Thursday, March 2, 2017

The Road to 'LOGAN'







INTRODUCTION

Soon will be experiencing an important Pop Cultural moment. The end of Hugh Jackman’s iconic portrayal of James Howlett/Logan/Wolverine, in the soon to be released Logan, which is already garnering rave reviews.  
To commemorate this seminal event, I will be recapping and analyzing the three films that I believe are essential primers for Logan, as well as provide a retrospective (both personally and socially) on Hugh Jackman’s time in the role. Then, in a separate post, I will write a review of Logan after I have seen it enough times to develop a coherent and cogent analysis of the film.



‘LOGAN’ ESSENTIAL VIEWING

Hugh Jackman has been playing the Character of James Howlett/Logan/Wolverine on screen for 17 years (more than that if you count the production of the original X-Men) through 7 films (as lead and star[1]) and two additional cameos. Aside from Logan which is shaping up to be the ultimate and most moving performance Jackman has given as the character, there are three other films in Jackman’s history as Wolverine that, if revisited before the initial screening of Logan, will make the emotional gut punch of seeing Jackman as Wolverine for the last time resonate to the very emotional core of the audience and fans. Those three films are, for better or for worse, X-men Origins: Wolverine (2009), The Wolverine (2013) and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). Each of these films have their problems. In some cases, a lot of problems. Yet, since these specific films are adaptations of seminal works in Logan’s character history, they are important. This creates a strong foundation for the final chapter in the Jackman/Wolverine Saga.




   Like Wolverine himself, X-Men Origins: Wolverine (the first in the solo Wolverine Trilogy) was a failed experiment.  Planned as the first in a series of Origin films (hence the title) that would feature various X-men characters (at the time of development there were similar films planned involving Xavier and Magneto), the film was never crafted with serious care[2] Jam packed with too many characters that devolve into shades of their comic counterparts[3]. This film had a bloated budget that was trying to tell too much story (we go from 1845-1979 for christ's sake). Part of the reason for this is that they were trying to thread a very fine needle. They were trying to create a suitable story to explain how James Howlett became Logan: The Wolverine from the first trilogy, setting up a film franchise (with the Origins line) and adapt two seminal comic books while providing some amount of fan service.  The result is that the film falls into plot holes and tired clichés ending with the film collapsing under its own immense weight. [4]Regardless of the many flaws of this film, there are a few saving graces that make the film have enjoyable moments.  It is these silver linings that are also the lynch pin for enjoying Logan
The two best things about X-Men Origins: Wolverine are the characters of Logan and Creed played by Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber.  It is their character’s relationship onscreen and the actor’s friendship offscreen, that contributes to the chemistry between the two of them which anchors the film. Their relationship outlined in the opening sequence (which is the best part of the film) creates the strong parallel between the two characters that exists in the comics. The slow drift apart over the years as Logan[5] becomes disturbed and weary of war and killing, while Victor revels in it.
 One of the major changes that they made for this film that I actually agree with is making Logan and Creed half brothers. This adds to the dramatic tension and character development for both of them. It see this as even an improvement on Wolverine’s Origin in the Comics. Throughout that entire graphic novel, once the character of James Howlett was revealed to be the man we would call Logan, the other character named Dog (who was a red herring for Logan through the first part of the book) I assumed would turn out to be Creed by the end of the story. I was sadly disappointed.
It is my hope that this antagonistic brotherly relationship, left open ended at the conclusion of Origins, resurfaces and is resolved in Logan. My hope clings to a Cinemablend article in which Liev Schreiber expressed interest in reprising his role as Creed after hearing they were going to loosely adapt the Old Man Logan  storyline from the comics, and internet rumblings of a secret villain fight at the end of the new film.  Add to this the reality that both the star and director of Logan have worked with Schreiber multiple times and both have strong friendships with him. Plus, wouldn’t it just be an amazing emotional conclusion if Old Man Logan and X-23 take on Sabertooth to cap off this version of the characters? It seems too poetic to pass up[6]



