For a little while now, it has been reported that John Cusack will be portraying acclaimed writer, mustache enthusiast and guy who died in Baltimore Edgar Allen Poe in a fictionalized take on the final days of his life. Entitled The Raven (coz The Cask of Amontillado didn’t have much of a ring to it), it follows Poe on an investigation into a supposed serial killer’s antics who is copying in real life the macabre events of his literary works. Directed by James McTeigue, who laudably direct V for Vendetta and laughably directed Ninja Assassin, this is one of those instances in which I guess in theory this could make a pretty cool graphic novel or short run series in comic book form, but a feature film….
It seems to me that this movie is going to be a tough sell for a lot of viewers, and here’s one reason why:
That’s goateed-and-not-mustached John Cusack with a raven on his arm, looking all astute as Poe for his promo shot. Will the pet raven have a role in the movie? Will it play his scout, or trusty companion? Will Poe have RavenVision™, enabling him to track the serial killer with Sherlockian intuition and heightened senses? And how will they work the reality of Poe’s final days – in which he appeared disheveled and disoriented in the streets and rapidly died afterward – into the plot? Will Poe still be a totally broke alcoholic, like in real life? I’m curious to find out, but still a little more than apprehensive at the premise. How about you?
I think the issue here is that you have to embrace that Hollywood doesn’t care about reality. therefore Poe will likely be a wealthy recovering alcoholic that dies in a lush bedroom on his posh estate. Because that’s far more interesting then his dying on railroad tracks, she said sarcastically. Damn that Poe and his magic detective skills.
i read the script. in the movie he doesn’t die from alcoholism, but from a concussion suffered after a brutal Ray Lewis tackle
I thought he went into DTs because Baltimore bars close too early and open too late