Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
I’m fading fast, and I want to get the rest of the stories up, so I’ll just get out of the way and let Mean Mr. Mustard do his thing...
Harry, Moriarty...
Mean Mr. Mustard here. I heard some not so nice rumors about this film, The Core. It was pulled from its original November/Holiday release because the effects looked cheesy, and the film sucked. Early negative reviews appeared on AICN. Then there was the buzz going around that Paramount was going to pull it yet again because of the recent space shuttle tragedy, but they backed off on that and re-cut the trailer instead.
I happen to be in very good spirits right now. Why? Well, I just got back from a screening of The Core and guess what? The Core does not suck! And remember, I've been extremely brutal and harsh reviewing many films that got what it deserved on AICN in the past.
Yes, I know that The Core has been reviewed very recently by Roxie Hart, who did a good job with her review I should add, but here is my two cents.
That being said, I don't think I'll go into the plot or detail. Just the set-up. Something has happened to cause the core of the planet to change in temperature, causing the end of the world in three months time. So our government recruits a team to go to the center of the earth, to the earths core itself - to save the day. The team consists of geology expert/college professor Dr. Josh Keyes (Aaron Eckhart), his colleague and weapons expert, Sergei Putechin (Tcheky Karyo), two rival physics, Dr. Brazleton (Delroy Lindo) and Dr. Conrad Zimsky (Stanley Tucci), and two astronauts, Major Rebecca Childs (Hilary Swank) and Colonel Robert Iverson (Bruce Greenwood). The team has contact with NASA headquarters through NASA Chief Stickley (Alfre Woodard), and a military General who is always referred to I think as just General (Richard Jenkins). And for comic relief, we also have a renegade computer hacker "Rat" (DJ Qualls).
First off, if The Core sounds a little to close Armageddon, it is, but what saves it is that director Jon Amiel, who gave us Coppycat, Entrapment, and the original British miniseries of The Singing Detective, is a better director than Michael Bay. He knows how to play scenes out, how to keep the film moving but at the same time not sacrificing the characters for pacing. He knows how to introduce characters (Rat's introduction in particular is priceless). He knows that the audience doesn't want to be dumbed down. He even has a good sense of homage (film buffs will recognize a wink wink to The Birds early on and later to Dr. Strangelove). And he knows that what he is making is a film. Even if it's a B genre film, it's a film. Not a 2 1/2 hour music video/video game.
The Core is a good "B" film and with A+ production values. The score was surprisingly decent, the effects were not at all cheesy but very well done and believable, and the sets, production design, and cinematography were also top notch. Is The Core perfect? No, the ending is a bit weak, but I don't think anyone set out to make a perfect film here... just a hugely entertaining one, and action and sci-fi fans in particular should be able to appreciate what was accomplished.
As for the cast, everyone was excellent, but there were two standouts. Tucci and Eckhart.
Dr. Zimsky is a liar, a fake, a cowered, a thief, a cheater, and even though the film makes no mention of it, that damn rug on his head sums up everything about this guy perfectly. Tucci has always been a great character actor, and he is obviously is having the time of his life playing Zimsky. Every second of that joy comes across when he is on screen.
And neither I, nor do I think anyone else for that matter has ever thought of Aaron Eckhart as a movie star. As a matter of fact, I always thought of him as a pompous bore. But that's probably because all he has really done in the past were a few overrated Neil Labute films and 2nd banana boyfriend parts opposite Julia Roberts (Erin Brockovich), Renee Zellweger (Nurse Betty), and Gwyneth Paltrow (Possession). Well, my opinion about Eckhart has changed. The part of Dr. Josh Keyes is a star-making role. Dr. Keyes is the heart and soul of the film, and Eckhart nails the part and makes it look effortless. Eckhart has a charm that is reminiscent of George Clooney, Mel Gibson, and a young Harrison Ford, and with The Core, Eckhart emerges as a genuine movie star.
And that being said... I'd like to end with a little message to Warner Brothers.
Don't make Superman... not like this... you don't have the right script, the right director, you are not screen testing the right actors, and frankly it's not even the right time for a Superman film with Smallville on television, and the Christopher Reeve films still fresh in peoples minds.
However, if you are going to go ahead with it, then at least cast the right Superman. After reading Harry's rant on Friday, I tried, but couldn't picture any major star as Superman. That is until I saw The Core today. There are moments where you can actually see, picture, and visualize Clark Kent and yes Superman in Eckhart.
I will put my "rep" and reliability with AICN on the line with this statement.
Brett Ratner, WB executives, Harry, Moriarty, and all comic book lovers, go and see The Core. If you are really a fan, if you really know Superman, if you really love the comics, you'll see what I'm talking about. Warner Brothers... If you are going to make Superman... then Aaron Eckhart is is is Superman.
Mean Mr. Mustard out!
Eckhart, who has said several times that he dedicated his performance in this film to the rescue workers involved in 9/11, has got to be pleased to hear that sort of enthusiastic response to what he did. After all, he was trying to be an all-American hero, and it sounds like Mean Mr. Mustard thought he nailed it.
"Moriarty" out.
