The Beaver

[Watashi]

http://media2.firstshowing.net/firstshowing/img/melgibson-beaver-firstlook-med01.jpg

http://media2.firstshowing.net/firstshowing/img/melgibson-beaver-firstlook-med02.jpg

http://www.stumbleupon.com/s/#2Clkj4/www.firstshowing.net/2009/09/29/first-look-mel-gibson-as-walter-in-jodie-fosters-the-beaver//


No, this is not a joke. Mel Gibson isn't filming another "The Colonel" prank. This is an actual, real movie being shot where Mel Gibson stars as a man who runs around (both literally and figuratively) with a beaver puppet on his hand that he treats like a live animal and his friend. Kind of like Lars and the Real Girl except with a beaver puppet instead of a sex doll. It's called The Beaver and it's being directed by Jodie Foster as well. These photos come from Splash News where they got a few shots of Gibson shooting on set in New York.

The Beaver is about Walter (Mel Gibson), troubled father and husband and CEO of a stalling toy company [who gives voice to] The Beaver, a glove pupper that Walter finds, starts to wear without pause, and adopts as a kind of avatar through which he carries out all of his communication. Almost all of the dialogue given to the lead actor throughout the entire screenplay will have to come from the Beaver, and be delivered in what screenwriter Kyle Killen describes as a "crisp English accent." I didn't even realize this was already shooting, so expect to see it next year. Summit Entertainment will be bringing this film to theaters sometime in 2010.

This film just shot up on my most anticipated list of 2010.

[Sycophant]

YES.

[Ezee E]

Love Mel Gibson in comedic roles. I'm excited.

[number8]

It is acceptable. Very acceptable.

[[ETM]]

So... he has his hand up inside the beaver the whole time? Sold.

[Fezzik]

I had never even heard of this before.

I can't wait!

[Dukefrukem]

No interest...

[ledfloyd]

whether this is great or awful it's going to be epic.

[Grouchy]

I'd been waiting for this movie all my life. I just didn't know it until now.

[Kurosawa Fan]

The inclusion of Jodie Foster as director has my interest at nearly nil.

[Sycophant]

No interest...

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[MadMan]

This could be comedy gold, Jerry. Gold!

[bac0n]

Had me scared there for a second. No, horrified. I thought they were gonna try and make a movie version of Leave it to Beaver. This is much less revolting.

[lovejuice]

The inclusion of Jodie Foster as director has my interest at nearly nil.
yeah...although aside from Foster bit, this movie looks solid comedy.

[Dukefrukem]

There's word that this is going straight to DVD now that Mel flipped his lid. Would any of you still pay to see this?

[number8]

Would any of you still pay to see this?

Yes.

[MacGuffin]

No, I would not see this. I hate Mel Gibson and the world would be a better place if he wasn't in it.

[megladon8]

No, I would not see this. I hate Mel Gibson and the world would be a better place if he wasn't in it.


Yikes.

[MacGuffin]

Yikes.

I feel that way about a lot of washed-up celebrities. They're mostly worthless people that spread far more bad then good for society, so isn't it only logical to feel the world would be a better place if they didn't exist?

[megladon8]

I'm staying out of this one.

[Dukefrukem]

I feel that way about a lot of washed-up celebrities. They're mostly worthless people that spread far more bad then good for society, so isn't it only logical to feel the world would be a better place if they didn't exist?

Are you speaking as if he never should have existed in the first place or shouldn't exist today?

[MacGuffin]

Are you speaking as if he never should have existed in the first place or shouldn't exist today?

Shouldn't exist today. No, I'm not completely over my own head, I just hate stupid, obnoxious people like that.

[MacGuffin]

I'm staying out of this one.

Since you tend to hear things how you'd like to sometimes, maybe that's best. ;) Although I wasn't really starting an argument or debate, just answering the question.

[Dukefrukem]

As bad as people are in this world, I don't wish anyone's life to end, especially over an idiotic rant.

[megladon8]

Since you tend to hear things how you'd like to sometimes, maybe that's best. ;) Although I wasn't really starting an argument or debate, just answering the question.


wtf?

