Ridley Scott Robin Hood film: "Nottingham", although it's apparently not called that anymore.
Above: On the 21st April, whilst the Times was still carrying a story about Russell Crowe being the Sheriff of Nottingham (the previous plan for this movie), the Daily Mail featured this picture of Crowe as the nextg Robin Hood.
Sienna Miller is out (sigh of relief from English Hoody fans), and Cate Blanchett is in as Marian.
Russell Crowe is now set to play Robin hood and not the Sheriff, and the story is based more around their love affair than the "Sheriff as Hero" concept floated last year. Indeed, it would seem that the movie now focuses on Robin Hood returning from the Crusades, and encountering his subsequent legendary status.
Sound familiar to you? Well, take into account recent criticisms of Russell Crowe's weight, plus the fact that beautiful Cate blanchett is nevertheless 39, and you start to think in terms of a re-make of Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn's superb "Robin and Marian". I hope they don't attempt that. "Robin and Marian" was something of a career best for the two main players concerned, and easily the best film Richard Lester ever made. (Though that might not be saying much).
No doubt more updates in due course.
Labels: Nottingham, Ridley Scott, robin hood, Russell Crowe
posted by robin hood at 5:59 PM
11 Comments:
Ridley Scott, Nottingham, Russell Crowe.
Robin, I'm interested in Nottingham, too, in a skeptical way. I'm not keen to see the sheriff of Nottingham and King Richard made into heroes. Also, Brian Grazer referred to it as "Gladiator for the Middle Ages," which sounds dreadful to me. I'm probably alone in not liking Gladiator--I thought it was a huge CGI bore. Ridley Scott has done some good stuff (e.g., Blade Runner, Thelma and Louise) and Crowe is certainly a talented actor, but so far I haven't heard anything that makes me hopeful about this version of the Robin Hood legend. After reading various of your posts, I'm inclined to agree with you that the Robin Hood legend lends itself much better to episodic TV than movies.
Hi Annie,
Well, I'm definately looking forward to it if only because it's a new Robin Hood movie...
BUT
I also have my reservations.
With the greatest respect to my American readers, I've never been convinced that Hollywood truly understands Robin Hood.
For example, Kevin Costner was plain awful; that movie only beiing saved by Alan Rickman. And although Errol Flynn's is fun, he's being Errol Flynn, not Robin Hood.
Hopefully we'll be saved any silliness about swinging through Sherwood Forest on Tarzan like vines this time! (Have these film makers ever seen an English Forest?)
When I was interviewed by BBC Nottingham I made a plea that America stopped making Robin Hood films in the same way the English have never attempted Jesse James!
Like you, I'm not a Gladiator fan either. I'm less into sword fights and more into the mysticism of it all.
hi, thanks for visiting my blog! i wasn't sure which one of your blogs was the most current...seems like you are quite a robin hood specialist/enthusiast! thanks for the good new movie info.
Robin,
I'm an American, but I couldn't agree more that Robin Hoood should be left to the Brits. I have always liked the Errol Flynn version, in that it incorporated many of the traditional elements, but I agree with you that the Richard Green, Richard Carpenter, and Sean Connery versions are truer to the original. In a post on another blog, you mentioned that you have a son who shares Jonas Armstrong's birthday. Well, my elder son also was born in 1981, and he loved series 1 of the BBC Robin Hood, especially the last two episodes (how could he not love Lucy Griffith?!). My love of the BBC version relates to my love of the Robin Hood legend. It is not perfect, but I have a great fondness for the actors. As for the Ridley Scott version--well, I'll try to keep an open mindl
For the record, i'm not a gladiator fan either, and while i like the Erol Flynn Robin Hood i agree, that Robin Hood should be left to the Brits.
But Ridley Scott is British (county Durham to be exact) and while Russel Crowe is not British he is an Australian raised in NZ which makes him a decent substitute for a Brit, if you excuse this German saying so, at least i found him convincing in Master and Commander.
(BTW now if Nottinham would be made by Perter Weir i would be really excited).
Tobias
Hi Tobias,
Let me try and clarify what I mean:
Yes, I appreciate Ridley Scott was born in England, just as the most famous Robin Hood, Errol Flynn, was born in Australia. But what I mean is that whole American Hollywood, "Let's not take any risks", Blockbuster star system way of producing a film.
The mystical, ancient forest of Sherwood merit’s a more creative, thoughtful approach than the gladiator pits of a Roman coliseum).
Peter Weir: What an interesting choice. Those works of his I remember most are Luke's Kingdom (which I've not seen in years!), and of course "Picnic at Hanging Rock". Now there was a film with loads of mystical atmosphere!
Peter Weir is an inspired choice--he not only knows how to create atmosphere but he also is comfortable blending political, personal, and mystical/spiritual elements. In addition to "Picnic at Hanging Rock," I love "Witness," "The Year of Living Dangerously," and "The Mosquito Coast," and "The Truman Show."
It was actually "Master and Commander" which made me bring up Perter Weir. You won't find a less "Hollywoodeque" big production in recent years.
It's exactly that mixture of historical realism with real attention to details, mixed with great character development and finally some really good if sparsely dosed action that i would want to see in a Robin Hood Film.
But most importedly it fianlly a movie which took it's time, and you don't see that often these days.
If you don't know it yet check it out.
Tobias, thanks for recommending Master and Commander, which I thought was terrific. I agree that it's several steps above the average blockbuster.
On the Nottingham front, the Internet Movie db is reporting that Sienna Miller has signed on to play Marian. Evidently, filming is in jeopardy due to the impending writers strike. Here's the link:
http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0249253/
I like Miller, and her casting makes me a little more interested in the movie than I was.
Russell Crowe's accent already resembles something that would fit in another version Robin Hood... though he'll probably have to drop some of that girth he developed for Body of Lies
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