Billys Ray of Light
February 25th, 2002
Screenwriter Billy Ray, who was the last screenwriter brought onto HARTS WAR (he shares credit with second rewriter Terry George; original screenwriter Jeb Stuart isnt credited), has lined up innumerous projects. As listed by Varietys Michael Fleming, they are:
An adaptation of THE NAPOLEON OF CRIME, a star vehicle for Robert Redford. Redford would play 19th century thief Adam Worth who, after robbing every worthwhile bank vault and train, moved on to London with his partner, Piano Charley Bullard. There, the co-conspirators got into a love triangle with an Irish barmaid named Kitty Flynn. (Think Redford is trying to make the geriatric version of BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID?)
Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner hired him to adapt the GQ article METAMORPHOSIS as a vehicle for Cruise to play chiropractor John Sarkin.
Ray was then hired to rewrite the oft-rewritten script SUSPECT ZERO.
Jerry Bruckheimer brought Ray in to rewrite AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, an idea by Ben Affleck about the cultural collision between an African-American FBI agent and white New Orleans cop brought together on a case. The plan is for Affleck to star with Will Smith. (Expect this last film never to get made; and if it does, do not expect Will Smith in it.)
Ray and his director Greg Hoblit blame the failure of HARTS WAR of the marketing department of MGM, who gave away a key plot-point from the end of the movie.
I agree with them and dont: the film is weakened by revealing its third-act surprise. But I think the whole trailer stank. MGM, scared of a serious movie, made HARTS WAR look like BLACK HAWK DOWN. Action, action, action, closeup of Bruces rigid face, shot of Collin looking frazzled but without a hair out of place. HARTS WAR should have been sold to mature moviegoers who would want to see an intelligent film about war. Something that doesnt show the horrors in the field but in a courtroom.
-- D.M.
(Source: Variety)
An adaptation of THE NAPOLEON OF CRIME, a star vehicle for Robert Redford. Redford would play 19th century thief Adam Worth who, after robbing every worthwhile bank vault and train, moved on to London with his partner, Piano Charley Bullard. There, the co-conspirators got into a love triangle with an Irish barmaid named Kitty Flynn. (Think Redford is trying to make the geriatric version of BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID?)
Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner hired him to adapt the GQ article METAMORPHOSIS as a vehicle for Cruise to play chiropractor John Sarkin.
Ray was then hired to rewrite the oft-rewritten script SUSPECT ZERO.
Jerry Bruckheimer brought Ray in to rewrite AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, an idea by Ben Affleck about the cultural collision between an African-American FBI agent and white New Orleans cop brought together on a case. The plan is for Affleck to star with Will Smith. (Expect this last film never to get made; and if it does, do not expect Will Smith in it.)
Ray and his director Greg Hoblit blame the failure of HARTS WAR of the marketing department of MGM, who gave away a key plot-point from the end of the movie.
I agree with them and dont: the film is weakened by revealing its third-act surprise. But I think the whole trailer stank. MGM, scared of a serious movie, made HARTS WAR look like BLACK HAWK DOWN. Action, action, action, closeup of Bruces rigid face, shot of Collin looking frazzled but without a hair out of place. HARTS WAR should have been sold to mature moviegoers who would want to see an intelligent film about war. Something that doesnt show the horrors in the field but in a courtroom.
-- D.M.
(Source: Variety)
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