[MacGuffin]

As bad as people are in this world, I don't wish anyone's life to end, especially over an idiotic rant.

I wouldn't wish for his life to end (tonight, I wish. . . I wish upon this first star for. . . Mel Gibson's death!), I just wish he didn't exist. He's a complete fucking moron, right there with other bozo celebrities like Lohan and Hilton.

[MacGuffin]

wtf?

You did it a few days ago when we were talking about Nolan's Batman. I'd fetch the post, but I don't care enough, so don't worry about it.

[Sven]

I like Mel. Messed up personal life, but who cares? Good lookin' guy, fun actor, better-than-most cinematic track record... I have no problem forgiving his trespasses, but I would never do such a thing because he has done nothing to me in need of forgiving.

[MacGuffin]

I would never do such a thing because he has done nothing to me in need of forgiving.

He's wasted my time by hogging up the airwaves with his alcohol-fueled crap.

[megladon8]

He's wasted my time by hogging up the airwaves with his alcohol-fueled crap.


Did someone force you at gunpoint to listen?

[Sven]

Did someone force you at gunpoint to listen?

I would suggest not entertaining CSC with responses at this point.

[MacGuffin]

Did someone force you at gunpoint to listen?

It's difficult to not know what happened so long as you don't live under a rock.

[megladon8]

I would suggest not entertaining CSC with responses at this point.


Touché.

[number8]

Mel Gibson does more good starring in movies than having the free time going around being an idiot. We should encourage this.

[MacGuffin]

Mel Gibson does more good starring in movies than having the free time going around being an idiot. We should encourage this.

True. I guess you're right.

[Dukefrukem]

I also encourage the Christian Bales of the world to continue yelling at set crews.

"ohhh good for you!"

[megladon8]

I also encourage the Christian Bales of the world to continue yelling at set crews.

"ohhh good for you!"


I still very much agree with Jen on the Bale rant.

Bale's a pretty intense guy when it comes to his work. Whether you think he's a good actor or not, he takes it all very seriously and puts everything he can into his roles.

Everyone has bad days. Everyone loses their temper. I could see that in the middle of a desert shoot, you're boiling hot and very tired. Someone's distracting you when you're trying to get a scene done, and you flip out.

Does it make his behaviour "OK"? Of course not. But I find it incredible the number of people/papers who still have Bale written off as an asshole because of this incident.

[Skitch]

I want Mel to live a long time and record all his thoughts until his very last breath.

[Skitch]

I still very much agree with Jen on the Bale rant.

Bale's a pretty intense guy when it comes to his work. Whether you think he's a good actor or not, he takes it all very seriously and puts everything he can into his roles.

Everyone has bad days. Everyone loses their temper. I could see that in the middle of a desert shoot, you're boiling hot and very tired. Someone's distracting you when you're trying to get a scene done, and you flip out.

Does it make his behaviour "OK"? Of course not. But I find it incredible the number of people/papers who still have Bale written off as an asshole because of this incident.

Agreed. After listening to more than just a snippet of that rant, I didn't lose much respect for him. I've been involved with several no-budget film shoots, and someone being distracting would have been ejected from set immediately. Completely uncalled for. Was Bale in the right? Nah, but I can understand the reaction.

Also, a local radio show cut bits of both rants, and had Mel arguing with Bale. It was fantastic. :lol:

"Oooohhhh good for yoooou!"
"What? WHAT?!"
"You and me, we're done professionally, man."
"YOU ARE A PAIN IN MY ASSSS!"

[number8]

Eh. Bale was very much in the right. What the fuck was the guy doing walking around adjusting lights during a scene? It's idiotic. I just think Bale needed a chill pill, because come on, there was no reason to be that livid, but I would've yelled at the dude, too.

[megladon8]

Pretty much what 8 said.

Bale was right to be pissed, but he just went a little overboard.

Which I stem up to being stressed, hot and tired.

