Tag: Hugo Weaving

An Audience with Captain America: Chris Evans Q & A

A group of specially selected international journalists were lucky enough to attend a set visit for Marvel Entertainment’s Captain America: The First Avenger in London last year. As part of the day, and fresh from filming, they were treated to a group interview with lead actor Chris Evans in full Captain America costume. Chris was more than willing to answer any questions thrown at him.

Paramount has sent us over some of the highlights from that interview*:

Q: Did putting the Captain America suit affect your performance in any way, it being such an iconic costume?

A: “Sure. I think wardrobe in general is a pretty big deal for any character and that’s not to knock the magnitude of the suit down. Whenever you put on the clothes, it helps to bring any character to life. Of all the characters I’ve played, superhero or not, I was most excited about putting this suit on. There was a lot of build up for me to do this, a lot of sleepless nights, and then finally putting it on felt fantastic – I never want to take it off. I have real trouble with the fly though!”

Q: What was the cause of those sleepless nights?

A: “I’ll be candid, there was a couple of factors. One, I’d already done the superhero thing and I wasn’t sure how people were going to respond and I was in a really good place in my life in terms of navigating this profession. And there’s no guarantees, but this could be a potential game changer and theoretically based on the potentially planned movies, I could be doing this into my forties and that’s just a crazy thing to wrap your head around. That’s a very stressful thing to pull the trigger on, it’s a big chapter in your life to say ‘yes’.”

Q: Has there been anything that informed the way you created the character of Steve Rogers and Captain America?

A: “Well I started by reading as many comic books as I could find. I think the most helpful thing in the comic book world was finding out who he was before, especially as this is an origin tale. I think if at the end of the movie you can still see skinny Steve in Captain America, then that’s what the audiences will like and that’s what I like. On a personal level I have a friend who is a comic book nut and he is the best human being I know, he does the right thing and his morals are intact and I told him I was basing the Captain America character on him – I wish I could do his reaction!”

Q: As an actor, how do you feel about being modified by CGI?

A: “It’s certainly a different animal, sure, but you can have a lot of fun with it. I think most actors probably started out running around in their backyards playing make believe, so you just have to let yourself go but it’s kind of fun. I feel 8 years old again and I’m running around in a Captain America suit, you’re a kid all over again.“

Q: How’s it been using the shield?

A: “It’s good, it’s tricky, they have a bunch of different shields. Some of them are the real heavy legit shields that look good on screen, some are the rubber ones for stunts. But it’s cool and it’s great seeing the stuntman dressed up and thinking ‘is that what I look like? Cool!’. No, the shield is the icing on the cake.

Captain America-Shield Intro by Paramount_Australia

Q: Could you tell us about the scene you’re shooting today?

A: “Sure. Today is towards the end of the film, it’s like my final big battle with Red Skull on his giant plane. I can’t say too much about why he’s on the plane but that’s where he is. So, it’s a lot of stunt work and bumps and bruises. And the set is on hydraulics so we’ll be having a lot of fun with that. Long days!”

Q: Could you talk about Steve’s relationship with his friend Bucky?

A: “It’s great, it’s a little different to the original Captain America comics where Bucky is more of a young sidekick but the relationship is still really well developed and you really care about these guys. You know they’re friends before Steve gets the injection. But I don’t want to give too much away”

Q: How grounded in reality is the action?

“That’s a good question and one that I had. I mean, what are the extent of his abilities? Can he jump over mountains? You want the guy to be superior but you don’t want him punching through brick walls. Basically, they equated it to the fact he would crush the Olympics and win every event, he could lift more, run faster, jump higher but he’s not perfect, he’s not untouchable. Which, humanises it I think, when he punches someone he’s not going to fly back on a cable or anything but he probably won’t get back up!”

*This is a syndicated interview, and not original content from The Reel Bits

Captain America: The First Avenger is released in Australia on 28 July 2011 from Paramount.

