The story of Hollywood’s greatest disaster
(Credits: Away/Relative Media)
Naturally, for every great movie Hollywood rolled out of its glittering production room, there was an equally terrible work of cinema coming out the other end. Perhaps few have been as disastrous as the 2013 anthology comedy Movie 43a bold project with an incredible array of talent attached.
The film consists of fourteen different stories, each helmed by a different director, including Peter Farrelly, Elizabeth Banks, James Gunn, and Bob Odenkirk, and starring the likes of Halle Berry, Gerard Butler, Richard Gere, Hugh Jackman, Emma Stone, Uma Thurman, Kate Winslet. , For example but not limited to, Movie 43 It should have been a quality piece of cinema, but the result was quite the opposite.
The film was conceived by producer Charles B. Whistler, who spent nearly a decade finally turning the project into actual production. It was filmed over the next seven years after an equally difficult casting period. It was rejected by several studios before it was acquired by Relativity Media, Whistler noted in an interview with Hollywood Reporter“They looked at me and said, ‘Do it.’ It takes a lot of balls to make something funky.
Whistler essentially wanted to replicate the location of the comedy Funny or die In film form while also acknowledging that there were ambitions to create a “a Kentucky Fried movie “For the modern age.” What followed was an attempt to satirize contemporary life, with sketches ranging from Whistler’s take on increasingly ridiculous cinematic ideas across Hollywood to physical disfigurements, homeschooling, online dating, the modern obsession with beauty and health, and everything in between.
While cast to Movie 43 It was truly impressive, with several other stars turning down the project, with Whistler admitting that it likely would not have been made had his friends not agreed to the offer. Hugh Jackman was the first actor to decide to take part, although he admitted it was a “cruel” move. Meanwhile, James Gunn agreed to participate after being persuaded by Elizabeth Banks, although he never saw the finished film.
Richard Gere had done his best to get out of the project, but having already spent over a decade making the film, Whistler and Peter Farrelly were willing to wait as long as it took to make things work with their multiple actors. Fortunately, Colin Farrell stepped back early, leaving Gerard Butler to play the genie. When George Clooney was asked if he wanted to play a version of himself who was bad at talking to women, he replied: “No way.”
Movie 43 It may have just come out the other side of production as a decent showcase for Hollywood talent. Instead, it arrives as something akin to a party that’s already starting to end, and which no one really wants to go on anymore, despite the continued enthusiasm of its hosts. Still, the film was one hell of an ambitious project, and it featured a stunning cast of contemporary industry heroes.
Check out the trailer for Movie 43 less.
