Robert Downey Jr. = Philip Marlowe?

This isn't exclusive news or anything so i'm sorry to those i may have excited by the subject title.. this is just (what i believe to be) an interesting thought...
Raymond Chandler's books are fantastic, terrific writing and some brilliant stories.. apart from one or two great films, the books were never really done to justice on screen. The Big sleep is an amazing film and maybe because i think Bogart suited that role so perfectly i haven't watched any of the others where he didn't reprise the role.. This however, really made me think...

Following his sentence in prison for drug abuse, it is amazing that the once oscar nominated actor Robert Downey Jr. is more famous than ever, since his release he has shown his salt in films such as Iron Man, Tropic Thunder, Zodiac and my inspiration for this post, 2005's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang which was largely a 21st century stylised story in the vein of Raymond Chandler's famous private detective Philip Marlowe.

I think Downey Jr. really showed his ability to act in that sort of role and so naturally speak that sort of dialogue that him as phillip marlowe almost seems perfect.

The fact that Chandler's novels were only really done to such great justice a handful of times may be due to the fact that although they are brilliant novels, they aren't that well known. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang really showed us though that that sort of film has a market, maybe not the largest one but with Downey Jr's popularity growing to astronomical proportions and the rise in remakes being churned out by hollywood at the moment, is it so unbelievable that this could really happen?

Okay, i have to take into account that there might not be a market- no matter how much i would love there to be-for a complete adaption of any of the novels, set in 1930's L.A.. I accept that the stories are quite dated in the eyes of the majority of the movie going public. The last really successful noir made was L.A Confidential ( a terrific film if you haven't seen it) which was done so well but did have a lot more action going for it than the marlowe mysteries would.

Just think about it though, Downey Jr. could so easily fit into this role, his acting almost screams for him to be cast in such a noir( and he was in the somewhat unsuccessful 'The Singing Detective' in 2003) that it seems as if he was born in the wrong century..

He is currently filming a reboot of Sherlock Holmes with Guy Ritchie which shows that he's willing to play such characters, maybe this thought is a bit late but i really think (not to flatter myself in anyway) that it is certaintly one to be acknowledged..

Fans of Chandler, Downey Jr. or anyone who is nice enough to read this post. Please feel free to post your opinions on this and ideas for who could play who if such a film was ever made.

Just think, how great would it be to hear Downey Jr. sneer this famous reply?

"How do you like your scotch Mr. Marlowe?"

"In A Glass"

The Beginning

The Following is just something i cooked up last night and thought i'd post it as i haven't in a while:

The Beginning

It’s dark now, freezing cold too. My fingerless black gloves are just for show at this rate so I keep my hands shoved into the padded pockets of my leather jacket.
I can see the whole city from up here, the tall buildings dwarfed by the one I sit on top of like a classroom full of young pupils looking up at their teacher. There are the distant moving lights of cabs (the only vehicles on the streets at this time of night), hundreds of them scattered below the dark cloudless sky.
At least it won’t snow, but what is an advantage with the lack of clouds is also a disadvantage. What if the trigger freezes? I unzip my jacket and make sure my holster is well shielded; I zip it back up again.

For a little while my inner child plays with the affect my warm breath has on the cold air; there’s still time for this. I check my watch to confirm, just above my bunched white knuckles tucked between my leather sleeve and my nylon gloves. It reads 00:30. I have fifteen minutes.
I sit shivering for a bit longer; a plane soars majestically overhead, two red lights blinking in the distance. Those lights say so much, happy parents, excited children, Christmas holidays, relatives, warm fires and merry laughter, none of it for me.
I check my watch again. It’s almost time. I draw my left hand from its pocket and open my jacket once more; with my right hand I reach in and take it from its holster. I leave it on my lap and hold it there with my right whilst retrieving a pouch from my jeans with my left. I take the silencer out and twist it onto the barrel.

I check again, 00:42. My hands began to shake violently; I lift them up and tense them until they’re still. I’m not going to let them fuck this all up for me.
Once I’m fully composed I tuck the silencer’s pouch back into my jeans and stand up clenching the skeletal grip of my Walther PPK. Leaning into the wall I’ve been sitting at for the past two hours I pull my sleeve back over my knuckles, hiding the top half of the pistol whilst leaving its lengthened black barrel exposed. Now ready, I press myself against the solid concrete wall and do some more waiting.