The Reel Bits is the cinema arm of DVD Bits. Richard can be found on Twitter @DVDBits. The Reel Bits is also @The_ReelBits

July 29, 2011
Captain America: The First Avenger

The perfect penultimate piece to the Marvel cinematic universe, and a rousing adventure story. A timely reminder of why we love comic book heroes, and one of the best superhero films of the year.

With 2008’s Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, Marvel Comics began a cinematic journey unlike any other. Where other studios were scrambling to find the “next big thing” from decades-old superheroes, Marvel Studios self-produced their own characters as part of cinematic universe establishing all the major players in their tent-pole 2012 release The Avengers. Following the success of last year’s Iron Man 2, and this year’s Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger is the last piece in not only the cinematic puzzle Marvel has been forming, but the most crucial element in the success of next year’s unprecedented box office drawcard.

In the present day, scientists discover a large craft in the Arctic and a mysterious red, white and blue object buried deep inside it. Flash back to 1942, and scientist Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving, Transformers: Dark of the Moon) leads the Nazi science division HYDRA in an assault to recover a mysterious and powerful object that he believes possesses the power of the gods. Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, the frail Steve Rogers (Chris Evans, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World) is rejected from military service for the fifth time, but the scrappy and honest citizen is spotted by expatriate German scientist Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci, Burlesque) as a potential candidate for the US super soldier program. Undergoing a radical experiment, Rogers is transformed into the super-human Captain America, and becomes a powerful weapon in the US arsenal under Colonel Chester Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones, In the Electric Mist) and SSR officer Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell, The Duchess) in the fight against HYDRA and the Red Skull.

The international appeal of a character named Captain America was always going to be a dicey prospect, as the man is quite literally a human flag. In the world of Marvel Comics, he is their Superman: the symbol of all things truth and justicey, quite literally born of the Second World War in a 1941 comic that depicted him punching out Adolf Hitler, an act parodied in Captain America: The First Avenger. The film treads a thin line between being an overtly jingoistic and mass-appeal action film, and in many ways the film has to have elements of the former in order to stay true to the character. Like this year’s X-Men: First Class, much of the pull of this outing is in the retro chic of the character. Like X-Men, this film functions principally as a period piece, recreating both the battlefields of the 1940s and the sentiment on the home front. Some of the most appealing scenes come in the USO performances that the Cap is drafted to perform initially, reminding us that a very different relationship existed between the American people and their government prior to the Vietnam War.

When Rogers takes to the field in full uniform, the film takes on a different shape entirely, becoming the boys-own Dubya-Dubya-Two adventure that we secretly hoped it would be. Clichéd to be sure, but it is a spectacular one, with the historically uneven director Joe Johnston (who was last seen on The Wolfman) handling both the action sequences and the dramatic elements with equal confidence. Using the contrivance of the high-tech weaponry powered by the otherworldly energy of Odin’s realm (in a nice nod to Thor), audiences get the best of both worlds in period thrills and modern-day cataclysmic explosions in one neat package. Evans, no stranger to super-powered beings after two stints as Johnny Storm in the Fantastic Four films, brings equal parts earnestness and bravado to the iconic character. Weaving delights in chewing his way through the scenery and almost stealing them away from the hero in a pitch-perfect performance, while Tommy Lee Jones brings the considerable weight of his established persona to an integral role. Haley Atwell will undoubtedly break some hearts during the film, with the (largely) television actress set to go on to big things after this star-making and fiery performance.

It is only in the final reels of the film that Captain American: The First Avenger falters for the first time, struggling to find the right way to reach its predetermined conclusion. This is, after all, the last film by which audiences will measure their expectations of The Avengers team-up, and it needs to tie up a certain number of threads in preparation for that monolith. Filled with knowing references to the films that have come before (including Dominic Cooper as a young Howard Stark, father of future Iron Man Tony Stark) and sly winks at the audience hinting at what is to come, and you really need to stick around for the end credits this time. Captain America:The First Avenger provides viewers with a timely reminder of why these comics were so integral to the American psyche for so many years, and why (despite repeated attempts on page and screen) they will never die.

