More Spies are coming from the set of Brian DePalma's SNAKE EYES!!! I've loved alot of DePalma flicks, even RAISING CAIN, but that's for the masochistic joy it gives me and my friends! Whew BAD movie BAD BAD BAD BAD!!! Anyway, let's hope SNAKE EYES is either GREAT or real real real real real BAD. But not mediocre! Here's the latest reports on the film. THESE DO HAVE SPOILERS SO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!! This first one came in from Her Majesty's Secret Service!!!
Here's what I was able to figure out about the story:
Cage's character is long time friends with Gary Sinese's character (Cage is a cop or detective while Sinese is working at a high level for the government). We all know that there was an assassination, but who was behind it?
According to someone I spoke to on the set -who managed to pick up a copy of the script that was lying around- Gary Sinese is the bad guy. When Cage realizes his long-time friend was behind it, it forces Cage to confront his own shady past.
The assassination scene (which is primarily what I saw filmed), should look something like this in the end (though who really knows how they'll edit it?): Cage enters the arena speaking to someone on his cell phone. He then meets Sinese who is waiting for him ring-side. At this point, the fight begins and Cage is watching the fight. Sinese, however, notices that someone who was sitting opposite him, is no longer in their seat. Instead, a beautiful red-head is in the seat (at Casino fights, people don't trade seats like in the bleacher section at a baseball game!) Sinese -who is maybe in charge of security, or protecting the official who gets assassinated- is suspicious and gets up to go talk to her. At that moment, she gets up and walks away. The fight really heats up and the crowd jumps to its feet, preventing Gary from reaching her. It is at this moment that the assassination occurs (after Gary and the Red-head have just left the main arena). A gunman comes out of a large, yellow-Miller sign. There are secret steps that lead to this sign from behind. Additionally, the red-head (who was originally walking toward this sign when she was trying to loose Sinese) somehow gets involved with the shooting. It was hard to see from where I was sitting, but she seemed to have a gun. In any case, more than one person was shooting (besides the Miller sign gunman). The first shots are a silencer (the assassination), but after that they are loud (the extras were instructed to ignore the first shots for the assassination, but start running out when the other gunfire begins). Anyway, as I've said, the extras run out at this point, so there wasn't anything else for us to do... or see.
One more thing though, there is a remote controlled, mini gondola (about twelve feet long) that floats around the arena. The gondola was grey and had a sign on it, but I saw (in one of their storage areas) flimsy white mock-ups of it attached to gas tanks. I figure they plan to blow it up, but I could be wrong on that point.
This SNAKE EYES follower is the elusive MARLOWE. To catch this spy you'll have to boat up a narrow long river and endure hell like you've never known. This time, I'll save you the journey by relating the words of the great Marlowe...
The extras received a fight program. On the fight program(really cool looking) there is a picture of a fierce looking STAN SHAW who plays the boxer LINCOLN TYLER. The title on the program reads `POWELL PAY-PER-VIEW PRESENTS` the Atlantic city Executioner TYLER vs RUIZ.
The boxing match is refered to as the `sporting event of the year`(kinda like Tyson and Holyfield without the biting). Anyhow, here`s a blurb about the film that no one is supposed to read, yet: Atlantic city police detective RICK SANTORO(NiCK `please TIM don`t let him be Superman`CAGE) joins his visiting friend Navy Commander KEVIN DUNNE (GARY`should get more sleep`SINISE), a high ranking Department of Defense official who is in charge of security for the United States, at a heavyweight boxing match.
When DUNNE`S back is turned, the Secretary of Defense is assassinated and fourteen thousand fight fans become suspects, possible accomplices, and witnesses. The arena is sealed as the murder investigation begins. Temporarily in charge and seeking to salvage his friends` career, RICK(can`t possibly be supes) joins forces with DUNNE to untangle the events preceding the assassination.
Battling time and with limited manpower, RICK seeks answers from three witnesses: JULIA COSTELLO(CUGINO, really hot), a mysterious woman who was speaking to the Secretary just before he was shot and disapeared into the crowd immediately after; LINCOLN TYLER(STAN SHAW) the heavyweight champ who lost the fight; and DUNNE himself, who was suspiciously drawn away from his post in the moments before the fatal shots rang out. As the events leading up to the assassination are replayed by the memories of each of the three witnesses, RICK puts the puzzle pieces together and uncovers an intricate conspiracy. The burden of this knowledge forces RICK to examine his conscience and come face to face with his own questionnable past.
That`s all for now Harry, next time I might send you a copy of the original Snake Eyes script(really, really good) by Dave Koepp, along with an official fight program. By the way KUDOS for being among the mighty 100 power mongers in Hollywood. This is MARLOW saying goodby...For now.
