|
|
|
|
Wanted (film)
|
| |
|
| |
Wanted is a 2008 action film which is very loosely based on the comic book miniseries of the same name by Mark Millar. The film is directed by Timur Bekmambetov and stars James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Thomas Kretschmann, Terence Stamp, and Angelina Jolie. The storyline follows Wesley Gibson, a frustrated office worker who discovers that he is the son of a professional assassin and decides to join the entity in which he used to work, a secret guild called The Fraternity.
Production began in April 2007, with filming in the Czech Republic to later superimpose the sets on images of Chicago.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Wanted (film)' Start a new discussion about 'Wanted (film)' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
Wanted is a 2008 action film which is very loosely based on the comic book miniseries of the same name by Mark Millar. The film is directed by Timur Bekmambetov and stars James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Thomas Kretschmann, Terence Stamp, and Angelina Jolie. The storyline follows Wesley Gibson, a frustrated office worker who discovers that he is the son of a professional assassin and decides to join the entity in which he used to work, a secret guild called The Fraternity.
Production began in April 2007, with filming in the Czech Republic to later superimpose the sets on images of Chicago. Wanted was released on June 25, 2008 in the United Kingdom and June 27, 2008 in the United States, to both critical and commercial success. On January 22, 2009, it was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing.
Plot
A young man named Wesley Gibson works at a dead-end desk job with an overbearing boss, takes anti-anxiety medication for panic attacks, and has a live-in girlfriend who cheats on him with his best friend. During one of his trips to the pharmacy, Gibson is told by a mysterious woman named Fox that his father was a recently murdered assassin, and the killer, Cross, is behind him. Cross and Fox engage in a shoot-out followed by a car chase in the streets of Chicago. Fox brings Gibson to the headquarters of The Fraternity, a thousand-year-old secret society of assassins. The group's leader, Sloan, explains that Gibson's panic attacks are actually the untrained expression of a rare superhuman ability; when stressed he has drastically increased heart rate and adrenaline levels that result in bursts of superhuman strength, speed and reflexes. The Fraternity can teach him to control this ability, so Gibson can follow in his father's footsteps as an assassin, beginning by inheriting his fortune. Gibson is initially reluctant and returns to work, only to finally snap when discovering his online bank account balance is over 3 million dollars. He tells off his boss in front of the entire office and on his way out, hits his "friend" in the face with his keyboard. Fox is waiting outside to take him back to the Fraternity headquarters - an unassuming textile mill.
Gibson is then subjected to brutal training; among other forms of combat, he learns to curve bullets fired from smoothbore firearms around objects. Afterward, Gibson is shown the Loom of Fate, a loom that gives the names of the targets through binary code hidden in weaving errors of the fabric. Those the loom identifies are apparently destined to cause tragedy in the future; but only Sloan sees and interprets the names that "Fate" wants to kill. Gibson is initially reluctant about killing people. Then Fox reveals that in her childhood, a hired killer burned her father alive in front of her—and said hitman was supposed to be killed by the Fraternity. She considers that preventing such tragedy is now her mission.
After several routine missions and a chance meeting with Cross, in which Cross shoots him in the arm with a deliberately traceable bullet, Gibson becomes impatient and demands to be allowed to avenge his father. Sloan grants his wish, saying that Cross's name had come up on the loom, but then secretly gives Fox a mission to kill Gibson, saying that Gibson's name had come up as well. Analyzing the bullet that hit Gibson, it is discovered that the manufacturer was Pekwarsky, a bullet-maker that lives in eastern Moravia. Gibson and Fox travel there and capture Pekwarsky, who arranges a meeting with Cross. Gibson faces Cross alone on a moving train. Fox steals a car and crashes it into the train, eventually causing a derailment when the train reaches a bridge over a deep ravine. After Cross saves Gibson’s life by preventing him from falling into the ravine, he is shot by Gibson. Before dying, Cross reveals that he is Gibson's real father. Fox confirms the truth and explains that Gibson was recruited because he was the only person that Cross wouldn't kill. Fox then reveals the kill order on Gibson and raises her gun, but Gibson escapes by shooting out the glass underneath him and plunging into the river below.
Gibson is retrieved by Pekwarsky, who takes him to his father's apartment, located across the street from Gibson's old home—Cross was "only a camera-click away", as Pekwarsky states showing the photos Cross kept of Gibson since childhood. Pekwarsky explains that Sloan started manufacturing targets for profit after discovering that he was targeted by the Loom of Fate, and didn't tell the Fraternity members that they were now nothing more than paid killers. Cross discovered the truth and went rogue, and started killing Fraternity members to keep them away from his son. Pekwarsky departs stating that Gibson's father wished him a life free of violence. Gibson, however, decides to take out Sloan after discovering a secret room containing all of his father's weapons and maps. Upon entering Sloan's office after killing nearly every Fraternity member, he reveals Sloan's deception to the master assassins present in the room. Sloan then states that all of their names had come up in the weaving, and that he had merely acted to protect them. Were they to follow the code, every one of them should kill themselves on the spot. Otherwise, they should kill Gibson. Fox, who believes in the code more than anyone due to her own experience, turns on her fellow assassins, and "curves" a bullet that kills every Fraternity member in the room, including herself, but not Gibson. Sloan manages to escape.
