Francis Lawrence - Constantine

0:00 All right, We're gonna do a little word association. I'm gonna give you a list of character names, and then you give me the one name that comes to mind. Are you ready, all right? Johnny Utah, Jonathan Harker, Johnny Knumonic, John Wick, Johnny Silverhand. I would have to say the name that comes to mind is mister Keanu Reeves, who we've covered twice here recently. Keanu Reeves. I feel like, if you need someone to play a badass character named John or Johnny, Keanu Reeves gotta be at the top of the list.

0:42 I think at this point in time, he is the top of the list. If you're looking for someone named Johnny that brings that charismatic energy to that leading role, this is the guy for the role. You know. I didn't name them all though. Twenty twelve, he plays a character named John in a movie called Generation Um. I don't think I've seen that. I haven't seen it yet, but now we have to see it now because I've seen I feel like I've collected all of the Keanu Reeves John character films at this point, so now now it's a must watch. There's just one more name we didn't we didn't cover. So let's talk about a film by Francis Lawrence, his two thousand and five underrated supernatural film Constantine. Hello everybody, I'm Jeff.

1:53 Johnson and I'm Gary Gibson, and this is. A film by Podcast Garrett. My apology, sir. We we initially were thinking we were going to talk about Counta Reeves playing John Constantine at the end of September, but I'll tell you, ten hour drive across America had me a little wiped out and I was not ready to talk about Constantine. Hey, I completely understand, and this is a film that needs the dedication to it, So, you know, being a little tired, being a little war out from the road, we'll go ahead and take a couple extra days to do this film some justice. Absolutely.

2:35 I appreciate your patients. I appreciate the listeners patients. Last week we kind of kicked off our Halloween stuff early with David. David stop bye, We did thinner. They probably think, what the hell happened to Garrett and count of Reeves, you know, but we're. Here, We're back. There's always time for Garrett and counter Reeves. You know, we'll find it eventually. It's It's okay, we certainly will Constantine. Let's talk. Let's talk about this movie. Let's talk about this director, Francis Lawrence, because it's a name a lot of people probably aren't familiar with. Yeah, it's a name that you don't really think about too much because for the first bunch of things he did in his career, it was music videos.

3:24 Man, a lot of music videos. Well, let's just jump into it. How about let's talk a little Let's talk some facts, let's talk some trivia about Francis Lawrence. You're right. He is one of the most popular music video directors in the business, with more than sixty to his credit. Garrett. He's worked with Sarah McLaughlin, Aerosmith, j Lo, Destiny's Child, Green Day, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Pink Audio, Slave, and Nine Inch Nails, just to name a few. I noticed you out Ricky Martin there, but I'll forgive you for it. It's okay. Hey, look, no issues with Live in Levita Loca. You know I'm cool with that. I'll tell you another one I left out. It was the fifty third Grammy Awards, where he won Best Short Form Music Video for Lady Gaga's Bad Romance.

4:21 Oh man, okay, so yeah. His music videos are noteworthy, to say the least. He's all over the map, man, I mean, think about Aerosmith. He did it for the arm again, what was it. I don't want to miss a thing. Yeah, I don't want to miss a thing, lived Tyler. Yeah, yep yeah. Now. Before earning his bachelor's degree in film production, he worked as a second unit director on what could be my favorite Christian Slater film ever, Pump Up the Volume. Oh that's a good one. That's such a damn good movie. Man. I love Pump Up the Volume. Oh yeah, great, great for it's great soundtrack.

5:02 The young young Slater. I mean, you gotta love it. I'll tell you what else I'm loving. Have you seen this? This amazing TV mini series on Apple Plus with Jason Amoa called a Chief of War. I have not seen it, but I have seen several previews for it, but haven't haven't cracked into it yet. It is a must watch Garrett and also is executive produced by Francis Lawrence. Man, he's just out here right now, anywhere. Yeah, he's having a moment, right, He's having a moment. I wouldn't go breaking into this guy's house. I mean, you shouldn't anyways. But the reason I say that when it comes to home security, he does happen to own the Holy shotgun that Constantine uses in this movie.

5:53 Does he really? Yes, it was actually purchased from Warner Brothers and gifted to him by Keanu Reeves. That's pretty awesome, honest, it's awesome. Right. The thing that I love most about this is like, if you look through his filmography as far as director goes, it's all these music videos and then bam Constantine. It's like, this is how we're kicking it off with, Like. Yeah, his feature film debut is he's getting a DC superhero film Constantine. YEP, with Keanu Reeves, with. Kanu Reeves attached. Yeah, yeah, there's been some other people attached. We'll get to that. But before we do, Garrett, I know we have listeners that have not seen Constantine. We most likely have listeners that have not read the Constantine comic book. Can you tell it? Can you tell us a little bit about what this movie is all about?

6:47 Yes? So this film follows John Constantine as he helps a detective Angela Dots and played by Rachel Weiss investigate her twin sisters apparent suicide, uncovering a supernatural plot involving a proxy war between Heaven and Hell based on the DC comic DC Slash Vertigo comic Hell Blazer. Fantastic h I got to point out excellent pronunciation on Rachel Weiss. She's got one of those names. You know, everyone sees her name and you immediately want to say whyse Yeah, it's Vice. It's Vice, like miamy Vice. It is. Yep, it's a I forget where that comes from.

7:29 I can't remember if it's Austrian or what it is, but yeah, yeah, yeah. The movie is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year. Hard to believe because the film is gorgeous. It truly is, And I would say their special effects in this film were kind of groundbreaking at the point in time. Absolutely, because I was watching this the other day and I thought, wait a minute, this is twenty years old. Yep, this could have been made this year with the with the effects. Absolutely, I think with the effects that we're given in just the direction of the film, for being something that was done in two thousand and five, it's crazy to be like you know what, I could see this blend right in with the superhero world right now.

8:14 Absolutely, as you mentioned, based off the hell Blazer comic book series from DC Vertigo. Loosely based, we should say, because well, I'm not overly knowledgeable about the character John Constantine, but I've spoke with several diehard fans of the comic who are anything but happy with this film at at taption, So. Yeah, not too many actual comic fans are very happy with this. He didn't wear the trademark, you know, Tan dust are in this one. He didn't wear the red tie, he didn't have the blonde hair. He had the mannerisms and everything. But a lot of actual comic boys kind of picked this one apart.

8:55 I got a few film versus comic book uh comparisons later. Uh. But you know, interestingly enough, the film's title, which originally was hell Blazer, like the comic book, had to be changed to avoid confusing it with hell Boy, which had come out of the year. It just came out a year. Before, yep. And I mean with Vertigo being attached to this and a smaller indie group kind of running with hell Boy, I could see that being an issue there and kind of pulling the audience away from that film a little bit. Yeah, people going, yeah, did you see hell Boy Help Help hell Blazer? Hell, Hell, We're help. And then there's Hell Razor out there, There's Hell. It's tough out there, you know. But uh, you know. Coincidentally, both films feature the spirit Destiny. Yes, and it's it happens to be the exact same movie.

