[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNfUzeYAAG8[/youtube]
The cast of Iron Man has been in heavy rotation on the talk show circuit all week. For those here or abroad who might’ve missed them, we’ll post clips of a few appearances. Robert Downey Jr reveals on The Late Show that he threw out entire pages of the script to insure his performance was thoroughly infused with the freshness of Ultra Downey. After the cut, Jeff Bridges describes the job of acting as “advanced play” on The Late Late Show.
Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal says, “The gadgetry is absolutely dazzling, the action is mostly exhilarating, the comedy is scintillating and the whole enormous enterprise, spawned by Marvel comics, throbs with dramatic energy.” That energy is infectious, as the cast seems thrilled to share the experience and genuinely proud to be involved. Check back later this afternoon and you’ll find new clips of Gwenyth Paltrow and Terrence Howard.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvkCl9Q9BlY[/youtube]
12 Responses for "Iron Man vs. Letter Man"
Eh, they are trying to make it out as if this is some kind of arthouse film, even imdb trivia has Jon Favreau talking about how deeply Robert Altman influenced the movie.
There is nothing Altman in the film — or at least visibly. Letting Downey adlib comes with the casting. It is a fairly generic product, it is as ‘dumb’ and generic as any comic book movie.
I liked it but these delusions of grandeur bother me. When there are real film artists out there who are making real, original works that are ignored, they are the ones working in Altman’s spirit… this week alone, look at Harmony Korine’s new film, Mister Lonely, there has never been anything like it, while we get ten Iron Man’s a year grossing two hundred million. The money is enough and yet they still want artistic credibility. Rubs me the wrong way when it’s blatantly not earned.
Thanks for the clips, it’s always funny to see late shows have a similar set everywhere.
About Iron Man, what I find more surprising is that “serious” actors seem to be now more open to be in blockbusters -which is fine, it’s like some fresh air- than they used to be some years ago. Maybe it’s just the coincidence of Iron Man and Hulk in the same year, but I’d have never thought I’d see Norton or Downey Jr playing superheroes. I wonder if it’s just the paycheck or it’s a real tendency.
It’s not a new thing that “serious” actors are starring in blockbusters. Don’t forget that Val Kilmer had been in things like The Doors and Tombstone before he made Batman Forever, Nicholas Cage had won an Oscar for the ultra-indie Leaving Las Vegas when he started doing The Rock and Con Air, and then of course there’s the majority of Steven Spielberg’s blockbusters in which he tries to cast real actors instead of movie stars (which is why his pairing with Tom Cruise never sat right with me).
Having seen Iron Man today, I cannot describe how grateful I am that Favreau made the casting choices he did, as well as his other choices as director. Downey, Bridges, Paltrow, Toub, and Howard all elevated the film into something truly wonderful and gave it a gravitas that has been absent from a number of blockbusters lately.
Iggy: As The Jack said, serious actors appearing in blockbusters is nothing new. Personally, I’m glad they’re doing it. It makes the films that much more enjoyable. I think Batman Begins and its stellar cast (minus Katie Holmes) had a major role in enticing serious actors into comic-book movies.
jjj: I could not disagree with you more on your dissing or Iron Man. Just b/c something is a blockbuster does not mean that it lacks artistic merit, just as indie films do not automatically have it by virtue of being independent. Originality means very little to me. Quality does. I don’t care what the original source was, as long as the end result passes muster. Your dismissal smacks of the kind of snobbery that gives critics a bad name.
I saw this today as well, and must agree with elessar on the casting. Perfect all around. It was a really enjoyable film.
No predictions for Iron Man yet? I’d be bold and throw it out there for best Visual Effects and maybe Best Editing nods.
VFX is a good bet at this point. Good reviews + good box office. Don’t count it out for the Sound categories either.
What a hot cast! Something about the four of them on that poster thingie just makes me all tingly.
I loved the film, that is all I am going to say: LOVE.
The movie is awesome. I always love the discovery phase of a superhero. This one was nice. Ms. Paltrow is not annoying.
The movie was great, it’s definitely one of the better superhero movies. The casting was perfect – and Robert Downey Jr. was awesome in it. As usual.
And I’ll join the Gangbang by also saying that I quite enjoyed IRON MAN.
In a way, its interesting how both this and Nolan’s BATMAN BEGINS are both superhero cinema myths directly and indirectly crafted in the post-9/11 world. Now while Favreau is no Nolan in the auteur-de-force department, he still shot a pretty good action picture with an involving story about an asshole taking some responsibility.
Seriously, I’m shocked the right-winger blogs aren’t already pissed about Liberal Hollywood Propaganda.
Looks like the streak of bombs since “Hustle and Flow” for Terrence Howard is finally over.
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