[Skitch]

I guess more what I meant was Bale shouldve gone to yell at the guy and been beaten to the punch by douchey McG. Where was the director? Why the hell was he letting such a thing go on? But considering his directing skills I guess I can see why he missed something like that.

[Spinal]

I like Mel. Messed up personal life, but who cares? Good lookin' guy, fun actor, better-than-most cinematic track record... I have no problem forgiving his trespasses, but I would never do such a thing because he has done nothing to me in need of forgiving.

Even setting aside his racism, his misogyny, his drunk driving, his anger management issues, his arrogance, his wrong-headed politics and his creepy religious ideas, he's really kind of a shitty artist.

[baby doll]

No interest...So you're saying it's not a blockbuster?

[Qrazy]

Perhaps I'm wrong but my understanding of the Bale rant is that the guy was changing the light during a run through. It doesn't make sense to change a light mid-shot. And imo yelling at the guy for that is a shitty thing to do. No it doesn't color his whole personality for me, but he was in the wrong (Bale).

[Dukefrukem]

Perhaps I'm wrong but my understanding of the Bale rant is that the guy was changing the light during a run through. It doesn't make sense to change a light mid-shot. And imo yelling at the guy for that is a shitty thing to do. No it doesn't color his whole personality for me, but he was in the wrong (Bale).

he also threatened to "kick his fuckin ass"... who says that?? guys in high school?

[Dukefrukem]

So you're saying it's not a blockbuster?

no way Jose

[megladon8]

he also threatened to "kick his fuckin ass"... who says that?? guys in high school?


I seriously doubt Bale would have actually engaged in violence.

He stepped over the line and had a childish tantrum. He was wrong in that regard, but he's not someone I think others need to feel uncomfortable around, like he's going to suddenly blow up and beat the crap out of them.

Like I said before - EVERYONE has bad days. EVERYONE loses their temper sometimes. It just so happens this was being recorded at the time.

[baby doll]

he also threatened to "kick his fuckin ass"... who says that?? guys in high school?At least he didn't say, "I'll suck you right up my tailpipe, bro," Ã* la Nicky Katt in Snow Angels.

[Sven]

Even setting aside his racism, his misogyny, his drunk driving, his anger management issues, his arrogance, his wrong-headed politics and his creepy religious ideas, he's really kind of a shitty artist.

I recall you quite diligently defending Peter Greenaway with a similar line of logic. I guess, though, suggesting that Gibson and Greenaway are in the same league might be laughable. But I like Gibson as a movie star. He has that same sardonic candor that Clark Gable had.

[megladon8]

I thought Mel Gibson was in some really good movies.

[Ezee E]

Both are out of line. In nearly any other job, a guy like Bale would be fired for those actions. I still won't condone what he did.

[Spinal]

I recall you quite diligently defending Peter Greenaway with a similar line of logic. I guess, though, suggesting that Gibson and Greenaway are in the same league might be laughable. But I like Gibson as a movie star. He has that same sardonic candor that Clark Gable had.

You can't really compare Mel Gibson's hateful, violent behavior to the fact that Peter Greenaway is kinda pompous.

[megladon8]

I hope Gibson is able to clean up and redeem himself somehow, but I have no clue how he could do that at this point.

[Sven]

You can't really compare Mel Gibson's hateful, violent behavior to the fact that Peter Greenaway is kinda pompous.

I guess it's about separating the work from the man. I admit that I am not consistent in this regard: I have a hard time watching anything with Jamie Foxx because he's so insufferable on a personal level.

[Grouchy]

Even setting aside his racism, his misogyny, his drunk driving, his anger management issues, his arrogance, his wrong-headed politics and his creepy religious ideas, he's really kind of a shitty artist.
Eh, I dunno. Mel has given iconic performances inside his cocky screen persona and ventured further with stuff like Million Dollar Hotel (pretty bad movie IMO, though) and that one where he has no face. And as a film director, he's genuinely great. Could teach more than a high profile filmmaker a lesson or two.

As a human being, well, yes, he's a deranged asshole. But as for everything else, respect.

