Cameron Crowe’s latest project hasn’t even started filming yet but chatter is already rumbling on the web thanks to the screenplay making the rounds. The film stars Reese Witherspoon and Ben Stiller. Gone Elsewhere’s Nick talks to James about the script and makes up the funny headline “Crowe Vs. The Volcano.” When asked to summarize the plot:
A man, close to middle age, having problems with women. Semi-successful, but doesn’t know what to do with his life. Has crisis. Meets old flame. Had problems with her. Meets new, exciting, woman. Has problems with her. They’re all on Hawaii. Hijinks ensue. You guess the rest.
And when asked to write it like it was “detailed press release”:
Brian Gilcrest, 37, is a military contractor for the US Army. He hasn’t done many things right in life. He’s married the wrong women, broke up with the only good one and most people don’t like him. His only friend is a military techie named Jeremy who lives in the caves of the Cheyenne Mountains who he’s only spoken with on the phone. Brian is an angry man, but he learns that this doesn’t bother him. He’s just relieved that he doesn’t have to pretend to be anything else. Unfortunately, this has also killed his career.
However, Gilcrest soon gets a shot at redemption thanks to escalating tensions between the United States and China. The military needs him to set up the launch of a private satellite at his old stomping grounds in Hawaii. There, Gilcrest gets a chance to meet up with “the one who got away”, Tracy, her kids and her new husband. He also meets the designated liasion officer for the mission, Major Lisa Ng. Together these two must secure the blessings of the native Hawaiian council and see that the launch happens on schedule. If only they weren’t haunted by visions of Hawaiian ghosts in green mists, mistaken for incarnations of the Hawaiian gods Lono and Pele, and prophesied to bring about the Arrival… whatever that is.
Oh, and they have to toss a sacrifice into an erupting volcano.
But the best part of the interview, of course, is when they talk music. Music is such an integral part of any Crowe movie that the songs he chooses should tell us a lot about theme and mood:
James – “Don’t Be Shy” – Cat Stevens
“Elevation” – U2
“Prodigal Son” – The Rolling Stones
“Let’s Go Out Tonight” – The Blue Nile
“Pac-Man Fever” – Buckner & Garcia
“What’s New Pussycat” – Tom Jones
“Baba O’ Riley” – The Who
A bootleg instrumental of The Beatles’ “She’s Leaving Home”
“Ribbon in The Sky” – Stevie Wonder
Boy, Baba O’Riley is sure making the rounds lately, as well it should being that it is such a great song. Still, one might run the risk of it becoming stale. I guess it depends on how they use it.
And while we’re on the subject, fuck yeah:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKUBTX9kKEo[/youtube]
I don’t know, though. Jerry Maguire, no matter how you slice it, is still a great film. Unfortunately I rewatched Almost Famous the other day and found it not nearly as good as I’d remembered it. Except for the odd funny line here or there, like “your looks are becoming a problem,” the rest of it seemed unbelievable and corny. Honestly, that the Academy chose Marcia Gay Harden over Kate Hudson was a revalatory moment. This was my 20th viewing or so. There is always a chance I’ll watch it again and like it again. He’s good enough, though, that he’s always worth paying attention to.
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Interesting. Does the new project have a title yet? I’m not sure what to make of that plot summary. It sounds a little corny and derivative on first read, but then most things do on paper.
I’ve never been a fan of Almost Famous. I thought at the time that it was way overrated, something of a misfire or at least a missed opportunity. Almost Good, I called it. Though to be fair, that Rolling Stone quest-for-celebrity music scene is just not my thing, even when I like the music.
I think Jerry Maguire and Say Anything are still his personal bests.
Hopefully, this movie will get Cameron back on track after the half bad/half good that was Elizabethtown.
I’m betting that there will be at least one phone call scene that will be at least 5 minutes long and kick some serious ass.
I’ve watched the Untitled version of Almost Famous about 30 times now and never get sick of it. I think that if Dreamworks had released that version instead of the 30 minute shorter version, it would have been nominated for Best Picture. As it is, the theatrical version is #2 on my Top 10 of the Decade, behind the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
Remember when some smartasses derided ELIZABETHTOWN as if Crowe was trying to make his own take on GARDEN STATE?
Well this new movie, its like he saw JOE VS THE VOLCANO late one night, and decided to do it his own way on that story.’
Why Ben Why!?!?
[...] months later, we are finally starting to find out what the movie will be about thanks to Awards Daily, who report on a script leak. They call the movie a Crowe inspired soundtrack heavy version of JOE [...]
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