Sometime last year, we reported that an A-Team movie was in the works, and though there was no cast, John Singleton had been attached as director. Well, he dropped out.
But, the project is not dead. In fact, it was just resuscitated by Tony and Ridley Scott, who are producing the take on the popular television show, and now Joe Carnahan is attached to direct, who will also polish the script written originally by Skip Woods (G.I. Joe).
I don’t know how I feel about a movie version of “The A-Team” and, for that matter, I’m not sure I’d ever want to revisit the television show now that I’m older than 10, but I do like the move. Singleton’s approach likely would’ve mined the more cheesy aspects of the show, and rumor had it that Bruce Willis (Hannibal), Woody Harrelson (Murdock), Ice Cube (B.A. Baracus), and Daniel Morton (Faceman) would’ve comprised the cast.
With Carnahan, we can at least expect a more action-oriented, gritty approach, and if you extrapolate from the casts he’s used in the past, then you’re likely to get a cast that looks more like this: Ray Liota (Hannibal), Ryan Reynolds/Clive Owen (Murdock), Common (B.A. Baracus), and Jeremy Piven (Faceman). It’s not exactly the cast you’d expect, but let’s be honest: Anything that’s not what you expect out of this franchise is probably for the best. Where’s the movie version of “MacGyver,” by the by?
Anyway, this one is for the old-timers, if by old-timers you mean those of you over 30:
My sister, who is twentyfucking four, had no idea who Mr. T is, and so I rented season 1 to properly educate her.
The show has.... not aged well. My point is, I'm not as offended by this as I would have been had I not recently seen the show again through grown-up eyes.
That said, if Zach Efron comes anywhere near this franchise, I will put him down.
Posted by: Clee Shay at January 28, 2009 10:58 AM
I have never seen a single episode of The A Team, so I will continue not caring about the movie and instead reminisce about the Mr. T. cereal.
It was delicious.
Posted by: Julie at January 28, 2009 11:00 AM
A-TEAM stands for Adenoid Tuberculosis E-coli Anal cancer Malnutrition. I read that somewhere. Possibly Wikipedia.
Posted by: Audiosuede at January 28, 2009 11:10 AM
They can make it as gritty as they want as long as they don't forget the two commandments:
1. the bullets, missiles, cannonballs etc, shall not kill anyone just ricochet right next to the bad guys.
2. Thou shall show the same clip of an overturning high flying jeep, even if there wasn't a jeep in that particular chase scene.
Posted by: BarbadoSlim at January 28, 2009 11:12 AM
Nobody drives my van, but me.
Posted by: bostonadrianne at January 28, 2009 11:12 AM
Blah, Blah, Blah Ice Cube (B.A. Barracus)
The Fuck?
Blah, Blah, Blah, Common (B.A. Barracus)
No really, the fuck?
When did B.A. become a rapper? We all know that B.A. can and should only be played by Ving Rhames.
Posted by: admin at January 28, 2009 11:17 AM
I'm under 30, and I remember this show. And LOVED it. I don't really care about the movie, though. And I never noticed the Cylon appearance in the credits there. It made me smile.
Fun fact: Dwight Schultz (Barclay!) went to Calvert Hall, a high school right down the street from me. huzzah Bawlmer!
Posted by: lizzieborden at January 28, 2009 11:21 AM
I am not over 30 and I remember it! I haven't watched it in years, but I'm still not sure how I feel about this. As long as they have BA refusing to get on a plane, being tricked into it/knocked out anyway, and Murdoch well, just being Murdochy (he was my fave) then ok. Also, the theme tune. Gotta have the tune.
Posted by: Carrie at January 28, 2009 11:21 AM
Honestly, admin, the way remakes are going these days, I'm just surprised they didn't cast Nick Cannon or the like as B.A.
Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at January 28, 2009 11:26 AM
Heh Cylons.
Also, Mr T can play BA. He basically looks the same and is only in shitty adverts at them moment.
I felt like Prison Break was taking a decidedly A Team-esque turn in the recent series. Bearing in mind I only watched the first three episodes, but you got a group of mismatched peeps on the run from a shady corporation, and I'm assuming those card things they were after involved them driving about in a van, dressing up and creating mad weapons out of cardboard and a plant pot, yes?
Actually if it had done that I might still be watching.
Posted by: Carrie at January 28, 2009 11:28 AM
I'm not sure it's that obvious, admin. What about Tiny Lister (Deebo), Michael Clarke Duncan, or Lester Speight (Terry Tate)?
