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Iron Man
by beau Smith
Superhero films based on comic books have been around dating back to the 1940’s in the form of serials and stand-alone films. We’ve seen Batman, Superman, Captain America, Blackhawk and Flash Gordon just to name a few. It wasn’t until the 1960’s with the surge of The Batman TV show that we saw Hollywood really try and put some money behind making well-known comic book characters come to life on the screen.
Please note that I said money and not much thought.
The guideline of thumb in Hollywood has always been insert the flavor-of-the-month, young actor in the role of the hero OR make a big deal about the search for an unknown and make him a star. A small version of this kind of thinking is shown in the comic book fan magazine, Wizard with their Casting call feature that they run from time to time. It rapidly dates itself by merely picking actors that grace the pages of people magazine and the like and then suggesting them for the actors to play the character of your choice. If you check you’ll see that they even picked The Olsen twins to play multiple roles from time to time. like I said, it’s the Hollywood way on a much smaller scale.
With the release of the Iron man movie, that mold has been broken. After seeing the film I have to say that someone very smart and very brave (Sarah Finn & Randi Hiller) took the time and the innovative chance to cast Robert Downey, Jr. in the lead role of Tony Stark/Iron Man. I’m quite sure they had to fight to get him placed in that role because “the suits” at the studio probably thought at the age of 44, Downey was too old to play a genius, weapons designer and inventor. After all, we all know that those men in real life are like… 22 years old… riiiight.
Casting Downey was brilliant. He has the best aged look to be taken seriously, he’s a terrific actor with a full range and, best of all, he knows how to bring a sense of humor to the character, something that Hollywood typically reviews the top or under the bar on. recent comics are just as much to blame. When you think of wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, Captain America, or 90% of lead superheroes, you’ll rapidly find that you won’t remember the last time any of these characters made you smile with an exhibition of anything resembling a sense of humor. even when you’re saving the world there’s always going to be a little humor.
Tales of Suspense #46
Downey as Iron man is able to walk that tightrope to perfection so that you see his character progress and change within the allotted time of the film. It’s a natural progression that makes sense and is as reasonable as it gets, considering he can wear a modern metal suit that flies and shoots rockets. He takes the character of Tony Stark and makes him work. He has likeability, defects and makes them work to create a layered character.
Director/Actor Jon Farveau gets a substantial amount of credit report in this as well. He knows how to make a comic book work on the screen. He knows how much can be made believable and how much to pull back on. He takes a very humanistic view to making films and working with actors.
Downey isn’t the only actor in the film that makes the most of their role. Gwyneth Paltrow is finally in a film that a true mass-market audience will see. She has acting chops, there’s never been any doubt about that, but finally she gets to show a broad audience how to use those chops to make a superhero film work. She does it without making all the liberals yell that she is just another damsel-in-distress or another hero’s girlfriend role. She does it where she doesn’t disappoint the mainstream crowd by being some stringy, “I’m a major actress” whiner. I’m saying she made everybody happy. That’s hard to do.
Jeff Bridges wears his experience like a subtle badge of honor in his role as Obadiah Stane. He’s sinister without twirling a mustache. He’s smart without saying “Look how cleaver I am!” (Kevin Spacey/Lex Luthor) getting Bridges for this role was a real coup. My only complaint, if you want to call it that, is Terrence Howard as Jim Rhodes. He wasn’t really given that much to do and he wasn’t very engaging in the role. My guess is he was cast because he is a darling with the studios and critics at the time. My casting for Rhodes would’ve been Lennie James of the TV show Jericho fame. I think he would’ve not only nailed the role, but really built something on it. That’s just my opinion, nothing more. Howard did a fine job, but he wouldn’t have been my first choice. I guess he’s no longer the studio’s choice now as Don Cheadle has taken the role for the next Iron man movie.
By the way, did you know that Peter Billingsley, former child actor (Ralphie) from A Christmas story was in the film as the character, William? good to see him here. good touch.
I think I can say that Iron man is the best mainstream superhero film I’ve seen to date. technology has finally made it so that the character of Iron man could be put on the big screen and done in the way it is worthy of and makes it look real. I don’t know if I’m in the minority on this, but I think the mistake with both the Ang Lee Hulk film and the new Louis Leterrier/Edward Norton version is that they made the character of The Hulk CGI. I think that’s one of the problems with the character. each time you see him on screen you go from being in a real world film to a video game. technology just hasn’t gotten to the point where it can duplicate a near human looking character right… yet. Robots and monster, yes, but a human character, no. I know I should be in a minority, because I have no desire to see Avatar. Again, it looks like a video game to me and the characters just look unreal and creepy. getting back to the Hulk for a second, we’ll see what the rest of the paying public thinks soon enough. I think there are lots of big, hulking actors out there that could play the role and make it much more realistic. (If you consider a seven-foot, one thousand pound green man realistic.) There are talks best now about the next Hulk movie. That’s just my opinion. I could be right.
Iron man 2 poster
I’m looking forward to seeing what’s finished with the second Iron man movie. The trailer I saw looks like they are picking up the fun best where they left off. know that I’ll be seeing it as soon as it comes out. I only wish that my buddy Don Heck was still alive to see all this. I think he would really delight in it.
Beau Smith
Your amigo,
Beau Smith
www.flyingfistranch.com
beau@flyingfistranch.com