Every now and then we read a plot of a film in development and can’t decide whether it sounds good, bad, or so ugly that someone will never work again. That’s when we’ll present the pitch to you — in our spankin’ new category "Dude, THAT’S your plot?" — and let your votes decide for us. Today’s film: Nailed, a romantic comedy from director David O. Russell (I Heart Huckabees).
According to The Hollywood Reporter, James Marsden, Catherine Keener, and Tracy Morgan are in final negotiations to join the cast, which already includes Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Biel. So far so good, right? But wait: "Marsden will play the small-town boyfriend of Biel’s characterAlice, a naive waitress who gets a nail shot into her head, causingerratic and outrageous behavior. She heads to Washington to fightfor better health care and ends up falling for a clueless newcongressman (Gyllenhaal) who must summon the political courage tosave her.Keener will play a self-serving Congresswoman. The filmmakers arefinalizing details on Morgan’s character, who will likely be aninjured compatriot of Alice’s who has given up on love."
Different? Definitely. But in a good, bad, or so ugly way?
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this is going to be another movie about how much our country sucks in one way or another. in this case, it’s healthcare. i hate these preachy, messagey movies. enough w/ how much hollywood hates bush & the war (not that i love it or him but enough!). the movie will obviously be made & people will see it but i predict it will go the way of Lions for Lambs. enough w/ the preachy boring movies!
I’m just excited by the prospect of another David O. Russell freak-out landing on YouTube – this time, I’d guess, with Tracy Morgan bearing the brunt of the director’s demented rage.
Definitely different in a good way! David O’ Russell will put a wonderful sensibility to the finished product. If it was some cookie-cutter director, I would be very leery of it, but since it is O’Russel it should be quirky in a loveable way. I am definitely looking forward to this one!
All I know is that I can’t wait for the inevitable leaked footage of Russell cursing Catherine Keener out on set or reports about him getting into a fistfight with Marsden after Marsden stood up for some extras that Russell was berating.
He’s a very talented writer-director, but I wish he weren’t such a d-bag.
That being said, as is the case with “The Tourist” (I refuse to call it by that ubergeneric title “Deception”), the cast mostly has me sold…though jr is right in that this movie DEFINITELY has potential to be tiresome.
This post is eight days early, right?
I’m torn on this one. The premise sounds so loopy, it could actually be great, especially with David O. Russell at the helm (although I’m with Ceballos on his status as a d-bag).
Not different at all in that it sounds exactly like the plot of A Dirty Shame, which was made 4 years ago.
I think it has potential to be good. I suppose it just depends on how clever the script is & what kind of vibe the director gives it.
it’s a modern day retelling of phinneas gage! my psych 101 professor is smiling somewhere…
Yes, Phineas Gage! I knew this sounded familiar. I also hope that it isn’t really supposed to be a “message movie” about healthcare. Although I completely agree that the healthcare in this situation is terrible, a romantic comedy is really not the place to preach about it…
I am shocked anyone wants to work with David O Russell considering how he verbally abuses his cast. He must be giving Jessica Biel a hard time, considering she isnt the most talented of actresses…
I agree with Raven; a simple plot description isn’t enough. really depends on so many other factors and nuances.
I’m definitely sick of message movies that end with a rally around someone giving a moving speech, and this is what seems likely to happen from the description. But if it’s funny and doesn’t take itself seriously, it has potential, especially with this cast.
As far as I’m concerned, if the cast contains Jessica Biel, the movie is guaranteed to be a stinker.
DC movies never do well so I’d argue this is bad. The distinguished gentleman was the only send up of Congress that even came close. The Contender was so unlike the real DC that they even shot the “Congress” scenes in Richmond, Virginia!
I’ll be the first to say I want to see a movie made about Congress that can show us Congress the way that Goodfellas let us know about the mob. The only way they’ll stretch any truths about DC if this is made into a movie is that they’ll need to add a love element, and finding love in DC while working on the Hill is very much fiction.
Truth is that most of us “insiders” are too freaked out about ending up in Roll Call’s “heard on the hill” to give any real insights, so you end up with idealistic schlock that totally fails to hit the target.
The movie stars James Marsden AND Jake Gyllenhaal. Does it really matter what it’s about?
It sounds kind of bad, but with the right script it could work. I don’t think it will be horrible.
It sounds kind of bad, but with the right script it could work. I don’t think it will be horrible.
Madcap screwball romantic comedy, right? right? please?
Even if David O. Russell is an a**, his movies tend to be good. If handled correctly it could be a good movie but I guess I have to save my judgement til the first trailer is out.
Off-kilter comedy about a woman with a nail in her head? Yes!
. . . That turns into a movie with an Important Message about politics and health care? Um, no.
The only way I’d be into this is if the injury turned her into an evil genius who decided to bring down the nation’s entire health care system with an elaborate scam, and Gyllenhaal has to stop her by putting another nail in her head to bring her back to normal. But as is? Snoresville.
I agree with Amanda. With Gyllenhaal and Marsden in it,the plot doesn’t really matter. But I also agree that if the movie has an identity problem it will fall flat. It should NOT be a message movie in any way at all. It should be played for laughs…a black comedy. That in itself will be message enough. I sincerely hope it doesn’t have one weighty, serious moment. Kristen Gore (Al’s kid) wrote it with Russell.She is a good writer and pretty funny.
It’s not the PLOT that grates, but “The filmmakers are finalizing details on Morgan’s character”… I <3 Huckabee's was a "collaborative" slipshod MESS, and this looks to be more of the same. I will not pay to see David O. Russell m*sturbate on the screen. Would pay to see Jake do it though!
Starring that mistress of hilarious physical comedy and wackiness, the 21st Century Lucille Ball, Jessica Biel! WTF?! Honestly, the girl from Lars and The Real Girl has more range.
The plot looks slightly ridiculous, but could work in if it had the right amount of quarky and humor. That said, I am so tired of James Marsden playing 2nd fiddle to everyone else. I know he did his first starring, heart throb role in 27 Dresses (I didn’t see it) but in everything else, he is either a minor character or gets dumped. I mean Enchanted, Superman, X-Men (well he gets killed, but u get the point), The Notebook. Will someone give this man a juicy starring role, and by God make sure his hot ass gets the girl!
when i first read this plot, i was going to post it on my blog. But then i was like, “what the hell is that?” i then made a mental note to hold back all judgment until i saw the trailer, because sometimes i can’t tell if a plot is a comedy or a drama. As a comedy, this movie would not be funny. But as a drama, i don’t see how i could stop laughing. it’s a catch 22.
I have agree with EP, other than The Distinguished Gentelman, Dave, and the American President, DC Comedies don’t do well. This one is no exception but hey,at least it is not as bad as DC Cab?
so bad it hurts to think about it. ugh
It’s good! rolex watch?
luxury watch?