Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 

Dr. Strange Tagline:
“The Impossibilities are Endless.”


Put on hold in January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is scheduled to be released in the United States on March 25, 2022.
I have my doubts this will be a good as the first film,
but they are still working on it.

Life imitating Art

Waiting … 

‘Lust for Life’ – Actors who played Vincent Van Gogh

“Normal people do not create art.”
― Irving Stone, Lust for Life (the book)

 

Lust for Life Taglines:
THE MOST REVEALING LIFE-INSPIRED STORY EVER FILMED!
(original print ad)
The best-seller comes to the screen…the drama of a man who lived with insatiable passion.
He had a lust for life. Sometimes he was brutal, sometimes delicate—always he lived with insatiable passion!

Over the years there have been many documentaries and several notable Films portraying Vincent Van Gogh.
I’d say this is a daunting challenge for any Actor, but at least 4 of my favorite Actors have made the attempt:
Kirk Douglas (Lust for Life /1956), Willem Dafoe (At Eternity’s Gate / 2018)
Benedict Cumberbatch (Van Gogh: Painted with Words / 2010) and Tim Roth (Vincent and Theo / 1990).
Strangely – though Van Gogh was Dutch, and I’m uncertain that he spoke any English at all? the most notable Film productions are by English speaking Actors: Kirk Douglas (American), Benedict Cumberbatch (English), Willem Dafoe (American) and Tim Roth (English).
These 4 have received Critical praise for their portrayals
and I have not seen any of these films!
I’m going to change that.
But from the outside let’s have a look.

Lust for Life / 1956

Lust for Life (1956) - IMDb

Amazing! Douglas was really able to look a lot like Van Gogh. 
And we know what he looked like from all his self portraits.

Unsure why Douglas tackled Van Gogh,
but he was surely ‘all in’ on the project.
Likely he read the book.

Everybody liked this.

On the Set of Lust for Life : News Photo

Lust For Life : News Photo

Lust For Life : News Photo

Nice work Kirk.

Academy Awards

Best Actor – Kirk Douglas – Nominated
Actor in a Supporting Role – Anthony Quinn – Won
Best Screenplay – Adapted Norman Corwin – Nominated
Best Art Direction (Color) Art Direction: – Nominated
Set Decoration: – Nominated

Golden Globe Awards

Best Motion Picture – Drama – Nominated
Best Actor – Motion Picture Kirk Douglas – Won
Best Supporting Actor – Anthony Quinn – Nominated
Best Director – Vincente Minnelli – Nominated

The Book:

Lust For Life eBook : Stone, Irving: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store
Republished several times.

Book and Movie available on Amazon and likely at your local Library.

Cast Introduction: The New Magnificent 7 … plus One

Cast Introduction: The New Magnificent 7 … plus One.

Cast Introduction: The New Magnificent 7 … plus One

Cast Introduction:
The New Magnificent Seven

As they say: The atmosphere is electric.

But I hate these tuxedo affairs.

DAMN! I just spilt some wine on my boots.

“Oh Hi Mickey”

Rourke. … Everybody is here.

OOP – The lights are going down … better get to my seat.
_________________________________________________________

“Ladeeeez and Gentlemen!!!”
… announces a disembodied voice:

“Introducing your NEW MAGNIFICENT SEVEN !!!

Generous Applause …
Hopeful enthusiasm … tinged with fear.

Mine.

“Reprising the main role of Chris made famous by Yul Brynner …”

“TOM CRUISE !!!”

Brynner - Cruise

Whoa !!! Tom gets some large appreciation.
No problem.
But his selection was already out of the bag.

Tom take a bow … waves … flashes his famous grin.

“Tom’s role by default”, I’m thinking.
He’s good though. Sometimes great.
But the inevitable comparisons with (Yul Brynner)
It’s tough.

“No matter” I mumble, “I think he’s up to it.”
__________________________________________________________

Moving along …

“Ladies and Gentlemen!!”

“Reprising the role of Vin Tanner played formerly by Steve McQueen … “

VIGGO MORTENSEN !!!”

Steve McQueen - Viggo Mortenson

I notice people sitting forward in their seats.
Nodding … yeah … YEAH !
Lots of applause … LOTS.
Viggo is popular.

Viggo looks dapper, casual … salutes.

“VIggo as Vin” I say.
(I think I aced that one)

… 5 to go.
__________________________________________________________

Next …

“Ladies and Gentlemen!!”

“Reprising the role of Britt that was played by James Coburn … “

GUY PEARCE!!!”

James Coburn - Guy Pearce

“OH !”  ”I love Guy.” I hear Spielberg’s wife exclaim.
Steven nods. ”Yes … yes. That should work very well.”

Guy is welcomed … tanned and grinning.

I feel a swell of growing enthusiasm.

Things seem to be working.

But I’m still sweating.
__________________________________________________________

Next …

“Ladies and Gentlemen !!!!”

“Reprising the role of Bernardo O’Reilly which was played by the very popular Charles Bronson … “

WILLEN DAFOE!!!”

Charles Bronson - Willem Dafoe
“Holy Crap !!!” I hear Matt Damon shout … rising from his seat …
“This is gonna be one a hell of a movie!
Wish I was in it”

Willem shakes hands with Tom, Viggo, Guy … waves …

“Yaaa !!! Yeahhh !!!” I yell.
I can’t help it.

A lot of people are standing now …
__________________________________________________________

Next intro …

“Ladies and Gentlemen!!

“Hot, from his role as the Villain in Star Trek ,,, and playing the role of Lee made famous by Robert Vaughn … “

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH !!!”

