Walter Hill Archives - Big Gay Picture Show

Tomboy Trailer – Michelle Rodriguez & Sigourney Weaver star in the controversial gender-reassignment thriller

March 7, 2017 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

From the moment Tomboy was announced (since re-titled The Assignment) in the the US, it’s sparked controversy. While the initial announcement seemed to think it would be praise for bringing gender and trans issues into an action thriller, the synopsis made it sound like it would be ill-informed and exploitative, trading on old stereotypes.

It even earned a swift rebuke from GLAAD’s director of programs for transgender media, Nick Adams, who said, “We haven’t read the script, but it’s disappointing to see filmmakers turning what is a life-saving medical procedure for transgender people into a sensationalistic plot device. We are at a crucial moment in the public’s understanding of transgender issues, and stories like these have the potential to undermine the progress we’ve worked so hard to achieve.”

However, now the film is on its way and we’ll be able to see whether Michelle Rodriguez and Sigourney Weaver were naive to sign up to star, or whether it’s smarter than it initially seemed to be. Sadly, early reviews suggest it’s the former, while thinking it’s the latter.

In the film, ‘Frank Kitchen is an assassin at the top of his game. When he’s double-crossed by a group of ruthless gangsters he falls into the hands of a rogue surgeon, known only as The Doctor, who transforms him into a woman against his will. Aided by a nurse with her own set of secrets, Frank the hitman becomes Tomboy the hitwoman and revenge is the first thing on her mind…

‘Starring action cinema’s star du jour Michelle Rodriguez (Furious 7, Machete Kills) as Frank/Tomboy and featuring celluloid royalty in the form of Sigourney Weaver (Alien, Avatar) as The Doctor, TOMBOY is an action adventure you’ll never forget. Also starring Anthony LaPaglia (TV’s Without A Trace, The Eichmann Show) and Tony Shaloub (TV’s Monk, Spy Kids), TOMBOY is a searing return to form for Walter Hill, director of 1980s classics such as Red Heat and 48 Hours, and essential for action aficionados everywhere.’

Take a look at the trailer below. The film arrived on digital platforms in the UK on March 13th. [Read more…]

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ACTORS: Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver DIRECTORS: Walter Hill

GLAAD Criticises Recently Anounced Michelle Rodriguez’s Trans-Themed Film, Tomboy

November 2, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Last week it was announced that Michelle Rodgriguez was due to star in the film Tomboy, A Revenger’s Tale, in which she’s due to play a hitman who a ‘rogue doctor’ turns into a hitwoman. There’s no doubt the bare bones plot sound sensationalist about the ‘gender-swap’ themes, which has raised the ire of GLAAD, which released a statment to THR expressing its displeasure.

GLAAD’s director of programs for transgender media, Nick Adams, said, “We haven’t read the script, but it’s disappointing to see filmmakers turning what is a life-saving medical procedure for transgender people into a sensationalistic plot device.

“We are at a crucial moment in the public’s understanding of transgender issues, and stories like these have the potential to undermine the progress we’ve worked so hard to achieve.”

As Rodriguez is bisexual and Weaver is a longstanding supporter or LGBT rights, you’d hope they’d only agree to be part of the movie if it dealt properly with the issues that it raises (and indeed there are echoes in the plot of Pedro Almodovar’s The Skin I Live In, so it may not be quite as sensationalistic as it sounds).

However with Hollywood’s track record on trans people, it certainly makes sense for GLAAD to issue a warning shot.

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ACTORS: Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver DIRECTORS: Walter Hill

Michelle Rodriguez & Sigourney Weaver Starring In Trans-Themed Thriller Tomboy, A Revenger’s Tale

October 28, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

While there’s more visibility for transgender people than ever before, not all the coverage has been 100% positive or dealt properly with the issues it raises. As a result there are a few people who are likely to greet the news that bisexual star Michelle Rodriguez is set to star in Tomboy, A Revenger’s Tale with a bit of trepidation.

THR reports that the films ‘centers on an ace assassin who is double-crossed by gangsters and falls into the hands of rogue surgeon known as “The Doctor,” who turns him into a woman. The hitman (now a hitwoman) sets out for revenge, aided by a nurse named Johnnie, who also has secrets.’

