ROTTEN TOMATOES: Frank Langella Delivers Richard Kelly's The Box

Frank Langella Delivers Richard Kelly's The Box

The veteran actor on the maverick director's newest project.

by Fred Topel | November 18, 2007

Everyone connected with Richard Kelly's The Box is happy to explain the premise: a couple is delivered a box with a philosophical quandary attached. Open the box and they will be rich but someone they do not know will die. Frank Langella (Masters of the Universe, Superman Returns) plays the deliveryman, Arlington Stewart, in what will be a challenging role for him.

"I'm jumping into a whole other genre certainly with a much younger cast.," said Langella. "Cameron Diaz and James Marsden are the hot young actors and it puts me in a new world."

Needless to say, Langella has more than a cameo, so he won't just be dropping off the package and leaving them be. "Believe I'm there for the duration. It's a remarkable script. Every actor I know says to me, 'How did you get that part?' I'm thrilled."

Just getting into wardrobe fittings has already become a surreal experience. "I met Rich Kelly and his producing partner, Sean McKittrick, the other day having had long conversations on the phone, and I didn't know they were the director and producer. I thought there were, like, AD assistants. I met a much older woman who was doing the clothes and these two young guys kept talking and interrupting her and I finally said, 'What do you do in the movie?' and he said, 'I'm the director.' I said, 'Oh, okay. You're my boss.'"

The Box, based on Richard Matheson's short story Button, Button, is due in theaters in 2008.

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(1-4 of 4 posts) | Reply

mmelling77 writes:
on Nov 18 2007 12:41 PM

This was a great Twilight Zone episode back in the 80s. I was just a kid, but I always remembered that episode. Apparently however, the short story is a bit different. If they're making a movie out of it, there does need to be more than just two people sitting around a table arguing about whether to push that button or not for two hours. Writer's strike a movie that consists of only dilouge = ouch

(Reply to this)

Pokerstar317 writes:
on Nov 18 2007 05:43 PM

^ It's a good thing the script was finished before the strike started November 5th... Also try to think of the Short Story/Twilight Zone episode as the first act to the film, then you might see where Richard is heading with the "someone they do not know will die" concept.

(Reply to this)

mmelling77 writes:
on Nov 19 2007 12:54 AM

In reply to this comment (#1287134)
Glad to hear they finished the script. Now, if only there were writers to check my atrocious spelling and grammar from my earlier post . . . .

(Reply to this)

fuj_ball writes:
on Nov 19 2007 09:01 AM

They should make a movie about my favorite Twilight Zone story:

This motley assortment of people are trapped in this round, featureless room with a really high ceiling. So high, in fact, that they can't even see the ceiling. In order to get out they have to work together and make a human ladder, which they do. At the end, after putting aside their mostly stereotypical differences, one of them climbs up over the edge and tumbles out over the wall. Next scene: a doll/action figure dressed just like the guy falls into the snow and a dimestore Santa picks it up, brushes it off, and places it back in the donation barrel. Mind bending and memorable. I saw that episode at least 20 years ago and remember it to this day.

Damn that was a good show.

(Reply to this)

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