A homicidal hockey mascot. A firefighter-turned-fire marshal-turned-Stanley Cup Finals goalie. Lethal gym equipment. A magnificent helicopter escape plan. Lots and lots of roundhouse kicks. All of these elements and more make Sudden Death, released on this date in 1995, the most glorious action extravaganza of superstar Jean-Claude Van Damme’s career.
Essentially Die Hard At A Hockey Game, Sudden Death tells the tale of divorced former firefighter Darren McCord (Jcvd), who, after a workplace tragedy, has become a fire marshal at Pittsburgh Civic Arena. For his young son Tyler (Ross Malinger)’s birthday, Darren is bringing Tyler and daughter Emily (Whittni Wright) to the office. The occasion? Game 7 of the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals, an imagined rematch of the 1992 Stanley Cup Finals bout between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Vice President Daniel Binder (Raymond J. Barry) is in attendance with a prestigious entourage in a skybox.
Of course, it wouldn...
Essentially Die Hard At A Hockey Game, Sudden Death tells the tale of divorced former firefighter Darren McCord (Jcvd), who, after a workplace tragedy, has become a fire marshal at Pittsburgh Civic Arena. For his young son Tyler (Ross Malinger)’s birthday, Darren is bringing Tyler and daughter Emily (Whittni Wright) to the office. The occasion? Game 7 of the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals, an imagined rematch of the 1992 Stanley Cup Finals bout between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Vice President Daniel Binder (Raymond J. Barry) is in attendance with a prestigious entourage in a skybox.
Of course, it wouldn...
- 12/22/2020
- by Alex Kirschenbaum
- Trailers from Hell
PARK CITY, Utah -- ''I'll Do Anything'' is the professional plea for, perhaps, the most skilled but unrewarded performers in show business -- the character actors and actresses. Once again, James L. Brooks, has focused on a media profession, and by thrusting its peculiar slants through the prism of his own comic insights, he has created a warm, universal story -- in this case, one man's struggle to raise his daughter while battling the while battling the worst of professional uncertainty.
This once-upon-a-time musical, now stripped of those songs, is a testament to the overlooked axiom that it's the story -- not songs, special effects, stars, product placement -- that counts. This de-tuned Columbia release will do decent boxoffice and solid video rentals.
Beginning on Emmy night 1980, ''I'll Do Anything'' follows the downward personal and professional fortunes of character actor Matt Hobbs (Nolte) whose career, despite two Emmy noms, is sinking fast. Matt is married to his work and the responsibilities of parenthood elude him. Nevertheless, Matt finds himself one day the sole guardian of a rambunctious, spoiled daughter, Jeannie (Whittni Wright). Matt doesn't have a clue about raising a kid, and, worse, child-rearing couldn't come at a worse time: A workaholic, beautiful development executive (Joely Richardson) falls for him and convinces her insecure, egomaniac boss (Albert Brooks) that Matt is leading man material.
While brimming with juicy satirical stabs at the entertainment business, ''I'll Do Anything'' is a story that extends beyond the mere bounds of Hollywood moviemaking. Brooks has created characters, people struggling with dreams, who could ostensibly fit a number of professions. Spiced with some droll jabs at the obsessive-compulsive mania of the biz, this film is, nevertheless, no bilious indictment of show business. It's more complex and layered than that because Brooks has created characters who are not one-dimensional stereotypes.
Nolte is well-cast as the struggling actor, a man who is truly confounded by raising a child but whose decency and instincts are applaudable. In the film's juiciest, Albert Brooks is terrific as a workaholic, room-working producer. With his voice lowered half an octave and with his sensitivity cranked up to the jughead level, Brooks could probably be hired for any number of current, real-life development jobs around town. The fact that we eventually come to sympathize with such a celluloid-head is testament to Albert Brooks' inspired performance and James L. Brooks' layered writing. Richardson, as a modestly talented development person, smartly limns the pain of those who are married to their jobs, while Julie Kavner is wonderful as a pill-popping truth teller -- the story's Greek Chorus. Young Wright's performance as Matt's precocious and strong-minded daughter goes far beyond the bounds of mere cuteness.
