The Good German
Written by Paul Attanasio
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
USA, 2006
During the mid-2000s, between his exercise in low-budget filmmaking and new modes of exhibition with Bubble, and his big-budget ensemble Ocean’s Thirteen, Steven Soderbergh made a mid-budget return to 1940s style with The Good German.
Announcing the unambiguous Casablanca reference with a mimicking poster, Soderbergh’s black-and-white film is full of classic Hollywood soft-lighting and sinister wartime figures.
The Good German fits squarely alongside two previous Soderbergh efforts in its near-revisionist status: Underneath and Solaris, which are both bold takes on classic source material. Underneath reworks Robert Siodmak’s Criss Cross into a color-gelled suburban world. Solaris is a re-adaptation of Stanislaw Lem’s 1961 novel, moving the film closer to a relationship drama than Andrei Tarkovsky’s famous 1972 adaptation was.
These two films point toward Soderbergh’s willingness to take on and reimagine classic tropes. Though...
Written by Paul Attanasio
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
USA, 2006
During the mid-2000s, between his exercise in low-budget filmmaking and new modes of exhibition with Bubble, and his big-budget ensemble Ocean’s Thirteen, Steven Soderbergh made a mid-budget return to 1940s style with The Good German.
Announcing the unambiguous Casablanca reference with a mimicking poster, Soderbergh’s black-and-white film is full of classic Hollywood soft-lighting and sinister wartime figures.
The Good German fits squarely alongside two previous Soderbergh efforts in its near-revisionist status: Underneath and Solaris, which are both bold takes on classic source material. Underneath reworks Robert Siodmak’s Criss Cross into a color-gelled suburban world. Solaris is a re-adaptation of Stanislaw Lem’s 1961 novel, moving the film closer to a relationship drama than Andrei Tarkovsky’s famous 1972 adaptation was.
These two films point toward Soderbergh’s willingness to take on and reimagine classic tropes. Though...
- 11/12/2013
- by Neal Dhand
- SoundOnSight
By Doreen Alexander Child
Contributor
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Based on the number of stars in the cast of August: Osage County, the big screen adaptation of Tracy Letts‘ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, the film looked like a sure-fire best picture Oscar contender. Some even began referring to it as “August: Oscar County” before anyone had even seen a frame of it. But then the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month, and was met with reviews that one might call very mixed, if one was feeling generous. Some of the performances that it showcases were cheered — particularly those of Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper and Margo Martindale — but the movie itself clearly had problems, with director John Wells even admitting that its ending might have to be changed prior to its Christmas Day release.
This isn’t the first time that a film that looked like an Oscar powerhouse on paper...
Contributor
* * *
Based on the number of stars in the cast of August: Osage County, the big screen adaptation of Tracy Letts‘ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, the film looked like a sure-fire best picture Oscar contender. Some even began referring to it as “August: Oscar County” before anyone had even seen a frame of it. But then the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month, and was met with reviews that one might call very mixed, if one was feeling generous. Some of the performances that it showcases were cheered — particularly those of Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper and Margo Martindale — but the movie itself clearly had problems, with director John Wells even admitting that its ending might have to be changed prior to its Christmas Day release.
This isn’t the first time that a film that looked like an Oscar powerhouse on paper...
- 9/19/2013
- by Doreen Alexander Child
- Scott Feinberg
- Quick Links George Clooney The Belmont Boys White Jazz Leatherheads Michael Clayton Ocean's Thirteen The Good German What do you do if you are an A-list actor and Oscar nominated director? If youâ.re George Clooney, you ride the wave for all its worth and book yourself solid for a couple of years. Clooney currently has 7 projects in production or in the can including the highly anticipated and publicized Oceanâ.s 13. The prêt essential Hollywood â.jack-of-all-tradesâ. is working as producer, director, writer and actor in projects that will take him through to 2009. Coming in 2007 Clooney will star with Renee Zellwigger in Leatherheads for Universal; a romantic comedy with a backdrop of â.20s pro football. Clooney also penned the screenplay and helmed the pic. Also coming in 2007 is Clooneyâ.s next teaming with Oceanâ.s 13 mate Steven Soderbergh in The Good German for Warner; based on a novel by Joseph Kanon.
- 11/30/2006
- IONCINEMA.com
- Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Twelve) and golden boy Clooney’s latest joint venture, The Good German, is set to be released sometime in 2006 through their Section Eight Productions. The Joseph Kanon-adapted novel stars Clooney as Jake Geismar, an American reporter sent to cover the Allied summit meeting that will decide control over post-World War II Germany. However, he is secretly there to find former flame Lena Brandt, played by Cate Blachett (The Aviator). He falls deep into a murder mystery as the body of an American soldier washes up on shore. The black & white film co-stars Tobey Maguire (Wonder Boys) as a man with underground connections who chauffeurs Clooney around town, Beau Bridges (The Fabulous Baker Boys), and Leland “Oh*pant*God, he had a*pant*gun in my*pant*mouth” Orser (Se7en). Clooney also confirmed that he will be re-teaming with Joel and Ethan Coen, the
- 2/6/2006
- IONCINEMA.com
- Out with the old & in with the new… the New Year has finally arrived and the staffers at ioncinema.com are all psyched for the prospects of another eclectic year in film. In our 5-day bonanza, was put together by our panel of 4 (from Canada, the U.S, Europe and Australia). Drum roll please as we give you The Top 50 most anticipated films of 2006! Here are picks 30 thru 50. 31. (tie) Scoop When: Look for this picture to unveil itself at one of the bigger fests – (hint hint Cannes) followed by a possible Holiday release. Who: Woody Allen What: Scarlett Johansson plays an American journalism student visiting London who investigates a series of murders and falls in love with a dashing Englishman (Hugh Jackman). Ian McShane plays a man who eggs her own in her sleuthing and Allen plays a man posing as her father. Why: Welcome to the U.
- 1/12/2006
- IONCINEMA.com
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