Posted on: June 1st, 2009 From the Vault: Week of June 1, 2009
Welcome to this edition of The Vault, due to the crappy mailing system up here in Canada, this weeks offering was supposed to have been included in last weeks, but alas, here we are a week later and I will tell you, it was definitely worth the wait. So let us get down to it….
The Rock
Okay, I don’t want to know nothing. I never saw you throw that gentleman off the balcony. All I care about is: are you happy with your haircut?
-Paul (hotel barber)
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Sean Connery, Ed Harris.
Directed by: Michael Bay (Transformers, Armageddon, Bad Boys I & II, Pearl Harbor)
Where do you start with The Rock? It is probably on almost every mans list of top action films, it has James Bond himself, Sean Connery, at the time of its release, one of the top action stars, Nicolas Cage and the real star of the movie, Alcatraz itself. All this coupled with cheesy dialogue that populates many action films, a great story and adrenalin pumping soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. This had all the right ingredients for success.
I am a sucker when it comes to films that involve a villain that is redeemable or you sympathize with. General Hummel (Ed Harris) is one such villain. Right from the opening segment to the bitter end, you are aware of his intentions and what he is trying to achieve. He is not money hungry, or exacting revenge on anyone, but rather he seeking justice for wrongdoings of an apathetic bureaucratic government. What made him so relatable throughout the film is his hidden compassion, which slowly emerges to the surface near the end. He his not a bad man by any means, simply a man doing what he believes to be right.
I never fully appreciated the passion which Ed Harris poured into the character, until seeing the blooper reel. When he flubbed his lines, rather then laugh it off or simply ask for a re shoot, he was angered and frustrated by it, in some cases throwing props across the set. It is that type of passion you need to play a man who has felt screwed over and over by his own government.
Nicolas Cage is so consistently inconsistent with his roles. He will blow you away in one, and totally flatline in the next. Stanley Goodspeed is a role that really sits in the middle, there were a few scenes where Cage showed some of that moxie that earned him the Oscar that sits in his trophy room, while others are pure cheese. I for the most do enjoy Nicolas Cage, I think he can be a real talent when he wants to be.
Sean Connery really steals the show, as the wrongfully imprisoned John Patrick Mason, a former British secret service agent. This is not where the Bond references stop, throughout the film there are subtle and in your face nods to James Bond, watch it for yourself and see if you can spot them. I always felt that Connery needed to return to the Bond franchise in some form, however, given his retirement and unwillingness to “unretire”, this will have to do. Mason is a bit like a rough around the edges Bond, less the ladies man charisma, but a lot of his mannerisms and dialogue and even the way he fights is very reminiscent of James Bond of old. Connery is very enjoyable to watch as Mason. Connery was involved very heavily in the re tooling of the character during pre production, as the character was initially written with someone else in mind. So the incarnation that we see on screen is due in large to Connery and his understanding of the character.
There are no real expectations for The Rock, it is gunplay, car chases and explosions wrapped around a historical landmark and AWOL marines. Still more character driven and more thought plot then your average action film and there is something for everyone, and no one will come away disappointed
Versions:
Single Disk edition (WS only)
Two Disk Criterion Collection Edition (WS only) **This version is available online only, either directly through Criterion or other online stores such as Amazon**
Special Features:
Single Disk-
- 1) TV Spots and Trailers
Two Disc Criterion Collection Edition-
- 1) Audio Commentary
- 2) Video Interview with Jerry Bruckheimer
- 3) Analysis of the dive sequence
- 4) Episode of Movie Magic, showcasing the films special effects.
- 5) Dos and Don’ts of Hollywood Gunplay
- 6) Excerpts from Secrets of Alcatraz documentary
- 7) Storyboards
- 8 ) Theatrical Trailer and TV Spots
- 9) Outtakes selected by Michael Bay
- 10) The Rock world premier on Alcatraz
I love this movie, one of my favorites, I spent a good long time debating back and forth on whether or not to spend twice as much for the Criterion edition or settle on the bare bones. It really boiled down to how much I love this movie, and needless to say, I went all out, and sprung for the 2 disks. Was it a worthwhile investment? I would say hell yeah! I have watched numerous special features in my lifetime, and I have to say this is the first one that has features with excellent replay value and increased my appreciation for Bay even more.
Normally I don’t really get into the special effects side of things, however the Movie Magic episode and the Analysis of the dive sequence were entrancing and very enjoyable to watch. It awesome to see how they did some of the really cools shots, some of which I did not even notice were actual CGI shots. The outtakes were not your typical “woops I flubbed my line” outtakes, for the most part, especially with Ed Harris going of f on a profanity laced tirade, definetly gave a higher appreciation for Ed Harris and the intensity that he brings to the role. I really enjoyed the historical aspects that the Secrets of Alcatraz documentary offered in the segment, increased my appreciation for Alcatraz a little more. Perhaps the pinnacle of the features had to be the dos and don’ts of Hollywood gunplay, the feature is a tutorial with Harry Humphries and Marshal Teague, former Navy seals and a Navy seal consultants on the set. Humphries and Teague demonstrate some of Hollywood’s mishandling of firearms, and how ineffective they can be in real life. I actually found myself later on, watching a different film and critiquing how the character was holding their gun.
There were really only two features that really were ok, the video interview with the films producer Jerry Bruckheimer and The Rock world premier. The interview with Bruckheimer would have be more engaging had the focus been on the film rather then his working history with his partner, the late Don Simpson. The Rock world premier feature is really pointless, as it goes over the preparation for the premier of the film on Alcatraz island, nothing great about it.
Now before I sign off for the week, I feel the need to say something to all the Bay bashers out there reading. Though I will never fully understand why you bash Bay, he does not deserve it, after watching the features, I have a reformed opinion on the man, though he may never receive an Oscar for best director and Spielberg he is not. But the amount of work and the dedication he puts into his films should be warranted and respected. He showed up on set for a week with a real nasty flu bug, that would have kept any normal man home in bed, he also hired real Navy seals to ensure that his depiction was accurate and as realistic as possible. So all you Bay nay sayers, back off.
So until next time, see you in the Vault.