http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/celebrity/la-ca-convers5aug05,1,7481861.story
"The Company," a three-episode miniseries (starring Michael Keaton, Alfred Molina and Chris O'Donnell) about the spies working in the heat of the Cold War, premieres tonight on TNT. Ridley Scott, one of the executive producers, is also the director of "Gladiator," "Alien" and the forthcoming "American Gangster," starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. And there's chat about a movie based on the board game Monopoly.
They've got you scheduled left and right. What's in your day today?
I'm finishing off the grading on the 25-year-old "Blade Runner" -- we're digitally grading the prints for the release of the five-DVD box set. I'm doing my publicity for "American Gangster," which opens Nov. 2, and casting for a film I'm doing with Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe, which starts in a month. I'm in choppy water, and the waves are slapping against my mouth as I try to talk. Which makes you choke. You get used to it. The trick is: Don't worry.
Last week you teased people again with the idea of a "Blade Runner" sequel. What is the deal?
There is no sequel. And I intend probably never to do a sequel. . . . I like to do the first one, and if they want to do a sequel? Fine.
You're a very successful rebounder, in terms of what have been termed "flops" like "Blade Runner" becoming culturally significant movies. But what is it? You? The system?
I was right the first time, see? That's why I have no regrets about anything. One of the biggest decisions was to keep moving and change from genre to genre. That's why I found my way to doing love stories, then finally down the road to "Thelma & Louise," which was a social-comment, realism kind of movie. And I hadn't done a war movie, so I thought I'd better do "Black Hawk Down." I'm a bit like a pool ball.
"Monopoly: The Movie"?
Monopoly is still the most popular board game -- I might be misquoting! -- in the world. So it's really finding the universe for that game. Because clearly it ought to be humorous and for the family -- the funny way it brings out, particularly when your uncle suddenly gets Park Lane and -- in England, we have Park Lane, Mayfair and Barclay Square, what's it in America? Park and Madison? So you watch people change. You're witness to Jekyll and Hyde. Somewhere in that is a hysterically amusing and I think rather exciting film.
About our gilded age of greed?
That as well. Isn't that comical?
Sort of! Perhaps you can take cues from "Clue."
I never really saw "Clue." But I think it was quite clever. It was one of the first-ofs, wasn't it, where you kind of engage the audience? Listen, in this business you have to examine everything, every direction that media is taking us. Because media is taking us into where, more and more, people have more and more time for more and more leisure. What's happening is it's affecting this shift and change in cinema, both with the material you do and the audience driving movies. . . . Aren't you supposed to ask me about "The Company"?
Yes! Is working with CBS and TNT funner, easier or less annoying than the film studio system?
[Brother and partner] Tony [Scott] has just shot the pilot for the fourth season of "Numb3rs." TNT, this is our first real experience with them. It was a film I was starting at to do, and by the time I got to it, I think "The Good Shepherd" was already beginning to tremble forward, and Sony didn't want to go into a venture which would take them into competition.
So it sat momentarily there. And I thought, I can turn this around with TNT into a terrific miniseries. . . . These were guys behind enemy lines and they had their lives at risk on a daily basis. They were doing it in those days to protect the world from communism, as it was propagandized. So to do it in two hours is tough; a six-hour series is fantastic.
― latebloomer, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 14:30 (eighteen years ago)
in England, we have Park Lane, Mayfair and Barclay Square
Barclay Square? Where that?
― Tom D., Tuesday, 7 August 2007 14:36 (eighteen years ago)
Okay, Ridley Scott has officially gone batshit insane.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 14:37 (eighteen years ago)
Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick to star as little metal horse and rider.
― n/a, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 14:41 (eighteen years ago)
Christian Bale loses 50 pounds to play tiny thimble.
― n/a, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 14:42 (eighteen years ago)
Brian Doyle Murray as the Monopoly Man.
OK, I'm done.
― n/a, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 14:43 (eighteen years ago)
katie price to play the community chest
― Just got offed, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 14:55 (eighteen years ago)
You are done too.
