Mr. Garcia Goes to Tbilisi
By Sean at 19 October, 2009, 11:12 am
Andy Garcia has been cast to play President Mikheil Saakashvili in the upcoming film Georgia. I just hope that Garcia’s audition required to see how he looked chewing on his tie.
The film, directed by Renny Harlin, will revolve around the last year’s war between the Caucasian nation and Russia. Though war remains extremely politically charged on both sides, the film promises to “not take sides” reports the Telegraph. I have no idea how that will be possible considering that its executive producer is Papuna Davitaia, a pro-Saakashvili MP. Nevertheless, Michael Flannigan, one of the film’s other executive producers, told Georgian TV: “Our main concern was to show war as a bad thing. We had an opportunity to make a really anti-war film.” We’ll see about that. My prediction is that war will be shown to be a “bad thing” only when the Russians are involved. But who knows? I do count on one thing, though. The film will have lots of explosions. Sadly, it hasn’t been announced who will play Medvedev or Putin. I’m with FP Passport and second Daniel Craig for the role of Putin. As for Medvedev, that’s a tough one. Unless they can somehow resurrect Nicholas II, I’m stumped.
According to the Telegraph, Georgia’s plot will involve an American journalist/do-gooder and his faithful cameraman who find themselves “caught in the thick of the conflict and are forced to make tough ethical choices.”
Well that’s interesting. This plot sounds similar to Russia’s drama/agitprop action film Olympus Inferno which was broadcast earlier this year. Olympus Inferno focused on an American insect hunter and a Russian journalist who stumble upon “damning evidence” that Georgia started the war and, surprise, surprise, tough ethical choices ensue.
Not much else has been said about the film, which is to be released next year. But from the little information available, it sounds like it’s going to be nothing short of total crap.
More dashing photos of Garcia as Saak can be found here.
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Didn’t i last week read that the Litvinenko movie with Johnny Depp had been cancelled?
Only ONE guy to play Medvedev to Putin. Of course we’re talking Verne Troyer, the original Mini-Me.
Surely you don’t think Russia does not have movies about the conflict?
See “War 08.08.08. The Art Of Betrayal” documentary on youtube.
“Olympus Inferno focused on an American insect hunter and a Russian journalist who stumble upon “damning evidence” that Georgia started the war and, surprise, surprise, tough ethical choices ensue.”
Georgia, er, did start the war.
I doubt this movie will ever be made.
Christopher Walken would make a good Putin.
I think Ricky Gervais would be a good Medvedev. And Daniel Craig as Putin is a no-brainer.
Daniel Craig as Putin would be awesome. If he can pull it off, it’d be a nice contrast with Bielski as those guys have different personas, to be sure.
I think Mashkov could do Mevedev though.
Actually, Mashkov could play Putin too.
Technically, Davitaia is not “executive” producer, although he co-wrote the story and is an MP.
Secondly Georgians claim the Olympus Inferno script was written by a Georgian and stolen.
But whatever, the Russians have a feature film and documentary about their version of the war. The Georgians have theirs. What’s the big fuckin deal? One side can have a bad propaganda picture and the other not?
Danny DeVito for Medvedev. William DeFoe as Putin.
“But whatever, the Russians have a feature film and documentary about their version of the war. The Georgians have theirs. What’s the big fuckin deal? One side can have a bad propaganda picture and the other no”
The problem is that this Russian propaganda has never played in American theaters and most westerners have never heard of them. This, on the other hand, sounds like it’s going to be another “Charlie Wilson’s War” type of propaganda film with the purpose of “informing” the ignorant American/western public via the only way they/we know how to be informed – Hollywood films.
But I too doubt this film will ever see the light of day.
“I think Ricky Gervais would be a good Medvedev.”
Dude, that was the first thought I had as well when thinking of who should play Medvedev.
I have had enough to drink and am in a Doom mood right now, so I think I will just leave it at that.
Total crap sounds like a fair assessment. Still, I’ll be going to see it, but only to reminisce about the Georgian scenery. More importantly, though, I hope this brings some much-needed capital to Tbilisi to help out the poor and un(der)employed, but I won’t be holding my breath.