Forever Young (1992 film)

Last updated
Forever Young
Forever Young Movie Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Steve Miner
Written by J. J. Abrams
Produced by Bruce Davey
Starring
Cinematography Russell Boyd
Edited by Jon Poll
Music by Jerry Goldsmith
Production
company
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date
  • December 11, 1992 (1992-12-11)
Running time
102 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$20 million
Box office$128 million [1]

Forever Young is a 1992 American fantasy romantic drama film directed by Steve Miner and starring Mel Gibson, Elijah Wood, and Jamie Lee Curtis. The screenplay was written by J. J. Abrams from an original story named "The Rest of Daniel".

Contents

Plot

In 1939, Captain Daniel McCormick is a United States Army Air Corps test pilot. After a successful run and subsequent crash landing in a prototype North American B-25 Mitchell bomber at Alexander Field in Northern California, McCormick is greeted by his longtime friend, scientist Harry Finley, who confides that his latest experiment, "Project B", has succeeded in building a prototype chamber for cryonic freezing. The following day, just as McCormick is about to propose to his girlfriend, Helen, she goes into a coma following an automobile accident, with doctors doubting she will ever recover. Overcome with heartbreak, McCormick insists he be put into suspended animation for one year, so he will not have to watch Helen die.

Fifty-three years later in 1992, ten-year-old airplane-enthusiast Nat Cooper and his friend Felix are playing inside the military storage warehouse housing the chamber, accidentally activating it and waking McCormick, leaving Nat's coat behind. McCormick awakens and escapes before realizing what year it is. He first approaches the military about his experiences, but they dismiss him as crazed; McCormick becomes more determined to learn what happened to him.

McCormick follows the address on the jacket back to Nat, befriending him. While hiding in Nat's treehouse, he rescues Nat's mother Claire from her abusive ex-boyfriend Fred, slightly injuring his hand in the process. Claire fixes up his wound and a bond develops between the two; she allows McCormick to stay, and he and Nat later build a simulated bomber-plane cockpit in Nat's treehouse so that McCormick can teach Nat how to fly. McCormick passes out and is hospitalized, where he discovers his body is failing as his age begins to catch up to him.

McCormick tracks down Finley's daughter Susan, who informs him her father died in a fire before she was born. She gives McCormick her father's journals, detailing the cryogenic process, and Finley's notes disclose that the rapid aging is irreversible. Susan also reveals that Helen is still alive, but they escape before the FBI, who is now after McCormick, catch up to them.

Claire drives McCormick to an air show and commandeers a B-25 bomber to fly to Helen's seaside-lighthouse home, with Nat stowing away on board. Claire gives Harry's journals to the FBI, for their plans to replicate and modernize the experiment. McCormick suffers another aging attack, forcing Nat (who is now slightly familiar with the plane's controls after his simulated-training session with McCormick) to land the plane in the field near Helen's house. The now-elderly McCormick reunites with the also-gray-and-wrinkled Helen and asks her to marry him; she happily accepts, proving that true love does indeed last forever. McCormick introduces Nat to Helen, and the film ends with the three joining hands and going for a seaside stroll together.

Cast

Gibson described the script as having "a real innocence and charm" and had praised Abrams' previous script, which was made into the film Regarding Henry . Gibson originally wanted the lead role, which eventually went to Harrison Ford, and insisted on seeing Abrams' next film script. [4]

B-25 Mitchell B-25 Mitchell airshow.jpg
B-25 Mitchell

Production

In November 1990, Warner Bros. purchased the film rights to "The Rest of Daniel" for $2 million, [5] the most ever paid for a screenplay. Ostensibly purchased as a star vehicle for Gibson, he turned down the opportunity to direct the feature. [6]

A North American B-25J Mitchell known as "Photo Fanny" (from the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California) is featured prominently in the film, both as the B-25 prototype and later as the restored warbird McCormick flies to his beloved [7]

Initial film shooting started in February 1992 [8] through to April 1992. [9] Film producers were reluctant to release too much information about the film to the media, particularly the ending, while photograph releases to print media were limited. Various locations were used including Mendocino County where shooting took place from March 29 to April 2. A purpose-built set was built at the Stornetta Ranch, near the lighthouse in Point Arena. [10] Although the film made use of real rain for some exterior scenes, artificial rainmakers were also used to maintain a consistency in downpours for the cameras. [11]

Curtis had never met Gibson prior to working with him on the film. During an interview, she notes the cast members would frequently play pranks on each other but that "it was a fun set, this was the fun place to be." It was the first film where Curtis had played a mother. [12] Gibson had to spend 2 hours each day to have the latex aging make-up applied to make him appear as an 80-year-old. [13]

