Not Your Average Valentine's Day Fluff

This is Akiva Goldsman's first turn as a director of a feature film. His credibility as a writer is undeniable and my sense is the writing in 'Winter's Tale' is nicely cut.

With Colin Farrell and Jessica Brown Findlay in the leads. Also with Will Smith, William Hurt, Jennifer Connelly, Eva Marie Saint, and Russell Crowe as the convincing bad guy. Quite the cast to say the least.

Based on the acclaimed novel by Mark Helprin. So, how good was the novel? From Wikipedia:

Winter's Tale was published in 1983. Praised on the front cover of the New York Times Book Review (NYTBR) as "funny, thoughtful, passionate...large-souled"...

In May 2006, the New York Times Book Review published a list of American novels, compiled from the responses to "a short letter [from the review] to a couple of hundred prominent writers, critics, editors and other literary sages, asking them to identify 'the single best work of American fiction published in the last 25 years.'" Among the twenty-two books to have received multiple votes was Helprin's Winter's Tale.[4]

Due 2/14, however it's feeling like there's more here than the usual Valentine's Day fluff.

Appropriately, 'Noah' Gets Two Trailers

This is the U.S. cut and boy does it lay there. Lacks focus, takes itself too seriously, not much fun, no hook, has a quality best described as a droning thrum.



Here's the international edit and, as usual, it's better than the domestic version, but only by direct comparison. Hooks you up front, moves at a clip, incorporates just enough humor -- but still, it just doesn't sizzle.



Have to say, though, when Russell Crowe says, "I'm not alone," that's pretty good. I'll bet he took the gig when he read that in the screenplay. If the rest of the script is that sharp this will be a hot rental and be watched by millions year after year on TV.

Just one more thing. How seaworthy is a super long rectangular shaped boat? No keel to keep it upright, no hull that cuts through water. Wouldn't that just capsize or break into pieces in those giant waves? I would think it would capsize in calm water. (I know, Biblically correct and all, but that kind of detail takes me out of movies).

Bottom line: I want to see this because you never know what Darren Aronofsky will come up with. So, curiosity factor will play a role but not with the average theater-goer who doesn't know who Aronosfsky is (you'll notice his name isn't on the poster that came out yesterday. Crowe's name, yes, but not the director's).

I don't think this will scrape up much box office. Play on TV in the background on family holidays, maybe.