Table of contents:
- In the wake of the series - new investigations of the "angels"
- A great parody or a mediocre action movie?
- After the release of the film
Video: What remained behind the scenes of the film "Charlie's Angels": Why the heroines preferred single combats to weapons, for which they scolded Bill Murray and others
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
The premiere of a film about the adventures of detectives of the fair sex took place twenty years ago. Those "angels" coped with their task brilliantly: they managed to entertain the viewer, to remind that the role of a woman is not limited to providing home comfort and to involve numerous characters performed by famous actors in the cycle of events. This recipe rarely works, but in the case of Charlie's Angels it worked.
In the wake of the series - new investigations of the "angels"
The 2000 film was based on the series under the same title that aired on the American ABC channel in 1976-1981. Then "Angels" turned out to be a very successful project, primarily because women were in the traditionally male role of private detectives. Two decades later, the topic remained relevant.
Despite this blatant feminist nod, Y2K Charlie's Angels is primarily a parody. This explains both the huge success of the film among the audience and the rather cool overall reviews of film critics who accused the picture of everything in a row - in platitudes, in clichés, in the fact that talented actors are forced to exchange for empty and devoid of originality roles, and the film itself looks more like a trailer to video games. Especially Bill Murray, who played the role of Bosley in the film, as well as in the series, was accused of being promiscuous in his choice of roles.
But those who followed the adventures of "Angels" through the prism of satire on blockbuster action movies got a real pleasure from watching. True, the objectification of women could not be avoided, the main characters were the blonde, the brunette and the redhead, the girls on the screen took full advantage of the advantages that their spectacular appearance gives them, this was also one of the features of the film. Despite the professionalism and impeccable use of weapons and techniques of martial arts, "angels", first of all, are very attractive persons.
The film was directed by McGee (his real name is Joseph McGinty Nichol) and co-produced by Drew Barrymore, who plays "Angel" Dylan. Since the actress did not like weapons, the main emphasis in the confrontation of the "angels" with opponents was placed on martial arts. The actors were trained by the Chinese director and director of films about kungfu Yuan Heping, by the way, he also appeared in "Charlie's Angels", in a small episode on the plane.
In addition to Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu played the roles of angels. The competition was huge - dozens of stars alone claimed to take part in the filming: Angelina Jolie, Jada Pinkett Smith, Milla Jovovich, Julia Roberts, Salma Hayek, Uma Thurman, Reese Witherspoon … Beyoncé, Lauryn Hill auditioned for the role of Alex Munday, played by Lew and even Victoria Beckham. And the main villain of the film could be the Icelandic singer Bjork, but she refused the invitation to take part in the filming.
A great parody or a mediocre action movie?
According to the plot of the film, Charlie Townsend's agency, who is not shown to anyone and conducts his affairs through a special intercom, was contacted by the vice president of a unique equipment company with a request to find the missing engineer Eric Knox. With the help of his secretary, Bosley Charlie turns the case over to the "angels" - an elite division of the agency, which includes Natalie Cook (Cameron Diaz), Dylan Sanders (Drew Barrymore) and Alex Munday (Lucy Liu).
"Angels" get down to business, using all their skills and talents. In the course of the plot, the villains and friends manage to switch places, and another bright and charismatic character appears before the audience - the Thin Man, who has not uttered a single word for the entire film. By the way, this his silence was the result of the painful search for a harmonious image of his character by the actor Crispin Glover, including discussions with the director. In the original script, Thin Man had multiple lines.
Much in the film resembled a twenty-year-old series: the role of Bosley was played by the same Bill Murray, as well as "Charlie" - John Forsyth, who, however, "plays" only with his voice. Only at the end of the picture Dylan manages to see Charlie - on the beach, where the "angels" and Bosley rest after the completion of the case, but this remains her secret.
After the release of the film
Charlie's Angels was one of the most anticipated films of 2000, and it grossed over $ 40 million in its first weekend. Worldwide receipts amounted to 264 million. The box office success of the film was also ensured by the soundtrack, which included compositions of several dozen world famous music groups and performers - Korn, Enigma, The Prodigy and many others. Soon the sequel “Charlie's Angels. Just Go,”where the role of the main villain was played by Demi Moore and where one of the“angels”of the series, Jacqueline Smith, appeared. This film was the last work in the movie John Forsythe - in 2010 he died of pneumonia. Bosley was played this time by Bernie Mac.
And in 2019, a new film of the same name about the trio of super-agent angels was released. The main roles this time went to Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott and Ella Balinske. The new generation of "angels" is much more likely than the previous one to use weapons and more easily defeat male opponents.
Following the success of the 2000 film, a career as an actress. who played the main roles, went uphill, and if Drew Barrymore was already a real star before him, and Cameron Diaz became famous after "The Mask" in 1994, then for Lucy Liu it was "Angels" that became the film that made her truly recognizable and demanded. For her role in Kill Bill, she won the MTV Movie Awards for Best Movie Villain.
She is now raising a four-year-old son. And Cameron Diaz is a four-month-old daughter, whom she is raising with her husband, musician Benji Madden. Cameron has a lot to be proud of in terms of her career, but she calls the last months the best part of her life. Drew Barrymore is a mother of two daughters.
"Angels" only contributed to the development of an acting career, but no one is immune from failures, and failed roles of famous actors, including Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, once again remind of how capricious success in the dream factory is.
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