204 replies to this topic

[steveuk]

River Phoenix's Last Film 'Dark Blood' to Debut at Film Festival in September

Dutch director George Sluizer has finally finished Dark Blood, the movie actor River Phoenix was working on when he died at age 23 of a heart attack on Halloween night 1993 outside the Viper Room in West Hollywood.

Sluizer will present the film for the first time at the Netherlands Film Festival in Utrecht in September. It will compete for the festival's Golden Calf award. The Sept. 27 premiere will be in front of a special guest audience.

The Hollywood Reporter first broke the story last year that Sluizer was finishing the film he abandoned nearly two deacdes ago. The 80-year-old director secured postproduction and editing financing to complete the film from the Netherlands Film Fund as well as some cash via Dutch crowdfinancing site Cinecrowd.

Dutch production house Eyeworks helped Sluizer navigate the legal issues surrounding the film. After Phoenix's death, Sluizer confiscated the Dark Blood footage and took it back to the Netherlands. He kept it hidden, fearing, he said, that it otherwise might have been destroyed.

In the film, Phoenix plays Boy, a young widower living on a nuclear testing site in the desert.

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Dark Blood also stars Judy Davis, Jonathan Pryce and Karen Black.

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http://www.hollywood...-357228?amp

[Rory Abel]

Why would it have been destroyed?

[Chris D]

That's what I was curious about. I wonder what the legal issues surrounding it were.

[stephanie familiar]

[Rory Abel]

Having worked for Lee Daniels it still blows my mind that he was nominated for an Oscar. His first film was atrocious and I suspect this one will be too.

[Paul F]

Having worked for Lee Daniels it still blows my mind that he was nominated for an Oscar. His first film was atrocious and I suspect this one will be too.

It got some terrible reviews at Cannes.

[steveuk]

That's what I was curious about. I wonder what the legal issues surrounding it were.

Without knowing for sure, I suspect that the original insurance claim on the film was based on the idea that it wasn't possible to finish the movie.

The director clearly disagreed and was possibly concerned that someone might settle the issue by destroying the negative?

[steveuk]

Looks like good acting, but a bit silly in places.

[David Meadows]

I saw the Dredd trailer before Batman. It left me surprisingly uninterested

I also saw the Superman trailer. I will admit I am intrigued. But I missed the proper Superman music

Umm... there was another cool trailer too but now I completely forget what it was...

[Robert B]

The Total Recall film is getting destroyed by critics. Too bad.

[Rory Abel]

Looks like good acting, but a bit silly in places.

Seems to be intentionally silly in places though.

[Steve Sensible]

The Total Recall film is getting destroyed by critics. Too bad.

But no surprise. Len Wiseman only makes crap.

EDIT: Hah! Currently running at 15% on Rottentomatoes.

[brucegray666]

Umm... there was another cool trailer too but now I completely forget what it was...

Sounds like that trailer did a really good job then.

[David Meadows]

The Total Recall film is getting destroyed by critics. Too bad.

Oh yes, that was the one I forgot.

Actually looked pretty good.

But evidently not terribly memorable

[Jim Ohara]

The Total Recall film is getting destroyed by critics. Too bad.

Colin Farrell really shafted his career, didn't he? If not for In Bruges he'd be done by now. He needs to fire his agent before it's all over for him.

[steveuk]

There was a scene in 'Entourage' a few years ago where Ari made the argument that Farrell was a good role model because he kept acting like a star, and getting offers, despite making a succession of unsuccessful movies.

His career, in terms of him getting movies roles and getting paid, is fine. I don't know how he does it, but he's still a star.

[Trevor Robertson]

There was a scene in 'Entourage' a few years ago where Ari made the argument that Farrell was a good role model because he kept acting like a star, and getting offers, despite making a succession of unsuccessful movies.

His career, in terms of him getting movies roles and getting paid, is fine. I don't know how he does it, but he's still a star.

This is very true. I think Farrel is a great actor that has landed leads in crappy movies; but for whatever reason I don't feel like the public views him as a "has been."

And Fright Night was brilliant.

[steveuk]

This is very true. I think Farrel is a great actor that has landed leads in crappy movies; but for whatever reason I don't feel like the public views him as a "has been."

And Fright Night was brilliant.

Oh I wouldn't say that, but the problem wasn't Farrell.

Maybe THAT'S his secret? He continues to be good in bad films and can walk out of the wreckage without too much damage?

[Rory Abel]

Oh I wouldn't say that, but the problem wasn't Farrell.

Maybe THAT'S his secret? He continues to be good in bad films and can walk out of the wreckage without too much damage?

Possibly, the reviews have said that he's quite good in Total Recall.

Edited by Rory Abel, 02 August 2012 - 06:51 PM.

[Steve Sensible]

Ehhh... why bother coming up with an original poster?