In Contention

Tag: Batman & Robin

  • TELLURIDE: Clooney takes center stage

    George Clooney has been tapped this year for one of Telluride’s three big tributes, and it’s certainly the biggest of the trio. Whether it’s press and patrons schmoozing with the star at yesterday’s Patron Brunch, whispers around town (“Did you hear George Clooney is here?” “I really hope ‘The Ides of March’ is a TBA.”) or the ecstatic response to Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants,” this mountain burgh has been taken by Clooney fever.

    It’s a curious thing to see happen here at a festival that is so smooth and cool and not at all phased by celebrity. Clooney changes all those rules, though. And most of it has to be owed to his trooper disposition and charming charisma. He’s always “on,” and just about everyone wants to just throw back a few with the guy. Men want to be him, women want to…well, you get my drift.

    I tend to stay away from the tributes and spend that time taking in a film at Telluride. But since the actor is set to be feted later this evening, I thought I’d at least dedicate some space to his still in-progress career and the highlights that have brought him to this point.

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  • Hell of a thing

    George Clooney in Batman & RobinSo…I was watching Joel Schumacher’s “Batman & Robin” on TBS last night (I know…I’m so sorry). Midway through, this line of dialogue between Michael Gough’s Alfred and George Clooney’s Bruce Wayne stuck out as an incredibly insightful blip in Akiva Goldsman’s otherwise wretched attempt at a fourth installment in the franchise:

    Death and chance stole your parents. But rather than become a victim, you have done everything in your power to control the fates. For what is Batman if not an effort to master the chaos that sweeps our world, an attempt to control death itself?

    It’s the sort of line that would have been at home in the Nolan brothers’ insightful, rich adaptation, an adaptation that probably deserves more Oscar attention than any other aspect of “The Dark Knight.” Very curious.

    Of course, the moment is sullied not 120 seconds later with this keeper:

    My name is Freeze. Learn it well. For it is the chilling sound of your doom.

    Cue the Coolio blacklight embarrassment. Sigh…

  • ‘Batman 3’ (and beyond) casting call

    BatmanOnce again…allow me to geek out for a bit…

    (SPOILERS FOR “THE DARK KNIGHT” IN THE BODY OF THIS POST — NO WORRIES AFTER THE JUMP.)

    Now that the record-breaking hysteria has (somewhat) subsided regarding “The Dark Knight,” I thought I’d take a moment to forecast the third installment (and perhaps future installments) of Christopher Nolan’s franchise.

    First thing’s first. What to call the next film? Ideas bounced around by fans have included tips of the hat to other aspects of the universe (“Batman Beyond,” “The Dark Knight Returns,” etc.). My personal hope was always that the Dark Knight moniker would somehow be a part of the franchise, and thankfully, they went there with the second installment.

    I kind of think taking Frank Miller’s title for part three would be brilliant (especially considering the nature of the final moments of “The Dark Knight”). But the answer here would, of course, have everything to do with the content of the film.

    At this point, we don’t have a clear idea of what to expect from the next film. “Batman Begins” scribe David Goyer (who shares a story credit on “Knight”) formulated the blueprints for a trilogy with Nolan at the outset, and we’re pretty sure Two-Face was supposed to play a considerable role in the next phase. Despite all the chatter that would have you believe Harvey Dent is dead at the end of “Knight,” that early talk of Aaron Eckhart’s contract being for two films couldn’t have been coming from thin air.

    Beyond that, the wonderful thing about the Batman mythos is that there is an array — a “rogues gallery” — of villains to choose from. And certainly, there are seven decades of story development to glean for a solid denouement to the trilogy.

    The Riddler is staring everyone in the face as the most likely possibility. And I really like the idea of handing it over to the character of Coleman Reese (as mentioned by one of our readers last week). Christopher Nolan is supposedly not a fan of the Penguin, and we all want Catwoman to pop up somehow. But that’s a whole other can of worms.

    If I had my druthers, I’d introduce the Riddler and the Penguin (as a mafia figure…nothing major), with Two-Face running rampant as the most dangerous aspect of the trio. But as I said (and we all know), any combination is possible.

    So with that, below you’ll find my personal casting call for the potential rogues we could see in a third film or even future installments of a franchise that could go from here to eternity. Of course, we won’t be seeing all of these cats pop up, but the sky is the limit with this universe.

    Here’s my perspective…

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  • ‘Watchmen’ trailer makes editor soil himself

    httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=R3orQKBxiEg

    And in Quicktime here.  Also, it just occurred to me the Smashing Pumpkins song on the trailer is a remix of a tune which originally showed up on the “Batman & Robin” soundtrack.  Ha.

  • Batman vs. Batman vs. Batman vs. Batman

    A…W…E…S…O…M…E: