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You Bawling, Blasphemous, Incharitable Dog!

By TK | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (29)

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As a general rule when it comes to Shakespeare, I’m more of a tragedy guy. Something about his ability to truly peel back the skin and expose the wickedness beneath has always appealed to me for some reason. That said, of his non-tragedies, I’m quite fond of The Tempest, so news that it’s been adapted into a major motion picture was pretty intriguing.

News that Julie Taymor was directing basically made it a must-see for me. I’m already on record as loving her brutally twisted, yet still gorgeous adaptation of Titus, her film debut. Love or hate the film, Taymor has a gift for visuals and style that is simply amazing, and her pull-no-punches vision was near-terrifying. While The Tempest isn’t the violent gorefest that Titus is, it’s still deals with some pretty dark themes — treason, attempted rape, and slavery for starters — but it also has its share of lightheartedness and charm. It’s got great potential in Taymor’s hands.

The cast is an interesting one, and the most controversial choice will of course be that of the lead — Prospero has been changed to Prospera, but before you get your iambic panties in a twist, keep in mind she’s being played by Helen Mirren. I’ve got no issue with that. Additionally, the film stars Felicity Jones, Djimon Hounsou, Alfred Molina, Chris Cooper, David Strathairn, Alan Cumming, and Russell Brand (eek!). Brand aside, that is a fucking beast of a cast. The presence of Cooper and Strathairn in the same film makes me swoon a bit, I admit.

Anyway, here’s the poster. It is, unsurprisingly remarkable and utterly beautiful (particularly that first panel).

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After spending some time in studio purgatory in the aftermath of Miramax’s financial woes, The Tempest has found a home (Touchstone Pictures) and a release date (December 10th).

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Comments

Boi-oi-oi-oi-oing.

Posted by: twig at August 12, 2010 10:36 AM

The Tempest was never one of my favourites from Shakespeare, I'm more of a Macbeth and Much Ado girl myself. However, HOWEVER, Hellen Mirren and Djimon Hounsou!?! *fan girl skreem*

Posted by: Four Eyes at August 12, 2010 10:42 AM

Wow. Caliban looks exactly like Juba.

To borrow (humbly) from an Eminent Pajibette:

I'm not sayin'. I'm just sayin'.

Posted by: Rykker at August 12, 2010 10:49 AM

Is that.....Sting.....in that first image?

Posted by: dammitjanet at August 12, 2010 10:56 AM

don't know what to make of the top third of that poster but the rest is mighty fine

Posted by: splinter at August 12, 2010 10:59 AM

Yeah, this made me make the Noise That Shall Not Be Named. Hard. Because no only do I adore Julie Taymor, I love anything Shakespeare, and I love Helen Mirren, and I love Djimon Hounsou and David Strathairn and freakin EVERYBODY in this damned thing. Except Russell Brand, mostly because he looks like he smells like pickles and bad cheese. Anyway, super excited.

Posted by: figgy at August 12, 2010 11:02 AM

Ditto what Four Eyes said. Macbeth and Much Ado were more my jam (and Julius Ceasar), and what little of The Tempest I know came from an episode of Wishbone. BUT. I'm very excited for the above reasons. (DAVID STRATHAIRN IS IN THIS TOO?!)

Am also very excited to see Ben Whishaw as Ariel. He was my favorite Bob Dylan in I'm Not There.

Posted by: Sefa at August 12, 2010 11:08 AM

Is that.....Sting.....in that first image?

Only if he's reverting back to his Feyd Rautha days, Janet.

That poster is really, really, pretty.

Posted by: admin at August 12, 2010 11:09 AM

That Caliban visual is so stunning... I... I can't look away.

I don't have a Shakespeare preference, so long as I am seeing it / hearing it. I am one of the ilk who don't get the rush from reading it. My eyes are slower than my ears, apparently.

And I lurve Taymor's visual and aural assault. Bring it on.