Gibson, penniless once again, does not know what to do with himself. While Gibson provides a voice-over, the audience sees a man sitting in front of a computer much like Gibson did at the beginning of the film. Sloan appears and points a gun at back of the man's head. At that moment, the man turns around and is revealed to be a decoy. Sloan is then killed by Gibson using a long-distance untraceable bullet. Similar to the comic, the film ends as Gibson turns to the camera and breaks the fourth wall, saying, "This is me taking back control of my life. What the fuck have you done lately?"
Cast
- James McAvoy as Wesley Allan Gibson: A meek 24-year-old who works in a cubicle, but learns he is heir to a legacy of assassins.
- Morgan Freeman as Sloan: Leader of the Fraternity, and assassin partner of Wesley Gibson's deceased father.
- Angelina Jolie as Fox: One of the Fraternity assassins who mentors Gibson.
- Thomas Kretschmann as Cross: A rogue assassin who has left the Fraternity.
- Common as Earl Malcolm Spellman a.k.a. "The Gunsmith": A professional gunman who trains others to use weapons.
- Konstantin Khabensky as The Exterminator: An expert in explosives who makes bombs and attached them to rats; secretly allied with Cross.
- Marc Warren as The Repairman: An assassin who says he "breaks bad habits" by violently beating people.
- Dato Bakhtadze as The Butcher: A master of knife work to the extent that he can block bullets.
- Terence Stamp as Pekwarsky: A master in the science of killing. Pekwarsky operates as a rogue agent outside of The Fraternity. He is also a craftsman who is able to build bullets both untraceable and capable of traversing long distances.
- David O'Hara as Mr. X: Said to be the greatest assassin and supposedly Wesley's father. His killing catalyzes Wesley's introduction to the Fraternity.
- Chris Pratt as Barry: A co-worker of Gibson, who is also having an affair with his girlfriend.
- Kristen Hager as Cathy: Gibson's unfaithful and bickering girlfriend.
- Lorna Scott as Janice: Gibson's overbearing boss.
Production
Writing
The comic book miniseries Wanted by Mark Millar first attracted the attention of Universal Studios executive Jeff Kirschenbaum, a comic book fan who sought a film adaptation that would be considered a "hard-R" and encouraged the studio to pick up the rights to the miniseries. By 2004, producer Marc Platt set up development of the film adaptation. In December 2005, Russian-Kazakh director Timur Bekmambetov was attached to helm the project as his first English-language film, with the script being written by Derek Haas and Michael Brandt. Millar did not like the first draft of the script. He explained:
Director Timur Bekmambetov said that the film would keep the same characters from the miniseries (which ultimately, did not happen) though the director would take liberty in adapting the comic book's world. In July 2006, screenwriter Chris Morgan was hired to revise the third act of the Wanted script written by Haas and Brandt. Haas and Brandt returned to polish the character of Wesley Gibson, which they had established in their first draft.
Wanted creator Mark Millar saw previsualized footage for the film and said the footage had raised his expectations for the film adaptation. Millar described the first half of the film as being close to the graphic novel, and also said that the film's ending was similar, though it was relocated elsewhere from the setting in the graphic novel. The superhero costumes in the series were also removed, with the exception of the leather attire worn by Wesley Gibson and Fox. Ironically, this had been Millar's intent when writing the graphic novel, although he and artist J. G. Jones had forgotten to. "I wanted them to have those powers and then just wear those costumes for the initiation, but just for one panel. And then I forgot." he said. Millar also stated he would have liked to keep the supervillain mythos that dictates the original comic in the film. Millar was favorable to most changes in the storyline, including the story arc of the Fates issuing death orders in line with the series' original theme of predestination. Angelina Jolie asked for Fox to get killed, considering that "If she was to find out she had killed people unjustly and was a part of something that wasn't fair, then she should take her own life."
Casting
James McAvoy, who had screen-tested for the role early in 2006, was initially rejected because the studio was seeking an actor with conventional Hollywood leading-man looks and physique. McAvoy was later recalled, being considered the "runt of the litter" of those who tested. According to McAvoy, "They [ultimately] wanted someone geeky." McAvoy was cast in the role in October 2006. The Scottish actor, who portrays an American in the film, worked out to improve his physique for the film's action scenes, and suffered several injuries during shooting, including a twisted ankle and an injured knee.