― n/a, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 14:57 (eighteen years ago)
Take my word for it.
Mind you, if it's as good as Clue, then I'm all for it.
― The Wayward Johnny B, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 14:59 (eighteen years ago)
http://www.adamsmith.org/blog/archives/old%20iron.jpg
rhyming slang alert
― DJ Mencap, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 15:06 (eighteen years ago)
so has anyone watched "the company"? i have watched the first 15 min of the first episode. it is one of those shows i instantly like but only half understand (b/c of inability to stay focused for v long on middle-aged men talking talking talking)
michael keaton is in it too and the cold war
― rrrobyn, Saturday, 15 September 2007 17:58 (eighteen years ago)
I want more info on this "Monopoly" movie!
― HI DERE, Saturday, 15 September 2007 18:14 (eighteen years ago)
Clue is a great film, but then again that particular game offers a much better basis for a movie than fucking Monopoly. I assume there aren't any other films based on board games, right? Jumanji wasn't a real game, was it?
― Tuomas, Sunday, 16 September 2007 10:27 (eighteen years ago)
maybe it's about the invention of monopoly?
― Heave Ho, Sunday, 16 September 2007 10:32 (eighteen years ago)
This *could be* the best movie ever, or the worst. CGI would help I'm thinking...
― Spencer Chow, Sunday, 16 September 2007 11:15 (eighteen years ago)
In a materialistic state run by a corrupt beaureucracy...
Community Chest: You have won $15 in a beauty pageant!
Police Officer: GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL DO NOT PASS GO DO NOT COLLECT $200
...where evil men control and destroy people's lives...
Battleship: You have landed on Park Lane with a hotel...
Common Person: But I don't have any money!
Battleship: Then I guess you'll have to mortgage your light blue properties...MUWAHAHAHAHA!!
...a humble wheelbarrow stood up for what he believed in...
Wheelbarrow: I'll buy the Waterworks, thanks.
Thimble! But you can't do that! I own the Electric Company!
...and took them all on.
Wheelbarrow: You've landed on Oxford Street with a hotel.
Iron: What?
Wheelbarrow: That's a lot of money there. I'm sure the Orphanage sure could use some of that.
Iron: WHAAAAT?!?
MONOPOLY: THE MOVIE
COMING - SUMMER 2008
― King Boy Pato, Sunday, 16 September 2007 11:20 (eighteen years ago)
IT SOUNDS AWESOME!
― jhøshea, Sunday, 16 September 2007 11:36 (eighteen years ago)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dlKgqZw06Nc
the end when they say the names !!!!
― jhøshea, Sunday, 16 September 2007 11:40 (eighteen years ago)
ahahaha omg need see
― rrrobyn, Sunday, 16 September 2007 14:27 (eighteen years ago)
I CAN'T WAIT
― get bent, Sunday, 16 September 2007 14:59 (eighteen years ago)
(not for the ten, that's already playing)
― get bent, Sunday, 16 September 2007 15:02 (eighteen years ago)
damn u slow internet connection
― Catsupppppppppppppp dude 茄蕃, Sunday, 16 September 2007 16:22 (eighteen years ago)
i heard because of the buzz surrounding this they're rushing the Scrabble movie into production, with Keanu Reeves rumored to be starring as the blank tile
― latebloomer, Sunday, 16 September 2007 16:55 (eighteen years ago)
Cast the Hungry Hungry Hippos movie.
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 16 September 2007 16:58 (eighteen years ago)
Operation the movie would be awesome!
I'd cast that kid from Transformers as an incompetent junior doctor, who has to do emergency surgery on some dude with a big red nose, peter schemichel, probably.
― jel --, Sunday, 16 September 2007 18:02 (eighteen years ago)
I can't wait for the Monopoly: The Movie themed edition of Monopoly.
― Casuistry, Sunday, 16 September 2007 18:04 (eighteen years ago)
connect four: the movie
― get bent, Sunday, 16 September 2007 18:13 (eighteen years ago)
Snakes and Ladders on a Plane!
