Ready for Takeoff: Final Thoughts on the Upcoming Release

Simply put, and as stated previously both here and in other media previewing the film, there is a tremendous amount of pressure on Man of Steel to be a success.  It goes well beyond a studio (in this case, Warner Brothers) wanting the film to garner enough box office receipts to make a profit from such a high-budget project.  It goes beyond the hope to further line the pockets of stuffy corporate executives who are not seldom, but often, out of touch with the audiences to which they are catering.  Man of Steel's possible success would bring a now 75-year-old beloved character back to cinematic relevance for the first time in decades.  It would also help fix the tragic irony that in a modern era where superhero movies are abundant, in demand and consistently breaking box office records, Superman himself, the original and biggest superhero of them all, has barely even been a part of it, the only exception being the lukewarm-received Superman Returns which released seven years ago this summer and is either looked back upon with deserved criticism or is nearly forgotten altogether.

  
Man of Steel's success may not only bring Superman back to big screen prominence, but may finally welcome his DC Comics friends to the party.  Premature buzz on the film has been positive from both media outlets and the studio itself, and in recent weeks Jeff Robinov, president of Warner Brothers Pictures Group, has hinted toward a big announcement regarding the plans of future DC characters on film.  It is safe to say that such a reveal, however, is contingent upon a huge opening weekend for Man of Steel, as they are now hoping to use the world it created to usher in the hero's Justice League colleagues never before seen on film, such as Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman and Green Arrow.  Such projects, particularly in the case of Wonder Woman and The Flash, are said to have long been stuck in "development hell," but the first possibly well-received Superman film in 30 years may be the only thing that could finally bring them out of it.  A DC cinematic universe launched by Man of Steel, and most likely an eventual Justice League team-up film (a la Marvel's The Avengers), would prove that Warner Brothers Studio is at last able to have confidence in superhero films directed by people not named Christopher Nolan, and may forever change the landscape of the superhero film genre.

Many years ago actor Russell Crowe (Man of Steel's Jor-El), when filming Proof of Life, was approached by an aspiring British actor who had served as an extra in the film.  Crowe being one of the young man's favorite actors, the young man asked him what it was like to be in the profession.  They talked briefly, and two days later, the impressionable Brit received an autographed picture of Crowe's character in Gladiator with the message, "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."  That young man was none other than Henry Cavill, who now dons the red cape as our own Man of Steel.  Years later it is finally time for him to take that single step, to begin that journey.  It is time for Superman to soar to new heights long thought unreachable.  It is time, once again, for Superman to fly.                

First Listen: Hans Zimmer's MOS Theme

There are certain film scores that are ingrained into the public consciousness, ones that are forever associated with the characters and stories for whom they were written.  The accelerating, two-note build of Jaws that warns of danger lurking beneath the water.  The booming trumpets that signal the spectacle and wonder of the space odyssey that is Star Wars.  The strong but playful tones that accompany the archeological adventures of Indiana Jones.  Included among these is the iconic theme to Superman: The Movie, the orchestra's rise into a powerful symphony that introduced Christopher Reeve to the world and helped show to what scale movies of the time were capable of achieving.

In developing Man of Steel it would have been easy, and even expected, for the film's creative team to simply re-use the beloved theme composed over thirty years ago by John Williams (who, coincidentally, wrote all three of the other classic themes mentioned above), to show reverence for what came before and to appease the purists who feel that there are some film scores that simply cannot be topped.  However, just as Man of Steel will provide a modern, fresh take on the superhero, so too will the music that accompanies him.  William's memorable score would be tough for anyone to follow, even for Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer, who was faced with the unenviable task of creating a brand new theme for the last son of Krypton.  However, after hearing the theme (link below), it is certain that he has created something that is fresh, powerful, and of a quality that could possibly even disprove the nonbelievers.  Let's take a listen via SoundCloud.com:

https://soundcloud.com/watertowermusic/mos_poster/s-LYFjd    

Zimmer here has followed an unforgettable theme and has perhaps already created his very own.  The soft piano notes that begin the piece are touching, and unexpected, yet helps introduce the powerful strings and drums that resonate throughout the music.  The intensity continues to build until the explosion of the orchestra at the 2:04 mark, and in those moments its hard for the casual listener to not feel like a superhero.  Zimmer has succeed in composing a theme that is instantly unforgettable, music that defines Superman himself: epic, courageous, and immensely powerful.