Rodriguez is set to play the central assassin, a role previously linked to Freida Pinto, while Sigourney Weaver will be the surgeon.

Although some will worry it will belittle trans people, hopefully it will treat the issues well (you’d hope Rodriguez and Weaver wouldn’t be involved if it didn’t) and expand responsible transgender stories into more mainstream territory.

Walter Hill will write and direct.

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ACTORS: Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver DIRECTORS: Walter Hill

Bullet To The Head (DVD)

May 31, 2013 By Adrian Naik Leave a Comment

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Sung Kang, Jason Momoa, Christian Slater
Director: Walter Hill
Running Time: 92 mins
Certificate: 18
Release Date: June 3rd 2013

When his partner is killed, Jimmy Bobo (Stallone), a Louisiana hitman, joins up with a by-the-book police officer Taylor Kwon (Kang) who is investigating the death of his own partner. Together they set out for vengeance, uncovering police corruption and hunting down a ruthless mercenary (Momoa) who’s out to kill them both.

Considering the action pedigree of Bullet to the Head — Sylvester Stallone looking great at 66, Walter Hill (Deadwood, The Warriors) at the wheel and producer Joel Silver (Commando, The Matrix) riding shotgun — the audience can expect a little more from this action film than a mindless gun slinger. The opening sequence promises as much: a stylish grunginess greets the audience. Throughout the film there’s a satisfying grimy-New Orleans feel with an icy-cool soundtrack that you’d find happily playing in a bar deep in Louisiana swamp-land. [Read more…]

Bullet To The Head Trailer – Sly Stallone turns hitman

August 17, 2012 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

With The Expendables 2 out today, it’s a good time to release trailers for the stars’ upcoming movie. We’ve just had one for Arnie’s The Last Stand and now we’ve got Sylvester Stallone Bullet To The Head. Based on a graphic novel, Bullet to the Head tells the story of a New Orleans hitman (Stallone) and a New York City cop (Sung Kang) who form an alliance to bring down the killers of their respective partners. Walter Hill directs, suggesting this may be one to look out for.

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ACTORS: Sylvester Stallone, Sung Kang, Jason Momoa, Christian Slater DIRECTORS: Walter Hill FILMS: Bullet To The Head

Walter Hill Directing Baby Jane Remake

July 12, 2012 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Walter Hill (48 Hrs, The Warriors) has signed on to develop and direct a remake of the 1962 classic What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? with The Aldrich Company, according to Deadline.

The original classic starred Bette Davis as Jane Hudson, a former child star who lives an isolated life with her sister, Blanche (Joan Crawford), after a tragic accident ended Blache’s glittering movie career and left her crippled. The film is almost as famous for the fact it paired up renowned enemies Crawford and Davis as it is for the movie itself.

Hill commented on the remake, “The two equal leads demand great performers, that is a given. The intensity of the Gothic storyline makes a reconfiguration of the drama still a potentially searing experience. The idea is to make a modern film without modernizing the period. It needs to resonate the golden age of Hollywood.”

Walter Hill will write the screenplay and direct. The original director, Robert Aldrich (The Dirty Dozen), retained the rights, which are now controlled by The Aldrich Company, run by his daughter Adell Aldrich.

It isn’t known when it might shooot.

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DIRECTORS: Walter Hill

First Pic Of Stallone In Bullet To the Head

December 19, 2011 By Movie Muser Leave a Comment

The first image of Sylvester Stallone in Bullet To The Head has been released and certainly wants to prove that despite recently reaching pensionable age, the actor shows no signs of slowing down or shying away from full-on action. However we would like to point out that fighting with axes is just a bad idea.

In the film he’s teamed with a young NYPD detective in a high-stakes investigation that leads from the dingy back alleys of New Orleans all the way to the power corridors of Washington, D.C. The unlikely duo, brought together by two vicious murders, take on all who stand in their way, and are willing to sacrifice everything to exact revenge.

And while we’re feeling the Stallone vibe, take a look at a new official poster for The Expendables 2 below, which is due out in August.