He’s been called the Stanley Kubrick of our generation. His movies are artistic, dark and extremely complex. Just watch Requiem for a Dream or The Fountain and you’ll see the genius that is Darren Aronofsky.
Recently, MGM Studios announced he will be directing a new RoboCop movie. While I have mixed feelings on such a matchup, I think Aronofsky will ditch convention and blow us all away with something completely unexpected.
According to Variety, the new RoboCop will still have our favorite gun-toting, law-enforcing, sci-fi hero, but the broader story of merging technology and humanity will be told with a noir tone. RoboCop is expected to hit theaters in 2010.
Studio execs seem hungry to put indie directors into big-budget properties these days. Most are hoping to mimic the success of recent films like Jon Favreau’s Iron Man and Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Those directors weren’t necessarily sure-fire moneymakers, but they made great movies and lots of people paid to see them.
Aronofsky’s first three films, Pi (1998), Requiem for a Dream (2000) and The Fountain (2006), were not commercially successful at all. Sure they’re brilliant works of art, but only if you’re into abstract storytelling — a concept mainstream moviegoers don’t understand and don’t want to figure out.
And it’s not likely Aronofsky’s next round of films will be blockbusters either, though the subject matter and the fact that he’s not writing the screenplays may reflect a shift in the auteur’s style.
Due out this year is The Wrestler, written by Robert D. Siegel, which tells the story of professional wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson, played by Mickey Rourke. The Fighter will hit theaters in 2009. Written by Paul Attanasio and Lewis Colick, the film looks at the early years of boxing legend Micky Ward, played by Mark Wahlberg. Brad Pitt is also in the film.
At this point we can just hope for the best and trust the visionary director to give us a RoboCop movie worth watching. The pressure is on!
Photo of Darren Aronofsky by The Associated Press
“Just watch Requiem for a Dream or The Fountain and you’ll see the genius that is Darren Aronofsky.”
DISAGREE!
“Just watch Requiem for a Dream or The Fountain and you’ll see the genius that is Darren Aronofsky.”
DISAGREE!