Hancock (Peter Berg, 2008)

[John Cope]

Yeah but did it look like Cassavetes?

[domino harvey]

Did I mention that there were a ridiculous number of seemingly hidden "innuendos" about sexuality considering the films title.

[moviscop]

^ wasn't in the film, neither was that outfit.

[Antoine Doinel]

Neither was this:

[tavernier]

Heck, this wasn't in the movie either:

[moviscop]

neither was this:



damn she is gorgeous!

[Antoine Doinel]

Saw this tonight and it was frustrating exercise of watching a great concept be so thoroughly ruined by obvious committee. This film has been floating around Hollywood for years under various working titles, attached to various directors and actors and it's a shame that when the time comes to make it, they try and keep everyone's ideas in rather than honing the script. Watching the film you can see the elements of a genre defining comic book film get the edges shaved off into a mass consumption vehicle resulting in a film that doesn't please either camp. As a comic film, the wild shifts in tone (no further evidence is needed than the three opening cuts of the film each with vastly different music), do the film no favors. I can only imagine how awesome this would've been if dropped the tone of the film so something much darker, while retaining the humor (because the film is actually, quite hilarious in parts). As a crowd pleaser, it's completely odd because the lead goes from unlikeable to kinda likeable but his arc -- well there isn't really one. He kinda just goes to being sorta likeable. But it doesn't work, because Berg tries to shoehorn a feel good ending which really doesn't work at all. Also, there are several huge, gaping logic holes that can't be ignored and the film suffers from obvious budget cuts in the form of some terribly rendered CGI. Finally, Peter Berg films the actions so poorly and edits them so haphazardly I fear to think what The Kingdom looks like. Furthermore, his choice to shoot handheld is applied with reckless abandon. Someone please get this guy some dolly tracks or a Steadicam.

This is made all the worse because the cast is great. Will Smith nails Hancock warts on all and still manages to find a way to have the audience root for him. Charlize Theron stands her ground opposite Smith, really making her present felt in the first half of the film even though her best scenes aren't until later (and yes, she is incredibly hot). Even Jason Bateman finds some good moments with a character becomes essentially meaningless in the second half of the film.

I honestly hope they consider a sequel, if only to see this concept tackled again, and given the budget and freedom to do it right.