In the scene where Wood sings "You Are My Sunshine" to the girl in the tree house, it was originally going to be a different song which according to director Steve Miner, would have been very expensive to use, whereas the song used in the film was already freely available in the public domain. The film was completed for around $20 million. [14]

Reception

Critically, Forever Young met with mixed reviews. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported that 54% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 24 reviews, with an average rating of 5.4/10. [15] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade of "A−" on scale of A+ to F. [16]

Roger Ebert noted, "[Forever Young] is not one of the most inspired (of the time travel movies), even though it has its heart in the right place." [17]

Box Office characterized it as "gooey sentiment and melodrama", playing on Gibson's name. [18]

Rita Kempley from the Washington Post dismissed the film as "A pablum of schmaltz and science fiction ..." [19]

Neill Caldwell from The Dispatch described the movie as "an old-school romantic comedy" that was "oh-so-predictable at times", while praising Wood and Robert Hy Gorman, who played Felix, as delivering the best performances, suggesting that "the kids practically carry the movie." [20]

Laura Ustaszewski, writing for The Marion Star, praised the movie's acting and its strong supporting cast, noting that the film did not require special effects or explosions to be a "winner". [21]

Box office

Despite the lukewarm reviews, mostly focused on the script, the film did well with audiences, and took in $127,956,187 worldwide. Forever Young opened to a first weekend gross of $5,609,875 and went on to gross $55,956,187 in the domestic market. It grossed approximately $72,000,000 in the foreign market. [1] A Hollywood premiere was turned into a fund-raiser for two of Gibson's charities, the West Hollywood Alcohol and Drug Recovery Center and the Santa Monica Homeless Drop-in Center. A total of $70,000 was raised for both charities. [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Braveheart</i> 1995 film directed by Mel Gibson

Braveheart is a 1995 American epic historical drama film directed and produced by Mel Gibson, who portrays Scottish warrior William Wallace in the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England. The film also stars Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Catherine McCormack and Angus Macfadyen. The story is inspired by Blind Harry's 15th century epic poem The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir William Wallace and was adapted for the screen by Randall Wallace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mel Gibson</span> American actor and filmmaker (born 1956)

Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson is an American actor and filmmaker. The recipient of multiple accolades, he is known for his action hero roles, particularly his breakout role as Max Rockatansky in the first three films of the post-apocalyptic action series Mad Max and as Martin Riggs in the buddy cop action-comedy film series Lethal Weapon.

<i>Hamlet</i> (1990 film) 1990 film by Franco Zeffirelli

Hamlet is a 1990 drama film based on the Shakespearean tragedy of the same name, directed by Franco Zeffirelli and starring Mel Gibson as the eponymous character. The film also features Glenn Close, Alan Bates, Paul Scofield, Ian Holm, Helena Bonham Carter, Stephen Dillane, and Nathaniel Parker. An international co-production between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy, the film was the first produced by Icon Productions, a company co-founded by Gibson.

<i>What Women Want</i> 2000 film by Nancy Meyers

What Women Want is a 2000 American romantic fantasy comedy film written by Josh Goldsmith, Cathy Yuspa, and Diane Drake, directed by Nancy Meyers, and starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt.

<i>The Passion of the Christ</i> 2004 film by Mel Gibson

The Passion of the Christ is a 2004 American epic biblical drama film co-written, co-produced, and directed by Mel Gibson. It stars Jim Caviezel as Jesus of Nazareth, Maia Morgenstern as Mary, mother of Jesus, and Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene. It depicts the Passion of Jesus largely according to the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It also draws on pious accounts such as the Friday of Sorrows, along with other devotional writings, such as the reputed visions attributed to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Biehn</span> American actor (born 1956)

Michael Biehn is an American actor, primarily known for his roles in science fiction films directed by James Cameron; as Sgt. Kyle Reese in The Terminator (1984), Cpl. Dwayne Hicks in Aliens (1986), and Lt. Coffey in The Abyss (1989). His other films include The Fan (1981), The Seventh Sign (1988), Navy SEALs (1990), Tombstone (1993), The Rock (1996), Mojave Moon (1996), Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 (2001), Clockstoppers (2002), and Planet Terror (2007). On television, he has appeared in Hill Street Blues (1984), The Magnificent Seven (1998–2000), and Adventure Inc. (2002–2003). Biehn received a Best Actor Saturn Award nomination for Aliens.