[Qrazy]

I guess it's about separating the work from the man. I admit that I am not consistent in this regard: I have a hard time watching anything with Jamie Foxx because he's so insufferable on a personal level.

Perhaps unfair on some level, but I definitely find it easier to separate the artist from the man when it comes to writers/directors/painters. With actors it's much more difficult.

[BuffaloWilder]

I feel that way about a lot of washed-up celebrities. They're mostly worthless people that spread far more bad then good for society, so isn't it only logical to feel the world would be a better place if they didn't exist?

...what in the fuck is up with you? Literally, almost every other time you post it's like a void of quality pops up in the internet space/time continuum, and the gravitational pull is too great. Abominations pop up out of the mist - it was right after I read one of your posts I rediscovered BitingBeaver, and all of those weird Deviant Artists. Coincidence?


Well, yeah. Probably. But still.

[MacGuffin]

...what in the fuck is up with you? Literally, almost every other time you post it's like a void of quality pops up in the internet space/time continuum, and the gravitational pull is too great. Abominations pop up out of the mist - it was right after I read one of your posts I rediscovered BitingBeaver, and all of those weird Deviant Artists. Coincidence?


Well, yeah. Probably. But still.

I don't see what's so bad about my posts? Do people around here really enjoy taking the mobs-and-pitchforks approach to everything?

[Grouchy]

http://www.canmag.com/images/front/movies20074/oldmenposter4.jpg

[Winston*]

What an odd selection of Coens movies for the poster to reference.

[Spinal]

And as a film director, he's genuinely great.

Oh god, no. His work is entirely overwrought and tedious.

[number8]

I should note that when I said Mel Gibson is better off working, I did classify "starring." I would like him to continue acting. I would rather get raped by a pack of niggers than have him direct another movie.






Too far?

[Sycophant]

...what in the fuck is up with you? Literally, almost every other time you post it's like a void of quality pops up in the internet space/time continuum, and the gravitational pull is too great. Abominations pop up out of the mist - it was right after I read one of your posts I rediscovered BitingBeaver, and all of those weird Deviant Artists. Coincidence?


Well, yeah. Probably. But still.

This doesn't help.

[Sycophant]

Still looking forward to this movie more than almost any movie.

I've been able to avoid coverage of the whole Mel Gibson thing. I just really know there's a thing and I might've heard a specific quote at some point that number8 just reference and it truly was awful, but I wasn't curious to know more. My mother tried to drag me into a conversation about it, but I dodged that bullet.

[Acapelli]

what did people think of edge of darkness

i was surprised by how ugly and violent it was (ahurr), but i had a good time

[Grouchy]

I consistently enjoy his movies. Apocalypto was really underrated.

[BuffaloWilder]

This doesn't help.

How much more self-consciously wink-wink do I have to be, with these things?

[transmogrifier]

Oh god, no. His work is entirely overwrought and tedious.

This is too true. I simply do not see any of the amazing talent others seem to find in his direction. It's broad, bland and.....pretty much like any half-way decent director could manage. Perhaps people are just glad he's not cranking out That Thing You Do or Keeping the Faith.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I liked Gibson in the Mad Max movies. And Signs.

...

That's about it.

[number8]

I like Gibson in Galipoli and The Year of Living Dangerously and Payback.

[Sven]

How much more self-consciously wink-wink do I have to be, with these things?

No offense, but you need practice at wink-wink.

[Sycophant]

Payback is a good movie. We should all watch that simultaneously online or something.

[Rowland]

I liked Gibson in this year's Edge of Darkness. He conveyed the sickness in the heart of his character with remarkable acuity, which may in fact just be a triumph of casting.

[Skitch]

I love Payback.

I enjoy a lot of Mel's work. The guy is obviously a lunatic. Just like a lot of actors!

[Dukefrukem]

what did people think of edge of darkness

i was surprised by how ugly and violent it was (ahurr), but i had a good time

I thought it was mediocre and Mel's Boston accent was horrendous. We have a thread for that.

I also Love Payback, Signs Lethal Weapon 2 (and maybe 3) and that's about it.

