claude Van Damme not only take center stage but appear in nearly every frame of Darkness of Man. Unlike some of his contemporaries, he’s not taking the easy way out and I respect him for it.
Darkness of Man is structured like a film noir, complete with intense narration from Van Damme. We’re mostly following his character Russell Hatch, as he struggles after the death of an informant, who was also his lover. Taking guardianship of the informant’s son, Jayden, Hatch deals with the repercussions of her death. With the Korean and Russian gangs vying for the same territory, he takes things into his own hands in order to protect, Jayden. It’s pretty stereotypical with its narrative but there’s still plenty of enjoyment to be had. Hell, I will always root for JCVD kicking ass in the name of vengeance.
Van Damme has had an interesting latter half of his career. Unlike the other action stars he came up with, who have become very reliant on body doubles for the action bits, Van Damme does a shocking amount of his own stunts still. At 64 years of age, he’s no spring chicken, so his stunt work is all the more impressive. And admittedly, at his age, it’s not quite as crisp as his Bloodsport or Kickboxer days but hell, he moves better than my 33-year-old self. And the filmmakers are smart enough to shoot around his limitations (so no, we’re not getting any trademark splits in this one). At this point, you should know what you’re in for when it comes to his line delivery. You’re either down for it or you’re not.
The acting can be a bit rough because most of the starring roles are filled with non-English speakers forced to speak English. Makes for some very awkward exchanges. There are a bunch of recognizable faces that pop up in small roles. I’m an MMA fan so I was shocked to see fighter Nick Diaz, though he probably won’t be winning any acting awards. However, I was disappointed that we didn’t get to see him throw down with JCVD. Seems like a missed opportunity. Shannon Doherty also makes an appearance as a concerned mother. It’s nice to see her still working, given her health struggles.
I enjoyed the strange sense of community present at the motel. Characters that don’t seem overly important show their value when Hatch is put in a rough position. Spencer Breslin is almost unrecognizable as Hatch’s druggie neighbor. And I quite enjoyed Kristanna Loken as Hatch’s occasional hookup. It’s a thankless part that she does well with and elevates. But my favorite performance was probably Zack Ward, who only has two scenes but really makes an impact. He feels unhinged and has a great look to him. Had he been more of a major player, it would have greatly improved the film. Because the bad guys don’t really feel like threats, despite their repeated attempts to try and intimidate.
I constantly found myself conflicted because, while the subject matter is intense, the execution leaves a bit to be desired. There are a ton of logical fallacies that break the immersion from moment to moment. A pistol only carrying a few shots before emptied, or characters having absurd invincibility only break the reality further. And, despite death and kidnapping, the stakes don’t really land with intent. The plot is very convoluted, with holes so easy to poke that it made my head spin. This is a “check your brain” at the door kind of movie, while still trying to appeal to your base desire to see a wrong, righted.
Despite the very low budget, I really enjoyed the look of Darkness of Man. Setups are handled great and there are some slick shots. I appreciated how grounded the action is, with a nice car flip and even some squibs. In this day and age of constant CGI gunshots, I will always appreciate the more practical approach. Even if it’s not utilized 100% of the time. The second half of the film feels very different from the first half. JCVD goes from old and beaten to John Wick in no time. That’s not to say he doesn’t show skills in the first half, it just gets ramped up to such an absurd degree in the final half. He goes from shooting around people to not murder them, to directly popping off heads. The murder of his girlfriend doesn’t put him into this mindset but a kidnapping does? Felt misguided.
Overall, Darkness of Man didn’t entirely land for me. I really liked Van Damme and the more serious side that he brought. This was clearly more than just a paycheck for him, having developed the story with director James Cullen Bressack. But the narrative itself is so flimsy that it sometimes gets lost. There’s a big twist at the end that feels so pointless, mostly due to all signs pointing in that direction the entire film. It feels like a slap in the face of the audience to even treat it as an “aha!” moment. There are some good moments and this is definitely better than some of the straight-to-DVD schlock we’d see in the bargain bin. JCVD fans should keep an eye out because it’s great to see him truly take the lead again.
DARKNESS OF MAN IS AVAILABLE DIGITALLY ON MAY 21ST, 2024.
As Paramount+ is keeping the Star Trek brand going with their new TV iterations, the movie side of the mountain has been hatching a plan to revitalize Gene Roddenberry’s vision of a peaceful future for the big screen. There are multiple projects in development, which include a swan song for the Kelvin Universe crew which began with 2009’s J.J. Abrams Star Trek. Early last year, Abrams teased his Star Trek 4, saying, “I will say it’s the first time [since the original reboot] that we have a story that feels as compelling as the first one.” However, the series star, Chris Pine, is kept in the dark about it, “In Star Trek land, the actors are usually the last people to find out anything. I know costume designers that have read scripts before the actors.”
Meanwhile, Paramount has also been at work developing a prequel to the 2009 Star Trek that is set to take place decades before the events of that movie. The prequel is set to be helmed by Andor director Toby Haynes and The Hollywood Reporter has now confirmed that Simon Kinberg, who wrote several X-Men movies and directed Dark Phoenix, is in talks to come on board as a producer of this prequel. Seth Grahame-Smith, who penned the upcoming Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, will be writing the screenplay and it is said “to involve the creation of the Starfleet and humankind’s first contact with alien life.” Kinberg’s involvement will not end with the prequel as he is slated to be the overseer of the Star Trek film brand, with Alex Kurtzman and Akiva Goldsman heading up the TV department.