 Modeled after the famed and much beloved Wolverine title by Frank Miller and Chris Claremont. 2013’s The Wolverine makes good on Jackman and 20th century Fox’s promise to tell “the Japan story”. Like all of the other films in the X-men Universe established and (mostly) built by Brian Singer, they both too a lot of liberties with the story, as well as make some odd choices on what to include and what to omit.  Some of the changes work (like making Yukio a sidekick and Logan’s Bodyguard) other changes did not (the entire climax with the Silver Samurai).
            Mangold’s first foray into the superhero genre is met with welcome acclaim, breathing new life into a character’s solo career that was nearly snuffed out in the previous installment. Positioning Logan in the film as a Ronin (masterless Samurai), Mangold and Jackman reveal layers of the character that had only been hinted at up until this point and something that fans truly wanted to see. The trick that Mangold pulls to make Logan a deeper character is to hinder his healing factor for most of the film.  This coupled with a world weary performance by Jackman whom turns hopeful and ready to fight by the end. It is the shot in the arm that both the character and the Franchise needed going into their big cross over event Days of Future Past
            I have talked about The Wolverine previously on this blog. The film is utterly fantastic even with the telegraphed reveal at the end and its flawed climax.  What makes this film essential viewing for Logan is the creative team behind it, particularly James Mangold.  Given what he accomplished with his freshman outing, in a film franchise that has become as increasingly complicated and convoluted as its comic book counterpart, is a miracle.  Listening to interviews Mangold has given about the learning curve he had on The Wolverine inspires me to believe that his sophomore outing is going to be something special. 
Additionally, the two films seem to be a Gemini. The Wolverine is a film about James gaining the will to fight again, to become the weapon and the force for good that we see in Days of Future Past. Logan feels world weary in a way that inherently different way, beaten down, not by over guilt of the death of the woman he loved, but the toll life takes baring the hard decisions and their consequences on broad but tired shoulders. This parallel of storytelling is most visible in the two films companionate theme(s). The Wolverine is very much a Samurai (Jedigeki) picture, whereas Logan is a western; two genres that were built on and influenced each other. The best example of this is the work of Akira Kurosawa. He was influenced by the work of John Ford (particularly The Searchers) that inspired him to create Samurai classics like Hidden Fortress, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, and Seven Samurai. In the years since, Yojimbo and Seven Samurai have been remade as westerns; most Famously is the Seven Samurai remake The Magnificent Seven, and its remake of the same name. Let us hope these two films go down in history with similar acclaim.




X-Men: Days of Future Past (DOFP) is the best X-Men film to date. Not only did it successfully adapt a short, but impactful storyline from the comics that fans have been clamouring for ever sense they got a taste of it back in the 1990’s, but it also acted as its own continuity machine. This film connected the previous X-men Trilogy featuring  Patrick Stewart and Ian MacKellan with the “First Class” Trilogy featuring James Mcavoy and Michael Fassbender essentially making this film a world building crossover in the vein of an Avengers film[7] Any negativity I can hurl at this film is just a simple nitpick about under used or undervalued characters.
Even though DOFP is the first X-men film in the franchise that actually feels like its comic book counterpart, it is essential viewing for Logan in the way that it furthers the character development of James Howlett and Charles Xavier.  This film allows for an interesting reversal of roles. A despondent and broken Xavier has to be motivated to hope by his most difficult student.  It is this relationship, particularly by the end of the film, that is stronger and given more weight.  It is Wolverine that pays back his mentor in a very specific way thus forging their relationship as father and Son. A relationship that is the bedrock foundation for Logan as a film, positioning the two as an ailing father being taken care of by his dutiful, albeit grumpy and acerbic son.  It is this connection that looks to be the emotional core of Logan  and one that I am sure will bring me to tears.