     

Superman's Super Cast: The Supporting Players of MAN OF STEEL

To make a film on a grand, epic scale, it often helps to have a cast worthy of the high expectations that come along with it.  1978's Superman: The Movie is regarded as having achieved this feat, compiling a strong team of actors to showcase their talents in a film whose genre had not yet been displayed on the big screen.  This included Gene Hackman (then coming off an Oscar win for The French Connection) as well as Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper and Glenn Ford, all of whom also earned Academy Award Nominations throughout their careers.  This is, of course, in addition to screen legend Marlon Brando's portrayal of Jor-El and a star-making turn for young Christopher Reeve as the title character.  Man of Steel producer Christopher Nolan has said that he was inspired to emulate this type of high-profile casting for his three critically-acclaimed Batman films, which helped lead to prestigious names such as Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman and Liam Neeson filling the films' supporting rosters.

The influence can also be seen in virtually every superhero project since, and next month's Man of Steel is certainly no exception.  The following is a quick rundown of the esteemed supporting cast of the film:

Russell Crowe (Jor-El)
Taking on a role previously played by the legendary Marlon Brando is Oscar-winner Russell Crowe.  The Australian actor, who garnered American attention in 1997's L.A. Confidential, earned three consecutive Best Actor Oscar nominations in the ceremonies held between 2000-2002 (for The Insider, Gladiator, and A Beautiful Mind, respectively), winning the award for Gladiator.  Crowe has since remained one of film's most sought-after actors.

 Ayelet Zurer (Lara Lor-Van)
Playing our hero's birth mother is Israeli-born actress Ayelet Zurer.  While certainly not a household name like the majority of the cast, Zurer featured prominently in 2005's Best Picture nominee, Munich, as well as in Angels & Demons (2009), co-starring opposite Tom Hanks. 

Kevin Costner (Jonathan Kent)
Playing the superhero's adoptive Earth father is Kevin Costner, a mainstay of popular American cinema since 1987's The Untouchables.  A winner of two Oscars for his work in Dances with Wolves (directing and producing), Costner more recently won an Emmy and Golden Globe for his portrayal of William Hatfield in the three-part TV miniseries, Hatfields & McCoys.

Diane Lane (Martha Kent)
With a long film career that began at the age of 13 in the Laurence Olivier-starring A Little Romance (1979), Diane Lane has starred in a variety of film and television projects throughout her career.  Referred years ago by Olivier as the "next Grace Kelly," Lane more recently earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for 2002's Unfaithful.

Laurence Fishburne (Perry White)
The first African-American to portray the Daily Planet's Editor-in-Chief, Fishburne will likely return to blockbuster territory with Man of Steel, after co-starring in all three of the high-grossing Matrix films between 1999-2003.  Like Lane, he has starred in a plethora of diverse films and television throughout his career, which includes everything from children's television ("Pee-Wee's Playhouse") Shakespeare (starred as Othello in the 1995 film opposite Kenneth Branagh), and popular network crime dramas (a recent stint on CSI and currently on NBC's Hannibal).  He is yet another Oscar nominee in the cast, having earned a Best Actor nod for his portrayal of Ike Turner in 1993's What's Love Got to Do With It."

