He folks, Harry here. Before we move on to the sinister Sardonicus, I wanted to clue you in on the bit that I have read this script as well, and it has quite a lot of potential that is dependent upon wonderful execution and casting. With Mel Gibson as the 'swamp fox' you have a wonderful lead, but this film needs to surround him with a ton of great character actors that feel like they've lived in the wilderness and tamed it. I can't wait to hear David Arnold's score for this one. I tell ya, he's just soooo right to do piccolo flutters and snare drum rhythms... If you have heard anything about the casting on this film... drop me a line!
Hello Master Knowles, Sardonicus here...
I suppose you never know when fortune shall smile upon you and throw a morsel of coolness your way, so you can imagine how pleased I was during a tedious flight earlier this week. First, a quick word to the pseudo-player that begged me to move to the window seat in case he needed to stretch his legs into the aisle after flying in for some very important last-minute screenings...
Never, ever, ever fall asleep next to me on a plane after bragging that you've got the latest draft of Mel Gibson's next movie in your lap.
I didn't get a whole lot of time to read, just a couple of scenes, but from what I did read, Mel's playing a South Carolinan father of seven in this Revolutionary War piece, a man whose feats on the battlefield in past conflicts are legendary. However, with the new war with England looming and the rebellion seeking help, Benjamin Martin (Gibson) declines to fight or to even condone others fighting on his behalf, his late wife's calming influence still guiding him. It isn't until later, after his son Gabriel is killed (another son, Thomas, dies along the way, but I didn't find the circumstances behind his death) that Martin decides to return to his old ways. While I didn't have time to scan through for battle scenes (darn guy kept threatening to wake up), the dialogue I had read was quite moving. I'd really like to get my hands on this script again to find out more. Perhaps your able friend Moriarty could track this puppy down...
Until we meet again, Master Knowles, be well...
Sardonicus
