Genre: Science Fiction/Action.
Studio:
Unknown.
Production Company:
Unknown.
Project Phase: In the Can.
Who's In It:
Christopher Walken (Fox); Willem Dafoe (X); Asia Argento (Sandii).
Who's Making It:
Abel Ferrara (Director); based upon the William Gibson short story
New Rose Hotel, published in Burning Chrome.
Premise: Unknown.
Release Date: Unknown.
Comments: Unknown.
Rumors: Unknown.
Scoop Feedback:
May 19, 1997... The UK movie magazine Sight and Sound ran an interview with Abel Ferrara about this project, a full-length feature adaptation of Gibson's cyberpunk short story.
In addition to the Walken and Defoe characters there are two other main characters still to be cast. They are: Harashi, an executive in a high technology corporation; and Sandii, a teenage prostitute.
The story that Ferrara describes concerns how the two hustlers use Sandii as part of a plot kidnap Harashi, but will focus on Dafoe's relationship with (and the betrayal by) the girl. The films Ferrara mentioned as reference points were Death of a Salesman, James Bond, Notorious, Rashomon, and he even made an allusion to the musical My Fair Lady. Goodness! [Project annoucement first sent in ny Dylan Pank.]
ZENtertainment reports that Claudia Schiffer is the actress in negotiations to star alongside Defoe and Walken. [Scoop by ZENtertainment.]
A.E Stewart interviewed Gibson recently, and the writer commented about the script. Gibson told Stewart that the script was 'extremely dark' back in October 1996, but only recently did Ferrara explain his plan and intention for the film.
Ferrara intends to set it during the modern day and in the future. Ferrara said Gibson's been so prophetic it doesn't need to be a futuristic story. Ferrara said that the film will be "James Bond the first half, as these guys prepare this defection, then we twist around after a big set piece in the middle and make it an obsessive love story." Kathryn Bigelow (director of Near Dark and Strange Days) was once attached to this project before Ferrara's involvement. [Great scoop from A.E. Stewart.]
June 17, 1997... Model Bridget Hall now may be cast in the lead female role. [Scoop sent in by Diane.]
December 3, 1997... While not attached to a studio, distribution company, or even being listed in the trades, The New Rose Hotel project has begun production in New York City. One of our scoopers tells us an actress who worked with Ferrera in previous films, and recently starred in Scooter McCrae's Sixteen Tongues received a call from the director to be in his latest film, which she said had already begun filming. As the story goes, the actress said it was a "sci-fi story by a guy named Gibson." Sounds like our hotel. [Big thanks to Joe Mauceri, and a hand should also go out to 'TimVitoTv', who also gave us a head's up for the project's go-ahead.]
August 18, 1998... It's been hard gathering information about this project but our latest mysterious scooper said that the film is slated to make its international premiere at this year's Venice film festival. [Anonymous.]
September 28, 1998... Apparently, despite the fact that there's no distributor for the film yet, this film was screened at the Venice Film Festival, and in competition to boot. The film reportedly "looked like a workprint," had some color problems, and lacked end titles. The spy for Ain't-It-Cool News who saw the film essentially refers to it as the Anti-Johnny Mnemonic. [Originally appeared in Ain't-It-Cool News; reported by 'MuvieMan7']
October 20, 1998... This tidbit from an anonymous viewer: "Just saw this last night at the Ridge in Vancouver, It was the last film of the Vancouver International Film Festival. William Gibson was in attendance. The film is still in the editing stages. Can't wait to see the final cut." You and us both, amigo. [Anonymously donated]
October 22, 1998... Our first film review has arrived. The scooper gives the film high praise in their non-spoiler review below, so fans looking for a good Gibson film adaptation please take note when this film comes to your town.
(One curious item is that the reviewer mentions the film as 'New Rose Motel' and not 'Hotel' as in Gibson's story. A mistake or has the title been modified?)
" I saw the film at Viennas international film festival yesterday. It seems to be definitely finished now, as it not only had a great title sequence but final titles as well.
"According to the rumors that circulated around his press conference in Venice and his obvious drug addiction it seems quite surprising that Ferrara is still able to make movies. And even good movies.
"Based closely on the science-fiction short story of the same title by William Gibson, New Rose Motel tells the story of two men, Fox and X (Christopher Walken and Willem Dafoe) that figure out an elaborate plan to kidnap a brilliant scientist, Hiroshi. As a bait they contact Sandii (Asia Argento), a young hooker that shall lure the ultra-protected Hiroshi away from job and family so they can sell him on the free market to the best-bidding company. Things, unfortunately, do not turn out as expected....
"And so does the film. Whomever is expecting a science fiction film should check out here. If there is any ancestor of Ferrara's take on the genre it is Godard's Alphaville, another film that declared himself sci-fi without using any of the genres special effects or settings. And like that film turned Paris into a futurist city, Ferarra finds his fictious Europe and Marrakech (sp?) in America, in industrial suburbs and crowded clubs or sushi bars.
"Ferrara opts for an intimate play (the only device that turns up during the film is a mini computer with video display that rather resembles a pocket calculator than the gadget of tomorrow) and even omits possible action sequences for the sole presentation of his actors´ circling dialogue, his criterion for the future's possibilities being the relation of the persons not any changes of technology. The story is a simple one of love and betrayal, but the way Ferrara invades the private space of his actors he literally seems to be in love with their faces, giving much more care to their bodies than their dialogue. The first quarter-hour of the film is among the most beautiful sequences captured on celluloid in recent times. Estranged, in vivid colors Ferarra circles around his actors, Dafoe stares unbelievingly into the void, a crippled Walken dances with his cane (as if he had just entered this film from The Ugly American, this mans performance is pure genius once again) and Argento sings 'I love you'.
"Unfortunately the impact diminishes a bit throughout the film, some dialogue might seem unnecessary (but this could be deliberate, I´m not sure yet) and a few iterations reappear too often.
"Still, this is an fascinating feature and while it may not shelf with Ferrarras masterpieces like King Of New York or The Addiction it lurks right behind them in the second row."
{Review submitted by 'e9126635'.]