Trailer #3 Unveiled at CinemaCon

Highlighting Warner Brothers' presentation at last month's CinemaCon was none other than Superman, as the studio unveiled the third (and potentially final) full-length trailer for Man of Steel.  With a running time of a little over three minutes, the trailer gave viewers a first listen to Hans Zimmer's powerful new score as well as an impressive glimpse of the super-powered action that was deemed as lacking in previously released footage.  The following is an analysis of the trailer's most memorable insights and exchanges:

Krypton
Not much explicit detail has been shown on film about Superman's home planet, but it's clear that will change with Man of Steel.  The trailer begins with a few soft, somber piano notes as the future hero's father, Jor-El (Russell Crowe) looks hopelessly out at the chaos engulfing his planet, explosions and violence filling the horizon.  Then a quick shot of a flying creature (which looks like something straight out of Avatar) is seen sweeping through the sky, this brief glimpse of Krypton's wildlife likely used to show viewers an example of the majestic, alien wonders of the advanced civilization.  It is likely in these moments that the father chooses to send his infant son, Kal-El, out to a world that, unlike their own, has a chance to survive.  What follows are touching moments of Jor-El and wife Lara (Ayelet Zurer) saying their last goodbyes to their son as they accept their dismal fates and send the boy on a journey that will forever change the faraway planet Earth.

Lois on Assignment
Until now the only footage we had seen of Amy Adams as Lois Lane was a fleeting glance in the previous trailer (see post #2) where she stands in front of Superman and slowly reaches for his hand, appearing either shocked, worried, or both.  In this trailer, however, we see Lois in action while hearing a brief narration from the journalist herself.  The footage gives us a little more insight into elements of the plot, as Lois appears to be investigating a certain elusive man said to be capable of amazing feats.  In one shot she looks to have stumbled upon Superman's Fortress of Solitude, shining her flashlight on some icy tunnels.  It is an interesting glimpse into the plot, as it suggests that her first interaction with Clark Kent/Superman may not be from being saved by him as the costumed hero, or from meeting her new co-worker at the Daily Planet.

Action!
Follower's of the film's development had been long clamoring for some eye-popping action, and this trailer certainly delivers.  Shown in very quick shots that manage to succeed in not giving away too many plot details and accompanied by the rising charge of Zimmer's score, we are shown Superman having to battle the super-powered assaults of General Zod and his followers as well as being targeted by America's military. Explosions, spaceships, and mid-air fighting are rampant, and tell us that we will finally see the volume of action that would be expected of a Superman film.  It is interesting to note that the trailer ends with a few devastating punches from the Man of Steel to his enemies, and was likely shown in this footage to help address one of the most common complaints of the last film showcasing the hero, 2006's Superman Returns, in which he never throws a single blow.

Interview/Friendly Interrogation     
The trailer concludes with the first spoken interaction we've seen between Superman and Lois Lane, presumably after he has allowed himself to be apprehended by the military.  Sitting in an interrogation-type room being viewed by people on the other side of the glass (perhaps to show a reverse in tone to the memorable Batman-Joker scene in The Dark Knight), he explains to Lois that the symbol on his chest is not simply an "S," but is rather, on his home planet, a symbol of hope.  It will thus be interesting to see how exactly Clark learns of Krypton's heritage, and how or to what extent it differs from past portrayals.  The footage here, although brief, shows a strong indication of the chemistry between Henry Cavill and Adams, with the somewhat flirty tone of the exchange suggesting the future relationship of the hero and revered journalist.

Another Classic Villain to Appear? 
Fans have spotted the LexCorp building in the distance as Metropolis is being assaulted, seen at the trailer's 2:18 mark.  Is this Man of Steel's version of the Joker card being shown at the end of Batman Begins?  Will Lex Luther have a cameo in the film, or is this just a hint at possible sequels to come?  Time will tell.

Salute Your General: Michael Shannon as Zod

The upcoming Man of Steel requires star Henry Cavill to perform against thirty years of reverence for Christopher Reeve's portrayal of Superman, as it hopes to give audiences a fresh, modern take on the character.  It also creates a similar responsibility for the on-screen return of the villainous General Zod, played memorably by Terrance Stamp in the first two films of the original franchise.  With Stamp's commanding poise as the vengeful Kryptonian solider and memorable catchphrases ("Kneel before Zod!"), the actor, like Reeve, gave a performance hard to follow, even after three decades.  The Man of Steel crew, however, have perhaps found just the man for the job in Academy Award-nominee Michael Shannon.

