If I were twelve years old, this is a movie I would love. Partly because I would have felt sort of rebellious as I snuck downstairs at 11:30 at night to flip on HBO to maybe see some boobies or to hear Edward Norton use the word “cock.” I think Roy Scheider’s 52 Pick-Up would fall into the same category; just to give you an example of the type of movie I believe Stone will be.
Now here we are with Nortonin (sporting cornrows; nice), Jovavich and De Niro recreating that vibe. It just feels like the most typical, cliche, boring thriller any 15 year-old could come up with. But should we be surprised? De Niro hasn’t been in any good films or even a decent performance in what, ten years? The out of place bit in Stardust was kind of funny and you can make a case for Meet the Parents but honestly, the guy has basically been a shit machine since Ronin. So what happened? Well, maybe we should ask Harrison Ford the same question. But I digress…
Stone (which I’ve never even heard of until today and not to be confused with , which looks way more awesomer) is essentially the story of a convict playing mind games with his corrections officer in order to obtain early release. Using his girlfriend as a tool, she seduces the officer and I guess blackmail and explosions or something ensues. Sounds like a winner.
I hope to be proved wrong. It’s directed by John Curran, the guy partly responsible for The Painted Veil and The Killer Inside Me (which is getting pretty big buzz). Plus I’m a huge fan of Norton, but I fear his path may be leading down the same stray road De Niro and Ford took. Take a look at the trailer (NSFW) under the seats and tell me I’m wrong; I’ll feel better about it.
I don’t know dude, it doesn’t look very good but Milla & Norton together is something I can’t pass up. Fingers crossed.
the last time these two guys were together, they also had Brando… and they came up with the crapfest known as THE SCORE.
i reject that De Niro has been all bad though. have you seen What Just Happened? or The Good Shepherd?
Milla? I’m there.
Speaking of Milla, I saw The Claim not long ago after someone, Kurt, I think, suggested I indulge my Milla obsession with that rather than the host of crappier films she’s done. Quite liked it, and it was nice to have, like, other stuff in the movie worth watching besides her. Kind of reminded me of McCabe and Mrs Miller, actually.
Milla is indeed pretty awesome in THE CLAIM, a movie I love to recommend to folks. It’s buried and under-appreciated even by Winterbottom (24 Hour Party People, Code 46, Tristram Shandy) standards!
At first it was distracting because I’m not used to seeing her in period films, and that threw me a bit, but when it became clear the one guy was going to throw her over to marry the other woman? She had me there, and not just in the normal way she’s got me.
Yeah, having Winterbottom directing, and a uniformly excellent cast (Sarah Polley was in there too, wasn’t she?), certainly didn’t hurt.
Of course, if you think that’s going to stop me from watching crappy Milla movies….not gonna happen. Heh.
Add in my love for THE CLAIM. Big fan.
I’ll watch anything with Norton, of course, but he hasn’t starred in anything but mediocre movies since The Painted Veil in 2006. I loved that movie though – one of my favorites of that year. So if this re-teams he and director John Curran, it gives me a little hope.
And the name of this shitty movie is?
Stone. It’s in the article.