Posted by: Patty O'Green at August 12, 2010 11:17 AM

Also, IMDB has a few pics, including one of Brand and Molina:
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1833140224/tt1274300

When we did The Tempest, our Propero was played by a (somewhat androgenous) female, and so was Ariel. I really think, given the context, both can go either way.

Posted by: Patty O'Green at August 12, 2010 11:24 AM

But, admin, ya gotta admit, that's pretty much what it looks like!

Posted by: dammitjanet at August 12, 2010 11:26 AM

Oh HELL YES! Costumes by Sandy Powell! Get ready for the pretty, bitches! #highestexpectations

Posted by: Patty O'Green at August 12, 2010 11:30 AM

Also not a huge fan of The Tempest (especially after the Steppenwolf production last year when I was the only person in my row still awake toward the end), but this does look visually beautiful and I am drawn to films I wouldn't otherwise see if I'm guaranteed they will be stunning to the eyes.

Posted by: PaddyDog at August 12, 2010 11:34 AM

Oh, I'm seeing the hell out of this. And I want that poster. Yessir.

Posted by: jM at August 12, 2010 11:36 AM

IAMBIC PANTIES

Posted by: Caroline at August 12, 2010 11:38 AM

Did Djimon get the black burned off of him? Because that's what it looks like in the poster. Either burned...or dried. Like a serious sunburn that is peeling.

Seriously...look at it.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at August 12, 2010 11:53 AM

SQUIRREL!!

Posted by: thenchonto at August 12, 2010 12:55 PM

Oooooohhhh.....I'm interested....

Posted by: Kahntahmp at August 12, 2010 12:56 PM

I read about this the other day in Bust and was intrigued. Now, seeing the poster, I'm quite excited.

Posted by: tamatha at August 12, 2010 1:13 PM

Yeah. It's very, very pretty. The poster gives me hope that they are re-editing some of it to focus more on the good bits. Also, keep in mind that Russel Brand is playing a stupid court jester, basically. They aren't trying to make him do anything deep or serious.

Posted by: That girl at August 12, 2010 1:21 PM

The last Big Will movie I watched was Titus, which was immensely satisfying. And I've had the hots for Helen Mirren since Excalibur and Caligula.

I'm THERE, dudes and dudettes.

Posted by: The Wanderer at August 12, 2010 2:23 PM

Yeah it's Helen and Shakey, I'M FUCKING IN.

Posted by: Nadine at August 12, 2010 3:08 PM

I'll be in my bunk.

Posted by: jthomas666 at August 12, 2010 3:10 PM

I've got a funny feeling the costumes, makeup and hair in this are going to look really dated in about 6 years.

Posted by: BWeaves at August 12, 2010 3:59 PM

Yes. I concur. The image of Ben Whishaw as Ariel is gorgeous.

Yes, Ariel is supposed to be a male fairy. No, I did not want to believe it when I learned that. Yes, he is in great pain as he is enslaved by Prosper[a]. No, I don't know why he's the Ice Queen.

Posted by: Robert at August 12, 2010 4:47 PM

OK - time to reboot Lord of the Rings - with Helen Mirren as Gandalf.

It must happen.

Posted by: Meander at August 12, 2010 7:36 PM

...Chris Cooper, David Strathairn, Alan Cumming...

::spontaneously comes::

...Whew.

::lights cigarette::

How long do we gotta wait to see this?

(P.S. Titus is a spectacular mix of awful and awesome. If you missed it you should rectify your error ASAP.)

Posted by: Jerce at August 12, 2010 8:42 PM

After Titus, I'm sold.

Posted by: Nicolae at August 13, 2010 4:16 AM

WOW... just wow!
... and Dame Helen FINALLY gets top billing! WOOT!

Cannot wait to see the trailer for this -- Decembre 10 is a whole 4 months away!!!

Posted by: ChinaCat at August 13, 2010 6:03 PM