Born on August 7th, 1974 in Lexington, Kentucky, Michael Corbett Shannon began his acting career on the Chicago stage, debuting in a production of Winterset at the Illinois Theater Center while also being involved with The Steppenwolf Theater Company, among other acting groups.  1993 proved to be a pivotal year for Shannon, during which he co-founded the city's Red Orchid Theater and made his big screen debut in a very minor role in the Bill-Murray starring Groundhog Day.  Throughout the rest of the decade and into the early 2000's, Shannon appeared in a variety of productions on both stage and screen and gained more mainstream exposure by way of the 2001 films Pearl Harbor and Vanilla Sky, followed by 8 Mile (2002) and Bad Boys II (2003).  Additional appearances with more of Hollywood's best followed, but it was his performance in the Sam Mendes-directed Revolutionary Road in 2008 that emerged as his breakout role, earning him an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor.

In the film, which marked the on-screen reunion of Titanic stars Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, Shannon portrayed John Givings, a man who, despite his well-disclosed mental instability, is able to predict the demise of the couple's troubled marriage well before anyone else.  As so often happens following award-worthy performances, the demand for Shannon has become widespread in recent years.  In addition to roles in films like 2010's Runaways and last year's Premium Rush, Shannon earned high praise from his role in Take Shelter (2011), for which it is believed he narrowly missed a second Academy Award nomination.  He has also starred in HBO's critically-acclaimed series Boardwalk Empire, which itself has become a recent mainstay of the television awards circuit.  His established reputation for playing intense, menacing characters, coupled with his imposing 6'4'' frame, makes it all the more understandable why director Zack Snyder and company sought him for the role of the dangerous and powerful General Zod, and given the images and footage we've seen of him so far (see above for upcoming magazine cover and promotional video for examples), come this June we may all have no choice but to kneel before Michael Shannon.        

Amy Adams, Daily Planet

Dating back to the first half of the 1900s, there have been few female characters as universally recognizable as Lois Lane.  The famously ambitious reporter for the daily planet debuted alongside Superman in the first issue of Action Comics in June of 1938 and has since remained both an essential piece of the hero's lore and a fixture of pop culture itself.  Her seventy-five year history has shown her in an endless variety of media that includes radio serials, a Broadway play, television, five live-action films, video games and a multitude of animated series and movies.  In developing Man of Steel, therefore, the Daily Planet's best journalist was arguably the second most important role for the filmmakers to cast.  A-list Hollywood actresses such as Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway and Rachel McAdams were said to have been considered, but the job ultimately went to four-time Academy Award-nominated Amy Adams.          

Born to parents Kathryn and Richard on August 20th, 1974, Amy Lou Adams grew up in Castle Rock, Colorado very involved in the performing arts.  Throughout her childhood and adolescence she sang in school choirs, served as a dance company apprentice, and performed in dinner theater productions of musicals such as "A Chorus Line" and "Brigadoon."  She earned her first major film role in 2002's Catch Me if You Can, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, and three years later earned her first Oscar nomination with her role in 2005's Junebug.  Despite the rave reviews of her performance, it was her starring turn in the 2007 Disney film Enchanted that became her breakout role, with her character's depiction of a fairytale princess in real-world New York City giving her an outlet to showcase the singing and dancing skills she developed while growing up.

The large mainstream exposure that comes from any well-received Disney film quickly made Adams a household name, and she has since remained a consistent force on the awards circuit, earning three additional Oscar nominations in the last five years, for 2008's Doubt, 2010's The Fighter, and 2012's The Master.  In these and other films during that span she has more than held her own among such Hollywood legends and powerhouse performers as Clint Eastwood, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and others.  With Man of Steel, Adams will become just the third Lois Lane to ever grace the big screen, following Margot Kidder's memorable portrayal in the Christopher Reeve-starring films and Kate Bosworth's rather forgettable turn in 2006's Superman Returns.  While there remains a strong reverence for Kidder's performance of the character in the previous franchise, she was known to clash with the films' producers, and her own personal struggle with her bipolar mental condition failed to provide her with much of a career following her tenure in the role.  Bosworth's performance, like the film itself, failed to resonate with audiences and made her seem miscast in such a vital role.  Adams, on the other hand, with a steadily rising career and consistently award-worthy performances, already becomes the most accomplished actress to ever portray the character well before the film is even released this June, as her turn in Man of Steel will likely serve as among the pinnacles of Lois Lane's rich history in popular culture.