<i>Lethal Weapon 4</i> 1998 American film directed by Richard Donner

Lethal Weapon 4 is a 1998 American buddy cop action film directed and produced by Richard Donner, and starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo, Chris Rock, and Jet Li. It is the fourth installment in the Lethal Weapon film series. It is the last film in the series directed by Donner before his death, and the latest to be released theatrically.

<i>Air America</i> (film) 1990 film by Roger Spottiswoode

Air America is a 1990 American action comedy film directed by Roger Spottiswoode and starring Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. as Air America pilots flying missions in Laos during the Vietnam War. When the protagonists discover their aircraft is being used by government agents to smuggle heroin, they must avoid being framed as the drug-smugglers.

József Antal Eszterhás, credited as Joe Eszterhas, is a Hungarian-American writer. Born in Hungary, he grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States. After an early career as a journalist and editor, he entered the film industry. His first screenwriting credit was for the film F.I.S.T. (1978). He co-wrote the script for Flashdance, which became one of the highest-grossing films of 1983, and set off a lucrative and prolific run for his career. By the early 1990s, he was known as the highest-paid writer in Hollywood, and noted for his work in the erotic thriller genre. He was paid a then-record $3 million for his script Love Hurts, which was produced as Basic Instinct (1992), and following its success, news outlets reported he earned seven-figure salaries solely on the basis of two-to-four page outlines.

<i>The Hand That Rocks the Cradle</i> (film) 1992 film by Curtis Hanson

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is a 1992 American psychological thriller film directed by Curtis Hanson, written by Amanda Silver, and starring Annabella Sciorra, Rebecca De Mornay, Matt McCoy, Ernie Hudson, and Julianne Moore. Its plot follows the pregnant wife of a Seattle obstetrician who kills himself after he is accused of sexual misconduct by his patients. The shock leads the wife to miscarry, after which she poses as a nanny for one of her husband's accusers, and slowly begins to infiltrate the family. The title is taken from an 1865 poem by William Ross Wallace and there are several nods to the comic opera The Pirates of Penzance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoot Gibson</span> American actor (1892–1962)

Edmund Richard "Hoot" Gibson was an American rodeo champion, film actor, film director, and producer. While acting and stunt work began as a sideline to Gibson's focus on rodeo, he successfully transitioned from silent films to become a leading performer in Hollywood's growing cowboy film industry.

"Beyond Blunderdome" is the eleventh season premiere of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox Network in the United States on September 26, 1999 and was watched in around 8.1 million homes during the broadcast. In the episode, the Simpsons are given free tickets to a preview screening of Mel Gibson's new film, a remake of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Gibson laments his current non-violent role and wants someone to give him criticism. When Homer sees Gibson talking with Marge, he gives him a brutal review, leading Gibson to believe that Homer is the only man brave enough to give suggestions. As a result, he hires him to create a better ending. However, when the ending proves to be too controversial, Gibson and Homer end up on the run from studio executives with the film.

<i>Another You</i> 1991 film by Maurice Phillips

Another You is a 1991 American comedy film directed by Maurice Phillips and produced and written by Ziggy Steinberg. It stars Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder, Mercedes Ruehl, Vanessa Williams and Kevin Pollak. It was released in the United States on July 26, 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leo Gordon</span> American actor (1922–2000)

Leo Vincent Gordon was an American character actor and screenwriter. During more than 40 years in film and television he was most frequently cast as a supporting actor playing brutish bad guys but occasionally played more sympathetic roles just as effectively.

<i>Lethal Weapon</i> (franchise) American action-comedy media franchise

Lethal Weapon is an American buddy cop action-comedy media franchise created by Shane Black. It focuses on two Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives, Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh. The franchise consists of a series of four films released between 1987 and 1998 and a television series which aired from 2016 to 2019. The four films were directed by Richard Donner and also share many of the same core cast members, while the television series is a reboot with different actors. Although the first film was not explicitly a comedy, the later films and the television series gradually became comedic in nature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mel Gibson filmography</span>

Mel Gibson is an American actor, director, and producer, who made his acting debut on the Australian television drama series The Sullivans (1976–1983). While a student at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, he was given an uncredited role in I Never Promised You a Rose Garden and subsequently appeared as a leading actor in the micro budget surf drama Summer City. Gibson rose to prominence during the Australian New Wave cinema movement in the early 1980s, having appeared in his breakthrough role in George Miller's dystopian action film Mad Max (1979), portraying the eponymous hero. He reprised the role in its sequels, Mad Max 2 (1981) and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985). He appeared in Peter Weir's war drama Gallipoli (1981) and the romantic drama The Year of Living Dangerously (1982). Five years later he played Martin Riggs in the buddy cop action comedy Lethal Weapon alongside Danny Glover—a role he later reprised in its sequels Lethal Weapon 2 (1989), Lethal Weapon 3 (1992), and Lethal Weapon 4 (1998).