― jel --, Sunday, 16 September 2007 18:14 (eighteen years ago)
trivial pursuit: the movie could be good -- make a short film out of each question and answer, etc.
― get bent, Sunday, 16 September 2007 18:15 (eighteen years ago)
Jenga could make for a good disaster film.
― jel --, Sunday, 16 September 2007 18:16 (eighteen years ago)
i am sick of giving Ridley Scott ideas, he has more money than me.
― jel --, Sunday, 16 September 2007 18:17 (eighteen years ago)
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack written and performed by Shimura Curves.
― King Boy Pato, Sunday, 16 September 2007 21:51 (eighteen years ago)
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3ie9098baec9eb95cdc85766d63f68ce1b
'Monopoly' has electric companyRidley Scott will direct; Pamela Pettler to write screenplay
By Steven Zeitchik
Nov 12, 2008, 01:00 AM ET
The Hasbro-Universal collaboration "Monopoly" is jumping a large number of spaces up the board.
The feature project has brought on Pamela Pettler to write the screenplay; She penned Tim Burton's "Corpse Bride," Gil Kenan's "Monster House" and the upcoming animated adventure "9," produced by Burton and Timur Bekmambetov.
And Ridley Scott, who has been attached as a producer on "Monopoly" and has been mentioned as a possible director, is now officially attached to helm the project, with an eye toward giving it a futuristic sheen along the lines of his iconic "Blade Runner."
In addition to Scott, Giannina Facio and Hasbro's Brian Goldner are also producing the movie, which will shape a narrative out of the iconic real-estate game. Lawrence Grey will oversee for Universal and Bennett Schneir will oversee for Hasbro.
"Monopoly" marks the latest Hasbro property to look to pass go and head to the big screen. Board games and branded properties have become more attractive as studios look to mitigate risk by finding built-in audiences.
Universal is working with Hasbro on several projects as part of a long-term development deal. Platinum Dunes is producing its feature adaptation of "Ouija Board," while the maritime classic "Battleship" is also in development. Elsewhere at Hasbro, Paramount this summer is set to release Stephen Sommers' feature based on its "G.I. Joe" character. And "Trivial Pursuit: America Plays" is now airing as a syndicated television program.
Hasbro, Scott and Pettler are all repped by WMA.
― balloon in a sack (latebloomer), Wednesday, 12 November 2008 16:47 (seventeen years ago)
That article is just an excuse to use that headline
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 16:49 (seventeen years ago)
http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2008/11/12/ridley-scott-passes-go-collects-200-to-direct-monopoly/
I know it's fake lulz but I really hope/wish it turns out to be on the real.
― Nomi Malone and Her Bloodstains (Stevie D), Wednesday, 12 November 2008 17:08 (seventeen years ago)
what will be worse, this, or Soderberg's Guided By Voices-scored Cleopatra musical?
― Simon H., Wednesday, 12 November 2008 17:11 (seventeen years ago)
Let's get ready for the critical zings now
"They should have named this Sorry!"
― da croupier, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 17:23 (seventeen years ago)
"Monopoly should not pass go or collect $200, but go directly to DVD."
― da croupier, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 17:25 (seventeen years ago)
"We're guessing Monopoly will fail to catch the B&O (Box Office, that is...)"
― da croupier, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 17:27 (seventeen years ago)
"If the special effects are hotels on Broadway, the script is cheaper than a house on Baltic Ave."
― da croupier, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 17:30 (seventeen years ago)
"Ridley Scott kicked in the face with a silver shoe."
supposed to be a should be in there
― da croupier, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 17:31 (seventeen years ago)
While Monopoly opened in theaters today, we hope it'll be "Just Visiting" and not stick around after this week.
― and what, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 17:35 (seventeen years ago)
― n/a, Tuesday, August 7, 2007 9:42 AM Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
― n/a, Tuesday, August 7, 2007 9:43 AM Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
― Just got offed, Tuesday, August 7, 2007 9:55 AM Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
― n/a, Tuesday, August 7, 2007 9:57 AM Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
Was so tempted to excelsior this, but what's the point?
