Mar 24 2010
Repo Men, AKA Good Actors In Bad Movies
Well, I got a chance to go check out Repo Men, the latest in a long line of sci-fi action thrillers with a better concept than execution. I mean, the idea of a future where artificial organs can be repossessed when you don’t pay your bills isn’t a far-out concept. We’re pretty close to that now thanks to high medical bills and whatnot.
Unfortunately, the movie is actually pretty terrible. It’s kind of an anti-The Crazies in the respect that it’s taking from great source movies, but doesn’t do anything with it. Even more damning, it’s got some really good actors in the lead roles. In particular, Forest Whitaker gives a great performance that’s absolutely wasted on some really terrible material.
I don’t get it. Why would a good actor sign on for a bad movie? Did he not know the script was bad when he signed on? Did they kill it with editing (not possible since the movie is still 2 hours long) and rewrites? Did he just need the money?
There’s nothing sadder than a good actor in a terrible film, giving us his all with shitty material. I mean, if it’s a choice between Forest working and Forest not working, I’d rather see him than not see him. Still, he could do better than this. There’s no reason for him not to be doing better roles, aside from his weight (he looks much slimmer now than he has previously).
I think sometimes they read the script, and it sounds really good, but then when the movie is done, it’s just plain crappy. Or maybe it just didn’t have any aspirations to begin with.
I want to go see it still.