<i>Hacksaw Ridge</i> 2016 biographical war film by Mel Gibson

Hacksaw Ridge is a 2016 epic biographical war film directed by Mel Gibson and written by Andrew Knight and Robert Schenkkan, based on the 2004 documentary The Conscientious Objector directed by Terry Benedict.

<i>Fatman</i> (2020 film) 2020 action-comedy film

Fatman is a 2020 American black comedy action film written and directed by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms, and starring Mel Gibson, Walton Goggins and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. The film is an unorthodox slant on holiday traditions that follows a jaded, gritty Santa Claus who struggles with ennui, production issues, government interference, and an embittered assassin sent by a vengeful naughty kid.

<i>Panama</i> (2022 film) 2022 action thriller film by Mark Neveldine

Panama is a 2022 action thriller film directed by Mark Neveldine and starring Cole Hauser and Mel Gibson.

<i>Boneyard</i> (film) American crime thriller film

Boneyard is a 2024 American crime thriller film directed by Asif Akbar, produced by Colin Bates, Asif Akbar, and Vincent E. McDaniel, and starring Mel Gibson and 50 Cent. It is based on the West Mesa murders.

References

  1. 1 2 Forever Young at Box Office Mojo
  2. ↑ Rainer, Peter. "A Freeze-Dried Romance: 'Forever Young' Is Fashioned From Cliches and Recycled Goods." The Los Angeles Times, December 16, 1992. Retrieved: November 23, 2010.
  3. ↑ Goggins in Murray, Noel (November 23, 2008). "Walton Goggins". The A.V. Club . Retrieved January 7, 2017. I was in a movie called Forever Young, with Mel Gibson. I just saw the director up here in Canada the other day—Steve Miner. ...[W]hen you're a young actor, you live for those days. It was a day with Mel Gibson. ... Early in my career, those small roles I got, they were pretty two-dimensional, buddy, for the most part. But you do what you can do with it on your day, and you're thankful for it.
  4. ↑ "Mel Gibson stays cool under heat of superstardom". Detroit Free Press. December 17, 1992. p. 48.
  5. ↑ "Reel news - latest high-priced script sold in Hollywood". Chicago Tribune. November 15, 1990. p. 28.
  6. ↑ Clarkson 2004, p. 276.
  7. ↑ Budd, Dave. "Mitchell B-25 “Photo Fanny” – N3675G." Archived 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine Photo Recon's Classic Warbirds, March 9, 2010. Retrieved: October 16, 2011.
  8. ↑ "The Rest of Daniel". Rome News-Tribune. February 21, 1992. p. 20.
  9. ↑ "'The Rest of Daniel' movie coming". The Deseret News. April 14, 1992. p. 32.
  10. ↑ "Hollywood comes to the Lighthouse". Independent Coast Observer. March 20, 1992. p. 15.
  11. ↑ "Realistic rain too much for Hollywood's fantasy". The Press-Courier. February 16, 1992. p. 2.
  12. ↑ "Jamie Lee Curtis "Forever Young" 1992 - Bobbie Wygant Archive". Bobbie Wygant Archive. 13 September 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved October 24, 2021– via YouTube.
  13. ↑ "Mel Gibson ages 50 years in his new movie". The People. May 24, 1992. p. 27.
  14. ↑ "Steve Miner "Forever Young" 1992 - Bobbie Wygant Archive". Bobbie Wygant Archive. 20 October 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved October 24, 2021– via YouTube.
  15. ↑ "Forever Young (1992)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Cinemascore". Archived from the original on 2018-12-20.
  17. ↑ " 'Forever Young' Review." Archived 2011-04-04 at the Wayback Machine rogerebert.suntimes.com. December 16, 1992.
  18. 1 2 Clarkson 2004, p. 277.
  19. ↑ Kempley, Rita. "'Forever Young' ." Washington Post, December 16, 1992.
  20. ↑ "'Forever Young' follows Hollywood's standard formula". The Dispatch. December 31, 1992. p. 4.
  21. ↑ "Low-key role may open new doors for Gibson". The Marion Star. January 3, 1993. p. 21.

Bibliography

  • Clarkson, Wensley. Mel Gibson: Man on a Mission. London: John Blake, 2004. ISBN   1-85782-537-3.
  • McCarty, John. The Films of Mel Gibson. New York: Citadel, 2001. ISBN   0-8065-2226-7.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.