― ⊂⊃ ⊂⊃ ⊂⊃ ⊂⊃ ⊂⊃ ⊂⊃ (Pleasant Plains), Wednesday, 12 November 2008 17:38 (seventeen years ago)
The last 5 hours of this film should be 2 people visiting each other's hotel properties while 2 other friends bemoan their early bankruptcy and get really drunk while watching Cops.
― z "R" s (Z S), Wednesday, 12 November 2008 17:39 (seventeen years ago)
Flash forward to a year so from now:
"Scott, whose Monopoly film has been panned by critics, might be given a 'Get Out of Jail Free' card after the movie crushed all competition at the box office this weekend..."
― balloon in a sack (latebloomer), Wednesday, 12 November 2008 17:42 (seventeen years ago)
Hasn't this movie already been done?
― ⊂⊃ ⊂⊃ ⊂⊃ ⊂⊃ ⊂⊃ ⊂⊃ (Pleasant Plains), Wednesday, 12 November 2008 17:44 (seventeen years ago)
Cast the Hungry Hungry Hippos movie.― Ned Raggett, Sunday, September 16, 2007 12:58 PM (1 year ago) Bookmark
lol i just made this joke today! like, i'd go see a movie about Battleship but wld have to pass on Hungry Hungry Hippos: The Awakening
anyway, i hope the alien from alien is in monopoly
― i am not an idle hunter-gatherer, i am a scientist (rrrobyn), Wednesday, 12 November 2008 19:41 (seventeen years ago)
do we have a list thread for titles of movies based on board games
is this still happening i hope so
― pleased ass punch (braveclub), Friday, 5 June 2009 18:06 (sixteen years ago)
Well there's this story from three months back:
Bringing board games to the box office may sound ridiculous at face value, particularly if the game is “Monopoly” and the director is “Alien” and “Blade Runner” visionary Ridley Scott. But Scott and executive producer Brian Goldner, who also happens to be the CEO of “Monopoly” owner Hasbro, have a single driving plot device that they hope will get audiences’ attention — the economy.“The whole world is about the financial markets,” Goldner told MTV News. “You can’t turn on the news today without understanding the financial markets and what’s going on out there.”If there is one underlying theme that will resonate with filmgoers across the world right now, it’s the drama behind money and houses. Owning railroads and big red hotels may be a little outside of that everyday scope, but Goldner, who is also producing films based on “Stretch Armstrong” and the “Ouija Board,” sees a feature-length story to be told within the the “personal story” he characterizes as the “Monopoly” experience that is worthy of Scott’s direction.“He’s built these great big worlds of imagination,” Goldner said of the director. “Combine that with Pamela Pettler who’s writing this great script about real people kind of playing a real-life game of ‘Monopoly,’ not the board game, although they’re icons of the game. And then you really get the idea why this story could make sense right now.”
“The whole world is about the financial markets,” Goldner told MTV News. “You can’t turn on the news today without understanding the financial markets and what’s going on out there.”
If there is one underlying theme that will resonate with filmgoers across the world right now, it’s the drama behind money and houses. Owning railroads and big red hotels may be a little outside of that everyday scope, but Goldner, who is also producing films based on “Stretch Armstrong” and the “Ouija Board,” sees a feature-length story to be told within the the “personal story” he characterizes as the “Monopoly” experience that is worthy of Scott’s direction.
“He’s built these great big worlds of imagination,” Goldner said of the director. “Combine that with Pamela Pettler who’s writing this great script about real people kind of playing a real-life game of ‘Monopoly,’ not the board game, although they’re icons of the game. And then you really get the idea why this story could make sense right now.”
