Tobey Maguire Talks Brothers, Spider-Man 4
Summary
Tobey Maguire has kept a pretty low profile since "Spider-Man 3" swung into theaters in 2007, but with "Brothers" just around the corner -- and, of course, "Spider-Man 4" on the way -- that's about to change. Back to Article
Tobey Maguire has kept a pretty low profile since "Spider-Man 3" swung into theaters in 2007, but with "Brothers" just around the corner -- and, of course, "Spider-Man 4" on the way -- that's about to change. Back to Article
(1-15 of 15 posts) | Reply
on Nov 29 2009 08:14 PM I'm not sure I really buy his 'I want to evolve the character' thing. I have nothing against Maguire in general; he is a good actor, no doubt about it. But I don't like him as Peter Parker. It's not even that I don't think he's right for the part; I thought casting him was a good idea in the first place, but he just hasn't done anything with the role. Parker was exactly the same in the third movie as he was in the first: awkward, dumb (socially, not intellectually), unsure of himself, a bit neurotic, and always flashing that goofy blank-eyed stare around. That was fine for the first movie, but it would be nice to see Parker grow up and smarten up a bit; become, you know, an adult, instead of perpetually being a weiner-kid. It would be nice to see him get the point where he actually has some confidence and can take on the cocksure, sarcastic personality that the character is known for. Unless Raimi has been instructing Maguire specifically to stay in naive doofus mode, I'd say Maguire has had plenty of chances to evolve the character, but so far he's seemed pretty content to just coast along on the same performance he turned in for the first movie and accept his paycheck. I don't want to be one of those people who suggest they recast the role, because like I said, Maguire *is* right for the part. He just needs to put some more effort into it I think. I kind of feel the same way about Kirsten Dunst. Despite what claims she may have made to the contrary, I really don't think she's particularly interested in her character; she seems to be just coasting along too. I can't really say I blame her though, she basically just gets to play the victim every movie. (Reply to this) |
on Nov 29 2009 09:26 PM I agree and disagree with you Colin. I actually felt Maguire infused the character with a lot of growth in the second film. He was definitely more mature and making that transformation from a teenager out of high school to a young man facing the rest of his life. when he tells her near the end of the film that he will "always be Spider-Man", I believed him..and I could feel the pain he was experiencing over having to let go of his most heartfelt desire in order to serve the greater good. The Peter Parker we saw at the end of Spider-Man 2 had come a long way from the young man we left in the cemetery at the end of the original. So I would say there was quite a bit of character evolution. I think we also have to acknowledge the importance of the writing, though. Maguire gave a solid performance in part 2, but it was coupled with a smart, literate screenplay. Though overall I enjoyed the third film, I'll also be the first to admit it does have noticable flaws and chief among them is a failure on the part of the screenwriters to do anything with the character progression. I though Maguire did just fine ..it's what he was (or wasn't) given to do that I take issue with. Instead of the previous films -where the action developed from the story - in part 3 the story was designed around the action ..so it was Peter as we know him, but there was no real room for growth. Yet despite that, I thought the way Maguire portrayed the vast difference between his spiteful persona at the jazz club and the movie's final scene (where he reaches out to her and they embrace) was spot on. In that concluding moment , he really did seem to me to be a man who had learned something, despite working within a thin story. I'd qualify that as a solid performance. And although I enjoyed Dunst in the first two films, I agree completely that she just phoned it in throughout the third. Plus the writing of her character blew in part 3. I realized this during the cringe-inducing moment when Pete explains to her that she can't let a criticism get her down and her response is to tell this man who risks his life every day to save strangers( while simultaneously getting trashed in the media as a villain for his efforts) that he had "no idea how she felt." You can tell a leading female character has been played out when a dramatic moment unfolds during which we're supposed to sympathize with her and instead all you can think is "what an unreasonable b**tch." Honestly, if they don't know what to do with her, get her out of there. As of the controversial "One More Day/Brand New Day" story arc the comics retconned the franchise anyway, so the two aren't actually a couple anymore. So no harm ,no foul. (Reply to this) |
on Nov 29 2009 10:25 PM Tobey seems interesting. I just read the article right above this one on the homepage, but there was nowhere to leave a comment. The article is about the film, "9", and animated feature with little cloth puppets. The article is about some contest to see the movie when it "opens nationally on December, 9," even though the movie opened to a wide release on September 9 to rather mixed reviews, according to this site. Odd. (Reply to this) |
