Many have made note on how comics seems to be a R&D unit of major movie studios. Spider-Man is multi-million dollar franchise for Sony and big stars like Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow are part of the team to bring Iron Man to the big screen. Superheroes are fine stuff but there's one comic property that has proven itself for decades that is ripe for the big screen. I am talking about MAD Magazine's Spy vs. Spy.
Anotonio's Prohias's strip portrayed the Cold War in its most basic form. The world of White Spy and Black Spy is a Tom & Jerry cartoon where no side really wins or loses but plenty of destruction is metered out. Just like in real life the attacks perpetrated by one party often comes back to them in a form they could not foresee. It's one of the best concepts in comics history. The Cold War may be over but in these post-Patriot Act times anxieties over espionage have certainly not vanished. A film that uses slapstick humor to portray the futile nature of warfare, even the "little wars" of the intelligence community, is in order.
I've talked to the older and wiser Mike Sterling about this. There seems to be a few creative avenues the filmmakers could choose from. Mike was somewhat enthusiastic about a live action film starring Dave Thomas and John Goodman as the spies with Nicole Kidman appearing at the end as the inevitable Grey Spy. There was thought given to Angelina Jolie as Lady in Grey. Ultimately it was decided that would prove problematic as Goodman would surely come inbetween the Jolie/Pitt romance. We wouldn't the tabloids swarming around the production like the vultures they are. I think live action is also the way to go but I was pretty impressed with the look of these Mountain Dew commercials that starred people in Spy vs. Spy costumes (I've embedded one above). Throw in a few more millions of dollars and I think it could work for a film.
The narrative would be simple. One and one-half hours of two spies killing each other. The movie going audience would be treated to a wordless demonstration of inventive violence with no reason or rhyme to it. One spy would witness the obliteration of the other only for its target to reappear with the same mission: destroy what does not look like you. This mayhem would reach greater and greater proportions until Grey Spy arrives and destroys both of them. I envision all the visceral action of a modern day action film but filtered through influence of Franz Kafka and Rube Goldberg. Get Steven Soderbergh to direct it (have you seen Schizopolis?) and you've got a helluva picture on your hands.
I can only hope the pre-destined success of this film would lead to many of MAD's features becoming films. Mike suggests Fold-In: The Movie and I am ready to consult on The Lighter Side of...The Movie. Permanent Link: 1:19 PM |
6 comments
Comments:
"Metered" out?
# posted by Jack Ruttan : 9:03 PM
I used it in the sense of "To supply in a measured or regulated amount." It was regulated in the sense that MAD magazine made sure neither White Spy nor Black Spy had the most kills. That doesn't quite work in the context of the sentence, though. How about "doiled" out?
# posted by Ian : 7:36 AM
Thought it was a typo for "meted," which is the usual word.
Sorry, I'm being grammar-boy. Feel free to tell me how much I hate comics, or something like that. (got that, which is why I don't do this unless I'm in some sort of mood)
# posted by Jack Ruttan : 4:40 PM
Also good at not getting jokes. aeeeiiiee!
# posted by Jack Ruttan : 4:41 PM
"The Lighter Side: The Movie" is a hilarious idea. I hope it opens with the dad who picks up the phone to hear what he believes to be an obscene phone call...only to realize it's his daughter's boyfriend, and he's into jogging!
# posted by John : 6:18 PM
P.S. Don't miss the 8-bit computer game version.
# posted by John : 6:19 PM
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