Tech credits are topped by Stephen J.Lineweaver's character-specific, satirical production design.
I'LL DO ANYTHING
Columbia Pictures
A Gracie Films Production
A James L. Brooks Film
Producers James L. Brooks, Polly Platt
Screenwriter-director James L. Brooks
Executive producer Penney Finkelman Cox
Director of photography Michael Ballhaus
Production designer Stephen J. Lineweaver
Editor-associate producer Richard Marks
Costume designer Marlene Stewart
Music Hans Zimmer
Casting Paula Herold
Sound mixer David M. Kelson
Color/Stereo
Cast:
Matt Hobbs Nick Nolte
Jeannie Hobbs Whittni Wright
Burke Adler Albert Brooks
Nan Mulhanney Julie Kavner
Cathy Breslow Joely Richardson
Beth Hobbs Tracey Ullman
Male D Person Jeb Brown
Female D Person Vicki Lewis
Running time -- 115 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
This once-upon-a-time musical, now stripped of those songs, is a testament to the overlooked axiom that it's the story -- not songs, special effects, stars, product placement -- that counts. This de-tuned Columbia release will do decent boxoffice and solid video rentals.
Beginning on Emmy night 1980, ''I'll Do Anything'' follows the downward personal and professional fortunes of character actor Matt Hobbs (Nolte) whose career, despite two Emmy noms, is sinking fast. Matt is married to his work and the responsibilities of parenthood elude him. Nevertheless, Matt finds himself one day the sole guardian of a rambunctious, spoiled daughter, Jeannie (Whittni Wright). Matt doesn't have a clue about raising a kid, and, worse, child-rearing couldn't come at a worse time: A workaholic, beautiful development executive (Joely Richardson) falls for him and convinces her insecure, egomaniac boss (Albert Brooks) that Matt is leading man material.
While brimming with juicy satirical stabs at the entertainment business, ''I'll Do Anything'' is a story that extends beyond the mere bounds of Hollywood moviemaking. Brooks has created characters, people struggling with dreams, who could ostensibly fit a number of professions. Spiced with some droll jabs at the obsessive-compulsive mania of the biz, this film is, nevertheless, no bilious indictment of show business. It's more complex and layered than that because Brooks has created characters who are not one-dimensional stereotypes.
Nolte is well-cast as the struggling actor, a man who is truly confounded by raising a child but whose decency and instincts are applaudable. In the film's juiciest, Albert Brooks is terrific as a workaholic, room-working producer. With his voice lowered half an octave and with his sensitivity cranked up to the jughead level, Brooks could probably be hired for any number of current, real-life development jobs around town. The fact that we eventually come to sympathize with such a celluloid-head is testament to Albert Brooks' inspired performance and James L. Brooks' layered writing. Richardson, as a modestly talented development person, smartly limns the pain of those who are married to their jobs, while Julie Kavner is wonderful as a pill-popping truth teller -- the story's Greek Chorus. Young Wright's performance as Matt's precocious and strong-minded daughter goes far beyond the bounds of mere cuteness.
Tech credits are topped by Stephen J.Lineweaver's character-specific, satirical production design.
I'LL DO ANYTHING
Columbia Pictures
A Gracie Films Production
A James L. Brooks Film
Producers James L. Brooks, Polly Platt
Screenwriter-director James L. Brooks
Executive producer Penney Finkelman Cox
Director of photography Michael Ballhaus
Production designer Stephen J. Lineweaver
Editor-associate producer Richard Marks
Costume designer Marlene Stewart
Music Hans Zimmer
Casting Paula Herold
Sound mixer David M. Kelson
Color/Stereo
Cast:
Matt Hobbs Nick Nolte
Jeannie Hobbs Whittni Wright
Burke Adler Albert Brooks
Nan Mulhanney Julie Kavner
Cathy Breslow Joely Richardson
Beth Hobbs Tracey Ullman
Male D Person Jeb Brown
Female D Person Vicki Lewis
Running time -- 115 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
- 1/31/1994
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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