Posted by: Eep at January 28, 2009 11:30 AM
Jeremy Piven (Faceman).
Come on, that baiting is way too transparent.
The real question is whether or not Nick Frost can rave to this movie.
I don't think Clive Owen will be in this movie. Even for a British actor (because God knows they'll appear in just about anything), I think this would qualify as slumming.
And I never watched the A-Team as a kid, but I did have AWESOME Mr. T lunch bags that said "Time for lunch, Fool!" on them.
Posted by: jimbob at January 28, 2009 11:31 AM
Also, isn't Clooney the obvious choice for Hannibal?
Posted by: Eep at January 28, 2009 11:33 AM
If Clive Owen is in it, it will be awesome.
I don't know. The "80s Television Remake + Good Actors + Gritty Reimagining + Decent Director" equation didn't work out so well for the Miami Vice movie.
But if RyRey is actually cast, I'll be there. In the back row. Masturbating in the dark under a large bucket of popcorn. I always had a crush on Murdoch, and I don't think I can withstand the combined forces of Murdoch's wacky antics and Reynolds' abs.
I've said too much.
Posted by: Clee Shay at January 28, 2009 11:34 AM
I have likewise never seen a single episode of The A-Team.
Ving Rhames? Ahem: may I present, for your consideration, Mr. T himself? It's not like he's dead. It's not like it's a stretch, acting-wise. It's not like he's lactose intolerant. Hell, it's not like he can't use the work, in this economy.
Win-win-potable-win.
Posted by: bostonadrianne at January 28, 2009 11:44 AM
Oh. Hi Carrie.
Posted by: bostonadrianne at January 28, 2009 11:46 AM
I was considering Rhames for a "serious" A-Team movie Eep. If they were to do the fun campy thing any of those three would work. On second thought, not Lister. That guy has no range beyond "What you got on my 40 homie".
He could get away with it in The Fifth Element because the movie was so deliciously ludicrous but beyond that he should stick to Friday and No Holds Barred.
I agree with Clooney as Hannibal, but there has got to be a way that we can fit The Statham in here.
Posted by: admin at January 28, 2009 11:51 AM
You know, the Mr. T pushers may have something. He's really not that much older than Rhames, Lister, and Duncan. They'd all be in their 50s when the movie came out (Rhames is the youngest).
Posted by: Eep at January 28, 2009 11:53 AM
Oh no, I didn't say it would be a good movie. It will probably be very far from that. But, if he is cast, Clive Owen will bring The Awesome.
Right, admin, I wasn't saying Rhames isn't a good or possibly the best choice, I just don't think it's cut and dried.
The 5th Element was hilarious. What happens when the fashion industry makes an action movie in space. Gotta love it. So many actors in there who are awesome without being awesome actors, and then also Ian Holm and Gary Oldman. In fact, how did that movie manage not to have Christopher Walken in it?
Posted by: Eep at January 28, 2009 12:08 PM
I have supreme appreciation for both the A-Team and Joe Carnahan. I believe this has the potential to be good, but it may have everything to do with my obsession with the A-Team.
PissBoy, are you still doing the Cardboard Classic this year?
Posted by: Julie at January 28, 2009 12:18 PM
If Walken were in it he should have been the Madalorian commander. It would have taken home the Oscar for best picture hands down.
I love that movie.
And Mr.T can't play B.A., he can barely play Mr.T anymore.
Posted by: admin at January 28, 2009 12:18 PM
PissBoy, that is the epitome of awesome.
Posted by: admin at January 28, 2009 12:21 PM
Hells yeah I am. March 6th. Predator up in this bitch.
Posted by: PissBoy at January 28, 2009 12:27 PM
Predator?! That is SWEET. What are you building to ride on?
Posted by: Julie at January 28, 2009 12:30 PM
Sure he can, he just has to believe in the ball and throw himself.
Posted by: Eep at January 28, 2009 12:37 PM
If I do the Predator it'll be his spaceship. I may do an Alien costume and build the Nostromo or the Sulaco.
Posted by: PissBoy at January 28, 2009 12:41 PM
Sorry, I understand the fascination with the A Team about as much as I understand the Transformers fetish. I guess I was born about 5 years too early. I think they both suck. Dukes of Hazzard suck.
