Life is funny.
I was planning to write about Ridley Scott’s “Robin Hood” today, a new film that opens on May 14th with Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett.
Then I ran into Kevin Costner at LAX. He was on his way to Nashville to play some music with his band. He looked great, like a movie star. A long time ago he was Robin Hood, very tongue-in-cheek and action-adventure. Costner was criticized for his accent, but the movie was a popcorn hit.
Now comes Crowe and Scott. I am told they’ve been screening the new Robin Hood for insiders. Everyone likes it. Universal is counting on a big hit leading into Memorial Day. Certainly the main actors at least have accents to begin with.
But wait: Does the public want a dark, brooding Robin Hood who takes Sherwood Forest seriously? Robin Hood movies and TV shows are always fun. The Ridley Scott movie doesn’t sound like fun from what I’ve been told. It’s dead serious. “I don’t know if it will make money,” says a source. “But it will be respected. It’s dark, violent and very Gladiator.”
“Robin Hood” started out as “Nottingham.” Many scripts came and went, and along with them, many millions of dollars. The shooting script was revised a lot while the movie was being shot. Crowe is prone to clashes with Scott. The rumors fly! Something tells me Universal won’t let anything but a blockbuster be the final release. Some good news: the supporting cast is said to be excellent. They include William Hurt, Mark Strong, Mark Addy, Oscar Isaac, and Danny Huston.
Costner, meantime, takes his band through Europe from mid February through the end of March. Check his Web site for details.
February 3rd, 2010 at 5:35 am
I am anxiously waiting for Robin Hood to reach theaters.
But Roger, since you haven’t seen the film, how can you assume it’s tone and comment on it? You’re relying on nothing but vague here-say and supposition. I suggest you write about the film once you’ve had a chance to see it yourself and offer up your reaction/review then.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:12 am
“I don’t know if it will make money,” says a source. “But it will be respected.”
Bah!
Robin Hood is not supposed to be dark. He is a lighthearted rouge who is always tricking the Sheriff of Nottingham and Price John. The book ends darkly, but other than that it is light hearted.
Enough already with “darker” and “edgier”- those are just code words for we cant think of a decent story so we are trying to fool everyone with troubled = intellectual. Stupid posers. They should be forced to watch Matrix Revolutions until their eyes bleed and and they realize this pseudo-intellectual blidgewater shouldn’t be made.
If you dont have a good script, dont start work on your movie. Making things “darker” is not a solution.
Seeing as Russell Crowe is one of the few current movie stars (who can act) who isnt a overgrown man/boy why is he wasting his time doing this? Master and Commander needs a sequel and has a ton of material that hasnt been filmed and only was nominated for 10 Oscars. Why not work on that instead of “rebooting” Dark Night with Arrows?
There are so few actual American lead actors. If John Brolin does “To Wong Foo II” I am retiring to my bunker with my NetFlix queue and you wont see me back in a cinema.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:58 am
“The Ridley Scott movie doesn’t sound like fun from what I’ve been told.”
You could try actually seeing the movie before characterizing it, Mr. Friedman. From clips that have been shown of the filming of the movie, there are moments of humor and romance. However, the 12th century was not all fun and games. I am looking forward to a more realistic take on the Robin Hood legend.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:01 am
Hi Mr. Friedman!
You forgot to mention Matthew Macfadyen playing the Sheriff of Nottingham
, another excellent supporting cast member!
I am looking forward to seeing this!
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:26 am
This should be fun BUT it was done pretty well over the last 3 years on BBC. BBC’s Robin Hood was very dark and very serious. Amazing show with an incredible ending. SPOILER..Robin Dies!?!?!?!
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:33 pm
‘Barklet’ has me rather puzzled. “The book ends darkly, but other than that its light-hearted”…..Eh? Which ‘book’ is this? Forgive me for saying so but the tales of Robin Hood amount to a very wide range of stories which are varied in tone and were written dowwn by many ‘authors’ over many centuries. The light-heartedness is very very different from the light-heartedness of a Hollywood romp.
“If you dont (sic) have a good script, dont start work on the movie.”
Well, building on the comparision made in the original article, Gladiator was started when they had barely 30 pages written. It went through many many revisions. And the oft-quoted result didn’t turn out too bad…either from a Box Office or an Awards POV.
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:50 pm
If the “Dark Knight” sequeal to Batman can be successful, why not Robin Hood. Perhpas a more gritty version is needed instead of the cartoon-like versions of the past. Of course, Errol Flynn’s Robin Hood will always be a classic…”Welcome to Sherwood” everyone!
