BOP Daily News
November 18, 2003
The spirit of BOP News lives on in
This is So Last Week,
our pop culture week-in-review,
presented in a pleasing quiz form.
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Just in time for the return of the Summer Olympics to their ancient home comes word that Columbia has greenlighted The First Olympics. The film will tell the story of an Athenian warrior and athlete who earns the right to skip dying in battle and travel to Olympia, where he is to compete against a Spartan nemesis in the pentathlon. But instead of a laurel wreath, the Athenian hopes to win the respect of his commanding general, whose daughter he loves. The script will be written by Robert Rodat, who penned Saving Private Ryan and The Patriot. So expect lots of epic scenes, poignant sacrifices, and brave speeches about what’s important to fight for and how to cherish the chances you are given. In other words, your typical Hollywood sports film, transported to ancient Greece. All that’s needed is an inspiring speech by the Athenian’s pentathlon coach that convinces the soldier/athlete not to give up and all the clichés will be covered.
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Looks like Disney has decided even its 2-D animated films in production are no longer worth pursuing. Word has come that the Mouse House has pulled the plug on A Few Good Ghosts, a film that has experienced more than a few problems along the way. This move raises questions regarding the continued viability of the studio’s Orlando animation house, coming as it does in the wake of layoffs at that facility and the closing of its Paris and Tokyo animation branches, as well as published comments from studio execs that computer animation is now the only way to go. The fate of the film, which tells the story of two star-crossed lovers united by a family of ghosts that inhabits folk-art dolls - a commercial concept if we’ve ever heard one - remains an open question. Maybe they could change the story so the ghosts go in search of a decent script instead.
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And speaking of Disney, the suits at the Mouse House are reportedly up in arms over Billy Bob Thornton’s portrayal of Sanity Clause in the upcoming black comedy Bad Santa. Studio execs were said to be “totally horrified” after a screening of the film, which includes scenes of Thornton’s Santa making kids cry, having sex whilst the kinder are lined up outside his little cubbyhole waiting to see him, and informing the kiddie-winkies he doesn’t exist. Add to that the fact that the film involves a shoot-out, a murder, and is centered around said Santa and his chief elf planning on robbing the department store where Santa works, and the Disney folk are hopping mad and convinced dear old Uncle Walt would be spinning in his grave were he not in cryogenic suspension in a meat locker inside Club 33. Mmm, let’s see: a film starring Billy Bob Thornton; directed by Terry Zwigoff, who helmed Crumb and Ghost World; and based on a story by Joel and Ethan Coen, and the suits are surprised it’s not all sweetness and light. We have just one question: What the hell were the Disney folk expecting from this lot? Santa Clause 3?
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Whoa. Talk about your odd substitutions. Keanu Reeves has replaced Russell Crowe as the lead in Ridley Scott’s Tripoli. The film, which has been experiencing problems getting production going, has now been placed into turnaround by 20th Century Fox; with other financing being sought, it may be awhile before Keanu is seen onscreen as William Eaton, a US soldier who joined forces with an exiled monarch to overthrow the corrupt government in the country that is now known as Libya. No word on what made Crowe drop out, or why on Earth Ridley Scott thought Keanu Reeves a suitable replacement. Maybe Scott got stuck paying full boat for Matrix Revolutions and has decided to implement Sigourney Weaver’s suggestion about doing away with actors as retribution...
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"This is the last time I work with somebody with a speech impediment. "
Box Office Prophets offers quality, reliable news about the entertainment industry. BOP is also entertaining. To that end, please be advised that some content in this column is intended to be humorous and should not be considered factual.
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