9:52 Problem is it? Really? They didn't even make a new one for this movie. They just said, hey, that works, can we have it? Can we use it? And you'll have to someone will have to fact check me on this. But I'm also I'm almost positive this prop shows up again in a Supernatural TV series. Oh my gosh. Yeah, yeah, okay. Because I feared the episode, but I think Dean was kind of looking at it wondering about it. I could see that. I've always kind of thought like that falls into that realm of Constantine kind just that super natural but also good versus evil age old battle, you know. I feel like that universe fits very well with him.

10:36 I gotta be honest, I always get excited when you hear when you see like a biblical weapon, yes in a film. I mean obviously the goat is the arc of the covenants. The loss has to be. But I feel like, I mean, the Spirit Destiny, it's a real relic. Yeah, and I feel like it hasn't got it to do yet, Like when are we gonna get a proper Spiritdestiny film on one? Oh man. Man, that's a tough one. It's one of those things that I think is a very vowed question. But I don't think too many people are clamoring for it. I just feel like Indiana Jones should have went after this probably thirty years ago.

11:17 Oh absolutely. I mean, you go ahead and give Harrison Ford enough money. He'll go after it next year. I'll tell you now, Hey, that's what he said. He's like, I'm still in the film business. He's like, they keep offering me money. I'm not gonna say no. Oh man, if we could, if we could have a Indiana Jones and the Spirit of Destiny, Yeah, just to wash the bad taste of uh, the last one. I don't I can't remember the name. It was so bad. I can't remember the name of it. Uh, the time travel gizmo. Honestly, I remember the name. Wait, yep, there it is.

12:00 I don't want a Dial of Destiny. I want a spear of destiny. You had one, you had one job, you know. You know they tried to top themselves on the Crystal Scall movie. They yeah, and they did. They did yeah, and they're like, yeah, could we do worse? Oh? We did, all right? I remember, I remember the first time I saw Constantine. We got that black title screen and it just comes up, he who possesses the spear of Destiny holds the fate of the world in his hands. And then next paragraph, the spear of Destiny has been missing since the end of World War Two. Now you're like, it's on, We've got our Spirit Destiny movie.

12:44 Yep, we kind of do. It takes takes a real back seat to like the rest of the plot of the movie. I feel like. You get maybe five minutes of screen time with this thing. Come on, you know, we find it. You know the dude, you know, the Mexican guy gets it out of cool and then he stops a car like that's traveling at least sixty miles an hour, just destroys it. But you know he's holding the spa, so he's invincible. He's all powerful. Which is by far one of the cooler scenes in that film. I absolutely love that great. Opening this movie. It's this movie succeeds in having a great prologue and then and then a great prologue and then we start the movie because you know, I don't want, I don't I want to jump to it yet. But we'll get to the our first. We'll get to our introduction with Constantine. But before we do that, I know, we got to talk about this cast. Let's take a quick break and then we'll do that welcome back. We are talking about Constantine from two thousand and five, the feature film directorial debut of One Francis Lawrence. So we got Keanu Reeves now Garrett again. We talked about the comic book fans. They weren't happy with Keanu Reeves playing John Constantine. We'll get to we'll get to the reason.

14:15 Mainly it comes down to the fact that he's not British, and he's not he doesn't look like Sting but yep, but from nineteen ninety seven to two thousand and two, the role was intended for Nicholas Cage, which. Is kind of crazy. I know. Nick Cage is a die hard Marvel and DC fan absolutely loves comic books named his son Lucas Cage Ke. I mean that's pretty cool, but oh my gosh, now I could not see Nick Cage playing this role. You can't see it. I mean, I feel like Nick Cage is just he's always gone after, like if it's a Superher movie, he's in, right. And yeah, yeah you see everything. Yeah yeah, he almost was Superman. Technically you could say he was Superman with that little moment in the flash. Yeah, you know, obviously he played ghost Rider. So yes, I don't know. I feel like like a late nineties Nick Cage.

15:09 I think I think he could have done this. I think face off Nick Cage. Yes, I see in that movie ten out ten times the hair was very similar and walking around chain smoking cigarettes and not on stop. Hey, yeah, I give you that. Now, our comic book listening fans right now, if they're going Nick Cage, that's not good. Also in the running, Mel Gibson and Kevin Spacey, her face, Kevin Spacey not making it man. Dude, Okay, Kevin Spacey is and just the absolute worst decision for this film, I've got to say. I mean, he was coming off like American beauty and stuff like that, and everyone's like, you know, he's an Oscar winner and everything, but gosh, now he would not have done greatness. Mel Gibson, I loved a lot of stuff he did the eighties nineties.

16:07 Not a chance would he be a good John Constantine. The irony here is that we are in an age now where every American hero, every superhero, pretty much played by a British guy. If you think about it. You're absolutely right. I've got to tell you something, you know, side note real quick. That just destroyed me. Looked up David corn Sweat the other day. Found out he's a year younger than me. I'm officially old, Jeff. No, you're hey, you're officially old enough to be Superman. That's what that's true. That is he's gonna make some sequels. But but think about that, twenty years ago, we have a British character, a British superhero, and they're throwing every American actor at the role.

16:55 You're not wrong, and it's the exact opposite of what they're doing currently. I mean, you've got Tom Holland, you had Henry Cavill, you had all these great actors, but they're all, you know, British or Australian or whatever it may be. And it's like, okay, but the one time that we actually need the British actor everything, but right at. It now, if you if you just dismiss the MCU completely, Like, let's go travel with me to an alternate reality where there is now MCU. I'll tell you what American actor who looks good as a blonde has, the snarky attitude, has the sarcasm would have been perfect. It's it's ardyj.

17:39 Gotta be a right yep. Robert Downey Junior playing Constantine would have That would have been fun. And I'm talking like mid nineties. I've got to tell you my oddball pick, just because of the time frame and everything, someone with blonde hair, chain smoking cigarettes. Bruce willis from the fifth element. I think he out beats say male gifts and he's not British, probably not great for the role, but. I would Yeah, Bruce could. Have done this right, I mean, and very look very similar in Sin City. I honestly, I gotta be. I gotta tell you I'm liking Keanu Reeves. I think I think his Constantine character is awesome. Now, when I saw this movie, I wasn't even aware that it was based on a comic book.

18:24 I was not introduced to the Constantine hell Blazer, so. I only knew it was a thing because of like the darker d C stuff that I grew up with, like the Demon Realm and all of that with him and Aragon and all that. Oh, that's right, he's he's probably Justice League Dark. Right, Yeah, the Demon Detective and everything. Yet, I will say that currently there's a lot of these DC animated films, and I love the the John Constantine interpretation in these movies. I think, yeah, Justice League Dark is pretty freaking amazing. I absolutely love it. Yeah.

19:05 I would, you know, listeners, if you like the DC animated movies or if you haven't seen any of them, they pretty much all kick ass. I think I haven't seen a bad one yet. And honestly, if you want to see John Constantine done Justice and you did not like this film, I would check those out absolutely. I'll tell you who I like checking out. Rachel Weiss. Oh yeah, she is Detective Angela Dotson also briefly plays her twin sister, Isabelle Lawrence, you know, talking about you know, he's got Rachel Byss on board. Lawrence famously stood his ground and refused to do a love story subplot for this movie between John and Angela. And there's several scenes I call it the X Files effect where they are close, you think it's gonna happen, and it doesn't happen. Like they are just just seconds away from a kiss. They are Yep, they're inches away from a kiss in some cases. Incidentally, Rachel Vice admitted that she wanted to get kissed by Keanu Reeves. You know, there seems like there's a couple of times where it's gonna happen. They never it never does, uh.

