Movie Preview: The Wolfman

It seems that the remake season will be starting early in 2010. In this case though we might see a change from the normal massacre that ‘revisioned’ Hollywood films tend to provide these days. Or so the trailer for The Wolfman wants us to believe.



I really would like for this film to be good. For several reasons.

First, I think Benicio Del Toro is a great actor. He doesn’t get as much acclaim as he should, nor as many leading roles. Comparing him to most of the leading men in Hollywood these days, he stands far affront of the crowd. Unless you think that GI Joe was an Oscar winning film.

Another reason I’d like to see this film do well is that this remake looks like the classic version done by Lon Chaney Jr. No he isn’t related to the former VP. I’m talking about the son of the actor with 1000 faces, and you just have to see his role in Of Mice And Men.

The original film wasn’t about the intense special effects that seems to fill every movie these days. It wasn’t done with CGI or complex make-up. It was just acting, and it holds up over the decades.

This version looks to try to capture some of that filmmaking style. Yes there is a lot of make-up. And it couldn’t be made these days without CGI (which seems to be as important as lighting in current films). But considering how absolutely ridiculous the effects could have been (ie Transformers), this is comparatively barebones. Which means the acting has to be spot on or it won’t work.

Add to the above the fact that Hugo Weaving and Sir Anthony Hopkins are in the film and you have a cast that can be right on the money.

The potential problems with the film?

It’s a period piece, which usually doesn’t sell well with the modern youthful movie-goer.

There are no vampires in the film. How dare they.

You have to wonder if the above the line cost went to the actor’s pay or the script.

It’s being released in February and not October or March. Not a great sign, but usually means a weaker film.

It’s unlikely anyone but the actors know who Lon Chaney Jr is.

Some people will hear the accents and think it’s a foreign film. Which means it’s like garlic to a vampire.

So will the film work? We don’t have too long to find out. But my money is on Benicio Del Toro.