Tarsem and ‘Immortals’ is Set for Next Fall

Finally! Collider reported an epic release date has been set for Tarsem Singh’s latest film Immortals. It will hit theaters on November 11, 2011 (11/11/11). The visionary director of The Cell and The Fall has taken on Greek myth in his tale of Theseus teaming up with the gods to battle the titans for the fate of mankind. This is a rather grandiose departure from his previous feature films as they both focused on the workings of unhealthy minds and were, for the most part, character studies. Regardless, Tarsem’s attention to detail and emphasis on breathtaking visuals should translate well to another boundless theater, that of mythology. Starring Mickey Rourke, John Hurt, Henry Cavill and Freida Pinto, Immortals seems on track to be Tarsem’s biggest film yet.

From what I can tell about Tarsem, based on behind the scene documentaries and interviews, he is a very hard man to please. The Cell, a film about literally entering the mind of a serial killer, was his first jump into full length movies and he took every liberty possible to make the film shocking and beautiful. If you have not seen it, it is truly a challenging film and a must see. The Fall, his second full length (and my favorite film of all time), is still mostly set in the mind but attempts to be more of a fairy tale than a thriller. Both films seem to emphasize style as a way of suturing the audience to the screen; to really accomplish this, the director has to be incredibly thorough. Everything has to be perfect; from set design to acting, Tarsem is a demanding director. One can tell a lot about a film based on the opening sequence (title, introduction, action, etc) and Tarsem proves, in both films, to be a master of first impressions. For one of my classes I did an in depth analysis of the opening in The Fall and, to be short, if you look close enough, most of the film is displayed, hidden in the corners, edges and metaphors, in the first fifteen minutes.

Okay, back on track, sorry!  The film will be released in 3D which, as usual, I am a little skeptical about. I really have never thought 3D adds anything to the viewing experience; in fact, it makes me automatically think less of the cinematography of the film. Film looks unremarkable? Solution: another dimension! Eh, I’m a purist, sue me. However, I do believe that Tarsem’s anal-retentive attention to detail will yield positive results. Look for Immortals this fall.

What Do You Think? Discuss.