If you need to read something to feed the reed that is your mind and not just any screed will plant the seed, maybe you can hire...the J Team!
But that's another story, one you will see evolving on a continuing basis only on this blog (Facebook, too, but here's where you come for the REALLY A-List stuff). Truly. My name is Junius Stone, I do movies (I do lots of stuff, but right now, we are focusing). This blog will be about movies, movies, movies. And we won't play here, this is for the movie FAN of distinction. We use words like "ouvre" here. We also use words like "boobs" here. We, meaning "I", celebrate movies from all myriad sources, no snobbery and no mercy. Hollywood, indies, grindhouse, old silent film, even those little flip books, I'll probably get around to them, too. It's a cinematic free fire zone and I'm bringing the hi def artillery.
And speaking of artillery, this seems to be the year, the summer that they bring back the 80s style testosterone laiden spectactle for manly men, the action movie. Unapologeticaly violent and at least a little politically incorrect in it's embrace of big guns and (if done right) hot women, the best ones don't forget they are there to sell a story, and among the bullet ballets, will supply some story depth, some character layers and especially some witty dialogue, rat-tat-tatting alongside the bursts of bullets. And it seems like they are on target, old school. We had a good start with that adaptation of The Losers, the DC Comic of espionage, betrayal and good old fashioned blow 'em up. Stallone returns later this summer with a veritable whose who of action icons in The Expendables. Providing the middle layer of this action sandwich is a remake of the Steven J. Cannell 80s action comedy TV series, the A Team.
Every week, the A Team, composed of Hannibal (George Peppard, RIP), BA Baracus (Mr. T), Faceman (Dirk Benedict) and Howling Mad Murdock (Dwight Schultz) got together, took up for the downtrodden little guy being hassled by some thugs, built some crazy gadgets and dodged more bullets than GI Joe (animated series). It helped if you remembered that the show was NOT primarily an action show, but a comedy. It was lighthearted and fun, propelled by devil may care adventure, daring dogooderism and well-stirred buddy chemistry. BA was the badass with a soft creamy center. Face was the smooth operator. Murdock was the wild card and Hannibal was the conductor of this insane symphony, loving it whenever one of his plans came together. Four seasons the A Team did their thing their way, until the inevitable ratings slip. A format change and a more gritty approach could not save the A Team from an abbreviated fifth season and cancellation.
Despite the end of the show, it was clear that though the A Team's exploits could no longer be witnessed weekly, they had blasted their way into the hearts of America, digging a foxhole in the cultural zeitgeist that would refuse to to give ground to the assault of time. A Team references could be seen cropping up in other TV shows, movies, music, comics, etc. And EVERYONE knows who they are, and not just those who grew up with the show, watching it in prime time. And since Hollywood has been in nostalgia mining mode for quite a long time, a movie was inevitable.
I mean, let's be serious, if Car 54, Where Are You? can get a movie, any TV show can, right?
So the A Team on the silver screen, fait accompli, God wills this. But would it be a creation intended to do justice to the original fun soup recipe that was the A Team? Or would it just be cheap junk, gristle, intended to starve the moviegoing public with empty cinematic calories? Would those on the film "get" what made the A Team such a cultural icon and know how to bring it to a modern audience, intact, yet updated?
*picture bullets spelling out names, go with me on this*
COL John "Hannibal" Smith-originally played by the legendary George Peppard, brought this character to life with charm, grit and charisma that just seemed effortless. Liam Neeson, veteran actor himself with plenty of the above and more besides, was tasked to breathe new life into the Team's fearless leader. Could he bring the plan and the team together?
LT Templeton "Faceman" Peck-Brought to life by fan favorite Dirk Benedict, who had established his own well known mode for playing charming, loveable rogues. Obviously, you would need someone who could do streetsmart heartthrob with wit and heart. Bradley Cooper was given this assignment to win and steal hearts.
Sergeant Bosco "BA" Baracus-Mr. T immortalized this brawling badass with a heart of gold and a love of children. And he did it like he did his other roles he got in the era, by pretty much playing a version of himself. "Rampage" Jackson, a veteran MMA fighter but newbie actor was tasked to put this role in a submission hold. He had to muscle his way into doing BA without looking like he was doing a Mr. T impression, as everyone agreed that this would be doomed from the start.
CPT "Howling Mad" Murdock-Finally, Dwight Schultz originally put his straightjacket on the crazy/crazy like a fox team pilot (a common plot point was busting Murdock out of the looney bin each ep). Schultz took to this role with insane abandon (he once described the character as someone he would like to be if he was more of an extrovert sort). Sharlto Copley, fresh off of District 9, shows an amazing chameleon-like acting style, plunging into the mad genius of the character of Murdock, bringing laughter with almost every scene.
Joe Carnahan was hired to bring this plan together. Like his fellow director Guy Ritchie, he had cut his teeth on crime noir films. He had to take his strengths developed in his prior films and adapt to the A-Team. The A-Team isn't noir and can't be treated like that. However, some of it's goofiness needed to be excised, but still keeping enough recognizable charm that made it uniquely the A-Team and not just another exercise in action excess. It had to put in just enough grit, but still have it's over the top mania that has you rolling your eyes even though you are hanging on for the ride, loving every minute of it.
So...did this plan come together? Old school fans will LOVE seeing their old friends back again. They are there, they are recognizable. Many of the old tricks from the show get a new lease on life, and we get more besides. They take the old "Lynch" character and give him a thorough remake as the Team's determined pursuer.
And I like Jessica Biel, she's hot, she can act, and you can use her any time.
I would.
Gladly.
My grading scale? Using a geek scale of 1-10, 8 geeks overall, with two abstaining because Mr. T didn't make a cameo.
Sorry, kids.
The A-Team. Good summer cimema action, remembering an explosive time on TV.
No cabbage cannon, but there's always the sequel...
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