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 5 June 2009 18:12 (sixteen years ago)
“You can’t turn on the news today without understanding the financial markets and what’s going on out there.”
if only this were true
― reo teabaggin (goole), Friday, 5 June 2009 18:16 (sixteen years ago)
bout real people kind of playing a real-life game of ‘Monopoly,’ not the board game, although they’re icons of the game.
my new landlord the Thimble is such an asshole
― Kool G Lapp (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 5 June 2009 18:16 (sixteen years ago)
http://popwatch.ew.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/11/12/fanningrourkemonopoly_l.jpg
― ······ (Pleasant Plains), Friday, 5 June 2009 18:16 (sixteen years ago)
Nic Cage needs to be in this somehow
― Vokuhila (latebloomer), Friday, 5 June 2009 18:17 (sixteen years ago)
.jpg that explains all of human culture
xp
― reo teabaggin (goole), Friday, 5 June 2009 18:17 (sixteen years ago)
big-budget film of BATTLESHIP is a go.
― kind of shrill and very self-righteous (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:37 (fifteen years ago)
universal pictures, right? i hope it doesn't "sink" the studio.
― ('_') (omar little), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:39 (fifteen years ago)
peter berg is directing it. let's hope this film doesn't "sink" after hitting this "berg".
Coming out the same day at Batman 3, apparently? Good luck with that.
― Simon H., Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:41 (fifteen years ago)
*as
― Simon H., Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:42 (fifteen years ago)
Battleship...the movie
― congratulations (n/a), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:43 (fifteen years ago)
alexander skarsgard is a curious starring choice. maybe "hull" end up being a good one, or else this film could "sink".
― ('_') (omar little), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:48 (fifteen years ago)
I'd hate to think of this movie "destroyer"ing his career.
― Shock and Awe High School (Phil D.), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:49 (fifteen years ago)
I would rather see a Connect Four movie.
― (¬_¬) (Nicole), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:52 (fifteen years ago)
your opinion is the same as "mine" and i think this film might be "torpedoed" at the box office
― ('_') (omar little), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:54 (fifteen years ago)
I would like to see a 92-minute movie of the Guess Who? ad that had all the faces animated. (And iirc screaming in agony as they were folded over into oblivion, tat part could be an embellishment of my imagination though)
― sharkless dick stick (Abbbottt), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:54 (fifteen years ago)
xp You just "hold" on there. I'm not going to "keel" over and "bow" to mass opinion. I will "deck" anyone who suggests that this movie will be "poop". You'd "rudder" believe it, I'm not talking "bilge".
― Les centimètres énigmatiques (snoball), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 17:02 (fifteen years ago)
bravo!!!!
― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 17:04 (fifteen years ago)
Of course you are perfectly free to argue that it will be a load of rollocks...
― Les centimètres énigmatiques (snoball), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 17:06 (fifteen years ago)
snoball it's really hard to believe this movie wasn't "scupper"ed early on. i may "ketch" flak for saying so, but when i "pier" into my crystal ball i h-"aft" to predict a "titanic" disaster at the box office. it certainly won't have a-"mast" the fortunes of scott's other films.
― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 17:15 (fifteen years ago)
if it fails it will be a "stern" warning to other studios.
― ('_') (omar little), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 17:19 (fifteen years ago)
maybe it will do good in dvd "sails"
― ('_') (omar little), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 17:20 (fifteen years ago)
I can't "fathom" how this will fit into the "cannon" of naval movies. It may not even get completed, as the financial backers might not have the "bollards" and could "bail".
― Les centimètres énigmatiques (snoball), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 17:21 (fifteen years ago)
we shouldn't underesti"mate" this film. it may end up being "admiral"ble
― ('_') (omar little), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 17:24 (fifteen years ago)
It looks like it will be a "naval"gazing effort.
― (¬_¬) (Nicole), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 17:29 (fifteen years ago)
"oar" maybe "knot"
― Les centimètres énigmatiques (snoball), Tuesday, 31 August 2010 17:33 (fifteen years ago)
Candyland is happening.
― Matt Armstrong, Saturday, 11 September 2010 06:52 (fifteen years ago)