Sci-Fi's Law of Jude
Jude Law is busy reading the script for Repossession Mambo, his upcoming sci-fi thriller where he plays a repo man for an artificial organ union.
Jude Law has made 3 science fictions movie that I like. Is this some sort of universal law? Could Repossession Mambo be number 4?
In 1997's Gattaca, Law played supporting character Jerome Eugene Morrow in a dystopian future where genetic profiling is taken to scary extremes. Jerome lends his superior "valid" DNA to "in-valid" Vincent (Ethan Hawke) so that Vincent may avoid genetic discrimination and prejudice. This is one of science fiction's most thought-provoking films...which might explain its failure to make money. Too bad...this one deserved more attention.
In 2001, Law starred as the artificial human Gigolo Joe in Steven Spielberg's movie Artificial Intelligence: AI. The story, adapted from the Brian Aldiss story Supertoys Last All Summer Long, is about a young artificial boy (Haley Joel Osment) who wants to be human. OK, it's Pinocchio. Call me sentimental, but I thought it worked.
In 2004, Law starred as the title character in Kerry Conran's retro sci-fi movie Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. This one had giant, flying robots, air ships and the ghost of Laurence Olivier. What's not to like? Oh, did I forget to mention Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie?
Jude Law knows how to pick 'em. Hopefully he continues that's streak.
Law: Mambo Is Coolest Script Ever [SciFi Wire]
I realize hyperbole is the coin-of-the-realm on internet forums, but I am not exaggerating when I say that I had to apologize to my family and girlfriend for taking them to AI. As my dad said, "I was really mad that I started crying when when the little boy is reunited with his mother."
Note that this reunion occurs some thousands of years after the main events of the film, when benevolent space aliens arrive on earth and thaw out said little boy (who's been frozen in some sort of sub-oceanic arctic ice) and probe his memories so as to make him happy.
Personally I'd add eXistenZ to the list of good sci-fi Jude Law's done.
rl, no need to apologize for being sentimental at heart. :)
Bagpiper, I should have more clearly qualified my list...these were the ones I've seen. Sounds like I should check out eXistenZ!
ExistenZ, no (I'm not a fan of Cronenberg), but Jude's other 3 are great. Mambo sounds very cool.
Ol' Judey was the genetically superior one in Gattaca, and donated his blood/hair/skin samples to the naturally born "Godchild" of Ethan Hawke so he could pass himself of as a valid member of the Gattace space program. The film definitely slipped by too many people, though.
As for AI and Sky Captain though... I have to profess I wasn't impressed by either. AI drowned in its Spielbergness (Spielbergosity?) and Sky Captain, whilst pretty, was simply boring as far as I can remember. Perhaps it's time to revisit the latter, but I couldn't pretend Jude Law had impeccable taste with his sci-fi.
I should learn to proofread my comments before posting, not after. Apologies all round for my late-night mauling of the English language there.
Matt,
Yikes! You are correct. Jerome indeed lent DNA samples for its genetic superiority. Apparently it's been way too long since I've seen it. Thanks for the correction, I've updated the post accordingly. I hereby demote myself 2 levels on the Wil Wheaton Scale of Geek.
[Hangs head in shame and sulks off...]
yes jude has impeccable taste....he likes off beat roles and very seldom plays to his beauty. in repossesion mambo he's got a buzz haircut and they shaved part of his eyebrow to give him a harder look. forrest whitaker is his co-star and i'm looking forward to it.