What a terrible script can neither Morgan Freeman nor Tommy Lee Jones be saved.
Watching [Agent of the Sunset], you will obviously feel that the director Ron Shelton is discussing a proposition.
"What a bad script can neither Morgan Freeman nor Tommy Lee Jones be saved."
Morgan Freeman, played the role of a retirement community manager, in charge of the community, specifically responsible for meeting old ladies and playing golf.
After Tommy Lee Jones moved in, apart from competing with Freeman for the title of "Big Brother", he was jealous for the beauty played by Renee Russell.
Therefore, the old man Freeman that I saw throughout the whole process was just playing cheap .
The father Tommy that I saw throughout the whole process was just a look of disgust that he didn't want to be photographed .
At the end of the performance, director Sheldon patted his thigh, "Oh yes! I have to have an agent for this film!"
Then the beauty was kidnapped, and the two elders joined hands to complete the film 's climax without any movement, technology, and explosion in less than 10 minutes .
I have to say that Sheldon's research on the propositions this time has come to a conclusion.
01
Traffic jam, jam out the script
[Agent of Sunset] was inspired by a traffic jam.
By the way, one day, director Ron Shelton drove out and got stuck in the famous "traffic jam avenue" -Interstate 405.
When it was so boring, Sheldon began to search for any fun things in his memory to pass the time.
When I thought about it, I thought of a "strange person" I had ever known .
"My friend is always idle, seems to have a good life, and never lacks money, but no one knows what he does for a living."
This kind of person is believed to be familiar to everyone. Who doesn't know a few people who "play games every day and get a perfect score on an exam" ?
Shelton thinks it should be interesting to put this kind of people on the screen.
Only "characteristics" is not enough, we also need to add "character" to him .
Sheldon once again recalled the character of the "wonderful man", "He is a charming, kind and great person. He always takes care of everyone, and everyone can understand him to a certain extent."
As for the shortcomings of this role, you have to rely on your own brain to make up.
Sheldon thought, what is the most afraid of such a perfect person?
The most afraid of the appearance of someone more perfect than him.
"A person who has gained a lot of love, was robbed of all aura by the newcomer."
The general trend of the plot is determined accordingly.
It can be seen that as a creator, everything around you is a source of inspiration . Acquaintances, friends, yourself, and relatives are all potential role prototypes.
In JK Rowling's "Harry Potter" series, the famous "Professor Snape" is based on her high school chemistry teacher.
The teacher had a bad temper and was indifferent, leaving a deep impression on Rowling, so when he conceived "Snape", he immediately thought of her.
The prototype of "Lanny Cartman " in "South Park" is the ex-girlfriend of creator Terry Parker.
In order to "vent her anger," Terry Parker asked her to be a prostitute and a nude model in "South Park" and slept in almost all adult roles in the film, regardless of male or female.
Shelton and the "Curious Man" friends had no grievances and no grudges, and they did not deliberately write bridges to "retaliate" against him.
Everything is based on Shelton's "reasonable guess" about him.
"Poo old lady, tease middle-aged women, he can definitely do this."
02
Casting, follow the feeling
With personal experience, the script is naturally written as smoothly as with the help of gods.
The problem is, when Sheldon was writing the script, he was thinking of that friend and had no clue as to who would act.
I can only stare at the countless cast list all day, see Morgan Freeman's name, turn it over without thinking, "Too serious."
Wait a moment! Isn't it just right if there is a bit of seriousness in the seriousness .
Shelton felt that this role was none other than Morgan Freeman.
"Freeman has played God, President, and Judge. He has an authoritative voice. I think this role is very suitable for him."
On Freeman's side, the scripts received all day are mostly serious themes. The old man suddenly saw a comedy and found it new , so he immediately said to join.
After Freeman was confirmed, it was much easier to find an actor to play "Lyon".
Producer Steve Richard's method is to put photos of many actors and Freeman's photos together to see the effect.
"When we put the photos of Tommy Lee Jones and Freeman together, we all laughed, and we knew then that the effect of this movie must be very good."
As for what happened later, everyone knows it.
This "effect must be very good" movie, with 5% freshness, won the first place in Rotten Tomatoes "Top 20 Bad Movies of 2017".
The two elders have trouble telling them.
03
What should the title be?
Actors are the most important help for a movie.
But in the face of the boiled water plot , the two old actors have no room for acting, nor can they spark any sparks.
Especially Freeman, who jumped up and down a whole drama, sold a lot of energy, and still failed to save the movie.
The question of [Agent of the Sunset] can be explained in one word, and it is boring.
But from the perspective of our Chinese audience, I think this translation has to be part of the "pot".
After all, there is no connection between "Just Getting Started" and "Sunset Agent".
"Sunset Agent" is easily reminiscent of movies like [Red Flame Battlefield].
Several retired agents, who had experienced strong winds and waves in their early years, had to return to the arena when they should have enjoyed their old age.
The theme is very simple, the hero is late, or the hero.
People are admired and moved.
In [Sunset Agent], although "Leo" played by Tommy Lee Jones is also a former officer, the action scenes are almost zero.
In contrast, Taiwan’s translation of "the enemy of the enemy" is much closer to the subject.
One is the "older brother" and the other is the "new brother". They were bickering and jealous all the time.
At first glance, this subject matter is also very interesting.
In the [bucket list], the two elders who were critically ill, from repelling each other to cherishing each other, piled up a lot of jokes.
But in [Agent of the Setting Sun], the "enemy" method is only "fighting ping pong" and "fighting golf" ...There is no bright spot or joke at all.
The most important thing is that after the heroine was rescued in the ending, the two immediately shot and broke up, forgetting each other, and "plastic love" is not counted.
Therefore, the correct title, I think it should be called "The Daily Life of Two Bored Old Men in the Elderly Community".
Perfect.
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Text: Han Gege
The article comes from WeChat public account: movie detoxification
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