Angelina Jolie was cast in March 2007 after screenwriter Dean Georgaris rewrote the screenplay to tailor the role for her. Mark Millar became much more enthusiastic about the project after learning that Jolie had accepted the role of Fox, saying "the only way they could have got a bigger star to play this role is if they'd hired Tom Cruise in drag." Jolie decided to make Fox seem "distant and unattainable" by having her silent in many scenes. She mentioned Clint Eastwood, who had recently directed her in the film Changeling, as a possible influence for this aspect of her performance.
Common became interested in the role due to both the script and the prospect of working with actors McAvoy, Jolie and Morgan Freeman. Common learned a great deal about firearms as preparation for the role, but said he is not a strong supporter of guns in real life. Konstantin Khabensky, who starred in Bekmambetov's Night Watch, was cast so the director would have a familiar face around. British television veteran Marc Warren accepted to work in the movie because he always wanted to be in a Hollywood blockbuster. Thomas Kretschmann originally intended to pick up the comic series after being cast, but Bekmambetov convinced him not to. He practiced a lot of gun training to "look good and I look like I know what I’m doing". Kristen Hager originally auditioned for Fox, but accepted the role of Cathy, considering it "fun to play".
Filming
Location plate shooting took place in Chicago in April 2007. Several chase scenes, including one with a low flying helicopter, were shot in Chicago over two days, on Wacker Drive along the Chicago River, between Columbus Drive and LaSalle Street. Production moved to the Czech Republic later in May, scheduled for 12 weeks of shooting. Using a former sugar factory in Prague, production designer John Myhre constructed a large textile factory as part of an industrial world, the setting of a mythological environment in which looms create fabrics that weavers interpret as assassination orders. Afterward, filming moved to Budapest, then returned to Chicago in August. The film originally had both an alternate opening and an alternate ending. The alternate opening, a flashback to ancient times describing the history of the Fraternity and the Loom of Fate, is available on the special edition DVD and Blu-Ray.
Eight visual effects companies worked in the movie, with the majority of work being done by Bekmambetov's company Bazelevs. Cars of both Chicago 'L' and European Pendolino trains were built, and were combined with computer-generated models of said trains in the action scenes. Some of the action scenes had the actors practicing free running and parkour.
Release and reception
Wanted was initially set to be released in cinemas on March 28, 2008, but in December 2007, Universal announced it would be moving the release date later to June 27, 2008. Previews started in the UK on June 25. It was also the opening night movie for the Los Angeles Film Festival, in June 19. Wanted debuted in 3,185 theaters and got $50,927,085 on its opening weekend, putting it at second place under Wall-E. Overseas, the film grossed $33 million on its opening weekend, breaking records in Russia and South Korea. Wanted made $134,327,125 domestically and $207,430,122 in foreign theaters, putting its worldwide total up to $341,757,247.
The film received generally positive reviews from critics. As of September 23, 2008, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 73% of critics gave Wanted positive reviews, based on 178 reviews. The consensus, according to the website, was that the film "is a fast-paced, crackling thrill ride tailor-made for the Summer audience." Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 64 out of 100, based on 30 reviews.
Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly encapsulated many critics' views, saying "'Wanted' is kind of unintelligible and idiotic. Also kind of nasty and brutish. And also undeniably kind of fun..." Likewise, Tom Long of The Detroit News said, "Wanted may be the most absolutely stone bonkers, crazy-good movie of the century. Or it may be a gargantuan piece of trash. Chances are it's a combination of the two. But man, does it rock." Claudia Puig of USA Today found the "thrilling stunts and hyperkinetic action scenes [to be] the undisputed stars of this surprisingly entertaining film." Conversely, John Rosenblatt of The Austin Chronicle denounced those same attributes, saying, "If Maxim magazine ever decides to branch out into filmmaking, Wanted is just the kind of ear-throttling nonsense it's bound to produce," and David Fear of Time Out New York called it "the cinematic equivalent of an energy drink. The film keeps artificially pumping your adrenal glands with mindless, malnutritional sensations, only to leave you crampy and cranky minutes later. ...[T]his exercise in ultraviolence then insults us by having a beaten, bloodied McAvoy inform viewers that he used to be a loser 'just like all of you.'" Frank Lovece of Film Journal International, one of few mainstream critics to have read the comic-book miniseries, said the film compared poorly with the source material. Noting that the hero in the comic goes even further, "breaking the fourth wall and positioning himself so that he's 'prison-raping' and taunting the reader for having liked the series," Lovece found that, "While Millar may have contempt for his readers — and, by extension, the medium in which he works — at least he has his own vision, and gets it across with style and wit" that the movie lacked. Roger Ebert of Ebert & Roeper said "'Wanted' slams the pedal to the metal and never slows down. Here’s an action picture that’s exhausting in its relentless violence and its ingenuity in inventing new ways to attack, defend, ambush and annihilate," while Richard Roeper said, "It’s made for fans of films that really just want to see some great visuals, some amazing sequences and some terrific performances."
