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How do Freeman/Spacey sign on to a movie this bad?

posted 18 years ago by TheScottishShark
7 replies | jump to latest

I saw this film on the shelves at Blockbuster the other night, and had never heard of it, which surprised me because two of my favorite actors, Kevin Spacey and Morgan Freeman, are in it.

I went home and looked it up, and haven't really seen any intelligent posts that compliment this movie at all. Seems like it's downright awful. I'm not against seeing it, I just don't want to be disappointed.

So, here's my question: Both Freeman and Spacey are some of the best actors of our time, and both signed on to a script like this? Okay, so Freeman isn't the most selective when it comes to his work, but his recent work has been pretty good. Since Spacey has come to stardom, he's really only taken top-notch jobs.

In the movie store, my thought were, "Freeman and Spacey? Well sure it can't be that bad..."

At any rate, discuss...

[–] annakillick 18 years ago

Kevin Spacey is prob one of my fav actors and he just wasn't used to his full potential in this or given a clear role - we didn't even really get to the bottom of who he really was.

I'll give JT a break as it was his first-ish movie. It was pretty weak but he's learning - I don't think he was cut out to be an actor.

Morgan Freeman looked like he didn't really want to be in the movie. I mean it's not Academy stuff is it?

But it was reasonably entertaining if not just to see all those actors interact. I think there was like a clash of actors in that movie. A lot of good ppl who didn't fit well together not helped by the newcomer JT.

LL Cool J was a little stiff, but he didn't overact which can sometimes be better than underacting :)

I agree than Dylan McDermott was the most convincing - it's like he really believed the story and got into the script - I think the others let him down a bit.

I never find that guy who played Tilman very convincing in anything but actually when he's interviewed afterwards that's just how he is - you realise he's sorta being himself on the movie which is kind of nice - natural.

Thanks for your time :)

[–] Shellou 18 years ago

I don't know about Freeman, but I think I read somewhere that Spacey did the movie as a favour to the writer David Burke.

David Burke wrote for the TV series Wiseguy which Spacey credits with getting his film career started.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Gornky 17 years ago

I thought Elwes did good along with Spacey and Freeman

Movie sucked though

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[–] SereneChaos 17 years ago

I happen to love this movie. I think everyone did an excellent job, and I'm convinced anyone who thinks the only people who did well in it are those mainly known for acting in well received films is unfairly prejudiced against Justin and LL. LL may act mainly in those hyped up action flicks with little plot, carried mostly by the weight of how many explosions or fight scenes they contain (and therefore only do well for a short while with people wanting a temporary bit of somewhat corny excitement), but that doesn't mean he can't act. As for Justin, he really is a fine actor, even if it isn't his main thing, and that showed in his first role.

As for Freeman and Spacey's reasons for appearing in the film, judging from the making of type thing on the DVD, what they've both said about their experiences working on the film, I'm thinking they both felt the film had promise as something interesting, a privilege to be a part of.

"Somebody help! I've been kidnapped by a monster trying to relate to me!"

[–] Earl2000 16 years ago

The movie was truly THAT BAD...cable TV movie thriller stuff. It started out watchable enough, but crashed very, very quickly. Timberlake did give a pretty awful performance, and Spacey and Freeman were just sleepwalking. Geez...Cary Elwes, John Heard, Dylan McDermott...thats a lot of wasted talent.

Freeman does a lot of mainstream B-grade action fare (such as Hard Rain, Chain Reaction and the wretched The Contract), but Spacey's presence was pretty baffling. He doesn't do this kind of genre often...and Edison Force may have just scared him back out of it!

[–] AlexJohan (390) 4 years ago

Kevin Spacey was a friend of writer / director David J. Burke.
David J. Burke came to KS with the script and KS liked it. He signed on for a Cameo. KS than managed to secure Morgan Freeman for a cameo as well.

Now David J. Burke had a script, 2 bankable actors onboard and the film was put into production + casting + budget.