Patrick Fabian says ‘Last Exorcism’ scares on its own terms
While the film title “The Last Exorcism” is sure to remind some of the classic 1973 horror film “The Exorcist,” star Patrick Fabian said the filmmakers wanted to leave their own interpretation on the subject matter.
“I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been scared by ‘The Exorcist,’” Fabian said in a recent interview. “But we weren’t trying to make an ‘Exorcist 2.’ We didn’t shoot looking over our shoulders.”
Fabian plays Cotton Marcus, a minister who has lost his faith and hires a documentary film crew to expose his secrets. When he’s called to the Sweetzer family farm in rural Louisiana to perform an exorcism, he thinks he’ll be confessing his secrets. But what he finds is something far worse.
“It was originally titled ‘Cotton.’ And the director, Daniel Stamm, was intent on telling this man’s story of faith, or lack thereof. And what you find is that Daniel’s storytelling abilities are tremendously creative and strong, and completely different from ‘The Exorcist.’ And the themes of faith, good versus evil and redemption have been around forever. This is a great scare that stands on its own.”
Cotton Marcus was a child-preaching prodigy who followed his father’s footsteps into the pulpit.
“But he’s been mostly a fraud,” Fabian said. “And having a crisis of conscience has made him hire a film crew to expose the charlatanism and fakery that Cotton believes exorcism is. However, when we get to the Sweetzer farm, the reverend encounters something he’s not prepared to deal with.”
Fabian praised his co-star Ashley Bell, who plays Nell Sweetzer, the daughter Cotton must try to save.
“Cannot say enough good things about her,” he said. “If you have an exorcist movie and the possessed girl isn’t believable, you don’t have a movie. She was terrific; she really brought it. And everything she does in the movies, she does in the movie; that creepy pose on the poster? All her.”
The film is directed in a faux-documentary style by Stamm, working with cinematographer Zoltan Honti.
“I think the style allows the audience to feel like they’re really living in the scenes they’re seeing,” Fabian said. “What cinematographer Zoltan Honti does so well in this film is allow the audience to truly get comfortable with the characters and story; they’re seduced into feeling relaxed before he straps them in and takes them for a harrowing ride. What I appreciate most about his camera work is his willingness to lay into a scene; it’s not a herky-jerky sensation whatsoever. But it is spooky.”
Fabian said he visited evangelical churches in Los Angeles and New Orleans to prepare for his role.
“The spirit in those rooms was amazing,” Fabian said.
Fabian said he was partially inspired by Burt Lancaster in “Elmer Gantry” as well as modern-day fallen preachers in the role of Cotton Marcus.
“Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart and Ted Haggard are wonderful examples of holy men who are brought to their knees by their humanity and hubris,” Fabian said. “I think any good preacher has to have a lot of good actor in him.”
Fabian’s next role, in fact, will be playing an actor, in the Teen Nick series “Gigantic,” which debuts Oct. 8.
“It’s a teenage ‘Entourage’ set in Hollywood, and I get to play a movie star dad, which is great, because if you play a movie star on television, you get a fantastic house and wonderful clothes!” Fabian said.
- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
Wonder Woman revealed in DCU Online game
Sony has revealed Wonder Woman’s look in the DC Universe Online game. Players will have the opportunity to fight alongside or against Wonder Woman as they create their own legend in the DC Universe Online.
Click past the cut for images of Wonder Woman as designed for DC Universe Online.
- Matt Price
Rocketeer, Asterios Polyp among Harvey award winners
The Comics Reporter has a roundup of the 2010 Harvey Award winners, for work published in 2009.
IDW’s re-publication of the Dave Stevens “Rocketeer” comics won for Best Domestic Reprint Project and Special Award for Excellence in Presentation. Laura Martin won “Best Colorist” for her work on the project.
David Mazuchelli’s graphic novel “Asterios Polyp” won best original graphic album and best single issue or story. Mazuchelli also won for best letterer.
Image Comics did well, with awards for “Chew” and “Walking Dead,” and IDW added to their wins for “Rocketeer” with an award for Darwyn Cooke’s “Parker” graphic novel. Check out the full list of winners at The Comics Reporter.
- Matt Price
Monday movie quote challenge #94
“I know a guy who walks into a bank with a little glass bottle. He tells everyone it’s nitroglycerine. He scores some money off the teller, walks out. On his way out, the bottle breaks, he slips on it and knocks himself out. The “nitro” was Canola oil.”
Identify who said the above quote in what film in the comments!
Read a comic book in public on Saturday
Kyle Roberts and Matt Price - not afraid to read comics in public. Or on video.
Most of the readers of this blog probably read comics on a pretty regular basis. Tomorrow, Aug. 28, go ahead and do so in public. Why? It’s “International Read Comics in Public Day!”
