Hollywood is a Franchise Player

Hollywood is a Franchise Player

I’m writing today to tell you something. It’s not a piece of new information. I haven’t found the Holy Grail, and I don’t know the secret to Liam Neeson’s awesomeness. But, it’s a piece of information none the less and since your options are either reading this blog or doing something productive with your day, I’m afraid you’re going to have to listen. So come in closely while I tell you my key titbit. Closer, closer. That’s it. The thing I have to tell you is: Hollywood loves Franchises. 

There we have it. I imagine your mind is well and truly blown now isn’t it? OK, I admit it. There’s no surprise that Hollywood loves franchises. Why wouldn’t they? Franchises are highly profitable for the movie industry; they provide production companies the opportunity to produce films that will almost guarantee them an existing audience. No longer will they have to generate new audiences with thrilling characters. They just have to go into their back catalogue of ‘greatest hits’, pull out a movie that worked and either remake it or create a sequel, thus creating a franchise. 

This surely couldn’t work could it? We are an intelligent race that would realise that we’re being fobbed off aren’t we? If Hollywood did this, we’d just stop watching wouldn’t we? Well I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but sadly we wouldn’t because they do it and we still tune in. Eight of the Ten top worldwide grosses this year belonged to films that were part of a franchise. And one of the two that didn’t was Thor, which still belongs to a comic franchise, even if it was the first Movie starring the character. 

OK, so we’ve established that Hollywood does take an invested interest in Franchises and we as a movie going audience watch them. But, are they necessarily a bad thing?

Well kind of. There is no doubt that due to franchises success Hollywood as whole is producing less and less original movies. Yes, there is still quite a bundle of them coming out. But, not a lot of them get the fanfare and promotion that the big franchises get. It’s almost like an original film has to do well in spite of the studio, before it’s taken seriously. 

What Hollywood doesn’t realise is that without original films, they won’t be able to build new franchises. A franchise needs to start somewhere and if these original films aren’t given the time of day then they will struggle when a studio tries to spin of a sequel or a prequel. 

That being said, franchises aren’t always bad. Admittedly, some characters are so interesting that they deserve more than one story. Or stories are so griping that they deserve more than one film. That’s fine. I’m for franchises if it serves a purpose and tells a compelling story and in the most basic way, entertains me. 

However, I’m not for a franchise if it’s the studio spinning out another Pirates of the Caribbean, just to get people in their drones turning up to stare at Johnny Depp phoning it in while wearing eye liner. But, hey, if we didn’t see them, they wouldn’t make them. And if they didn’t make them, we wouldn’t see them. Talk about your vicious circles.

Until next time, enjoy the show. 

All feedback is good feedback. Feel free to email me at: cinemascreenandspandex@gmail.com

Or follow me on Twitter: @glamgrunge. 

Daniel Morris

Johnny Depp- Out of Date?

Johnny Depp- Out of date?

I realise that I may receive a lot of stick for this article. And yes, I’m aware that taking a shot at Johnny Depp is the movie equivalent of punching the Queen square in the chops and holds pretty much the same punishment. However, I’m going to stay true to my rebellious streak and persevere anyway, even if I do receive a lynching. At least people may read this blog then. Every cloud ey?

I’m not a Johnny Depp hater, quite the opposite really. The man oozes charisma and has definitely done more in the world of acting than I will do in 36 lifetimes, let alone one. For that, I respect the man fourfold. 

That being said, like a two week old Danish, Mr Depp has gone stale. The man who gave us such unique performances as Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood and Captain Jack Sparrow, seems to be passed his sell by date. What was once new and edgy performance have turned dull. 

I think the evolution of the arguably Mr Depp’s most famous character, is a fair comment on JD’s career over the last few years. I remember watching the first Pirates of the Caribbean and falling in love with the formidable Captain Jack Sparrow. 

Captain Jack was undoubtedly the hero of the movie, but he was unlike any hero in recent history. Jack had the character flaws of a 1950s Noir, but in a family entertainment blockbuster. 

Captain Jack’s coolness isn’t just down to the writing either. You can tell that a lot of that is down to Johnny. What we get is a fresh and new character. Definitely one of the better performances of the 21^st century. 

What have followed the first Pirates movie are three sequels. Ranging from the mediocre (Dead Man’s Chest) to the outright pants (On Stranger Tides). Captain Jack Sparrow features heavily in all three movies. Instead of the fresh Captain Jack Sparrow, we got a neutered Cap’n Jack, who had morals and dare I say it.... feelings. 

Again, it wasn’t just the character of Jack that was wrong, it was the performance. Despite, Jack being larger than life, the brilliance about the first performance was the subtlety in it. This has been lacking in every performance of Jack since as they all get bigger and brasher, losing all the charm. 

That’s how I see Johnny Depp’s career of late. The freshness of his earlier characters has almost all gone. What has replaced this fresh crème is mouldy, month old milk. Performances such as The Libertine, The Tourist and Alice in Wonderland just feel like quirky Johnny Depp cashing in his pay check, just for being his odd ball self. 

Don’t get me wrong, there are still gems in the sea of mediocre that has been Depp’s career of late. I think his portrayal of Sweeny Todd is pretty terrific as was his performance of John Dillinger in Public Enemies. But, these still don’t offer up new elements to Depp’s characters. There just the best of his old routine. 

I’m not solely blaming Mr Depp. It might be my fault. Depp might not have changed a thing. It could simply be a case of eating too much mint choc chip ice cream. It’s good at first, but what once was new and intriguing, gets boring. 

I’m not writing this Just to be a moany get. I’m saying this because I want to be wowed by Mr Depp again. He definitely can. I truly believe he’s not past his sell-by date; he just needs to get back on track.

Oh and I apologise for all the dairy puns, I really wanted a milkshake. 

What do you think? Feel free to tell me I’m crazy. I get it off the doctors all the time.

Email me at cinemascreenandspandex@gmail.com

Follow me @glamgrunge

Until next time, enjoy the show
Daniel Morris.