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Published on Friday, August 7, 1998 - 5:40am |
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Verhoeven's THE HOLLOW MAN
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Alright folks, I just got finished reading the script for Andrew (AIR FORCE ONE)Marlowe's script for THE HOLLOW MAN, a film that it seems somebody named Paul "How can you make a movie without bullets!?" Verhoeven is directing next.
Now some people had speculated that this was a film based on an old science fiction novel about a man who acquires strange powers, and I believe, this man goes crazy. While the jist of that, could be a one line synopsis of this script, this script is not based on that book.
I believe this is a classic retelling and modernizing of the INVISIBLE MAN story. I just got finished reading it, then watching the Claude Rains INVISIBLE MAN movie, which just kicks so much ass it's not even funny. Just watching the power mad Rains turned loose upon a powerless world thrilled me.
What this script does have is a new gimmick. Remember those old 'Visible Man' and 'Visible Woman' biology models? The ones with clear exterior skin, but the layers of muscles, organs, and finally the skeleton. And sometimes the transparent skin had veins and arteries painted on the inside of the skin. It's a way cool desk decoration btw. Well that's how things turn invisible, one layer at a time. Piece by piece, and like in AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, it doesn't feel that great either.
The basic premise is that the government gets a team (ala a Michael Crichton story) together to develop the 'invisible soldier'. When we join the group, they've been working on this for awhile. Of course one thing leads to another, miraculous breakthroughs occur, the Jeff Goldblum/Flyesque moment of manifest destiny occurs, thus creating the "INVISIBLE MAN". Of course it's all in the lab. A controlled enviroment.
The film combines moments of the original THE THING, THE INVISIBLE MAN, THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN, ALIEN, AMERICAN WEREWOLF OF LONDON, and FIEND WITHOUT A FACE. There are going to be scenes in this movie to give every woman on the planet the heebie friggin jeebies. I mean, the sort of nightmares that just won't go away. So do I think it could be a great film, topple perhaps THE INVISIBLE MAN as the greatest Invisible film? No.
Why? Because ultimately when Claude Rains' character terrorizes the countryside we feel horror, we believe the man is insane, it's traggic, we know it's not his fault. We never have the invisible man launch a city wide terror campaign. We never get to see his ambition take on the meglamaniacal heighths that the classic James Whale flick did. Of course that might change, I may have read an early draft and it has already happened.
I will tell you this. If Verhoeven can rein in his "I must shock my fucking audience till they pay attention" attitude, and plays this one with a steady hand, and a mean spirit... well this could be his flipside to ROBOCOP. It has the ability to be a great movie, if it happens. Whoever plays the Invisible man should have a GREAT voice, someone who could send a chill down your spine. Personally I'd love to see Russell Crowe or Kevin Spacey in this role, I think they could pull off the facets very very well. God, I want this movie to kick ass.
Be mean Verhoeven, be mean with this one.
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