Moriarty has a lot of info on what's going on in Mike Myers' world, and especially what he should be doing. This ranges from AUSTIN POWERS 2 to SPROCKETS to a super cool project called 20 BILLION. Alas it seems the dollar signs have blinded the access tv god and now... well he's off to sequel hell.... Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, you're not worthy you're not worthy.... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... Well, here's Moriarty...
"Moriarity" here.
Like any evil genius working on his Evil Master Plan To Rule The World, I like to take a break from time to time and enjoy a good laugh. That's why one of my very favorite film moments from 1997 was Dr. Evil and his son Scott in family therapy group session. This sublimely silly scene is an example of why Mike Myers needs to be working more.
For anyone following the trades lately, Myers has been showing up quite a bit. I guess the success of AUSTIN POWERS really put him back in people's minds again. 54, in which he plays Steven Rubell, is out this summer, and I'm interested. The script was okay, but the part of Rubell stood out as a really daring departure for Myers. It could provide room for him to establish himself as a "real" actor for those of you who don't fully respect comedy. I hope, anyway.
He's working, of course, on the AUSTIN POWERS sequel. Originally, Sean Penn approached Myers about writing him a role in the sequel as an American secret agent who had been frozen in the '70s who is thawed and teamed up with Powers. I'd love to see Penn return to comedy, but it sounds like Myers has gone in a different direction, with the script he's co-authoring being about Austin losing his sexual mojo and getting transported back in time to the Summer of Love so he can get it back.
He also just signed a deal to bring SPROCKETS to the bigscreen, with a full-length Dieter movie. I'm not sure what I think of this. Mike's got a good sense of humor, so I'm sure there will be a lot funny material in the film, but I'm not sure how interesting a film about a nihilistic German weenie is going to be.
Much more interesting was the announcement that he'd be starring in the upcoming Michael Tolkin film 20 BILLION, a film that (for reasons I can't disclose without spoiling a big chunk of the ingenious script) will appeal to the SF geeks who read your page, Harry. In the film, Mike was going to play Dennis Morton, a character that was very obviously inspired by Bill Gates. In fact, this script (which is actually co-written by Tolkin, Stephen Gaghan, and Michael R. Perry) manages to paint a very complex portrait of this Gates-like character. They've managed to do something that I think is very difficult -- craft a BEING THERE-like story of an emotional innocent that avoids feeling derivative. Dennis Morton is much like Chauncey Gardner or Forrest Gump, despite being a "brilliant" billionaire. In some ways, he's completely at a loss -- mainly anything social.
It's his attempts to fill that hole at the center of his life, to somehow become part of the world, that make up the core of this film. I wouldn't describe it as a drama, and I wouldn't call it a comedy. It treads that line carefully, and provides a fascinating showcase for an actor. Dennis Morton is invited to join a club of other billionaires that meets once a year at a secluded ranch. The film is built like a CD-ROM tour through the life of its central figure, with the purpose of that billionaire's club being the mystery that drives the whole thing. There's a lot of very sharp satire of the pursuit of massive, world-changing wealth as Dennis's company comes under fire when some of their software causes a mining accident that kills dozens. This threatens Dennis's membership in the club and also introduces him to the first serious romantic relationship in his life. There's big laughs and some very big ideas intermingled here. This script reads the way the old legendary early drafts of Barry Levinson and Valerie Curtain's TOYS did -- smart, witty, vicious, surreal. There's some lovely imagery here, some real emotion. It's a tour de force, and is a film to keep your eye on as its cast comes together.
That's why I was startled when Myers announced he was not going to make 20 BILLION this week. He cited the old familiar "creative differences." Harry, it's time to reach out to Mike. It's time to talk directly to him in an effort to stop him from making a mistake.
Mike... if you read this... reconsider about 20 BILLION. If it's a personality thing, be the big man about it. If it's a genuine script conflict, get in there and fight to make it better. If you don't think you're right for it -- you are. This could be your BEING THERE. I use that comparison because I know you're a big Peter Sellers fan. He'd have played this role if it was offered to him. There's a hint of the STRANGELOVE to this film as well (even if it is more optimistic) that he'd love.
Please... AUSTIN 2 can wait. SPROCKETS can wait. That's ground you're going back to. 20 BILLION is bold new territory for you, and the logical next step.
Aside from being a fellow evil genius out to rule the world, I've got no reason to say this to Mike except that I like his work and think that he's got the potential to be one of the best film comics working if he continues to push himself.
Having said that, I have diabolical plots to get back to, so if you'll excuse me...
"Moriarity" out. !