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:56 pm
From what I’ve heard, the script focuses on the fact vs. fiction of the Robin Hood story. As Russell Crowe said in an interview for Entertainment Tonight, it’s an “all of the facts…none of the bullocks” approach to the popular legend.
Give it a chance! I find that most stories are safe in Mr. Crowe’s hands.
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Barklet…..
Darker is not a solution? I think every successful reboot in the last ten years has been a darker representation. Saying that “darker” is not a solution is not correct. In this era, “darker” most certainly means bigger bucks and more respect. Now whether that makes it better, we shall see.
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:37 pm
What pray is a lighthearted rouge? Is this some previously undiscovered form of blusher?
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:46 pm
I agree with the first OP….Robin Hood is a rogue, a thief, he’s not “dark and brooding”….leave it to Ridley Scott to screw it up; or was it Russell?
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Pre-judging here are we? OK. Pre-judging the talent of Ridley and Crowe as both being superb in their fields, I say this will be an intriguing film.
Robin Hood is whoever the creator of the piece decides. He isn’t *suppose* to be anything. He is a folklore hero and anyone is entitled to portray any take on him that they want. That’s called creative freedom.
However, I will wait until I see it (gladly) with my own eyes before making blanket and very typically uninformed statements. Not your *thing* to try new *things*?…then by all means stay away from the theater.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:23 pm
A dark and violent portrayal of Robin Hood is exactly what I want this character to be. Leave it to Sir Ridley and Crowe to make that happen. How I love the idea of Cate B. as Lady Marion. If you guys don’t like it, then shut your eyes and don’t bother. Can’t wait! Woohoo!!
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:20 pm
Why would he do this movie? I think he’s a great actor but Robin hood is played out. I might catch it on DVD but defo not at the movies. I think I would rather watch the cartoon version.
February 4th, 2010 at 4:34 am
Sherlock Holmes was never an action figure — but given Robert Downey Jr. and Guy Ritchie they made a box office success of that reinvention.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:16 am
Hey guys, worked on this film for 18 months, Trust me yr in for a hell of a ride. Ridley is a perfectionist, the guy doesnt stop. Yes he wasnt happy with the script, so he kept changing it untill it was right. Many directors i have worked with dont care to much about “the story” or script. most are too busy up their own ass. the sets are some of the biggest and elaborate ive ever worked on. most of that is down to Arthur Max (production designer). and Ridleys eye with the lens. you never really knew where he would shoot a scene next, so everything had to be dressed right, the whole 360 of the set. Robin Hood is folklore, nobody Knows what he looked like for heavens sake. And as for being dark, yes it is. dark n bloody. its just a different take, the right one in my opinion because its never been told like this. and about bloody time too…
February 4th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Spiderman vs the “darker, edgier Spiderman 3″ 90% Fresh verses 63%.
Or “Return to Oz” which was the “darker” sequel to the Wizard of Oz.
“Eh? Which ‘book’ is this?”
I am thinking of the Howard Pyle book, but even if you went back to the older ballads there is no support for this “darkier/edgier” nonsense.
But enjoy your Robin Hood and his Band of Morose, Conflicted Men.
February 6th, 2010 at 1:44 am
Paul uk, thanks for sharing. Boy oh boy, this movie is gonna be fantastic!
February 6th, 2010 at 10:30 am
In defense of Roger, his job is to report on what he has learned about the film industry. He’s reporting what the word is on RH. This isn’t a film review.
I’m afraid I, too, have no interest in another Robin Hood story. It isn’t as if Ridley and Russell haven’t blown it before, remember A Good Year? Even American Gangster disappointed me when I think of how great that movie should have been. I will be shocked if RH earns back its costs – I mean really what kind of foreign BO can they expect on this outside of the UK?
Hey, Paul, thanks for your input but come on man what else are you going to say about a movie YOU worked on.
February 9th, 2010 at 11:48 am
From the moment I came across Russell Crowe in the Gladiator, I have been the biggest fan of his work since then. He’s one of the greatest actors EVER, and personifies what a real man should be about…..intellectual, passionate, intelligent, knows how to love, seeks perfection but knows how to settle for practicality as well, handsome, a good father, and a loving husband. Although I don’t know him personally, I have researched him and talked to those who know him. I am looking forward to Robin Hood, not only because Crowe and Scott are awesome story-tellers, but also because it gives me another chance to observe a craftsman at work.
For those of you that would argue, remember, each of us in entitled to their own opinion. I am counting down the days to see another Crowe masterpiece.
February 10th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
If you play the lighthearted trickster Robin then the bloody scenes would be that much more powerful. I’m afraid from watching a trailer that the ‘dark’ version of the Forested Hoodmahn has been waaaaaaaaay overplayed. Oy – wada shame.