From the “About” page of “International Read Comics in Public Day:
Comics are now widely accepted as a legitimate and vibrant art form—so why do I still feel a bit embarrassed to let strangers know about my not-so-secret passion?
My fellow Daily Cross Hatch editor Sarah Morean suggested that we turn the joke into something a bit nobler—and perhaps more permanent. And thus, the first annual Read Comics in Public Day was born.
The concept is fairly simple: we’re asking that everyone take an hour or two out of their day on August 28th (also the birthday of Jack “King” Kirby, incidentally) to read a comic book in a public setting—a park bench, a beach, a bus, the front steps of your local library (we do ask, however, that you be mindful of local loitering laws). Let strangers see you reading a piece of sequential art.
I thought this was fantastic, though I thought it was also not a huge deal. I read comics all the time, and it’s 2010, it’s not like anyone thinks comics cause illiteracy anymore, in fact, the opposite has been proven in many studies. And then I saw this:
Nancy King is running for re-election as a state senator in Maryland. Her campaign indicates that the consequences of her not winning re-election would be teacher layoffs, which would lead, naturally, to kids reading comic books (and the Marvel Previews, apparently). Chris Sims at Comics Alliance responds for those of us who actually learned to love reading at least partially from comics:
“The message King’s sending to her constituents — and to me, Dean Trippe and our entire industry — is that comics are a terrifying consequence, that reading them is the equivalent of not having teachers. That they are, in fact, the opposite of education. It’s a “This could happen… TO YOU!” scare tactic that, again, literally uses children reading as the consequence that we have to elect her to avoid, and that just blows my mind.
What’s the worst that could happen from kids reading comics? Watch out, they might learn to enjoy reading! Be careful, they could learn new words like “sepulchre” or “fission,” two that I picked up as a kid reading Batman stories. They might even learn to use their imaginations to create stories of their own, and then what a world we’d be living in.”
That’s a great response. I’d love to see an actual response from King… but I doubt that will happen. Dean Trippe, mentioned in Sims’ response, also wrote an open letter to King.
So, I’ve decided to participate in “International Read Comics in Public Day.” I probably won’t do so with my college diploma taped to my chest, but, reading comics taught me a lot of vocabulary and fostered a love for reading that helped lead me through my entire educational process. Maybe comics have farther to go than I thought to correct those who don’t understand that words and art in harmony can be a beautiful and educational thing. But let’s take a step tomorrow to begin having that discussion.
Happy Read Comics in Public Day! And if you read a comic in public tomorrow, please, send me a picture!
- Matt Price
Iron Fist movie news; Walking Dead to debut on Halloween, Titan Maximum giveaway on Planet 46 Comics Podcast
AMC releases Walking Dead trailer
AMC will premiere “The Walking Dead,” based on Robert Kirkman’s comic-book series, on Halloween, and the network has released an official trailer.
The Walking Dead tells the story of life following a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, traveling in search of a safe and secure home. Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually, Teachers, Strike Back) plays Rick Grimes.
Iron Fist gets screenwriter
Deadline reports that Marvel Studios is moving forward on a live action feature version of Iron Fist. Rich Wilkes, who wrote “XXX” starring Vin Diesel, has been hired to write the screenplay.
Iron Fist #8
Danny Rand became the mystical martial arts hero Iron Fist after plunging his hands into the heart of a dragon, making his fists into indestructible weapons. Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction recently wrote a well-received run on the character, who was created in the 1970s by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane. The X-Men’s Chris Claremont and John Byrne also previously worked on the character.
Ray Park, who played Darth Maul in “Star Wars Episode 1” was attached to possibly star in an “Iron Fist” movie for Artisan several years ago. As of last year, when doing press for the “GI Joe” movie, he still was interested in the role.
WANT TO WIN A WALLET OR DVD?
Want to win a swank Titan Maximum wallet, or a DVD of the first season?
You can win these cool prizes from Nerdage by e-mailing mprice at opubco.com with what kind of robot you’d like to pilot! Funniest and/or most original answers will be selected by a panel of experts at Nerdage HQ. Must be 18 or over, U.S. only. More info here.
This week’s podcast also includes reviews of Action Comics #892, Captain America #609 and Avengers #4.
- Matt Price
Jimmy Palmiotti discusses Radical Comics’ Time Bomb
In this video from Comic-Con International, Jimmy Palmiotti, co-writer of “Time Bomb” with Justin Gray, discusses the Radical Comics miniseries with Matt Price. Paul Gulacy is the “Time Bomb” artist.
Video shot by Annette Price and edited by Kyle Roberts.
Time Bomb issue 1
Hitler’s revenge causes ignition of “Time Bomb”
Art from "Time Bomb."
In the action-adventure comic book “Time Bomb,” written by the “Jonah Hex” team of Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, Adolph Hitler may yet have his revenge on humanity.
The book begins in Berlin in the near future, as builders of a subway tunnel discover an underground city built near the end of World War II by Hitler.
