Tag: Conan

THE STRONGEST MAN – The Review

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THE STRONGEST MAN is a dry, dead-pan comedy about a Cuban man in Miami called Beef, played by Robert Lorie. Beef works in construction, but is known by friends and coworkers for being exceptionally strong. Beef is a good-sized man, but his natural strength goes far beyond the limits of any man I’ve ever met. Ultimately, this is a relatively insignificant fact about Beef, as his one love and passion in life is his gold-painted BMX bike, which he rides proudly like a child when not working construction or hanging art for a local rich white woman named Mrs. Rosen, played by Lisa Banes.

Beef’s best friend and coworker is the son of Korean immigrants and a seemingly talented yet underachieving man called Conan, played by Paul Chamberlain. The two spend most of their time together, often having peculiarly philosophical conversations in English, while Beef’s thoughts narrate the film in Spanish. At the request of friend Illi, played by Ashly Burch, Beef and Conan attend a yoga session on a whim and through the guidance of Guru Fred (played by Patrick Fugit) finds his spirit animal. As it turns out, his spirit animal proves to be problematic and after making the mistake of killing his spirit animal, Beef’s treasured BMX bike is stolen, sending him on a journey to find more than just a prized possession.

There are no big laugh-out loud moments in THE STRONGEST MAN, but the film is charmingly humorous in a subtle, introspective way that allows the viewer to empathize with this often quite man who seems simple-minded while conveying a sort of street wisdom and charisma combining the persona of Charles Bronson and Lennie from Of Mice and Men. This is an existentialist comedy that plays drier than the average British fare, but maintains a quirkiness developed by the characters, a testament to the curious writing and direction of Kenny Riches. THE STRONGEST MAN is Riches’ sophomore follow-up to MUST COME DOWN (2012) which boasts much of the same cast.

Robert Lorie is intriguing in the role of Beef, capable of filling out the slightly hulkish character through his physical type, posture and body language. Lorie also really captures the internal struggle of Beef, showing an avid understanding not just of the crucially well-written, oft off-beat dialogue, but nailing those crucial pauses and awkward even elongated silent moments that feed so much into developing Beef’s character. He’s a big guy, strong, but far from graceful, except when on his BMX. This is especially true near the end of the film when, upon reaching a breaking point, he cuts loose and dances freely, albeit terribly and at an inappropriate time.

THE STRONGEST MAN, at its core, is a story of finding what’s important to Beef. This is about Beef finding his true self and his true love. What begins as a search for his stolen bike becomes a search first for himself and then for the proverbial perfect girl. Riches shot the film with what feels like a docudrama influence, revealing Beef’s journey with on the fly, handheld cinematography that often feels spur of the moment. Doing this without feeling forced or contrived is not an easy task, but Riches manages to pull it off beautifully. While the toe and style are drastically different, consider films like THE WACKNESS (2008) or DONNIE DARKO (2001) as generally similar journey of self-discovery films and if you enjoyed those films, and are open the different styles and genres, be sure to give THE STRONGEST MAN a chance.

THE STRONGEST MAN opens in theaters on Friday, June 26th, 2015.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Blu Monday: Apocalyptic Vampires, Gunslingers, a Barbarian, and a Talking Hamburger

Your Weekly Source for the Newest Releases to Blu-Ray Continue reading Blu Monday: Apocalyptic Vampires, Gunslingers, a Barbarian, and a Talking Hamburger

Five Actors Better Suited for the CONAN Villain Role than Stephen Lang

The man rocks a mean coffee mug.  That, we cannot take away from the grizzled, bleach blonde Stephen Lang, who thumped Sam Worthington a time or two in AVATAR.  I guess that makes the guy suited to play the villain role, because news broke today over at Latino Review that Lang has been offered the part of the heavy in the Marcus Nispel-directed reworking of CONAN.

What say us?  Well, before we give our own, person opinion, let’s give a description of who the people behind CONAN were looking for.

Khalar Singh is in his 40s to 50s, Asian or Middle Eastern, Central Asian, Mongol, Turkish, or Persian, open to all ethnicities; commanding in size and manner, a warlord and formidable warrior, brilliant, cruel, weathered and tanned by the many campaigns he has waged and won. He is driven in his quest to find the Queen of Acheron and has been building an empire to do so.

