In my time, I have watched a lot of movies. Seriously, A LOT! Sometimes, when I find myself engaged in a film discussion, the question I’m always asked is: what is my absolute favorite film? And my answer hasn’t changed since the mid-‘90s. A film based on a graphic novel by James O. Barr entitled “The Crow”.
I must confess that I witnessed the movie before I read the book. I was only 3 years old when the book came out in 1989. When I was first able to see the film, it wasn’t in a theater. My parents thought movies like that were just too much for me. Actually, it was during a Saturday afternoon in 1995. I was flipping through channels, and one of our local stations was playing a TV Edited version of The Crow. Even though all the bad stuff was cut down or taken out entirely, I was still taken aback by a film that was unlike anything I had ever seen before.
For those of you who have never given it a watch, The Crow tells the story of a recently deceased rock musician named Eric Draven, who is resurrected by a Crow to seek vengeance on the group of thugs who are responsible for the deaths of himself and his fiancée the night before their wedding. Director Alex Proyas did a fantastic job of establishing the tone of this film. It’s so dark and grungy, yet the flashback sequences of Eric and Shelly are filled with vibrant colors. The city itself is very gothic. Almost like Tim Burton’s version of Gotham City in 1989 experienced the apocalypse.
Let’s talk about the casting. Brandon Lee was/is one of the most perfect casting choices in any film. He brought a subtleness to the role, with glimpses of brilliance peppered throughout. The sequence from when he first crawls out of the grave, finally arrives at his old apartment, and puts on the black and white paint is so well done. It’s so unfortunate and incredibly tragic that Brandon was killed while filming this movie, as I still firmly believe today that he would have become one of the absolute best actors we have ever known.
Michael Wincott does a remarkable job as the boss, Top Dollar. Same statement goes to Ernie Hudson as Detective Albrecht. The connection between his character and Eric was remarkable. I love the scene in which Albrecht first comes upon Eric, who had just destroyed Gideon’s Pawn Shop, and told him “Don’t move! Move and you’re dead!” But Eric just answered back with “I say I’m dead…and I move”. They really nailed it with the choices for the other bad guys as well. David Patrick Kelly as T-Bird, Tony Todd as Grange, Michael Massee as Fun Boy, Laurence Mason as Tin Tin, Angel David as Skank, Bai Ling as Myca, and Jon Polito as Gideon, just to name a few.
Another great thing about this movie is the fantastic soundtrack that accompanies it. The film’s haunting score, done by Graeme Revell, is a perfect fit for the film’s bleak tone. Yet combined with heavy metal songs from bands such as Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against The Machine, Stone Temple Pilots, Pantera, The Cure, Rollins Band, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Violent Femmes, Machines Of Loving Grace, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, and Jane Siberry really add a distinct flavor, and compliment the score.
They tried to recapture the magic with a series of sequels, starting in 1996 with “The Crow: City Of Angels”, followed by “The Crow: Salvation” in 2000, then finally “The Crow: Wicked Prayer” in 2005. But none of those were able to pull it off. Especially Wicker Prayer, that film is just garbage. There was even a TV series at one point in 1998 that was loosely based off the first movie, “The Crow: Stairway To Heaven”, with Mark Dacoscos, who you can currently see as the Inhuman Mr. Giyera on “Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, taking on the role of Eric Draven. It only ran for 22 episodes, though. Rob Zombie even wrote a sequel in the late ‘90s called “The Crow: 2037”, yet it was never produced.
Nowadays, there’s all this talk about a reboot, with names like Bradley Cooper, Tom Hiddleston, Alexander Skarsgard, Channing Tatum, and Ryan Gosling being tossed around. Luke Evans was attached for a while, until he dropped out. Same goes for Jack Huston. The latest names I’ve heard being considered are Nicholas Hoult and Jack O’Connor. No matter who they get, in my eyes, they will never completely encapsulate the character of Eric Draven the same way Brandon Lee was able to do. I will always hold this movie in high regard, no matter what newer comic book films hit the market.
Until Next Time…