THE LEGANCY OF HUGH JACKMAN’S WOLVERINE

    
Personal

 I first learned rumors of an X-Men film in the Spring issue of Cinemascape Magazine in 1997. The magazine had a film development section titled “Development Hell” and the proposed X-men film was often among its ranks. Being weaned on the excellent X-Men cartoon show in the early 90’s, my friend and I fan casted the film going off of the X-Men cartoon roster. We unfortunately selected a lot of “known”, B list or action star actors in many of the roles.  I am sorry to report that we chose Michael Ironside for Wolverine. However, we correctly selected Sir Patrick Stewart as Professor X. In all fairness I think it was because of our exposure to Star Trek and that he was the only prominent bald actor that our young minds could think of. We had also fan casted him for Mr. Freeze in Joel Schumacher’s Batman and Robin based on Batman: The Animated Series episode “Heart of Ice.” Thankfully we were wrong.
            I kept up with the production of the film. I remember the casting of Dougray Scott in the role and then he had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. However, I remember the day I heard about Hugh Jackman’s casting. I walked into my Senior-level high school science class in 1999 and my friend told me “They cast Wolverine in the X-men film.” “Who is it?” I replied anxiously. Just then he seemed a little crestfallen “An unknown actor from Australia.” He showed me the picture in a magazine that outlined the characters and the respective actors playing them. I just shrugged my shoulders. “ He better do a good job.” I was always a little bit hesitant given what the X-men meant to me as an adolescent with a disability. Little did I know that almost 18 years later that Hugh Jackman would make his Legacy through the character, and that character become richer for it.

            Social

            Though some people might disagree[8], but the current superhero genre owes its existence to X-Men (2000). The immense positive reaction to the film and the box office (making a near 300 mil off of a 75mil budget) is what set the tone for the Sam Raimi Spiderman franchise, the X-Men Universe, Hellboy, Spawn, the resurgence of Batman with The Dark Knight Trilogy and the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hugh Jackman’s popularity as Wolverine started it all. And in a world/genre where people get recast or replaced, Hugh Jackman has  remained a constant. He has been the eye of the Superhero maelstrom over the better part of two decades. Very soon it will be time to say goodbye, to Hugh Jackman’s “O’l Knucklehead”…but not just yet. There is one last ride for Jackman’s James Howlett/Logan/Wolverine in Logan and I can’t wait. I can’t wait to see it, I can’t wait to own it. I. Just. Can’t. Wait.


CONCLUSION  

 Hugh Jackman is Wolverine. He will always be Wolverine…because he has earned it. There has never been, nor will there ever be, an actor with so much devotion to a character. 17 years, 9 films. You can keep your RDJ’s or your revolving door of Batman none of them hold a single adamantium claw to Hugh Jackman. In fact, Jackman’s Wolverine has been such a mainstay that anytime a comic book character is played by the same actor more than once, the number of their performances should be measured in “Jackmans” ( RDJ for instance, would have 6 “Jackmans”) Since his portrayal has spanned the character’s entire lifespan and major life events, Hugh Jackman has played the character to completion. I have always believed that something becomes special because it has an ending, because there is an end. The more something continues the more invaluable, less precious it becomes. So, if Logan truly the end, no one has earned his rest more than Hugh Jackman. He has paid his dues, and increased the principle. Now it is time to just live off the dividends.       



[1] I am including his portrayal in Logan in this number
[2] If you listen to the special features of X-men: Origins Wolverine: Jackman really wanted to do the “japan story” by Frank Millar. The studio told him that before he would be able to do that, he would have to make this film. So, it is unclear whether or not he had the creative control he seems to have with Logan. Given the quality of the film, I think not.
[3][3] Gambit and Everyone else in the Weapon X program not named Logan or Creed.
[4] Painting themselves into a corner, they had wolverine get shot with adamantium bullets exclusively to wipe his memory. COME’ON!
[5] Or as Creed calls him “Jimmy”
[6] And too good to be true…I guess time will tell…soon enough
[7] A concept that we will see obliterated with the ambitious Infinity War  which will combine the Avengers franchise characters and the Guardians of the Galaxy the result being the apex of the Marvel Cinematic Universe dubbed “MCU”
[8] I am looking at you, Blade (1998) fans