20:25 She She was quoted as saying, no, we didn't shoot a kiss scene because we thought if we did, they would use it. They being the studio, you know, someone would get their hands on it. So we made sure we didn't want there to be a kiss. And then she goes on to say that the movie is already pretty intense all the way through. She loves shooting it, especially the rooftop scene. She said this felt very noir to her. And then you know, she finally thought she was gonna get kissed and then nope, not meant to be. I think it just adds to the tension. Of the film and everything that is coming. So it's one of those other things that you're like, Oh, this kiss is coming, isn't it Now? Now they don't deliver on that, but they deliver one hell of a storyline with it, and they also give you a lot of will they won't they kind of while all this craziness is going on around them. So I think it does build that little bit of tension between those two characters.

21:23 I really enjoy her performance here because everything she's in she's she's amazing. Let's let's call it what it is. She's a fantastic actress. Think about her in the Mummy series or even even if something is like dark and realistic as Enemy at the Gates, she has this wide eyed innocence. She's got this pleasantry about her. She didn't here here, She's that it doesn't exist. She's she's bitter, she's a little a little hardened, a little jaded, you know, by your job and about you know, the death of a sister, which she says is not a suicide. She's sure of that it's a murder, just can't prove it.

22:07 And the moments where she's she is showing a little bit of lightness. Are those those glances, those fleeting glances at Kano or like the minute where he leans in and you're like, is he gonna kiss her? And then nope, he's just leaning to grab the crucifix or to pick up the you know, the matchbook or you know whatever he's doing. I love I love her reactions to Kanu reason this. I get that. No, I've got to say I absolutely love her because of the Mummy film nineteen ninety nine. I believe it was, but just it stole my heart as being a young gentleman at the point in time, I was like, oh, well, there she is nothing that was gonna stack up. And then you see her off and on over you know, the years, but towards the twenty twenties and everything, you don't see too much of her.

22:59 And then then you get her as the mom and black Widow and it's like, oh, nope, there she is again. Yeah, and just the Weaver is an awesome performance in that as well. So I mean not I will say she's ageist and so is their acting capabilities. You knew who I think is having a lot of fun in this film is Creamer Chaz Kramer, asshole Shia la buff playing playing the apprentice to Constantine Chaz Kramer. He is recommended for this role by Will Smith. They had just worked on a movie called I Robot him.

23:42 Will Smith a Kiva Goldsmith like he and Will Smith is like, hey, this is your guy. Which it's a pretty freaking solid role for Shia there. I gotta say, uh, just the first scenes that you get to see him sitting down in the car, He's like, move the car, like if you told me you were pushing the demon out of the window. And the. Further yeah, we we kind of use some more Chazz Cramer in the movie. Yeah, he's the comedic sidekick. And I get why they didn't. You know, for every scene that you have with Chazz and Constantine, that's one less scene you're gonna have with Angela and Constantine, right, So I get it. I just I really enjoyed his character.

24:31 You gotta remember, this is this is Shia on the cusp of adulthood. You know, he's he's the child actor from Disney and then he's slowly transitioning into the adult character you know, in the in the film world. Yeah. I think this was right before the first Transformers film. Came out. Yeah he'd done Uh, I think he had done like Holes and the Battleshaker heights. Yes, and then he shows you know I wrote, then he shows up here, and then the next time you see him, he's, oh, look the guy grew up. Yeah. Is this guy you know? Main star right now? He sure as hell is. Yeah, yeah, he's. Uh, he's cool in this one.

25:15 I like. I like him a lot, pleasantly surprised Garrett. I completely forgot this guy was in the movie until we watched this recently. Talking about Pruett Taylor Vince playing Father Hennessy. Uh, do you mean paw Kent? Yeah, most recently he's he's he's Superman's dad now and uh in James Gunn Superman. I don't know what it is about this guy. You know, he's a great character actor for one thing, Yes, but no one knows his name until you say, you know, he's the guy that has that does the weird ie twitch. Yes, because that's kind of like his his thing, his claimed to fan, which he didn't do it in Superman. Didn't need to. Uh, but did you notice even in this movie playing as Father Hennessy, who's completely on it edge? You know, walking on eggshells. He his whole thing is he can see the halfbreed demons. He can. Yes, you know, he drinks heavily to.

26:08 You know, especially in that Morge scene. Yeah, oh yeah, you know he's trying to just you know, he's he's definitely dealing with a little PTSD from fighting demons. But he has that eye twitch thing. Not not that his normal one, but he did. Did you notice that, like when his scenes he's yeah, he does that. It's it's a little more subtle, a little more reserved. But it's still What's crazy is the first thing I've ever seen him in was I think the film was called Identity came out two thousand and three. Yeah, actually really saw it. Film, great cast in that film as well, But I did notice his eyeing twitch, and I was like, what's going on? Like years later, I would meeat this guy that we all referred to as blind Alex, which he was not blind, but he was missing a muscle in his eyes that would refuse to what focus, so he would lose sight of things like that was not directly in his face. And believe it or not, he actually suffers from that as well. And I was like, wow. Okay, okay, So his eyes will never steady, he said. Certain days they're a lot better. Other days he is almost as blind as a bad because he can't literally focus on anything.

27:23 I'm not gonna give away the big reveal of identity because well, one, I hope we cover the film at some point. I love it. It's it's John Cusack, one of the best John Cusack performances. John Z McGinley, Yeah, Michael, I mean, it's it's all star casts. Rebecca, Rebecca de mornay, I mean, Ray Liota based on Agatha Christie story. Okay, We're yeah, we're covering it. We're gonna We're gonna do that one. But also I don't want to spoil it because you know, I'm not a dick. So but it does it. It's got one of those dings where you're like, what you know, Yeah, but Pruett Taylor Vince has got a very memorable role in that movie.

28:12 So that's all We'll say. What do you want to say about uh Jaman Hunsu Papa Midnight. I absolutely love this character. He's just played so cool and I absolutely just love every second that he is on the screen. And he's like I'm the neutral side in this war and did just that whole scene between him and John is absolutely freaking amazing. Papa Midnight has so he he was a witch doctor fighting Hell and then he becomes neutral and basically he has this bar that is neutral grounds for archangels, demons and guys like Constantine to meet. But you know there's rules, you can't. You can't kill anyone, you can't. It's neutral territory.

29:02 Sounds a whole lot like something else who canter Reeves was in recently. Right again, this this movie comes out in two thousand and five, and you completely forget about Papa Midnight in this place. Meanwhile, we've got Winston and the Continental Right. It's the same premise that I dig it man absolutely love. It haunts Wu's Papa Midnight is he needs his own movie. He truly does. And what's funny is I remember originally watching this and I'm like, you know why I didn't then get like a Tony Todd or something like this. But when I rewatched it this time, I was like, no, I don't think anyone else plays this role and successively like successfully pulls it off as well as he did.

