So What’s Richard Kelly Up To?

Posted by Darrenon 18. 02. 2011in News Chat It isn’t time to write off Richard Kelly just yet. The writer-director who made his impressive cult film debut nearly a decade ago with ‘Donnie Darko’ is back behind the camera- with Eli Roth in his corner.Variety gives the news:

Richard Kelly will next write and helm the contemporary thriller “Corpus Christi,” a departure into a more traditional narrative for the “Donnie Darko” director.

Kelly and Sean McKittrick will produce along with Eli Roth, who has known the Darko duo since his “Cabin Fever” days. [The] Texas-set story concerns a mentally unstable Iraq war veteran, who forges a strange friendship with his boss, a wealthy and politically ambitious owner of a supermarket chain.

‘Donnie Darko’ was one of the best films of 2001 in my book. I freaking L-O-V-E-D that movie head to toe as did many others. That film gained a following and still rules. All that praise aside, I have wondered …what in the hell happened!? “Southland Tales” was mangled in production and delayed to the point where the film’s mess was all too evident. 2009?s “The Box” was one of the worst films I have ever seen in the last decade. I H*A*T*E*D ‘The Box’. And like ‘Tales’ it tanked. Neither film gained a rep following like ‘Donnie Darko’. After ‘Box’, my heart sank. As inventive as Kelly is, I was fearing that the writer-director was a one hit wonder. I’m still hoping that isn’t the case.

But this is a step in the right direction, I think. Kelly would have to try his hand at a different genre, and although I’m not Eli Roth’s biggest fan, I liked bits and pieces (no pun intended) of ‘Cabin Fever’ and ‘Hostel’. I was also lighly surprised by last year’s ‘Last Exorcism’ which Roth co-produced.

I’m thinking this could be a good partnership. I’m also hoping for at least a glimpse of what promise Kelly’s Donnie gave us not too long ago. Kelly has got a voice in film- I want to root for him.
It’s sink or swim time.

What do you think, should we write off Kelly, or not?

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Richard Kelly Heads for Corpus Christi

Bounces back from The Box

By Josh Winning | Feb 17th 2011

Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly’s not had much luck since his stunning movie debut, his sophomore effort Southland Tales meeting with confused apathy, and 2009’s The Box garnering scathing reviews.

But he looks to be back on track with new film Corpus Christi. A Texas-set thriller, it follows the friendship between an unstable Iraq war vet and his wealthy, supermarket-owning boss.

All three of Kelly’s films thus far have involved some sort of oddball sci-fi angle, which makes the seemingly sci-fi-less Christi sound all the more unusual considering who’s directing.

But with the main character described by Variety as “mentally unstable”, we can’t help but imagine that Kelly has just found a different way to get his weirdness up on screen.

And despite The Box's critical lashing, it was a definite step up from Southland for Kelly, who created a suitably ominous mood and some interesting set pieces before all the logic came crashing to the ground.

With casting now underway on Christi, an announcement of the actors involved will be made by the end of March. Shooting will commence in July.

Source: Variety

Intrigued by what Kelly will make next? Think he can make a comeback after all the critical hate? Talk to us below...

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.