While J.J. Abrams concentrates on his own film, he will be billed as a producer on the prequel. There is currently no planned release date. However, Paramount has been angling for a hopeful 2025 opening. Roddenberry Entertainment COO Trevor Roth recently told fans, “I am not able to say much, but I can say that it is Paramount’s intent to figure out the Star Trek side of movies and what’s going on there,” Roth said. “There’s every intent of a new movie coming out in the very near future. There’s a lot of secrecy around what’s going to happen there. But there is a plan getting into place. And we’re very excited to see it return to the big screen.“
Roth continued: “And I will tell you that you want to do it the right way. And yet, practical things get in [the way]. People a lot of times are like, ‘Oh, why isn’t this happening or that happening?’ And sometimes those questions are really good questions. And other times, there’s a lot you don’t know that is happening behind the scenes that can make things more difficult than you would think. So all in all, we’re getting there to my understanding, and we’re excited, and plans are being put in place. And I know that from the standpoint of the studio, there is no lack of recognition of wanting and needing a Star Trek film coming out.“
The Switch remake of Nintendo’s classic 2004 role-playing game Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is out this week, and according to the reviews, it’s a banger. But that’s not too surprising, given that the GameCube original was always the best Paper Mario game. What is surprising is finding out the remake undoes one…
The Switch remake of Nintendo’s classic 2004 role-playing game Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is out this week, and according to the reviews, it’s a banger. But that’s not too surprising, given that the GameCube original was always the best Paper Mario game. What is surprising is finding out the remake undoes one…
Last year saw the release of some really big and highly-rated video games. However, new data shows that PC gaming was the biggest winner in 2023, while console revenue mostly flatlined and mobile game profits dropped.
Last year saw the release of some really big and highly-rated video games. However, new data shows that PC gaming was the biggest winner in 2023, while console revenue mostly flatlined and mobile game profits dropped.
Netflix and Team Downey have now unveiled the official trailer for the final chapter of the Netflix fantasy series, Sweet Tooth. The final trailer shows the impending struggle Jepperd faces trying to save the hybrids as an extermination of sorts is about to break out. The cast for the final season includes Christian Convery as Gus, Nonso Anozie as Tommy Jepperd, Adeel Akhtar as Dr. Aditya Singh, Stefania LaVie Owen as Becky, Naledi Murray as Wendy, Amy Seimetz as Gertrude “Birdie” Miller, Rosalind Chao as Helen Zhang, Kelly Marie Tran as Rosie, Cara Gee as Siana, Ayazhan Dalabayeva as Nuka and James Brolin as Narrator.
The official synopsis from Netflix reads, “Having defeated General Abbot in the battle at Pubba’s Cabin, Gus (Christian Convery), Jepperd (Nonso Anozie), Becky (Stefania LaVie Owen), and Wendy (Naledi Murray) embark on a journey to Alaska in search of Gus’s mother, Birdie (Amy Seimetz), who has been working to uncover the mysterious origins of the deadly Sick. Along the way, they are joined by Dr. Singh (Adeel Akhtar), who may have his own dangerous beliefs about Gus and his role in reversing the virus. Meanwhile, a new threat emerges in the form of Helen Zhang (Rosalind Chao), her daughter Rosie (Kelly Marie Tran), and the ferocious Wolf Boys, who seek to restart human birth and view Gus as the solution to their plans. As they navigate through perilous terrain, Gus and his group of friends find refuge at the Outpost in Alaska, where they meet a new ensemble of characters including Siana (Cara Gee) and her hybrid daughter Nuka (Ayazhan Dalabayeva). With the clock to find answers running out, alliances are tested and destinies intertwine, all leading to a thrilling climax that will determine the fate of humanity and hybrids. Based on the DC comic book series by Jeff Lemire, Sweet Tooth is executive produced by Jim Mickle, Susan Downey, Robert Downey, Jr., Amanda Burrell, and Linda Moran. The series is produced by Warner Bros. Television.”
This last season will comprise of eight episodes that will clock in at just under an hour. Team Downey’s Evan Moore joins as an executive producer along with writer/director/showrunner Jim Mickle. Last May, Mickle spoke about the series’ end, stating, “In a lot of ways, it’s exactly the story that I imagined we would tell, and in a lot of ways, it takes on its own life. At the beginning, I think you set out to tell these landmark pieces of Gus’ story and the big pieces of the comic book, but the beauty of long-form storytelling and Gus’ journey over 24 episodes is the characters themselves tell you what they want to be. The crew and cast bring so much depth and point of view to who the characters are and where they’ve come from and where they’re going. Season three is an Arctic story with exciting new adventures and what we hope will be a satisfying conclusion to this epic tale. Gus is going to see a side of the world and humanity that he didn’t see in season one or two.”
![[L-R] Andrey Ivchenko as “Lazar” and Jean-Claude Van Dammeas “Russell Hatch” in the actionfilm,DARKNESS OF MAN, a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Saban Films.](https://digigross.club/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DARKNESS-OF-MAN_4-1024x429-1.jpg)