29:52 I absolutely loved his character. Now to your point, if we could have had a Papa Midnight movie that also featured Tony Todd in some and you're playing a good guy or a bad guy, yeah, or Poppa mid Knight's brother, I take my money. Yeah, I would also be cool that. Yeah. Yeah, this is a situation where he only has a handful of scenes, but he is very effective with his screen time. I love I love the fact that he's got this electric chair from Sing Sing. I think it is. That's where it is. Yeah, I couldn't remember the prison and sing sing Yeah. Yeah, because like you know, the constantine thing is he needs he needs a conduit to go to the other side, right to to kind of it's kind of like his way to take like a little sneak peek into hell and then you get right back out. You know. Sometimes you use a bucket of water or a bath tub or an electric chair that executed two hundred inmates from Sing Sing, So that would.

30:48 Be the trick every now and then. It is, but it is such a cool thing, dude. I gotta like think about this. If if you were in a museum or a bar, or like like a pop culture type or or you know, I don't know, spooky museum, whatever you wanna call it. If they had an electric chair from a prison that had executed inmates, how much is it gonna take for you to sit down to that thing? I don't even think you would have to pay me or anything. It would be Yeah, I would be the idiot that would just sit down there. Man. Yeah, yeah, okay, you know what I'd have to sit down to, just because exactly how many people can say they've sat an electric chair?

31:35 Right? Yeah? I think that's a forgotten art form anymore. I don't think they're really around. I think that's gonna help or hurt your your chances of meeting a woman, depending on where she's from and what she's into. So well, you know, it could just mean the things that are going to happen between you will be electrifying. Oh okay, I walked into that one. It is. You mentioned the special effects. We talked about how this movie could have been filmed this year. I really feel like, you know, what we're seeing definitely way better than two thousand and five effects. Stan Winston. Now, obviously, if you are a movie buff, you probably know that name, because this is the four time Academy Award winner, whose work can be seen in Jurassic Park, the Terminator Movies, Predator, Aliens, Monster Squad, Batman Returns, Iron Man, Galaxy Quest, and the Star Wars Holiday Special, just to name a few.

32:44 See. And that is just too freaking cool, because I mean everything he did on Jurassic Park was amazing, the practical and the special effects, and that just the way they worked together amazing. And then everything in Terminator And did you also say Teach he was in there as well. Oh my gosh. Yeah, just such classic like special and practical effects. I mean, amazing work. We'd be here another thirty minutes if I if I if I give you this whole whole rundown here. Yes, but I mean he again, Stan Winston, That's that's you know, that's about Rushmore name. You know, it is up there with Baker, you know. Yep. As far as special effect, yep, you're absolutely right.

33:26 I think that's why this film looks so amazing though, because it's we're right there, like where CGI is is coming in to its own. It's it's it's now it looks good, you know, it's we expect it to look good. Yeah, we're just past the point of the terrible explosions behind people, and we're actually starting to get some believable things happening. Yeah, and then we but we're still we're still heavily relying on practical stuff and Stan Winston's makeup and creature effects. It's film looks fantastic. That's all I can say. One more guy behind the scenes. This movie does have some really good fight sequences. You can't have good fight sequences without a good fight choreographer, right, yep.

34:16 A good fight choreographer and a great stunt coordinator typically the best two ways to go. Yes, sir, would it surprise you to know that it was Chad Stahelski that was doing it for this film? It would not, because I've recently watched the film myself the name pop up. But I. Yes, I would be terribly surprised. Well, I mean, think about that two thousand and five. Chat Stahlski is not the guy that's directing John Wack movies. Oh no, not at all. Yep. Speaking speaking of that, we did a chat Stahelski episode couple like two seasons ago. Go back check out our episode on Atomic Blonde Asset. I mean, I dare say it's better than some of the John Wick movies.

35:05 Yeah, it definitely beats up Part four for me at the very least. Well, let's talk a little bit about this film's background, a little bit of production history for you. The character was created by comic book great Alan Moore and introduced in the Saga of Swamp Thing number thirty seven back in nineteen eighty five. So while the movie is celebrating its twentieth anniversary, the character is celebrating his fortieth anniversary. It was nineteen eighty eight when he was given his own series, hell Blazer by DC Comics producer Lauren Shuler Donner, who is pretty well known in Hollywood, a very famous producer, wife of Richard Donner. She began developing this film back in nineteen ninety seven, but after creative differences led to opposing lawsuits, the film found itself in purgatory. So I did there see.

36:03 Yeah, there's a lot like what happened with that Superman film way back when it's you know, production differences and they're like, yeah, we'll shelve it, it'll come out next summer, and then it seems like five years passes and it never happens. So to actually get this film and it's still by the Donner I think is that the Donner group is what they're Yep, they still deliver this film and they get someone like Counta Reeves to play John Constantine. It's just awesome because of course the cast you were throwing out originally from the nineteen ninety seven like, oh my god, that was our top build right there.

36:44 Oh boy, it was. Now there's one more cameo in this film we haven't we haven't talked about talking about the scene where Constantine basically wipes out a whole room full of halfbreed demons with holy water. One incredibly attractive demon others the line holy water before her face melts off. Uh. This is a character named Ellie who is featured in the comic book. She's a demonus that Constantine sleeps with. For information and yes, listeners, that was in fact actress Michelle Monahan, get.

37:27 The heck out of here. That is something I did not pick up on on the Resa. I saw that face, I was like, wait a minute, mission impossible. Yep, that's that's Michelle Monahan. And I watched the whole credit sequence just just to know sure enough she actually she actually had more scenes with Keanu, but Lawrence cut all of them because he wanted he was like in the editing process he was trying to convey that Constantine is a very lone, lonely guy. Yes, and you know, he can't have a can't have a very attractive mache Monahan just hanging out his apartment about the bowling Alley, Which. That may be another thing that the comic fans just didn't really care about, because in the comics he's he's a charleton. He will do he gambles, he sleeps with people, he smokes all the time, he's a bad influence, and he kind of does whatever the heck he wants to.

38:20 And then this film you don't really get that side of him. Now you don't. He's more monk than Charlatan. I feel like, yeah, absolutely right, And you know, I think even even though it's always great to see more Michelle Monahan, but if we've got those scenes, I feel like the audience is kind of now they're getting confused as to well, wait, is this so will they won't they? Or is he a scumback who's gonna hook up with both of them? Or what's happening? So I think you're absolutely right. Yeah, on the big screen, especially like throwing this detective in there. You're right, it's the correct call.

39:02 Now, two things that John uses, aside from the holy shotgun and his his lighter for his cigarettes. He uh, there's this character name Beamon who kind of hooks him up with all kinds of supernatural and religious artifacts to use to wage war against the demons. So I thought this was kind of cool. The rag that he uses, he wraps around his hand to immediately light fire and then scare off the demons. Apparently that is cut from the Shroud of Moses. Oh okay, so very cool. Right. Yeah. He does use a pair of brass knuckles.

39:42 Wait, yeah, which is also pretty cool. Which is I will get to that scene they're dipped in gold that was blessed by a bishop during the Crusades. Really some fun stuff, you know, in his bag of tricks. Yeah, yeah, okay, Now you. You mentioned a few of these earlier. I got a couple film Constantine versus comic book Constantine, and when you hear some of these, I get it like we're in a world where we argue whether Superman should have red trunks or no trunks. Right, Yes, should Batman have eyeballs or should he have like white slits? Yep? Right, So I understand, you know, there's that's that's petty.