[stextbox id=”grey”]USA | 125 minutes | Director: Joe Johnston | Starring: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Haley Atwell

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Captain America: The First Avenger is released in Australia on 28 July 2011 from Paramount.

July 25, 2011
Two new clips from ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’

Captain America: The First Avenger is only a week away from hitting Australian cinemas, and Paramount have been kind enough to send over two brand-new clips from the film and the final Australia one-sheet poster.

In the first of these, we witness the birth of the Cap, or as the title of the clip suggests, his rebirth as a “taller” and stronger version of Steve Rogers. Immediately following this is a clip showing Captain America in action, with the simply titled “Shield Fight”. It shows off the fighting sequences in the film, and some of the impressive special effects we can expect. Our buzz hasn’t waned at all, what about yours?

Captain America-Rebirth by Paramount_Australia

Captain America-Shield Fight by Paramount_Australia

Captain America: The First Avenger will focus on the early days of the Marvel Universe when Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) volunteers to participate in an experimental program that turns him into the Super Soldier known as Captain America. As Captain America, Rogers joins forces with Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) to wage war on the evil HYDRA organization, led by the villainous Red Skull (Hugo Weaving).

Click image for larger version

Captain America: The First Avenger will be released in Australia on 28 July 2011 by Paramount.

The Reel Bits is the cinema arm of DVD Bits. Richard can be found on Twitter@DVDBits and Sarah @swardplay. The Reel Bits is also @The_ReelBits.

July 20, 2011
New ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ Trailer and Poster

Captain America: The First Avenger may only be a month away from release, but that hasn’t stopped Marvel and Paramount from releasing a brand new trailer and poster in the last 24 hours.

The new trailer, courtesy of Paramount Australia, comes complete with more footage from the film, a pumping soundtrack from Tool and perhaps more importantly, more Tommy Lee Jones.

UPDATE (29/6/11): We have replaced the Yahoo! trailer with the official Australian release.

Captain America: The First Avenger Trailer F by Paramount_Australia

The new poster for Captain America: The First Avenger isn’t quite as fun as the recently released retro poster, in which the Cap is seen punching out Hitler, but it retains a certain handmade iconic charm that has been making its way into Marvel posters of late.

Captain America: The First Avenger will focus on the early days of the Marvel Universe when Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) volunteers to participate in an experimental program that turns him into the Super Soldier known as Captain America. As Captain America, Rogers joins forces with Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) to wage war on the evil HYDRA organization, led by the villainous Red Skull (Hugo Weaving).

Captain America: The First Avenger will be released in Australia on 28 July 2011 by Paramount.

The Reel Bits is the cinema arm of DVD Bits. Richard can be found on Twitter@DVDBits and Sarah @swardplay. The Reel Bits is also @The_ReelBits.

June 24, 2011
Review: Oranges and Sunshine

Australia is still healing from the outrage and anguish caused by the Stolen Generations of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children forcibly removed from their parents between 1869 and 1969, internationally acknowledged in Phillip Noyce’s Rabbit-Proof Fence, with former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s formal apology only going part of the way towards reconciliation. During this same time, the UK also had a child migrant policy called Home Children, in which 100,000 children were sent to Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. The children were not necessarily orphans, and was disturbingly still going in the 1970s. Oranges and Sunshine, the debut feature film from Jim Loach (son of Ken Loach), explores this troubling heritage.

Social worker Margaret Humphries (Emily Watson, Cold Souls) is working in Nottingham in the UK when she unwittingly stumbles upon the previously hidden Home Children policy when approached by Charlotte (Federay Holmes), an Australian woman wanting to know who she is. After speaking with Jack (Hugo Weaving, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole), the Australian brother of one of her charges, she discovers that thousands of British children were sent to Australia as part of a forced migration scheme. Being promised “oranges and sunshine”, but met only with harsh labour and unforgiving conditions at the hands of the institutions, the now adult migrants want to know where they came from. Margaret makes it her mission to uncover the truth, but is not only met with resentment from the authorities, but with fear and angst from former ward Len (David Wenham, Public Enemies).

