“I like to see a fats man rating.”
Why’s that, John?
“As a result of first you get a fats man spike, and then you definitely get the fats man dance!”
John Madden was a soccer participant, an amazing soccer coach, and a good larger soccer announcer, however what’s been underrated was John Madden’s means to play himself. The traces above from his position in soccer flick The Replacements starring Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman, and a somehow-constantly-foaming-at-the-mouth Jon Favreau have lived rent-free in my head for no less than 20 years. Even when he was studying another person’s script, all the pieces John Madden mentioned simply got here out like a John Madden line, a trait he shares with Nicolas Cage—I can not think about extra thrilling casting for a John Madden biopic.
Introduced immediately, Cage can be taking part in the late announcer in a a movie that’s no less than partially “the origin story of Madden NFL, one of many largest videogame franchises of all time,” in keeping with The Hollywood Reporter. Truthfully, I believe it might work. The standard sports activities biopic is all concerning the glory, and I actually do not assume we want two hours of teenagers/twenties/thirties Madden turning into the Grasp of Soccer earlier than a last scene the place he dramatically dons a headset and steps into the announcer’s sales space—minimize to black over the roar of the group. On the identical time, a whole movie devoted to the making of the videogame could be as eyeroll-worthy as final 12 months’s flick about Air Jordans. Perhaps assembly within the center will lead to one thing that is not completely typical and never a pure Ode to Model.
No matter form of script we’re taking a look at, I count on Cage will harness some true Huge Canine power right here. He is the form of actor who is aware of higher than to attempt an ideal impression; he’ll give you some wild tackle Madden’s voice and an embodiment of Madden’s outsized persona that feels proper, whether or not or not it is “correct.” Cage can be excellent at taking part in himself, and has performed it twice just lately—in his movie The Insufferable Weight of Large Expertise, and in Useless By Daylight, the place he promised “if you’re taking part in the Nic Cage survivor, I need you to know that we’re one, that we’re fused.”
I am positive he’ll be bringing the identical dedication to a scene during which he teaches a bunch of laptop nerds find out how to make a soccer sort out really feel real on an Apple II. When he lets unfastened a shock BOOM! they will all do some bounce. It will not be within the script; he’ll simply really feel it.
I do want another person was directing this film for Cage apart from David O. Russell, who’s been accused of some fairly gross stuff and dangerous conduct on film units through the years. Simply days in the past George Clooney referred to as Russell “a depressing fuck” unprompted throughout an interview, so he is clearly nonetheless bitter over the film they made collectively 25 years in the past. Probably not the nice vibes I would hope for from a Madden movie, to be sincere.
“Nicolas Cage, certainly one of our biggest and most authentic actors, will painting the very best of the American spirit of originality, enjoyable, and dedication during which something is feasible as beloved nationwide legend John Madden,” Russell mentioned in a casting announcement concerning the movie. “Along with the ferocious type, focus, and impressed individualism of Al Davis, proprietor of the underdog Oakland Raiders, the function can be concerning the pleasure, humanity and genius that was John Madden in a wildly creative, cool world of the Seventies.”
No phrase on when to count on the movie, however I would guess someday later subsequent 12 months.