40:23 That's petty stuff about a costume. Right, So when you take into a into account some of these differences, I understand why the comic book readers are a little pissed. Okay, the film takes place in Los Angeles, the comic book takes place in Liverpool. In London, Keano plays the character he's got black hair, and he's using his Canadian accent, which is his real accent in the comic Guys obviously has an English accent, and as far as his physical look, he resembles musicians sting and then has like the blonde flowing hair.

41:06 That or a young Gordon Ramsey either way or yeah. He's got the he's got the the the Tan trench code. In the comic book, Constantine red tie. Red in the red tie and Constant in the film, he's it's a lot of blacks and dark you know. Lastly, and this, I think this might be a big one for the for the fans of the comic Keanus Constantine has the psychic ability to see half breed demons as they really are, and this, of course leads him to attempt suicide, and that brings about his damnation, as the movie explains to us. But in the comic books, it was seeing these demons is his punishment for summoning a demon that inadvertently killed a young girl.

41:54 So okay, yeah, yeah, see I could see. I could see fans being a little more that one. Yeah, yeah, I think you're right. Yeah, I get that wing gloss over and be like, oh, his tie is not the right color. But also if we're absolutely changing his origin story, yeah yeah, I can see. I mean, yeah, you know, it's just trench coats, not ten. I'd be like, who gives a ship? Yeah, but you've. Also turned him American and his hair color and his his his powers. It's, you know, loosely based on the comic book. I think that's the best way to say it, honestly. Yeah, which is that if you read the IMDb, the Wikipedia, whatever it is, they will say it's loosely based.

42:40 Garrett. Let's uh, let's take one more break and then when we get back, there are some scenes we have got to talk about, all right, Garrett, I have got a couple couple of moments that I want to discuss, and I'm gonna lead, I'm gonna I'm gonna finish with I with what I feel is the pivotal moment of this whole movie. I have to believe that you're gonna you're gonna agree with me, but you know who knows. We'll see. Let's start off nice and easy. The exorcism in Mexico. This is our introduction to Constantine. He's got this is this is John whispering this little thirteen year old girl who's possessed, and.

43:24 He's like, yourself, I did you have no idea where that's going? And then he's like, give me a mirror, at least a three by three, And it's like, hell, is he calling for a mirror for? I gotta say that I love the mirror trick. Yes, we've seen there's there's a there's dozens of exorcism movies, yep. And we're always gonna see the priest reciting from the Bible, and you know, the possessed person is tied down, they're screaming and they're spitting and vomiting, and it's kind of like a it's cliche, but the way he goes. It is like when you see this thing kind of bulge out of this this little girl's neck and he punches it right in the face. Like his face is cool, you know, no regard for this little girl. He's like whatever that little coin thing is, he like puts it right up und her temple and burns the ship out of her. And but the mirror, you know, I love the fact he tells it. He warns everybody, whatever you do, don't look. You know again, I don't know what it is about movies with supernatural religious artifacts. You know, don't look.

44:37 You rais the lost art. Whatever you do, keep your eyes shut. You know this one poor bastard opens his eyes. Cool effect. His hair immediately turns white and he has a meltnow his face just like ah, but the whole idea of like blinding the possessed person and then you know, smile and then all of a sudden it opens its eyes and it sees itself and it just kind of gets trapped in the mirror. And transpnotized, yep, get stuck in there. And just that scene where it's like beating on the mirror to get out of and like. Just slowly cracking you know, throw it out, get it out.

45:17 Yeah. Yeah, he's like pulling on the leverage rope there. Yeah. I give this credit for giving us an exorcism scene that we've never seen before. Definitely, definitely cool. There's been a couple couple couple people we didn't mention earlier, and I'm glad we didn't because now now we're going to talk about some of them. Let's talk about Constantine's first meeting with the archangel Gabriel. Oh tell this went? And all right? Yeah, what is it about her that's so creepy? I don't know if it's the mono tone or what it is, just every little bit in this film it's like, oh my goodness.

46:01 Well, you know, the cool thing about the the angels is the decision that they're they're almost androgynous, right, And I don't know if there's a better option in Hollywood than Till the Sweaton. Like, she has this ability to just it's I don't know what, I don't know what the word is, but she's just ethereal. You know, I just thought about something. How is she not cash as Constantine. She's got the accent, she's got the blonde. Hair, she does she's got the flowing blonde hair that you know, she's got the accent. Okay, well, yeah she she is really good in this film.

46:47 She really is. I love the fact again, like when we see the wings, like the like when they spread their wings. I know that Lawrence was big on I don't want beautiful, white, fluffy feather wings. He wanted more like bird wings. He wanted them to look a little a little little dark, little little ugly. You know, they really were. And just like the attention to detail and the wings are is truly extraordinary because again special effects, but just knocking that out of the park with this one. Well, and I won't spoil it in case people are like this movie sounds awesome. I think I'll go watch it. Yep.

47:27 The story, you know, the motivation that that Gabriel has, because automatically you you hear Gabriel. You know it's an angel. Story of Michael and Gabriel. Yeah, you're just gonna assume like, oh, well, okay, here's one of the good guys. But maybe Gabriel isn't a good guy. That's all I'll say. But this is such a great moment though, because I feel like Constantine, like you said, you know, in the comics, he's more of a charlatan. He's more of a he's more of a rogue, right, he's more of an anti hero. Yeah. Absolutely. I kind of like how he's just using this moment to just bitch about his situation, right. And how he's his way.

48:08 Yeah, yeah, how many people do I gotta save? You know, he's he's a little pissed, you know, he's like, you know, hey, I could use some more time. You know, why me? Because we know that he he's damned right, he knows where he's going. Meanwhile, he's got like stage four cancer, lung cancer. There's no coming back from it. I love that she says, you're going to die young because you've smoked thirty cigarettes a day since you were fifteen, and you're going to go to hell because of the life that you took. You're fucked. Now. Early on the movie, you're like, who did he kill? He's a good guy. You don't realize that she's talking about him taking his own life, and that really cool, really cool.

48:53 Really cool. And that's the one aspect I did like about them switching up the story as that is his one way ticket to hell. Essentially, and that's why they're waiting on him. Yeah, I like the realist. The realism too here because any other superhero movie, a good superhero is just gonna accept his fate or his destiny or whatever. Meanwhile, Constantine, he's got a value, He's got a valid point. I feel like most people would be asking the same question, like isn't it enough? Like I just saved a thirteen year old girl in Mexico from a demon, Like how wins it enough to let me get get back upstairs? You know, he's got a real selfish outlook on it, but I think it's one.

49:37 That we would all Yeah, yeah, it's him doing selfless X for a selfish reason. So yeah, no, I think absolutely right, Garrett. You nailed it. That is the film adaptation of Constantine. It truly is. I mean, because again, how much is enough? But also what they're wanting him to pay for? So he is. Yeah, I don't have a specific scene, so can I just say a name and then we just talk. Absolutely yeah. Balthazar the half breed demon played to perfection by Gavin Rosdell.