I no longer need my wristwatch. In my head I can imagine him climbing the clanging iron steps with his box of cigarettes in hand. He gets to the top and halts for a moment to button up his grey trench coat, as always. Then I picture him reaching for the handle of the steel door and I hear the sound of it creaking slowly and defiantly downwards and then the click and it swings out. I’m perfectly hidden from his view behind the door, as always.

He walks out and takes a cigarette from the box; reaching for his lighter with his free hand he tilts his chin down against his neck and attempts to light it. I inhale slowly, exhaling with my first step as I slowly push the door back eyes always on my target. I take the gun out from my sleeve and walk up. I’m two feet from him when he turns slightly to the side, he doesn’t notice me all in black as he’s still concentrating on lighting the damned cigarette. I raise my arm slowly and tense my trigger finger at his exposed temple, in my head I count: 1, 2. And then pull. A sharp ‘Putt’ sound and then a crumpled heap falls to the ground. The barrel is smoking at my side, his cigarette isn’t. I kick him over with my boot. His eyes are open, at the far right of his temple, a black dot trickles. My Job is done and five hours later I’m on a train two hundred miles away.

'In Bruges' : A Review

After watching this debut film from director and writer Martin Mcdonagh for the second time last night i thought it was about time that i blogged my review.

The film starts off with the strong 'dub' accent narration of Colin Farrell, it really sets a mood for the piece and tells you immediately that you're not watching a comedy, well not the sort you're used to anyway.

The film mixes great character develepment and raw emotion with some of the most outrageously dark humour imaginable. Think 'Fight Club' but funnier. The two hitmen Ken and Ray (Played to perfection by Brendan Gleeson & Colin Farrell) are comparable to Jules and Vincent of 'Pulp Fiction' their constant bickering and hilarious disagreements about the wonder of Bruges are what really makes this movie so funny.


As i said before, this film is not your usual comedy, don't go to it expecting an all out laugh-a-minute comedy because you will not enjoy it to the same effect than if you go with a clear mind. What we have here is the comedy and emotion after a job gone horribly wrong. Colin Farrell's character shows real depth that we haven't seen from him since the likes of 'Phone Booth' and begs the question why haven't we seen himin more decent films. I think we can thank Oliver Stone and the stinker 'Alexander' for that.

The Film mixes comedy and drama so beautifully together that it's a shock that this is Director Martin McDonagh's first full-length film to date,( He did win an Oscar however, for his short film 'Six Shooter' in 2004)there's no doubt about it Mcdonagh is a real talent(watch this space).

The cinematography is beautifully woven in between scenes with majestic shots of Bruges.

As the story progresses we find out more about the botched job and some of the consequences that might be held in store, with laughs, shocks,breathtaking action,raw emotion and a bit of romance thrown in, this movie really does have everything. All of these aspects lead up to the superb climax of the film that will have you on the edge of your seat, I'll say no more.

In short, 'In Bruges' is a terrific film. The acting is brilliant, the setting and plot superb, the screenplay is excellent and the cinematography is second to none. You'll be thrilled,You'll laugh till your stomach hurts, you might even shed a tear or two.

'In Bruges' is a great night out and i urge you to watch it next chance you get.

9/10

A New Job

I'm here on my last shift in my parents internet cafe, i've got a new job now and i'm moving on. A nice bookstore with nice people, better pay. I Also love books, I should be feeling brilliant.

Well, i am feeling good about the whole thing. I've only been working in the internet cafe for about 9 months, yes i've enjoyed the experience and there are some brilliant people here. I will miss it and i feel bad about leaving, i'm sitting here at my PC and it's not very busy today. Every regular that comes and goes, pays at the till and i say ' Seeya' too just.. well it almost pains me. It's not a particularly brilliant job, the pay is good, it's definitely kept me with enough money for the past 9 months. However, i find it claustorophobic and a bit boring. I'm working by myself for five hours and everything that goes wrong here while i'm on shift is my responsibility, i've gotten sick of being undermined by arrogant customers.

So leaving here is perhaps overall a very good thing. I'm moving up and doing something that interests me much more. Then why do i feel this pang of guilt?