MennoMeyjes Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Menno Meyjes is not only back, but he's making a big splash of things. If you don't think you're familiar with his work -- you are to some degree. He's the guy who adapted The Color Purple, his pen had a hand in Empire of the Sun and he helped George Lucas come up with the story for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. He also helped create the story for Ricochet, but I doubt that's as recognizable to you. Me, I am ever-thankful because it saved me from Tom Berenger's Shattered -- the only movie I ever walked out of. Although Meyjes has been out of the spotlight, he is now in post-production on Manolete -- an Adrien Brody/Penélope Cruz film that Martha mentioned last year. Now he wants to use the same format -- U.S. actor and foreign woman -- and move the drama over a little bit to the west.

After heating up with Spanish bullfights, Meyjes is cooling off with some Viking action. Variety has reported that the Dutch, U.K.-based writer/director is now working on Last Battle Dreamer. Set in 9th century England, the film will be the love story between an invading Viking and an English noblewoman. He wants to cast an American as the Viking (Brad Pitt?), and a British actress as the noblewoman. According to Meyjes: "When I moved to England 10 years ago, I was struck by the countryside, how verdant it was and how tempting it must have appeared to invaders, what a ripe piece of fruit it was." Yes, I'm sure there will be "ripe fruit" in the film. Anyway, he continues: "I thought it would be amazing to do a film about a guy who comes from a barren, flinty landscape, and who falls in love with a woman and at the same time with a certain idea of civilization." Now, I already wondered about Brad Pitt in the role, since he wants an American star (otherwise, there are lots of Swedes who would, funnily enough, make good Vikings), but is there anyone else you have in mind? Perhaps Jason Lewis, as he's the right look, but he's probably not enough of a star. And who for the English noblewoman?

Like many of you, I've been a huge John Cusack fan for many a decade. From Better Off Dead and Say Anything to High Fidelity and The Ice Harvest (hey, I liked it), I've been known to enjoy a mediocre flick just because of Cusack's performance *koff* Con Air. (And just wait till you see John go in Grace is Gone!) Having said all that, John's next flick, the sappy-looking Martian Child, looks might it test my well-founded faith in the actor. (It's not just that the movie looks to be extra sugary, but also that there's not one scene in the trailer we haven't seen before!)

Based on the novel by David Gerrold, the movie is about a nice guy who takes a shine to a local "weird kid" who a) believes he's an alien and b) spends most of his time inside a cardboard box. The adaptation comes from a pair of first-time scribes (Seth Bass and Jon Tolins) and writer-turned-director Menno Meyjes, who not very long ago worked with Mr. Cusack on Max. Co-starring in the PG-rated New Line release are Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt and Richard Schiff. Ah, and it looks like John will be reunited with his sister Joan once again. (I believe this marks the ninth time they've appeared in the same movie.) Martian Child opens on June 29; Cusack also has 1408 on the way in addition to the aforementioned (and very excellent) Grace is Gone.