50:19 He absolutely crushed in this roy I don't care if it's the just like Little Back and forth that they have or the Final Showdown that they have, or whatever it may be. I mean, I did not have one issue with any time he was on the screen. I've got to tell you, knocked this one out of the park. And my favorite scene is the final Showdown, of course, but it's because he was talking sit up until the end, and it's just amazing. He's so creepy. But damn is he not the best dressed demon you've ever seen? He looks so good he does, and the three p suits are on point. I won't tell you that right now.

51:05 And then just the final scene with him and how sure of himself he is, like you're going to fail, and it's just like, oh, like the cockiness. It's like, yeah, that's exactly what you would be doing if you were a hafty Garrett. Garrett, I don't know if it's a g thing, but I think the only person I've seen wear a tailored three piece suit on the same level as Gavin it's probably you, Garrett. So you know that's my comment to you. I do enjoy a good three piece suit. Yeah, actually just got another one the other day. It's fine. Oh man, I'll tell you I recently went to a Shine Doown concert where Bush was the opening act, which kind of surprised me that Bush was gonna not you know, headline. Yeah, that is well their nineties band it. But here's what I don't understand. I'm here to tell you Gavin might actually be a half breed demon because I saw him up close at this concert. You know, they got the big screens. He actually ran through the crowd like the entire like he does. He did a three three sixty, made his way one song, He made his way up and down the levels, you know, walking right through people.

52:26 The guy looks exactly the same. Oh and I mean again, that's twenty years ago. He's probably mid fifties by now. Something gotta be midfield. Yeah, and he has not I mean, he hasn't aged. It's it's weird. He actually he kind of looked younger earlier this year than he does in this movie. I don't even know that's possible. Probably all the touring and everything is just he kept the guy in phenomenal shape. I mean it happens, man. Man, when when father Hennessy meets his end and you're like, what is going on with you know? Very again, very cool special effect the guy is just trying to drink his sorrows away, and every bottle he opens, whether he takes the cap off or cracks it open, it won't pour into his mouth.

53:16 It just it's such a sad scene. Man, Oh, it kills you. You love this character and you're like, all right, he just wants it gone and nothing comes out of those bottles, and it's like no, man, it breaks your heart a little bit in those moments. And you know, and then we come to find it. It's Balthazar. He's he's he's in the liquor store. He's there grinning watching this happen. I did. I do dig the fact that the guy working the counter who jumps over to check on him, yep, spreads he spreads his wings. It's like, because we get this whole thing, you know, as Constantine explains it to us. You know, basically, God and the devil kind of have a game going. You know, they can't interfere, but they can influence and you know, very cool, you know, because we're not going to get into whole like religion and the Catholic faith and all that stuff that the movie does.

54:08 But I dig the fact that it definitely plays on that whole belief system because Constantine, I think it's uh. I think it's till the Swinton's character Gabriel, who says, you're you're you believe, you know they exist, but you choose not to have faith, like you know, and he what's And he has a great line to to uh, to Angela because he's like, hey, God's just a kid with an ant form, you know, because she said God, God wouldn't do that, and God cares and God and he's like, God's a kid, He's a kid with an ant form. He does and he's not wrong again because like you said, they can both influence, but they cannot intervene at any point in time. So you're right, it's essentially a science experiment where they just watching.

54:51 Yeah plot, you know, if I'm nitpicking, I'll say the plot gets a little convoluted on how you know what the spirit of destiny is being usedul because more than anything, it's just a tool to bring the son of the devil, you know here, you know, bring him, bring him to earth, you know, basically like the you know, we know God has a son, Well, now we find out the devil has a son. Only the Devil's son's kind of like, well, he's a shithead, and he's like no, he wants to take over dad's business. Right, So, yes, you need something. You need a spirit destiny, you need it. You need a psychic, you know, like like Angela, Yeah. Which is blocked it out throughout the years, faked until it went away and then bam. Right here she's been standing in front of us the entire film.

55:34 She's standing there in front of a bathtub because she's gonna cross over. I like that this is a lighthearted moment because it's it's a scary moment. We're gonna we're gonna see hell, right, which real quick your thoughts on his choice, uh, Francis Lawrence. He makes the choice to make Hell look like a modern day post nuclear war, ravaged everything on fire, like did you did you like that? Or where you want more medieval planes? And honestly, I kind of liked it because it goes well with the like Heaven and Hell story of like John Constantine, because essentially it's Hell becomes Earth in that like universe wants the devil wins the war and he's kind of stand right kind of absolutely, yeah, I do like.

56:26 The light the light moment though, because you know he's getting the tub ready, she ticks off her jacket. Let's be honest, Rachel Weiss very easy on the eyes, especially in. A whole Yes, a tight white tank top. And you know, her hair's looking on point and just she looks fantastic. And she says, do I have to take off all my clothes? I like that. He has that moment where he's like, he doesn't, he doesn't say anything. She's like, she's like John. He's like, I'm thinking, She's like, you know, but but she's flirting, you know, because then she smash's like John, he goes, You're You're fine, just keep your clothes on, you know. And it's a fun moment because it shows like there's a tender side to him, as you know he can he's he's doesn't have to be an asshole the whole time. But man, we go from one spec end of the spectrum to the next.

57:21 Because she gets under the water, he tells me, you know, you have to be completely submerged. He places his hand like on her chest to keep her pin down, and she has that moment where she's like, oh, I can't breathe anymore. And she starts fight. Yeah, and he doesn't let her up because she's got a cross over. Awesome scene, man, especially the fact that she kicks the tub like in the Two Pieces, yep, when she when she pops back in hell. Yeah, awesome, awesome moment. You know, that's when we find out about Maman, you know, the son of the Devil. We get, we get basically, it's like an exposition dump, but but a cool one, a really cool one.

58:01 Kind of leads right into the heel turn of a character that we thought was good. Yeah. Absolutely, and that's gonna bring us to what I feel is the pivotal moment. And Garrett, let's just call it what it is. It is the main event, Lucifer coming up to collect John soul. I will have to agree that that is the pivotal moment. I don't want to give anything away. Of course, this movie's been out for twenty years, so of course Constantine sacrifices himself in a way yep, essentially called Lucifer because he knows Lucifer wants to soul that bad, so he knows he's coming directly for him. And my gosh, if the actor and that shows up as a Lucifer just top notch.

58:51 Peter. Is it Sta MARII or Stamar? I think it's Stor Mari Stormy Peter Ster Mariy. Now let's let's can we talk about the look. Because producers wanted his costume to be bare chested, black leather head to toe, spiked dog collar, and full sleeve tattoos. Well, I'm glad they did not go with that goofy shit because what he does show up and is pretty cool. He's got the white suit on, he's got the slick hair, he's got the tattoos peeking out, he's got the grungy looking hands and everything. All I can think of is is like they're they're holding up costumes from the Blue Oyster from the Police Academy movies, and he goes, no, thanks, I got this.

