REVERSE ANGLE
Across the universes
Here’s a crossover nobody wanted: “21 Jump Street” and “Men in Black.”
Sony is going forward with the idea, originally revealed in the infamous 2014 email hack. Now, not to say Hollywood ever runs out of ideas and starts cannibalizing, but …
It makes sense that Warners/ DC would finally try its hand at Marvel’s crossover magic — hence this weekend’s “Batman v Superman” (not a sequel to “Kramer vs. Kramer”). All over town, there are plans to create shared universes: Lego (five movies under construction); Godzilla and King Kong; and of course the Fox/Marvel movies may get better now that “Deadpool” has shown the way.
Hasbro is combining “Transformers” and “G.I. Joe,” which sounds absolutely brain-deadening. Though there’s word the Micronauts are joining in soon, which could be just a little awesome. Even “Star Wars” is taking the hint — in reverse — with its stand-alone spinoff movies.
But “Men in Black”/“21 Jump Street”? And no Will Smith or Tommy Lee Jones, or even Josh Brolin? Won’t this do something bad to the space-time continuum?
Sounds as if Sony was digging under cushions for properties to stick together. Naturally, that includes “Ghostbusters” (the next one may join the Russo brothers, Drew Pearce, Channing Tatum and maybe Chris Pratt), but what’s next?
“Hitch” meets “Tootsie”? Will Smith has a “Crying Game” moment with Dustin Hoffman? “Jerry Maguire” meets “Air Force One”? The superagent has to negotiate with terrorists while a retired wide receiver risks annoying them into blowing up the president’s plane?
Trivia question
There was sort of an Elmore Leonard shared cinematic universe — sort of — when the same character appeared in both Quentin Tarantino’s “Jackie Brown” and Steven Soderbergh’s “Out of Sight.” Who was he and who played him?
Celebrity apprentices
Just as Donald Trump’s popularity has confounded analysts — it’s not limited to one or two demographic groups, but crosses many lines — his celebrity supporters have proved a mixed bag.
To name a few: Kid Rock and Gary Busey; OK, that figures … Stephen Baldwin, despite being “fired” by Trump on TV; sure … John Rocker — if you want him on your side … and Latrell Sprewell? Dennis Rodman and Mike Tyson? Loretta Lynn … OK … Aaron Carter … really? Tila Tequila and Azealia Banks?
This group, whatever one thinks of each member’s work or actions, actually does represent something of a cross section of America. A weird, weird cross section.
Rickman’s last ride
The late Alan Rickman will have one more film this year — “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” for which he provided the voice of Blue Caterpillar — but his last onscreen performance is in the newly released drone-strike drama, “Eye in the Sky.”
“He was someone you could engage in a conversation with about global affairs, politics, social justice,” says “Eye” director Gavin Hood, who cast him against type as a general.
“He said to me at one point,” Hood slipping into a fair Rickman impersonation, “‘Are you sure you want me to do this?’ He had this amazing skill as an actor, to play something with absolute truth, but make us laugh out of a situation that was real.”
Co-star Helen Mirren shot all her scenes with Rickman separately — they never met on set.
“We did Antony and Cleopatra onstage. In a really bad production, unfortunately. It was a disaster,” she said, with a laugh. “But I loved him. He was a wonderful guy. I think he’d be very proud of this film.”
Trivia answer
ATF agent Ray Nicolette was played by Michael Keaton in both movies.