In the comics press, Erik Amaya of Comic Book Resources said, "The film's biggest faults lie in how far it strays from the source," and that, "If you've ever seen any movie about leather-clad assassins, you already know how this film plays out. The speed and skill of the movie-making balance out those faults, however." Tom McLean of Newsarama noted that while the story deviated strongly from the source, the movie "stands out as a highly entertaining action film that preserves the comic's core premise and cheeky attitude while taking the story into very different but still satisfying territory."
Among European critics, Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian said, "It looks as if it has been written by a committee of 13-year-old boys for whom penetrative sex is still only a rumour, and the resulting movie plays like a party political broadcast on behalf of the misogynist party," concluding, "In an ideal world, the title would have the word 'Not' tacked on to the front."
The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, for Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing; the Critics Choice Award for Best Action Movie, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble.
Russian localization
Given the Russian origin of the director, Universal released a specially localized version in Russia. The literary translation of the English dialog was written by the writer Sergey Lukyanenko. Several texts appearing on the screen and important for the plot were translated via CGI, without using subtitles or a voice-over translation. Several famous Russian actors, most of which were also in Bekmambetov's Night Watch and Day Watch, dubbed the main characters, and Konstantin Khabensky dubbed himself as the Exterminator. James McAvoy also provided some words in Russian for Wesley Gibson. Danny Elfman's song "The Little Things" received a version in Russian, performed by Elfman himself, and Bekmambetov also directed a music video for the band Delta as part of a viral marketing campaign in Russia.
Home video
Wanted was released on DVD and Blu-Ray in December 2, 2008 in the U.S. This includes a single disc DVD, and two-disc edition of both DVD and Blu-Ray. A collectible 2-disc gift-set DVD also included a photobook of the Assassins, collectible postcards and a lenticular film cel in an acrylic frame. The DVD debuted at second place on the charts (behind The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian), and generated over $65 million in revenue as of February 2009. The Blu-Ray debuted at first place on the charts.
Merchandise
Soundtrack
Danny Elfman was invited to do the score, and accepted because he was a fan of Timur Bekmambetov's previous films, Night Watch and Day Watch. Considering the film to be a "weird, twisted, sarcastic thing," Elfman decided to make a guitar-based soundtrack, with the "nastiest sounds" and a "heavy metal approach."
The main song that features throughout the film and as the credits roll is a rock song written and performed by Elfman called "The Little Things". Initially, it was just a guitar riff, to which the producers first asked Elfman to add a beat, and then some lyrics. Then, while Elfman was in London scoring Hellboy II: The Golden Army, he received a call from Bekmambetov, asking him to make a full version of the song. "The Little Things" also received a version in Russian.
Also featured twice in the film is the song "Every Day Is Exactly the Same" by Nine Inch Nails. Played for comic relief after the initial car chase is the song "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" by Rupert Holmes, and "Time to Say Goodbye" by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman plays while Fox and Wesley kill a man in a limousine.
Track listing
- "The Little Things" - 3:26
- "Success Montage" - 3:32
- "Fraternity Suite" - 3:28
- "Wesley's Office Life" - 5:15
- "The Scheme" - 1:44
- "Fox In Control" - 2:16
- "Welcome To The Fraternity" - 4:28
- "Fox's Story" - 3:29
- "Exterminator Beat" - 2:52
- "Rats" - 3:28
- "The Train" - 3:59
- "Revenge" - 4:33
- "Fox's Decision" - 2:29
- "Breaking The Code" - 1:21
- "Fate" - 1:46
Video game
A video game, titled Wanted: Weapons of Fate will be released in March 2009. Developed by GRIN and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, it is not an adaption of the movie, but a follow-up, taking place one hour after the movie ended.
Sequel
Director Timur Bekmambetov is planning a sequel to Wanted with the studio, though creator Mark Millar has denied that he will write a sequel to the comic book. He is instead creating a story along with the producers. In November 2008, screenwriter Chris Morgan was penning a screenplay to follow the first film and reported to MTV that Bekmambetov and Universal Pictures were negotiating a deal to film the sequel. Terence Stamp described Pekwarsky as "something that’s written for a sequel", and Common expressed interest in a prequel, considering that both the Gunsmith and Fox deserved more exposition.
External links
|
| |
|
|
