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Hancock
Directed by: Peter Berg
Starring: Will Smith
Genre:
Science
Fiction-Fantasy/Comedy
Run Time: 92 min.
Release Date: July
2008
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
I find myself in complete
disagreement with the critics and their take on HANCOCK, Will Smith’s (I
AM LEGEND) latest Summer release. I’d heard all kinds of
problems with the film, which kept me away from the theater.
Most notably that the latter half sank it into obscure and muddy waters
and thus made it a bomb. Again, I couldn’t disagree more.
If you’re looking for the standard Hollywood fodder and its take on
superheroes, then I might see where you could run into some snags. But
if you’re looking for a bit of a twist on the superhero image, then
you’re in for a treat.
Anybody who watches TV or has gone to the movies in the past few months
knows Hancock’s premise: a drunken superguy (Smith) is lost amongst
humanity. He knows not where he came from nor how he’s supposed to fit
in with people who are so different from himself. He tries to do good
but more often than not does millions of dollars of damage in the
process, incensing the Los Angeles population. Roads tore up. Highway
signs obliterated. Monuments defaced. Train cars derailed. It’s all a
bit much for our wayward (and intoxicated) hero. Until one day he meets
up with Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman,
SMOKIN’ ACES). Hancock saves Ray’s
life in that infamous train scene that many of you have probably seen in
the trailers. What results is a friendship of sorts thanks to Ray’s
chosen profession (pubic relations). Convinced that he can clean-up
Hancock’s messy image, Ray convinces the superman to ease up and fit in.
In the meantime, he suggests that Hancock go to prison for his many
warrants, and the drunken tough-guy eventually agrees. The idea for this
is twofold. First is that it’ll keep Hancock out of trouble (with the
exception of one episode of cranial-rectumitis); second is that the
crime rate in L.A. will go up and people will demand his return.
Intermixed with this is Ray’s family and how they interact with Hancock.
Ray’s little boy Aaron (Jae Head) is lovingly appreciative of him, and
this helps show cracks in Hancock’s otherwise indifference toward
...everything. But more interestingly is how Ray’s beautiful wife Mary (Charlize
Theron, IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH) deals with his sudden arrival. Not giving
away too much, I will say that this surprise ...well ...surprised me in
a good way.
The story arc is excellent in that the focus is never on Hancock’s
superpowers but on the man himself and how they affect him and those
around him. It is this “human” element that shows director Peter Berg’s
ability to take a solid action film and put its focus squarely where it
belongs: on the people, not the powers or the special effects (although
both of these are done very well). And speaking of story arcs ...
It was refreshingly revolting to watch the “asshole” comment that our
anti-hero so loathes come full-circle, right up to the very ending
credits in the film. I was laughing myself silly at the end (Hint: stay
until the credits are nearly finished rolling).
Comments about the “funny first half” and the “serious second half” of
the film just didn’t jive with me as a criticism. The film had laughs
throughout, with spikes in dramatic flair (appropriately) and some nice
doses of science fiction/fantasy that held a cohesive whole.
Perhaps I’m prejudiced because of a few insider things that I know about
Mr. Berg but, putting that aside, I’ve found that almost all the film’s
he’s directed to be very human (I’m being repetitive, I know, but bear
with me a moment). From FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS and it’s focus on the
members of the team and not the sport itself to
THE KINGDOM, which
showed us the internal struggles of the war in Iraq and not the war
itself, Berg has a good eye for what makes cinema an effective medium.
And the people seem to agree with him, even if the critics — on this one
— do not (coming in at a cool 37% approval rating). People are speaking
with their wallets and Hancock was #1 at the box office until this last
weekend when HELLBOY II finally knocked it off the top. But it’s
still holding strong at #2, ahead of WALL-E (97% approval),
KUNG-FU PANDA (88%) and THE INCREDIBLE HULK (68%). Perhaps
the critics should take another look?
(back to top) |
Image from Hancock
DVD cost: $30.03
Purchase:
Tower.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
The script, originally
titled 'Tonight, He Comes', floated around in Hollywood for over a
decade.
Movie Quote: "I
gotta wonder what a bastard I have been. That nobody was there to claim
me. I mean I am not the most charming guy on the world so I've been
told... but... nobody?"
Other Actors/Actresses
from Hancock
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