on Nov 30 2009 03:43 AM In reply to this comment (#2566533) Cinemascribe & Colin, you both made perfect summaries of many of the arguments and discussions regarding the involvement of Maguire, Dunst and the issues with character development and script that arose in the third film. Maguire's main and best strength throughout the series has been to make the character of Spiderman easily identifiable to virtually everyone. I cant imagine anyone other than Maguire in the role just because of the sincerity (I guess you could say) that he brings to the character. As you both mentioned, Maguire has been great or had several very solid moments throughout the series, the best of which was seen in Spiderman 2. I like Dunst as an actress and I think that she has largely benefited from the fact that although her character is not always that complex, always has a great importance to Peters own development and other aspects of the story. I would keep her in the story because the general public require a strong female lead character that they are familiar with. Her removal would be like the absence of lois lane in the superman movies, people who arent actually fans of the canon would be 'lost' so to speak. The Spiderman series has been very well done and brilliantly brought to life by Raimi and the main cast, it's just unfortunate that the shortcomings of the third film somewhat of a disappointment in comparison to the others in the trilogy. (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 30 2009 03:45 AM In reply to this comment (#2566533) The Spiderman series has been very well done and brilliantly brought to life by Raimi and the main cast, it's just unfortunate that the shortcomings of the third film were* somewhat of a disappointment in comparison to the others in the trilogy. (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 30 2009 04:54 AM In reply to this comment (#2566584) "Somewhat of a disappointment?" That's putting it mildly. The film was a God-damn mess! (Reply to this) |
on Nov 30 2009 08:32 AM This is the best discourse I've seen on this site regarding the Spider-Man franchise. Some of the reasons that I'm looking forward to the fourth installment have been brought up already and they all have to do with character, story, and theme. It almost doesn't matter who Spidey faces as a villain as long as everything is handled well in the writing and executed by good actors in front of Raimi's camera. I think we'll get something good. (Reply to this) |
on Nov 30 2009 08:50 AM if the writing can get back to waht the first two movies were then a fourth one should be a great movie. also they need to get the right villain in there. (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 30 2009 08:53 AM Nice discussion about the Spiderman movies dudes. Cheers! I would like to point out that I agree with most of what everyone says about part 3, but I still enjoyed it. But if one of them is "bad" it is 3 for sure. But I would also like to point out that when it comes to *any* movie franchise that is 3 or 4 or more movies long...does anybody really think they'd *all* be good? (Reply to this) |
on Nov 30 2009 09:17 AM CFM: Lord Of The Rings? I don't know, maybe it doesn't count though, since really they are all just one movie split into three parts. The last two Pirates of the Caribbean also were a continued story, but that doesn't count either since the second two don't hold a candle to "Curse of the Black Pearl". (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 30 2009 11:46 AM CFM, the bourne ultimatum was the best in that trilogy.........and mission impossible 3 is arguably the best in that series as well........ those are the only 2 instances where the 3rd film could possibly be the best in a series extending that many movies (Reply to this) |
on Nov 30 2009 11:55 AM I can't wait for Spiderman 4. I have no doubt that Raimi and Maguire will make up for the disappointment that was the third film (which of course was neither of their faults). Not to mention if Bruce Campbell gets cast as Mysterio, I will seriously wet myself. I'm soo freaking stoked for this movie. (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 30 2009 12:22 PM "Brothers" is revealed by a simple preview even without having to watch the movie at all, that the only reason to see this movie is simply for the ending. (Reply to this) |
on Nov 30 2009 01:29 PM I liked Tobey as Peter Parker. I just didnt like the films. SM2 was probly the best one (Reply to this) |
on Nov 30 2009 01:38 PM I can't WAIT to see BROTHERS . . . (Jake and Tobey look so much alike and both are very good actors [post-Stanislovsky Method actors]). Acting is a lot more under-stated than it was in the Dustin Hoffman, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Dinero era. and actors have a habit of yelling or shouting their dialog in place of "acting" their dialog. I got my movie ticket money in my pocket as we speak. It starts Wednesday I think; the 4th. (Reply to this) |
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