The Ghost Writer – Movie Trailer
May 24th
A ghostwriter stumbles onto a secret that places his life in danger as he takes down the life story of a former U.K. prime minister in this Roman Polanski-helmed adaptation of the Robert Harris novel. Convinced by his agent that he’s been granted a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, talented British screenwriter “The Ghost” (Ewan McGregor) agrees to aid British prime minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) in completing his memoirs after the leader’s former aide dies under mysterious circumstances. Almost immediately after The Ghost arrives at a remote mansion in the U.S. to begin working with the prime minister, Lang is accused of committing a war crime by a former British cabinet minister. Amidst a deluge of protestors and reporters, The Ghost delves into the unfinished manuscript and comes to the terrifying conclusion that his predecessor died because he discovered a link between Prime Minister Lang and the CIA. The more information The Ghost uncovers, the more convinced he becomes that his life could be in danger as well.
“Robin Hood” The Early Years
May 20th
The Early Years
“Hotshots” looks at a movie!
ROBIN HOOD, the 2010 version starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett and directed by Ridley Scott, could well be the most historically accurate of all the poems, legends, songs, movies, and television shows that have been created about the legendary English outlaw who stole from the rich and gave to the poor.
This is ironic, of course, because there is no evidence that Robin Hood actually existed.
However, the secondary characters of King John, King Richard, and King Philip of France all certainly did exist, which makes the closing title that says the characters in the movie are fictitious and any resemblance to characters living or dead is coincidental all the more ironic, if not a blatant lie.
So, this version begins in 1199 A.D. in France, and we see King Richard the Lion Heart on his way back to England with his army after 10 years of fighting in the First Crusade.
For reasons that aren’t made clear unless we just assume that the English and the French hate each other, Richard says there is one more castle to sack and then it is home to England.
Spoiler Alert! King Richard dies in the attack, and one of the king’s prize archers is Robin Longstride, a natural leader of men, who was being punished for being too honest.
Robin encourages some men to head for the coast with him, but when they complain that they haven’t been paid, Robin tells them, “Try getting paid by a dead king.”
Then through a series of circumstances, Robin and his followers end up in possession of the king’s crown when the noblemen taking it back to England are killed, and Robin also takes the sword of Sir Robert Loxley, who was protecting the crown.
They travel to England posing as noblemen, return the crown to London with the news that King Richard is dead, and then return the sword to Sir Robert’s father and Marion, Sir Robert’s widow.
A traitor in King John’s court knows the truth, Robin is declared an outlaw, and after many fights that go on so long, they become boring, we see a title that says, “And So the Legend Begins.”
ROBIN HOOD should have been subtitled “The Early Years,” and we will have to wait for the sequel to get to the good stuff.
I’m Dan Culberson and this is “Hotshots.”
Robin Hood – Movie Trailer
May 19th
Director Ridley Scott and actor Russell Crowe reunite for their fifth big-screen outing, a retelling of the Robin Hood legend featuring the Gladiator star in the titular role. A bowman in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion, virtuous rogue Robin Hood rises from an unlikely background to become a hero to the impoverished people of Nottingham and lover to the beautiful Lady Marion (Cate Blanchett). Cyrus Voris, Ethan Reiff, and Brian Helgeland collaborate on the screenplay for a costume adventure produced by Brian Grazer (Frost/Nixon, American Gangster).