     

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's Henry Cavill!

"As soon as Cavill took on his second audition -- one scene as Clark, one as Superman -- the decision just made itself, and it wasn't just the jet-black locks and a chin borrowed from a comic-book cover." -- Ian Nathan, Empire Magazine, March 2013

Even with Warner Brothers' decades-long struggle to bring Superman back to cinematic relevance, it remains a great honor to anyone who gets to put on the blue suit and red cape, and brings with it a certain set of expectations.  Such a responsibility is now bestowed upon British actor Henry Cavill, who will turn 30 in early May, a month before Man of Steel's theatrical release.  As with any high-profile film project, many actors were tested, but the film's producers saw something in Cavill that told them he was the one to portray both the regal superhero and their interpretation of mild-mannered journalist, Clark Kent.  "There is an innate sort of kindness about him," director Zack Snyder told Empire Magazine's Ian Nathan. "Without him seeming holy, he is able to be kind in a way that feels natural.  That is such a rare quality in the world today."

Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill was born on May 5th, 1983 in the Channel Islands of the United Kingdom, off the coast of Normandy, France.  Growing up he considered further studies in Egyptology, but was more drawn to acting, performing in school plays and eventually landing a major film role at the age of 17, playing Albert Mondego in the 2002 adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo.  Cavill was later cast in other small roles in films spanning the rest of the decade, including Tristan & Isolde, Stardust, and the Woody Allen-directed Whatever Works, and headlined 2011's Immortals, an action film set against the backdrop of Greek mythology.  However, it was perhaps his role as the suave, womanizing Charles Brandon on the Showtime series, The Tudors, that gave him the most acclaim.  Spanning four seasons, his Brandon, friend and duke to Jonathan Rhys Meyers' King Henry VIII, emerged as the only character to appear, other than the king himself, in all thirty-eight of the series' episodes.

Perhaps most intriguing about Cavill's background is found in the career-changing roles on which he narrowly missed out in recent years.  Rumors persist that the author of the immensely popular Twilight novels, Stephenie Meyer, had Cavill long in mind for the role of vampire Edward Cullen, but producers deemed him too old for the part when the movie readied production. The immense popularity of the film (and its four sequels) went on to make Robert Pattinson a household name, and was the second role Cavill had lost to his fellow Brit, following the character of Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.  Cavill was also said to have been a finalist for the much-publicized casting search that led to Daniel Craig's naming as James Bond for Casino Royale to begin the property's post-Pierce Brosnan era.  Around that time, Cavill had also been heavily scouted by Warner Brothers to play, coincidentally, Superman, before Singer eventually decided to go with newcomer Brandon Routh for 2006's Superman Returns, which failed to resonate with audiences and put future films of America's first superhero on hold, that is, until now.  Cavill's casting in this upcoming iteration of the last son of Krypton thus brings with it a redemptive quality, not only giving the actor a potentially great reward for his patience, but also the opportunity to be the face of his own lucrative franchise.

Not taking the opportunity of a lifetime for granted, throughout filming and in these last few months before release, Cavill is said to have been a great ambassador for the role.  He attended last year's Comic-Con in San Diego with director Snyder to promote the film and show new footage, and during production and everywhere since has been happily stopping to chat and get his picture taken with adults and children alike, all enamored with the new superhero standing before them.  In addition, just days ago he became the latest celebrity to join the American Library Association's READ campaign (poster below), helping to show that, even off-screen, he is emulating Superman's trademark nobility and upholding the character's moniker of the Big Blue Boy Scout.  No matter how Man of Steel is received, it is safe to say that, come June, Cavill's life will never be the same, and I'm quite sure he feels that way already.