“While they’re down there investigating the city, they accidentally trigger a missile launch,” Palmiotti said in an interview at Comic-Con. “And the missile launches through Berlin, blows up in the atmosphere, and they find out that the missile’s payload was a virus, a mega-virus.”
This mega-virus has the potential to destroy all the human life on Earth, and it’s spreading fast. A secret, and abandoned, U.S. project may be humanity’s only hope.
The cover to "Time Bomb" issue 2
“The American government had this operation, a thing called Time Bomb, which would send things back in time, people back in time,” Palmiotti said. “But it cost a billion dollars every time they use it, and the program’s been dumped. Well, now they have to use it.”
A four-person crew is assembled to go back in time a week to prevent the firing of the missile. But something goes wrong.
“It sends four people from now back to the end of World War II, and they have to go into Berlin to take out the city to take out the missile,” Palmiotti said.
The artist on the three-issue miniseries is Paul Gulacy, known for his work on “Sabre,” “Master of Kung-Fu” and “Batman.”
“I’ve been a fan of Paul since I was a kid,” Palmiotti said. “And I’ve worked with Paul a couple of times, doing Batman, as an inker … and I’ve had the pleasure of writing for him on things like ‘Jonah Hex.’”
Palmiotti said Radical asked him who his dream artist would be for “Time Bomb.”
“I said, ‘Well, I would love Paul Gulacy, but show me what you got, and we’ll see,’” he said. “And little did I know, they went and got Paul Gulacy. So, I thought, I like these guys. They’re actually listening to me.”
“Time Bomb” No. 1 is on sale now. The 56-page first issue retails for $4.99.
- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
RIP Satoshi Kon, director of Paprika, Perfect Blue
A scene from "Paprika"
Anime News Network reports Satoshi Kon, director of “Paprika” and “Perfect Blue” died Tuesday at age 46.
Kon made his directorial debut with “Perfect Blue” in 1997, and followed that with more well-regarded anime projects, including Millennium Actress (2001), Tokyo Godfathers (2003), Paranoia Agent (2004), and Paprika (2006). UPDATE: A beautiful letter from Kon, written when he knew he was near-death, has been translated into English by Makito Itoh. I recommend all fans of his work go and give it a read.
Click past the cut for my 2007 review of “Paprika,” when the film played in Oklahoma City. Given the popularity of “Inception” this year, those who are interested in the concept of parallel dream worlds would do well to check out “Paprika.”
- Matt Price
‘Knuckleheads’ comic-book series has sitcom feel
Robert Wilson IV, left, and Brian Winkeler, right, the creators of "Knuckleheads."
Their comic book series is inspired by sitcoms, but you could compare how comic book creators Brian Winkeler and Robert Wilson IV began working together to a platonic, comic book store “Dating Game.”
Winkeler, of Yukon, is the writer, and Wilson, of Oklahoma City, the artist, of the comic book “Knuckleheads,” now available to order online or on the shelves of Oklahoma City comic book stores.
A page from "Knuckleheads."
Brian “Buck” Berlin of New World Comics, 6219 N Meridian Ave., played Chuck Woolery to this pair of comic book creators. Wilson, a fan of Winkeler’s work in the “Popgun” anthology from Image Comics, expressed to Berlin that he’d love to work on the anthology someday. Berlin shared Wilson’s enthusiasm with Winkeler.
“Finally, they were in the store one day at the same time,” Berlin said. Shortly after, the pair began discussing possible ideas for a new series, and “Knuckleheads” was born. Wilson’s Mike Allred-inspired pop enthusiasm and Winkeler’s “30 Rock”-style sardonic wit combined to create the story of Trevor Trevinski, who is accidentally given a powerful alien artifact intended for his more heroic roommate.
Trev mainly uses the Crystal Fist to steal cable and cheat at video games, but when a monster attacks the city, he may have to man up after all.
While Winkeler’s “Bastard Road,” created with Dave Curd, was partially inspired by Jack Kirby comics from the 1970s, Winkeler said he and Wilson drew on a different set of influences for “Knuckleheads.”
“Since it’s more a sitcom kind of feel, (it’s) like the early ’80s ‘Justice League,’ the funny ‘Justice League’ with Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, and maybe even Ty Templeton’s ‘Legion of Substitute Heroes’ stuff, which is brilliant, and ‘Stig’s Inferno,’ and Kyle Baker — that kind of comedic comic stuff,” Winkeler said.
Wilson said he hopes to bring a strong sense of craft to “Knuckleheads.”
“I want to draw comics that are cool-looking and fun-looking but most of all tell a story and (be) technically solid,” Wilson said.
Berlin says the book has been moving well for him at New World.
“It kind of sells itself once you mention that it’s local,” Berlin said. “The hardest part is to break it to them that there’s not a second one out right now,” Berlin said.
- By Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