Vaughn - Cumberbach

*silence* … a gasp or two !!
“Well I’ll be damned !!” says Harrison Ford.
“How the hell did they get him !?”
“Inspired.”

Excited applause arises … Ringing !

Cumberbatch is dapper, unscarved.

… I wasn’t too sure …

“Way to go Ben” !!!
__________________________________________________________

The next intro …

“Ladies and Gentlemen!!

“Reprising the part of Harry Luck that was played by Brad Dexter … “

BRENDAN FRASER !!!”

Brad Dexter - Brendan Fraser

“Wooo hooo” … I hear Sly yelp. “Nice call!”
“Make it sing Brendan!”

Fraser throws his cowboy hat into the crowd.

“YEAH !! YEAH !!”

I can’t believe it …

It rocks !
__________________________________________________________

Next intro …

“And now Ladies and Gentlemen!!”

“The last of the Seven … “

“Reprising the role of Chico that was performed by Horst Buchholz … “

AARON PAUL !!!”

Horst Buchholz - Aaron Paul

Aaron runs onto the stage …

The joy is high.

The SEVEN are complete !!

Everybody’s standing now …
OVATION … !!!

The New SEVEN take a bow …
__________________________________________________________

“And Lastly” … intones the MC, above the din …

… Ladies and Gentlemen …. “

“Reprising the part of the Mexican Bandito Calvera – formerly played by the late great Eli Wallach … “

“ANTONIO BANDERAS !!!”

Eli Wallach - Antonio Banderas

“O My …. Goodness !”
shouts Gene Hackman.
“Way to go Tony !!!”

Antonio has his hair slicked back. Looks a bit shy.
… takes a mock poke from Fraser.

Thunderous applause !!!

___________________________________________________

All is well.
____________________________________________________

“Whew!”

I slump into my chair

“Monsieur JC …?”

I turn.
A waiter hands me a bottle of Canadian Club.
“Complements of Monsieur Cruise.”

The tag reads:

“Mission accomplished”
_____________________________________

I just hope my cheque is in the mail.
_____________________________________

The Magnificent Seven … ??? Casting Robert Vaughn …

The Magnificent Seven …
Casting Robert Vaughn / Lee

Yaughn as Lee
Robert Vaughn as Lee

For some reason i thought Robert Vaughn would be easy.
Kevin Fraser casts Casey Affleck here. Possibly the best choice.
Myself, I perceive Casey as being a bit … well … creepy.
(As per, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007 starring Brad Pitt))
Sorry Kevin/Casey – let’s just call it good acting. Though that would put an interesting twist on the character.

Which raises the point: we really don’t know how the new writers – and the new Director – whoever he is going to be ?? (another huge decision that is even more important than the casting) are going to portray these Characters –
any of them!!
I/we assume they will be somewhat similar to the original movie.
It’s likely.

ROBERT VAUGHN 2

Vaughn as Lee

“Till you lose your nerve. You can feel it. Then you wait… for the bullet in the gun that is faster than you are … ”
~ Robert Vaughn / Lee / The Magnificent Seven

Lee is probably the most complicated Character of the Seven.

Vaughn’s and (Director) John Stuges portray Lee as be-gloved, dapper, dudish, white shirted, articulate gentleman gunsfighter – with a string tie,
who had lost his nerve and his touch.
A washed up gunslinger.

A bit of a tragic figure to be sure … only redeemed moments before his death – a death we sense is somewhat of a relief for him from the torture of the failure that he feels himself to be.
It’s pretty well telegraphed to us from the beginning that Lee will not be one of the Seven who rides off into the sunset.

The part may also call for someone who is not youngish (though make-up artists can do anything these days) , and perhaps somewhat of a cynic … certainly depressed.

So if the remake stays true to form … we may be looking for somewhat of a similar character.
Vin Diesel will not make the list.

ROBERT VAUGHN 3 _________________________________________________________________

No, I’m not casting Di Caprio here either. Leo has already played a bit of an Dandy in two Westerns already:
the horrific The Quick and the Dead (1995) and the equally disgusting Django (yeah, yeah I’m not a Tarantino fan).

Incredibly, I find a rather long list of actors that COULD do this part – and do it well.
I looked over dozens of actors here, Including Gary Oldman. Jeremy Renner, Kevin Costner, Colin Farrell,
Gerard Butler … even Keanu Reeves … ??

Many actors are capable. BUT …
who would be right?
Who is perfect for the role?
That is the question.
Most of them didn’t ring my bell.

Finally …

I always say that when your boxed in … go outside the box.

So it was time to go where no cowboy had gone before …

Casting Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch is one of the new group of emerging film Stars … who can actually Act.
And a man who is heading to the top of the BIll.
In fact, he’s there right now. He’s hot … RED HOT.
But he also fits the role of Lee very nicely.
He has a manner and sophistication mirroring Vaughn’s own sensibilities.
Articulate and intelligent.
But also perhaps lends some depth and qualities to the role that may elevate it – and which Vaughn may have lacked – an intensity to be certain.
I also believe he has a likeability that will draw our sympathy to his plight.
He’s done some Action. Maybe he’d ready to be a cowboy.

He’s great … the gunhand that fits Lee’s glove.

Perfectly.

benedict cumberbatch 8

benedict cumberbatch 2

benedict cumberbatch 1

benedict cumberbatch 7

benedict cumberbatch 3

benedict cumberbatch

benedict cumberbatch 5

benedict cumberbatch 6

Next …

    The Magnificent Seven ??? …
Casting Eli Wallach / Calvera