![]() ![]() You have to ride it out to the very last scene. The director never telegraphs the ending, so you're never quite sure if things will turn out good or if it'll be a miserable tragedy. "Capricorn One" won't necessarily scare the pants off you like some of the other films, but the story will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what's going to happen. ![]() ![]() But this is not a sci-fi flick, it's closer to a political thriller. It's best if you know nothing about the story, so I won't say anything about the plot except that it centers around a mission to Mars. But if you're looking for a film that slowly reels you in without any gimmicks, carefully building momentum for the 1st hour leading to an explosive, roller-coaster finale, then look no further. If you get bored easily, then this isn't for you. No, the 70s classics, in particular "Capricorn One" and other films by Peter Hyams, instead give you long, deliberate shots from a distance, allowing you to absorb every bizarre detail that was meticulously laid out for you. This quiet yet bone-chilling style is the opposite of MTV-type filmmaking which made heavy use of flashy, closeup, disorienting camera shots cut together so quickly that you feel like someone slipped some magic pixie dust in your Kool-Aid. Stylistic examples include wide angle shots and slow, mechanical camera movements that give the viewer a disturbing feeling of voyeurism or disconnection from humanity (à la "Open the pod bay doors, Hal." "I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid can't do that."). Perhaps taking their cues from Stanley Kubrick (2001: A Space Odyssey, Clockwork Orange, etc), all of these classics are presented with an artistic, slightly off-kilter, brightly creepy vibe that encapsulated the end of 60s flower-power optimism and the beginning of 70s cold cynicism. But let's see if we can help him out with casting suggestions: I'm going to go with the obvious and suggest Josh Brolin for James Brolin, and Jessica Simpson for OJ Simpson to get you started."Capricorn One" is one of the last great 70s thrillers, alongside "The China Syndrome", "The Andromeda Strain", "Coma", heck maybe even "The Exorcist". It's an intriguing prospect, and while Moore hasn't had the best run of luck recently he's one of Hollywood's best casual swearers so deserves the benefit of the doubt. As one of the Apollo astronauts interviewed in In The Shadow of the Moon noted, "we went to the Moon nine times. Incidentally, fact fans, the original was said to be inspired by that old chestnut about the Apollo missions being faked. This one will have the same plot, but this is an "updated" and "reimagined" version of the story, from Che screenwriter Peter Buchman. The original starred Elliot Gould, James Brolin and OJ Simpson as astronauts forced to fake a mission to Mars when their original mission is scrubbed just hours before launch. And now, having just finished production on the upcoming Max Payne, he's returning to the world of remakes with the news that he'll direct a remake of 70s space-conspiracy thriller Capricorn One. Since the success of thriller Behind Enemy Lines, he's given us less-than-totally-successful remakes of Flight of the Phoenix and The Omen. Director John Moore hasn't had a great run of luck in Hollywood of late. ![]()
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