59:45 It was his decision to wear the white linen suit and specifically have the the black tar dripping feet. See that is such a clash. Yeah, I mean yeah. What's going on with is eye Like, there's no eyebrows. There's no eyebrows, And I think that is the only part of this that trips me up. Anytime that I see this movie, I'm like, oh yeah, Peter storm Mari's about takes uh oh shit, he looks weird as can be. What is this? I think in any other any other movie, he can just look like your uncle Rick. Yes, you know who's who's maybe had a hard life. But but uncle Rick has eyebrows and Lucifer, which, by the way, I love that John Constantine calls him lou Yes, like like they're like they're like their bowling buddies.

1:00:35 Like they're yeah, old pals. Yeah. The fact that Peter Stamori is missing his eyebrows just gives him a creep vibe like like no other and it it kind of helps. It just rubs me the wrong way. So yeah, they went with it because it's like, ew, well. It's like there like like we said, there's something about Tilda Swinton where she just looks I don't know ethel you know, she looks like wow. But he's got he makes you also say wow. But where you're looking at Tilda and you're going wow, you're looking at him going wow, like exactly just there's just yeah, he is so good in this like the just his uh just invading Constantine's personal space, getting like when he's like yep, that tongue lash thing he does to his cheek, Like.

1:01:25 One of my favorite things is where he's like trying to light the lighter and he's like, you cut too deep and you hit the tendons. Fingertip controls the first thing to go and then he like wanes in and lights it and he's like, oh, it's like moving from his Yeah. He the physicality he has with the rule, like how I guess, I guess it's playful. The way he's he pulls up the chair and sits down next to John who's slumped down and dying. He's like a little kid he is. It's uh, the little kid that's you know, burning and kind of it's like, yeah, you're at my mercy right now. Well, the little kid who throws a tantrum when he doesn't get his way because he is he's ready. He's like I finally got you know, he even has the line he goes John Constantine, the one soul I would walk up here myself to collect and you know, yeah that's what they say. You know, but this is just an epic moment because we you know, we get the reveal on you know who who set this whole thing in motion. Does this plan kind of pisses Lucifer off, and he he he he, he exacts some revenge.

1:02:40 I think, yeah, yeah, you're absolutely correct with that. Yeah, but the deal, like Constantine, you know, hey, I'll trade, I'll I'll you know, let let me have the sister back. I'll take your place. You know, he's it's he he's a chartleton. He's setting the devil up. He's got he's got something his back pocket. He knows he's gonna he has made the ultimate sacrifice. So that's that. That's the thing about him being the uh cheat and the gambler and everything else. He's already got the loaded hand. He knows he's going to win. Yeah. And now, of course. Again, I know it's different than the comic book, but I love the fact that the Devil, so pissed that he got screwed over by Constantine, decides not to let him die, not to let him go to heaven. He pulls.

1:03:30 I love this moment where he pulls the cancer out of his lungs yep and basically says, no, you get to live, because you will screw up. You will he wanted, he wants to well, I'm gonna get you but it's not like he's not playing something. He just says, you know, he basically is saying Constantine will We'll screw Constantine. He's He's like, you'll, you'll do something, made a wife of it. Trust me, I've got time. Exactly fantastic, awesome moment for this movie. I just I love it. Let's uh, let's let's wrap things up. And is there is there any other seeds you wanted to talk about before we wrap up? I feel like we hit the heavy hitters.

1:04:10 But I think we hit the heavy hitters. Uh. Just another great special effects scene. Uh when he encounters the weird guy that's made out of bugs and crickets. Oh yeah, yeah, the demon that thing? Yeah yeah again. That just another good special effects scene where it's like, oh dude, that is cool and then it just splattered, but yeah, pretty cool. Do you know how bad it's gonna feel to punch a guy in the face who's made out of roaches. And beetles and all that. Yeah, And then when you do punch him, like, he just splatters all over the ground and there's cockroaches and ship Just yeah. I love the cow just stopping everywhere trying to get as many as he can.

1:04:52 So funny. Yeah, that guy, that guy, That guy was gross Garrett, if you uh, let's talk. Let's talk Francis Lawrence one last time. Someone watches Constantine and they say, hey, I like it. What do you got? What they're looking to you to recommend more Francis Lawrence? What are you gonna tell him? I mean another film that I absolutely loved that he did and it had the person that recommended Shaia for the film, Will Smith and I Am Legend. Okay, two thousand and seven, Right, okay, let's let's talk about I Am Legend for a second. Have you read the novel I am Legend.

1:05:36 I am not unfortunate. Yeah, I'm gonna be a Constantine comic book guy here for a second and just say, well, I do like Will Smith I Am Legend. Don't love it? See? Okay? Yeah, I get so. Here's the thing. So, following the Vincent Price classic The Last Man on Earth from nineteen sixty four, YEP and The Omega Man in nineteen seventy one with Charlton Heston, it's the third film adaptation from Richard Matheson's novel from nineteen fifty four, and it's post apocalyptic core and it's so amazing because the plague that devastates the world, when it kills people, it brings them back as vampires. Yeah, and this guy the whole novel, this guy is just fortifying his house and every night they come and they taunt him, and they they antagonize him, they try to get in and he's just one guy by himself, hoping to survive. And then during the day he goes out, he kills as many as he can, he forges for supplies.

1:06:42 But where in the movie they're like CGI plague zombies. I guess ye, yeah. Essentially not and I don't think they look that good. But in the in the book they're speaking, they're they're like vampire vampires, so you know, they're like. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The book, you know, you gotta think this is nineteen fifty four. But in the book, there's they're screaming at him, come out Neville. They're banging on the doors. There's female vampires that are exposing themselves trying to tempt him, try to seduce him. The book is awesome. It is a I recommend anyone that wants to read an awesome vampire story read. I am legend. But let me give you a little elseworld's situation. In nineteen ninety eight, we almost now this is before this Will Smith, I am Legend.

1:07:33 In ninety eight we almost got a version directed by Ridley Scott starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, WHOA Okay, it would have been very close to the source material, but sadly the production was put in turnaround after Warner Brothers had several high profile big box office failures and given that this was going to be a very R rated movie and cost one hundred and twenty five million, which was really high in nineteen ninety Absolutely, yeah, Warner Brothers pulled the plug. They said, this is too risky, even with Arnold starring. They said, no, we can't do it. So see that's crazy. I mean, that's after you've seen so much success with like Running Man in the Terminator series, and yeah, for them to not take the gamble on that, that's kind of crazy to me. Honest.

1:08:22 Well, he had just done Batman and Robin and we all know how that was so shit. Yeah yeah, all right, so I'm with you though, I still I still recommend I am Legend. I got another one for you. Have you seen have you seen twenty eighteen a movie called Red Sparrow. I have actually real good I enjoyed that thirt It was it really, that's a really. Yeah, that's that's a that's a that's a Francis Lawrence. I did not know that. Okay, I remember he was doing the Hunger Game films. If I'm not mistaken, I never watched any album. I'm not gonna say if they're good or bad. It's just not my cup of tea, not my thing. Yeah. I know they had good actors like Woody Harrelson, Donald's other One, stuff like that, but no, I never cared to even look into him.