I have an autographed picture of the A-team somewhere around here...and if I have to I will travel to Hollywood and stab Piven in the guts to prevent him from playing Faceman. Faceman is the pretty boy of the group. You don't replace my eye candy with that balding little rat. Also, Mr. T is the one and only B.A. end of story.
Posted by: s. pisaster at January 28, 2009 12:57 PM
Ooh, the Nostromo, even better. During your descent you should throw a cat at Preston and Steve while singing "You are my lucky star."
Posted by: Julie at January 28, 2009 1:06 PM
Jay, do you mean to point out the grammatical difference between the Dukes of Hazzard County sucking and 'The Dukes of Hazzard' sucking? (If so, I'll take out my red pen!) I suck, You suck, He She It sucks, We suck, You all suck, They suck. Weeee!
Posted by: bostonadrianne at January 28, 2009 1:07 PM
Ohhh, no no no. I just meant that it was hardly necessary to tell Mr. Protoguy that he sucks.
Now, I used to have a t-shirt that said "james suck". James the Manchester band, from their 1994 tour. I had many an argument wearing that shirt. No, not "that's a Primus joke!", oh no, it was grammar fights on the leafy UGA campus. "It's a collective noun! It's saying that Tim, Jim, David, Larry, Saul and Mark suck! Can you dig it?" Yet no one ever said, "Oh, yes, I can dig it, he can dig it, she can dig it, we can dig it, they can dig it, you can dig it!". Not once!
I never saw, or wanted to see, The A-Team, but this gives me an excuse to watch Be Somebody-Or Be Somebody's FOOL! That was the official video of my college tennis team. Anyone who has not witnessed the glory that is Mr. T falling off a chair while trying to play a cello has not lived.
Posted by: Sabrina at January 28, 2009 2:14 PM
You ALL SUCK!
You too, Rowles....or is it, Rowles'?
Posted by: BarbadoSlim at January 28, 2009 2:19 PM
I just got back from getting a check up. My doctor says everything's fine my blood pressure was good seeing as I'm kinda overweight, and my cholesterol level was 148. I got on the treadmill and did a stress test which I'm happy to say Pookie was able to kick his heart rate up pretty high which impressed my doctor. Overall my doctor say's I'm in good shape, but he advises that I should start an exercise program. I'm thinking about joining a gym and hiring a personal trainer, but those personal trainers can be intimidating. I'll keep you guys posted.
Posted by: Pookie at January 28, 2009 2:37 PM
Personal trainers are expensive. See if you can befriend a fitness nut. Also check what 24 hour is offering. I got in on a ridiculous deal where I paid upfront for 3 years of membership @ $20/month, got 5 sessions with a personal trainer thrown in free, and then get to renew for $29 a year forever (or until they go belly-up). My membership is also good at any of their gyms anywhere. And that was about a year and a half ago. I bet they have some sweetheart deals going in this economy.
Posted by: Eep at January 28, 2009 2:59 PM
When I lived in Miami I joined a gym for a very ridiculous amount of money per month which kinda soured me on the whole thing. The people who worked there we so fucking arrogant and unhelpful, it's like they want you to come already in shape. No asshole, I'm paying for you to show me the right exercise form. I had a friend that was a personal trainer but he was just in it for the ladies.
Posted by: Pookie at January 28, 2009 3:18 PM
Greg Kinnear would make a perfect Face.
I'm not sure who I'd like to see as Murdoch - he was just so lovably goofy.
Posted by: Stella at January 28, 2009 4:21 PM
Also, Jonas Blane would be an awesome Hannibal.
Posted by: Stella at January 28, 2009 4:29 PM
Mr. T? Man, I LOVED that show. Never thoguht they'd make a movie out of it, though. So, who do you-all think is going to play Tina?
Posted by: bucdaddy at January 28, 2009 11:32 PM
Hey Pookie, the World Gym near where I live has a pretty good reputation and they have a twenty-four hour access facility separate from the main one. I've seen signs all over town advertising $20 a month memberships. I don't belong to them, I go to a twenty-four hour women's gym (no slobbering men need to watch me work out,especially since I'm in good shape), but I have heard good things about the local franchise.
My sister, who is twentyfucking four, had no idea who Mr. T is, and so I rented season 1 to properly educate her.
The show has.... not aged well. My point is, I'm not as offended by this as I would have been had I not recently seen the show again through grown-up eyes.
That said, if Zach Efron comes anywhere near this franchise, I will put him down.