[D_Davis]

I consistently enjoy his movies. Apocalypto was really underrated.

Hell yeah.

Gibson is one of my favorite actors.

I couldn't care less about his personal life. I still have no idea what happened to him this last time. I try to avoid all celebrity gossip and that kind of bullshit.

[number8]

I couldn't care less about his personal life. I still have no idea what happened to him this last time. I try to avoid all celebrity gossip and that kind of bullshit.

He raped an 8-year-old and murdered her parents.

Just illustrating a point.

[D_Davis]

He raped an 8-year-old and murdered her parents.

Just illustrating a point.

Hypothetical situation is hypothetical.

[Spinal]

Hypothetical situation is hypothetical.

Actual situation is above and beyond typical celebrity 'gossip'. You should really know about it if you intend to support him.

[Spinal]

The guy is obviously a lunatic. Just like a lot of actors!

The things he does and says when angered or drunk are not like a lot of actors. They go far beyond into territory that is frightening.

[D_Davis]

Actual situation is above and beyond typical celebrity 'gossip'. You should really know about it if you intend to support him.

I enjoy a lot of things from artists who I disagree with on very profound levels. Some artists who make art that I love have actually said that people like me (the religious and spiritual) are stupid, and they belittle people like me at every chance. However, they happen to make great art that I enjoy, and I find their art spiritually uplifting regardless of where they come from.

For instance, I love David Cross in Arrested Development, and think he's hilarious in that. However, he has very anti-religious rants in his stand up comedy. I look past that when I watch him in AD.

Brian Eno is a devout atheist, and an anti-theist, but I love his music. It speaks to me on a profound level.

I like Real Time with Bill Maher, and that guy spends a great deal of time belittling religious people.

I find a lot of artistic merit and get a lot of enjoyment out of many of the movies that Mel Gibson has starred in.

I can't always separate the art from the artist, but if the art speaks to me I try to.

[Ezee E]

So I guess we'll never see the viking movie that Mel wanted to direct. Bummer.

[Acapelli]

Actual situation is above and beyond typical celebrity 'gossip'. You should really know about it if you intend to support him.
why?

[Sven]

The things he does and says when angered or drunk are not like a lot of actors. They go far beyond into territory that is frightening.

I will admit that seeing a new CNN headline every few days about it, today reading "New Tape Alleges Gibson Hit Child", it is becoming harder for me to not see what you're talking about.

[Skitch]

Actual situation is above and beyond typical celebrity 'gossip'. You should really know about it if you intend to support him.

This might sound dick-ish, but I'm not intending it to be. I'm sincerely curious. Do you watch Polanski movies?

[Spinal]

This might sound dick-ish, but I'm not intending it to be. I'm sincerely curious. Do you watch Polanski movies?

I do and I usually don't care for them, but that is unrelated to his personal life. I agree with the stance Sven and Davis take in principle. What I'm saying is that Gibson goes far beyond into territory that is disturbing on a higher level. When someone can summon forth the phrase "raped by a pack of niggers", I can no longer relate and write it off to having a bad day and a moment of weakness. I mean it's one thing to drop an n-bomb, but a "pack"? As if we were talking about animalistic predators? Gibson's 'indiscretions' are so hate-fueled that I don't know how you can casually dismiss them and say, "Who cares, Lethal Weapon 3 still kicks ass." I think if you are going to support him, you really need to know that you might be making others uncomfortable if you sing his praises in the real world. It's an intellectual stance you can take, but to be ignorant of the depth of his hate could set you up for an embarrassing situation.

[Grouchy]

I do and I usually don't care for them
See, this is why you fail.

[angrycinephile]

http://bitcast-a-sm.bitgravity.com/slashfilm/wp/wp-content/images/TheBeaver-550x820.jpg

[Boner M]

How long before a photoshopped poster comes into being, w/ the phone rant excerpts on the card?

[Winston*]

I'm going to bet on half an hour.

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/1050/gibsony.jpg

Procrastination!

[MadMan]

I refuse to give you easy well deserved rep for that, Winston :P

[[ETM]]

That beaver is hella creepy.