1:09:12 Well he so Lawrence meets Jennifer Lawrence on the set of this. He's got this idea for Red Sparrow, but he's kind of nervous because you gotta remember this was this was her first when she does Read Note or when she does Red Sparrow. There's there's a lot of nudity in that movie. Oh absolutely yeah, and. She had famously said that she would never do nudity, not comfortable. So he was like, ah, she's she's perfect for the role, but she's probably not gonna do it, you know. But Uh. The funny thing is when questioned about the film's comparison to Marvel's Black Widow, which, as you said, Rachel, weisers close. It's pretty close, right, well, Francis Lawrence was quick to remind everybody that Red Sparrow was adapted from the book Red Sparrow, which was written by a Cia guy.

1:10:00 And so that's exactly why it fits that description. Yeah yeah, and it's it's it's not an action film. It's a suspenseful, spy thriller. So yeah, yeah, guy was writing about his life more or less. So he's like, I get it, like, you know, the Russians like to have ballerinas. And exactly, and yeah, brainwashing, assass and stuff. Yeah, it doesn't look at John with Colreno doesn't who doesn't all we all want. Every time I see a ballerina, I just loot like, well she's an assassin's. Yeah, that's exactly what I think every time. Yeah, uh yeah, So you know we're coming up a little bit short, like wait, like we said, he's he's directed over sixty music videos. I know he's done some other work. I haven't seen it, unfortunately, But let's talk about let's talk about a couple of things he's got in the works, because, like right now, his new film The Long Walk, which stars Mark Hamill based on as Richard Bachmann.

1:10:58 Stephen King is Richard talking, Yeah it is Yep. Looks good. I know Garrett, I know me, and you were hoping to get getting to see that and do a review. Maybe we might still if we have time. It's been a busy, busy late summer early fall though. So yes it has. But he's also in production. He's in pre production on sequels to The Hunger Games, I Am Legend, and Constantine. Which are all three like just crazy out of the blue things that you never think until you actually start deep diving into his filmography and you're like, okay, wait, they've got a few actors attached to his product project and you're like, oh, okay, it's a sequel. It's not going to be split off for reimagining or anything like that.

1:11:48 He's actually doing a legit sequel for the film. Well you figure, you know, James Gunn and Peter Saffron, they're they're doing all this new DC stuff. So you're like, well, we're gonna get Constantine, We're gonna get It's probably gonna be the one that is more comic accurate. But as as recently as February of this year, Keano did reveal that he and Francis Lawrence have developed a story for a sequel. They have presented it to DC Studio's co chief James Gunn, and he has approved the development. He said, go write the script and it's gonna be part of the d C Elseworld's film series.

1:12:29 Yep, which the batman for the els World is Robert Pattinson. Yep. So I'm excited for it. H Keanu kind of said, hey, you know, last time, him and Lawrence were talking about this in an interview recently and they said, look, last time we were kind of caught in that PG. Thirteen possibly are you know, make the studio happy, Yeah, situation, And he says, now we feel like we can go darker, we can get a little creepier, a little scarier, and in more in the world of the occult that John Constantine belongs to you. I mean, it was what a hundred million dollar budget or something they had for this film, So, I mean the studio did show out quite a bit and it's you know, an earlier DC film actually came out same year as Batman begins, so there wasn't a lot of traction for DC until that happened. So I could see how they would be kind of walking on Ehll's going into that one.

1:13:29 Get it, Garett, you recommend Keanu Reeves Constantine. I definitely do. It's a film that I didn't really care for at first, but the more that I've watched this film, I've actually grown to love this story. I feel like you watched this movie recently. There's badass forum tattoos he's got you know. Oh yeah, I forget. I looked it up. I forgot. There's a whole story behind what the symbol is, which is awesome. I was like, you know what, Garret, go go get those probably next weekend. Hey, you're damn right, buddy, Come on now, you never had a room for forearm tattoos.

1:14:09 You are not my friend. You are not. Here's the thing. If you're a fan of the comic, I'd advise you to have a real open mind about the movie version. But if you just want to watch Keanu kick some demon ass in a supernatural superhero movie, it's a hell of a good. Time, is yeah. And it's got some good scary stuff in it that you know, at times reminds me of like some of the scary spooky stuff that you get, like the Evil Dead movies and stuff like that. Just the special effects that we get. Garrett, I don't know where you watch this, but I'm gonna copy something right now. I was playing, I was gonna be lazy. I immediately turned on HBO Max, went to the DC tab cause you know it's gonna be there. Yep, except that it isn't.

1:14:58 Yeah, I thought the same damn thing, Jeff, trust me. Now, Fortunately, I've got a copy of Constantine sitting right there on the shelf. So yep. Same. Cracked open my DVD and listen. If you do like the movie, well just know that you're not gonna stream it unless you're gonna pay for it, because you can rent it. I think it's three forty nine through Amazon. Yeah. No, I ended up finding my DVD of it. Okay, Yeah, get get the DVD, get the blue ray because there's audio commentary. There's like eighteen deleted scenes, and every one of them are awesome. You're pretty freaking cool. Yeah, Like, this is a situation where we could have just had the unrated director's cut and put all the back in. I would have been fine with that.

1:15:43 Yeah, And it's one of those things. I think the movie was like two hours and six minutes in the right we've got, you know, thirty two minutes of de weighted scenes. Yeah, we got to cut this it up. Yeah. Now, but listen, go to Amazon. Don't don't rent it, just buy it because it's it's loaded with extras and it looks great on disc. That's where I'm at with it. But well as it helps top off that ConA Reeves collection that I know so many people are working on. You better be, you better Bell. What do you think? Yeah, listeners, what do you think of Keanu Reeves and Constantine? Did you see it? Are you excited about the future of Constantine in the DC elseworld? So you can let us know on social media. You'll find us on Facebook, Instagram, and x You can check out a film by podcast dot com for all the episodes streaming on all the platforms.

1:16:36 We got some fun stuff on the website. You know, there's some games, you plenty of articles, so check it out. You can always email us from the website or you can get a hold of us at a film by podcast at gmail dot com with your questions, comments and concerns. We may just read your response on the show, and if we do, we will definitely send you some of a film by Swag. Garrett. I don't know when we're gonna talk about another Kianu Reeves movie. I know it will happen because me and you seem to be listen. Yeah, we're the Kiano crew. We're the Kiano crew, right he You're born in September. I'm born in September. Keanus born in September.

1:17:17 I mean great things. We all play football, we all fight demons. You know, get well, you know, across the board. I think we just give him a call. He might be our third best friend. We're just gonna have to look into this. Fine. Well, yeah, we're gonna work on that. Yeah. Another one, listeners, is there a kna Reeves movie you want to hear me and Garrett talk about. We might do it. We'll see. But Garrett, I know what we're talking about next week is not a Keanu Reeves movie. What do you got for us? We are talking Adam Green's Hatchet, classic film that came out in two thousand and seven, absolutely amazing slasher super Gory got some great practice coal effects in This has legendary Kine Hotter in it, a few other great actors, and if you haven't seen it, I would suggest watching it before tuning into the episode.

1:18:10 Brother, I'll tell you right now, if it's a slasher starring Kane Hodder, we have got to call David Burns. He's got to us for that one. I am all for it. I think me, you and David covering a great iconic slasher film. It's going to do it some justice. All right. Well, to all of you listening to the show, following us on social media, and subscribing to our Patreon, we thank you.