Okay, Lang is 57, and he seems like the kind of man who could easily be driven to build an empire under the bones of his crushed enemies.  He also seems like to hear the lamentations of their women, but that’s another story altogether.  What really cries foul in this whole decision and screams of reactive cinema is the second line of description on Singh.  Asian or Middle Eastern, Central Asian, Mongol, Turkish, or Persian.

Stephen Lang is from New York City, and, were it not for the $2.5 billion AVATAR has made worldwide, his name wouldn’t even be in the running for the CONAN Role.  In fact, I would go so far as to say this is probably the worst example of reactive film making I’ve seen in recent memory.  Okay, Michael Bay using “Battle Without Honor or Humanity” to show off the new Camaro in TRANSFORMERS probably beats it, but this is right up there.

Don’t get me wrong.  There is nothing wrong with Lang.  He is a fine actor, and AVATAR along with PUBLIC ENEMIES last year proved he has what it takes to show off his bad ass side.  However, there are fine Asian and Middle Eastern actors out there who would probably be more suited to play the role of a man whose surname is Singh.  Besides, we want Lang free and clear if they ever decide to bring Cable into the X-MEN movies.

Here are just five of those suitable choices:

Tadanobu Asano

Where he is from: Yokohama, Japan

Where you know him: ICHI THE KILLER, SURVIVE STYLE 5+, MONGOL

Personally, who I think would be the ideal choice is a man whose move to high-profile, Hollywood fare I’ve been championing since first seeing him going crazy in Takashi Miike THE KILLER.  Asano has what it takes to play villainous, charming, and absolutely insane.  Plus, as we’ve seen from most of his movies, he has what it takes to stand up to someone like Conan physically.  He’s young.  Asano only turns 38 this year, but, as proven in MONGOL, he wears the weathered look well.  Of course, worry not if you’re a fan of Asano.  He can next be seen in Kenneth Branagh’s THOR, and that’s just about enough to make up for him not getting this part.

Oded Fehr

Where he is from: Tel Aviv, Israel

Where you know him: THE MUMMY (’97), THE MUMMY RETURNS, RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPE and EXTINCTION

Okay, maybe not the best choice when it comes to acting ability or in regards to filmography pedigree.  Oded Fehr hasn’t made the best choices in his career, and one has to look at his work on Showtime’s “Sleeper Cell” to see the best acting the man has to offer.  Regardless, he is quite cool, and could definitely teach Jason Momoa a thing or two in the charm department.  He is 39, so that puts him just outside the casting’s age requirement.  Of course, they put the offer out to Stephen Lang.  Their requirements are flimsy at best.

Hiroyuki Sanada

Where he is from: Tokyo, Japan

Where you know him: THE LAST SAMURAI, SUNSHINE, SPEED RACER, “Lost”

Sanada should have broken out a long time ago.  It’s been seven years since THE LAST SAMURAI, and it is still easy to reflect how memorable he was in the small but effective part of Ujio.  Since then, he’s had bit parts here and there, and is more than likely going to achieve some notoriety with his turn as Dogen on this final season of “Lost.”  Of course, Sanada has been acting in film since his tiny part in 1974’s THE EXECUTIONER.  Since then, he has put on around 70 films to his credit.  He would be perfect for the part of Singh.  At 49, he’s in the perfect age range for the part, he’s very cool, and he has proven time and time again he has what it takes both in the acting department and the physical department to bring the villainous role to bad ass life.  Oh, you aren’t sure about the physical side?  Just watch the first 10 minutes of this week’s “Lost”. You will be proven wrong.

Choi Min-sik

Where he is from: Seoul, South Korea

Where you know him: OLDBOY, LADY VENGEANCE

Gotta be honest here, I only know Choi Min-sik from three films, the two mentioned above and TAE GUK GI, but only one of these roles proves he has what it takes for the Singh part in CONAN.  Granted, there probably aren’t any Ace Hardwares anywhere in Cimmeria, so it may be hard for Singh to get his hands on a claw hammer.  Nonetheless, I’m sure Min-sik could find other, more dangerous weapons just as suitable as he found that damned hammer in OLDBOY.  Plus, he took on around 50 or 60 guys in OLDBOY and made it look convincing that he was winning.  I’m sure he would have no issues at all with making Momoa look like a chump.

