As the festival season wore on in 2012, one movie we kept hoping would pop up at Venice, Telluride, Toronto, London or Rome, was Jonathan Glazer's long awaited "Under The Skin." The film shot last year, has been in post-production ever since, and we figured it might cross the finish line soon, but it appears there is still more work to be done on the movie.
Scarlett Johansson has put the wig back on and is back in front of cameras for reshoots that are currently taking place in Glasgow and Scotland. Now before anyone panics, reshoots are usually a scheduled part of any production, so don't let this make you think the movie is in trouble. Scheduling and other factors could have also added to the long gap between wrapping and re-shoots (not to mention that it looks like the scenes involve colder weather, which they likely couldn't capture earlier in the year).
Anway, the adaptation of Michael Faber's novel tells the story of a manhunting alien disguised as a sexy woman who preys on human flesh. But it's not the kind of sci-fi movie you think it is. "…yes I do play an alien who is wearing my own skin. But it's actually not a science-fiction film; it's sort of a film that asks existential questions and is much more complex than the logline," she said earlier in the year.
After a one two punch with "Sexy Beast" and the masterful, severely underrated "Birth" (somebody get this movie a proper Blu-ray release or license it to Criterion), we have been waiting a far too long eight years for Glazer's next effort. We can't wait to see what he does within a genre mold (something he nicely upended with "Sexy Beast") and the concept and execution sound both enigmatic and exciting. At this point, it's looking like a 2013 bow for the picture…could Berlin or Cannes be the place where "Under The Skin" finally shows what's beneath the surface? Fingers crossed. [Daily Mail]
I accidently 'bumped' into the filming crew when they were on set at Rannoch moor south of Glencoe. I was working on the remote communications mast which is a mile drive from the main road then another mile on foot on a dirt track. I came across a padlocked gate that I had no key for and snapped it off using boltcutters. Nearing the end of the track I noticed all the filmcrew, vans caravans etc. I was questioned by a few security guards, and I told them what I was there for, and they asked me how I got by the locked gate, "What locked gate" was the reply….I could see the actors a further 100 yards up the hill under the lights. I also come from Port Glasgow, so I am looking forward to this film.
It isn't science fiction because it asks existential questions, which of course SF could never do. It's just about space battles.
Ditto on the need for a Blu-ray Criterion release of BIRTH.
Very much looking forward to UNDER THE SKIN in the directorial lead of Mr. Glazer, and even though Scarlett Johansson doesn't entirely resemble my inner image of Isserly from the great novel, what's more important is that Scarlett exudes an essential and strangely "alien" quality – a silent observational gaze of hers that seems perfectly suited for the role of Isserly.
TATOO NEW SUN COMING UP…………….
WHERE EVER U GO,
LIGHT/SHADOW/
WON;T LAST FOREVER, ORGANIC FARM/
IS THAT HIM /UKI5/I6/JAMES007
i just love how in some places when i read about reshoots they say it means it's not a good film yet in this one it says it's a regular thing (which is true)
By the time it comes out it will have been nine years since Birth, thats too long for such a good director. Sexy Beast is very rewatchable, great flick.
@ Kate: I've read the book and been on several of the shooting locations, and I can tell you there are few similarities between them. Most of the filming was done in Glasgow and Port Glasgow and one scene involves SJ shopping in Debenhams…..
"(not to mention that it looks like she scenes involve colder weather which they likely couldn't capture earlier in the year)." LMAO! I take it you're not too familiar with Scotland because believe me capturing scenes of colder weather practically anytime of the year is not a problem.
"(somebody get this movie a proper Blu-ray release or license it to Criterion)" … I'm legally bound to say 'fuck yes' every time this is brought up. Fuck yes.
I absolutely love the novel and can't wait to see how it's translated to film.
ScarJo makes me think the film is in trouble.