[Ivan Drago]

Is this coming to theaters after all? Considering there's a poster...

[Irish]

Is this coming to theaters after all? Considering there's a poster...

Rumored release date spring 2011:

http://www.deadline.com/2010/12/release-date-for-mel-gibson-in-the-beaver/#more-87847

Teaser poster & trailer:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/2010/12/04/first_poster_trailer_for_jodie _fosters_the_beaver_starring_m el_gibson

[Boner M]

That trailer has left me more perplexed than all of The Headless Woman.

[DavidSeven]

That is one fucking earnest trailer for a beaver puppet movie.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Ew.

[Watashi]

That is one fucking earnest trailer for a beaver puppet movie.
I think that's what makes it so great.

[DavidSeven]

I think that's what makes it look like a James L. Brooks movie with a beaver puppet.

[eternity]

Lot of really good shots in that trailer. I could do without narration, but the movie is at the very least going to be very pretty.

[Irish]

I'm curious as to why the beaver has an accent.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Because Mel Gibson has an accent. That's as deep as that gets, I'm sure.

[Spun Lepton]

Wow, that looks awful.

[Sven]

Because Mel Gibson has an accent. That's as deep as that gets, I'm sure.

That's not entirely not deep.

[Kurosawa Fan]

That's not entirely not deep.

You're thinking too much. Stop it.

[Dead & Messed Up]

That is one fucking earnest trailer for a beaver puppet movie.

Yeah. I'm just...kinda confused. It seems so ordinary.

[Dukefrukem]

There must be something major cut from this this...

[Sycophant]

What you see here are two of the only five minutes in the movie that are not constant vagina jokes (vagiokes).

[MadMan]

Boring trailer, although I laughed at the parts with the beaver. It has an accent. Huzzah, I guess? :|

[Bosco B Thug]

What you see here are two of the only five minutes in the movie that are not constant vagina jokes (vagiokes). That's an uncommonly fun word to pronounce you've coined there.

Oddly enough, I think I'd be interested in seeing this if it weren't for the beaver. Way creepy and makes no sense with the seeming tone and mood of the picture.

[MacGuffin]

The narration was the only good thing about that trailer.

[megladon8]

I'm finding it quite baffling how seriously this movie is taking itself, as some kind of heart-warming family drama.

The idea of wacko-Mel wearing a stuffed beaver on his hand and living his life vicariously through it sounds like it could be hilariously brilliant.

But this movie seems to be taking the zanily weird concept and playing it totally straight-faced.

Basically...

WTF???

[Henry Gale]

I'm finding it quite baffling how seriously this movie is taking itself, as some kind of heart-warming family drama.

The idea of wacko-Mel wearing a stuffed beaver on his hand and living his life vicariously through it sounds like it could be hilariously brilliant.

But this movie seems to be taking the zanily weird concept and playing it totally straight-faced.

Basically...

WTF???

Well, I'd say the flip-side of that, which would be the movie playing things outright comedically and all "oh wow, isn't this nuts?!", could likely build a much more needlessly quirky and flimsy tone rather than the actual way the story seems to completely stand by its the main character's actions, as ridiculous as the audience and the rest of the characters see them to be.

I still expect it to be really funny, but without a legitimate centre as the jumping point for his emotional breakdown, it might as well be a Rob Schneider movie.

[Irish]

This was bad. Really bad. The only redeeming quality was Gibson's performance. Everything else was pure shit.

The script was a dog, and Foster compensates for it by including multiple montage/emo music sequences and scatters voice overs around to try and plug the holes. Everything it tries to do earnestly it fails at, until you're stuck watching Mel Gibson with a puppet on his hand while Matt Lauer intones, "Walter, let's talk about mental illness." This is what passes in this movie for authenticity.

The second act makes a severe shift in tone, and at the end Foster leaps wildly for a emotional catharsis she doesn't at all earn.

Bad. Really bad. Bums me out because the people involved are pretty smart. More too because Gibson is so talented and won't be getting too many jobs in the future.