Shohreh Aghdashloo

Where she is from: Tehran, Iran

Where you know her: THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG, “24”, “FlashForward”

Okay, I know what you’re thinking.  This is ridiculous and I must be smoking something very pure if I think Shohreh Aghdashloo would make a decent villain(ess) in the upcoming CONAN movie.  But think of how interesting and different it would be for Marcus Nispel and crew to rewrite the character and make it a female antagonist who has, somehow, built an empire around her shoulders.

Sean Hood was recently brought in to do a fresh rewrite on the screenplay, anyway, and, while he isn’t the last bastion for groundbreaking screenwriting, he could have a few tricks up his sleeve.  Sure, there probably wouldn’t be any hand-to-hand action between Singh and Conan if this were to come to pass, but that’s what henchmen are for, right?  I say screw conformity and go with the freshest and most interesting (not to mention about as distanced from “reactive” film making as you can get) choice imaginable.  Role with Aghdashloo as Singh.  If for nothing else, I just want to see what she looks like with bleach blonde hair.

CONAN is set to begin filming later this year.

Who is CONAN’s Daddy, and What Does He Do?

Look at Mickey Rourke in this picture for a bit.  Almost like a chiseled warrior of old (minus the neon green armbands) looking up to Crom asking why the God has forsaken his only son, CONAN.  This could very well be an image we see again, as The Heat Vision Blog has confirmed what Latino Review scooped last month that Rourke has signed on for the small but important role of Conan’s father, Corin.  Rourke will be joining STARGATE: ATLANTIS’ Jason Momoa who has already signed on to play the titular warrior.

With news also coming down the pike that screenwriter Sean Hood has been brought in to do a script polish, it is looking like the CONAN remake is in full swing.  We won’t hold it against Hood that he also wrote HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION, CUBE 2: HYPERCUBE, and THE CROW: WICKED PRAYER.  We’ll just let those little blotches on his resume pass by and see what he has to offer on CONAN.

CONAN is set to begin shooting on March 15th under the direction of Marcus Nispel.  Hopefully it’s more TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE Nispel and not FRIDAY THE 13TH Nispel.  Regardless which Nispel we get, I’m betting there won’t be any neon green armbands involved here.

Dolph Lundgren Could Be Headed to CONAN

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He-Man.  Ivan Drago.  The first Frank Castle.  GR-13.  Whatever you call him, there is no denying how bad-ass Dolph Lundgren is, and, it seems, the world is beginning to realize this fact more and more in recent days.  While it isn’t revealed who he might be playing, Lundgren may be stepping into the world of CONAN, as well.

I’ve talked to the producers about doing something for CONAN.

Lundgren told this to MTV while out promoting his latest film (co-wrote, stars and directs) COMMAND PERFORMANCE.  Lundgren explained that casting was still underway, and a final decision wouldn’t be made until sometime in 2010.   The lead role hasn’t even been cast yet.

Marcus Nispel is directing the film, which is being reported as following closer to Robert E. Howard’s vision of the story than the John Milius-directed film.   Not knowing much about the original, Conan universe, I couldn’t make any kind of suggestion as to who Lundgren should be playing in the new film.   I would, however, love to see him play the villain a la UNIVERSAL SOLDIER.   The thought of He-Man going toe-to-toe with whoever steps into the Conan role gets me very excited for this project.

What do you think?   Who should Dolph Lundgren play in the new CONAN movie?   Should he play a villain or an ally to the title character?   Would it really be all that bad to see Dolph step in as Conan himself?   Shoot us your thoughts in the comment section below.

James McTeigue Could Be Replacing Ratner on ‘Conan’

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Just days ago, we brought you news that Brett Ratner was off the ‘Conan’ project, and the world rejoiced.   Today, we bring you news of Ratner’s possible replacement.   A trusted source has explained to CHUD that the name at the top of the producers’ list is James McTeigue, director of ‘V for Vendetta’ and the upcoming ‘Ninja Assassin.’

