The Box (Richard Kelly, 2009)

[NoirFan]

Synopsis from Bloody-Disgusting:

Based on the short story by Richard Matheson, "The Box" stars Cameron Diaz as Norma Lewis and James Marsden as Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child who receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. A mysterious stranger, played by Frank Langella, delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. But, pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world...someone they don't know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the crosshairs of a startling moral dilemma and must face the true nature of their humanity.

There was a rumor that the score would be composed by Arcade Fire, but that is only partially correct. Release date moved up to March 20th, 2009.



IMDB page.

[Phod]

Sounds promising but Southland Tales was so horrible I'm not that excited.

[riotinmyskull]

part of this was filmed about 20 minutes away from me and they had a casting call for extras and i found out about it the last day they were shooting. i was pissed.

[Goat3001]

It does sound promising and I enjoyed Southland Tales to a degree. My biggest issue with Richard Kelly is that he makes these movies confusing for the sake of being confusing thinking that it would make him look like a genius. So I'm sure that this very simple plot, that sounds interesting will be made to make no sense, whatsoever.

[Zen Peckinpah]

Might be interested, Latino Review loved the script, haven't seen Southland Tales but I'm one of 15 defenders of Domino in the world I think.

[Cellar Door]

There was an episode of the newer Twilight Zone or Outer Limits that used the same story.

[NoirFan]

A new pic:

[Sanjuro37]

Well, Donnie Darko and Southland Tales are two of the worst movies I've ever watched, but I'm not one for holding a grudge, certainly not against directors. I think that buried beneath his inability to stretch an idea out over the length of a feature, he has some potential. In both Donnie Darko and Southland Tales there were pieces that could have made a good satire, but he ruined them with navel-gazing and muddled incoherence. I just hope this is at least decent. If it's yet another shitheap I think I'll give up on Kelly.

[troystiffler]

Hopefully Kelly can 'flesh out' everything this time around. I liked Southland Tales a lot. But I don't know if I could take another 2/3 resolution. I love a good mystery. But just tell us what's happenin' this time around, man.

[PopcornTreeCt]

Who keeps giving this guy money to make movies?

[Dean Kousoulas]

I'd push the button.

[project86]

You know, I really respect Richard Kelley for what he's at least trying to do.
When the average person hears the word "scifi" they think laser guns and lightsabers, but what I've seen by him, he's just making a realistic modern sci-fi stories. Nobody seriously tries with that genre anymore so it is a breath of fresh air once in while to see someone try to do something different with it.

Anywho, if they actually bring it near me, I will definitely see it.

[True_Story1011]

Originally Posted by Goat3001

It does sound promising and I enjoyed Southland Tales to a degree. My biggest issue with Richard Kelly is that he makes these movies confusing for the sake of being confusing thinking that it would make him look like a genius. So I'm sure that this very simple plot, that sounds interesting will be made to make no sense, whatsoever.

See David Lynch

[Sanjuro37]

Originally Posted by True_Story1011

See David Lynch

The difference between the two is that Lynch is capable of leaving a lot of details in the visuals, even down to miscellaneous props, and the message at least of his films is usually clear even if the events of the movie are jumbled. Kelly just loops around on himself blindly throwing shit at the screen and hoping something sticks. It's like watching an art house porno about a man trying to suck his own dick. At least Lynch can get the tip in.

[Seven%Solution]

Originally Posted by Zen Peckinpah

I'm one of 15 defenders of Domino in the world I think.

16!

And I find myself interested in this simply because of Langella's presence.

[coolinout1]

Looks interesting.

LOVED "Southland Tales" and "Donnie Darko".

Plus, James Marsden is HOT!

[GenPion]

After Southland Tales I am hesitant to give any money towards a Richard Kelly film. That steaming pile was interesting in theory but one of the biggest messes I have ever witnessed. Both Donnie Darko and Domino are excellent though so I will give him at least one more chance to impress me. If this movie is only decent it won't be enough to keep me interested in his future projects though.

[Sanjuro37]

Wait, Kelly wrote Domino? Huh, that wasn't half bad actually. A bit on the side of needlessly convoluted (now I know why), but a pretty cohesive and entertaining story. At least now I know he can write something decent, but can he do so without other directors and producers doing rewrites to make it work?

[fmian]

Both Marsden and Diaz (althout to a lesser extent) have the unfortunate ability to have a decent amount of screen presence while at the same time ruining scenes/movies that would have otherwise been good.

Marsden in Superman Returns for example, and Diaz in everything except Being John Malkovich & Something about Mary. But I believe the latter was the role she was born to play.

I feel that neither of them will be able to give us a decent brooding dramatic performance. I hope I get proved wrong though.

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by fmian

I feel that neither of them will be able to give us a decent brooding dramatic performance. I hope I get proved wrong though.

Same here. Terrible casting, though the film itself does look intriguing, if somewhat unoriginal.

[RyoHazuki]

Originally Posted by Sanjuro37

The difference between the two is that Lynch is capable of leaving a lot of details in the visuals, even down to miscellaneous props, and the message at least of his films is usually clear even if the events of the movie are jumbled. Kelly just loops around on himself blindly throwing shit at the screen and hoping something sticks. It's like watching an art house porno about a man trying to suck his own dick. At least Lynch can get the tip in.

Nice

[Dan1boy]

I'm pushing the button too. F' em! I want a million.

[Sanjuro37]

Diaz could be alright. She went WAY out of her comfort zone for Vanilla Sky and was fantastic. Besides, the more I think about it the more I have no idea how this can be padded out over a feature. It plays like a Twilight Zone episode that I could predict right now- couple gets box, couple debates over what to do, lady needs an operation or some shit and this will pay for it but she doesn't want to kill someone, guy ultimately pushes the button and it kills lady. Lolz ensue.

I swear if that is what happens I'm going to fly to L.A., make Kelly reimburse me for my movie ticket and whatever expenditures I made getting to him. Yeah, it says that someone they don't know will die, but it'll be a cop-out "they didn't really know each other at all" type thing.

[Sean O'Hara]

Originally Posted by Dan1boy

I'm pushing the button too. F' em! I want a million.

You do know how the Twilight Zone version of the story ended?

Spoiler:

The man who gave the couple the box comes by and gives them the money, then he takes the box away and says he's going to give it to someone else -- someone the couple doesn't know. Bwa ha ha ha ha ha!

[chris_sc77]

This has just been pushed back nearly 8 months!!!!!!!!!!!!
Release has been changed from March 20th to November 6th, 2009.