There is a danger in these sweeping sagas of both reducing a cultural wound to the angst of a handful of Name Actors, or doing quite the opposite in blowing up the very intimate and personal details of generations of people for big-screen tears. Loach’s steady hand, honed over a number of years on television series such as Holby City, narrowly avoids either of these dilemmas (for the most part) by relying on factually-based script by Rona Munro (Almost Adult). The storyline is grounded in the realities of the era, and while Oranges and Sunshine doesn’t always avoid the obvious cliches of the genre (for it is rapidly becoming at least a sub-genre), it is accompanied by an earnestness from the filmmakers, and not to mention an incredibly talented group of actors. Weaving shows that his versatility shows no bounds, bouncing back and forth from quieter films such as Last Ride to the big-budget Hollywood blockbusters Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Captain America: The First Avenger. Watson shows that she is not adverse to trying new things, similarly finding herself in quirky fare such as Cold Souls and Synecdoche, New York and Steven Spielberg’s forthcoming War Horse.

Yet this shocking subject matter doesn’t always deliver the drama that one would assume from the description on the back of the box. There are some obvious moments of melodrama, however, with the choice to distill much of the complex narrative of 100,000 lost children into the two-hander between Wenham and Watson. Yet there is a certain emotional distance kept not only in this relationship, with the often taciturn Wenham giving us few opportunities to gain any understanding of his angst, and the reliance on the facts and occasional barrier to the deeper emotional and cultural scars that this case has unveiled. Where Rabbit-Proof Fence gave us a hit of the deep scar that ran through the nation, Oranges and Sunshine only scrapes the surface of the anguish. Yet throughout the narrative, Loach and Munro maintain a certain truth to the tale that less-accomplished filmmakers would have missed.

Jim Loach’s debut feature film is a fascinating, and undoubtedly tragic, tale of forgotten chapter of UK/Australian relations that is occasionally overwrought by melodrama, and other times keeping its distance. Either way, a strong debut from Loach and we are looking forward to more work from him in the future.

Oranges and Sunshine was released 9 June 2011 in Australia from Icon.

June 9, 2011
First Look: 2 New ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ TV Spots

With all of the hype surrounding superhero films X-Men: First Class and the US-released Green Lantern this week, Captain America: The First Avenger has managed to quietly slip a few new TV spots, with new footage no less, in under the radar.

Based on the long-running Marvel comic,Captain America: The First Avenger, the film tells the story of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), a runt of a soldier plucked from obscurity during the Second World War and made into an American super soldier by US government experiements. As the title implies, the film will also serve as a forerunner to the spin-off film, Joss Whedon’s The Avengers, tying the storylines of the recent Iron Man films, The Hulk and Thor together as the ultimate super-team assembles.

Starring Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Tommy Lee Jones, Hayley Atwell, Samuel L. Jackson, Stanley Tucci and Hugo Weaving, these clips come to us from MarvelFreshmanTV in glorious HD. Both screened yesterday in the US.

Captain America: The First Avenger will be released in Australia on 28 July 2011 by Paramount.

June 2, 2011
First Look: ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ – Red Skull

Few Marvel comics are iconic as Captain America, the human embodiment of the American flag. Thanks to Paramount, not only do we have a look at the Australian trailer for the film, but an exclusive image of the Cap’s nemesis: the Red Skull! Red Skull will be played by Australia’s Hugo Weaving, who is no stranger to big-budget epics like The Matrix or the Lord of the Rings films.

Based on the long-running Marvel comic, Captain America: The First Avenger, the film tells the story of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), a runt of a soldier plucked from obscurity during the Second World War and made into an American super soldier by US government experiements. As the title implies, the film will also serve as a forerunner to the spin-off film, The Avengers, tying the storylines of the recent Iron Man films, The Hulk and the forthcoming Thor together as the ultimate super-team assembles.

Image is © 2010 MVLFFLLC. TM & © 2010 Marvel Entertainment, LLC and its subsidiaries. All rights reserved.

Captain America: The First Avenger will be released in Australia on 28 July 2011 by Paramount.

April 8, 2011