The source also told CHUD that much of the film’s production budget could go with Ratner, and that McTeigue’s film might be a much cheaper film than what was originally planned.   At last word, the budget for ‘Conan’ was set at $120 million, but that amount will likely be cut.   This hasn’t been much of an issue for McTeigue, whose $54-million ‘V for Vendetta’ looked like a Summer blockbuster.

Nothing is set in stone as far as McTeigue stepping into the director’s role, but his name is being bandied about.   We’ll bring you the first word as soon as anything definite comes out.

What do you think?   Who would be a good replacement for Ratner?   Who would make a good Conan?   What do you think of McTeigue’s work in the past?   Let us know by commenting below!

Source: CHUD

So, Ratner Won’t be Screwing Up ‘Conan’

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Many of our prayers to Crom have been answerd. Â  Evidently, Brett Ratner, the director most known to take a decent project and turn it into utter, commercialized crap, is off the ‘Conan’ film.

Empire magazine caught up with producer Joe Gatta, who is working on ‘Conan’ and ‘Red Sonja’ projects, and he had a few bits of information to pass out. Â  One, in particular, leads everyone to believe Ratner is officially done with the film.

“We’re currently in the process of hiring a director,” Gatta said. “For the past six months we were discussing the movie with Brett Ratner, and for more timing issues than anything else we had to part ways with Brett. We all wanted him to do it, believe me; just the timing didn’t work. But you never know what can happen.”

Gatta went on to talk about the production start date of the film and a little about ‘Red Sonja.’

“We have a potential start-date on Conan of August 24. And we’ll be shooting in Bulgaria. I would say though the emphasis is on Conan [rather than Red Sonja]. It’s our crown jewel here at the company and that will be the leader. Red Sonja probably won’t happen until next year, as far as making it goes. So we want to launch Conan and reinvent the franchise.”

Of course, in the next few months, schedules could clear up and Ratner could be back in the director’s chair, but, for now, all seems right in the world.

What do you think? Â  Who would you like to see in the director’s chair of ‘Conan’ and/or ‘Red Sonja’? Â  Who would you like to see play Conan? Â  Could Ratner actually pull off a decent job at filming these films? Â  How many times a day do you actually pray to Crom? Â  Let us know by commenting below!

Oh, and what is best in life?

Source: Empire Online

Two New Writers Take on ‘Conan’


Screenwriters Dirk Blackman and Howard McCain have been signed by Lionsgate to write a new script for the ‘Conan’ movie the company has been wanting to make for a few years now.   The two have just finished work on the screenplay for ‘Amazon’ about female warriors.   They were brought in by Lionsgate to work separate from the two screenwriters already working on ‘Conan’, Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer. Continue reading Two New Writers Take on ‘Conan’

From Gladiator to Conan, Capt. America even?

So we’ve already been inundated with rumors as to who will sport the blue tighties and winged cowell with the red, white and blue shield of American justice… suggested actors have ranged from Brad Pitt to Dolph Lundgren, but current news suggests a much less predictable, but physically more appropriate Mike O’Hearn, who has most recently had TV exposure as  Titan with the “reboot” of ‘American Gladiators’.

The blog article, written by Peter Sciretta, can be read on /film.

It’s an interesting development, but I’m not so sure it’s even legit. In the blog article, Peter mentions as an update that they’re are some suspicious anomalies surrounding O’Hearns self-promoting of this bit of news. I think he’s probably  near the top of the list when it comes to how Captain America should look, but the big question is… Can he act?  Also touched on was that O’Hearn in somewhere in the process of being cast as the sword-wielding lead role on the ‘Conan’ reboot. Not as much a stretch, considering Ah-nold was cast  I the original… acting talent was not their priority. However, he’ll need to lose the whole blonde Greek God look for Conan… he is a barbarian, after all.

‘Conan the Barbarian’ Update

This looks promising…. Check out that poster above!

IGN checked in with its Conan source to find out about the current status of the Barbarian’s big screen return. Nu Image/Millennium Films is producing the new “Conan the Barbarian” movie for Lionsgate.

The site was advised that screenwriters Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer are currently penning their contractual rewrite of the first draft. The filmmakers are still talking to some directors but expect to engage more of them once they have a screenplay everyone is happy with.

Even though everyone is eager to begin production, nothing will move forward until a solid story is in place.