Red (2010 film)

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Red

Theatrical release poster

Directed by Robert Schwentke

 Lorenzo di Bonaventura
Produced by
 Mark Vahradian

Screenplay by  Jon Hoeber

 Erich Hoeber

Based on Red
by Warren Ellis
Cully Hamner

Starring  Bruce Willis

 Morgan Freeman
 John Malkovich
 Karl Urban
 Mary-Louise Parker
 Helen Mirren
 Music by Christophe Beck

Cinematography Florian Ballhaus

Edited by Thom Noble

Production  DC Entertainment
company
 di Bonaventura Pictures

Distributed by Summit Entertainment

Release date  September 29, 2010(Austin Fantastic Fest)

 October 15, 2010

Running time 111 minutes

Country United States

Language English

Budget $58 million[1][2]

Box office $199 million[1]

Red is a 2010 American action comedy film inspired by the limited comic-book series of the
same name created by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner and published by the DC
Comics imprint Homage. The film stars Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Mary-
Louise Parker, Helen Mirren, and Karl Urban, with German film director Robert
Schwentke directing a screenplay by Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber. In the film version, the title is
derived from the designation of former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Agent Frank Moses
(Bruce Willis), meaning "Retired, Extremely Dangerous".
The film was released on October 15, 2010. It grossed $199 million worldwide. In 2011, the film
received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Musical or Comedy Film. A sequel, Red 2, was
released on July 19, 2013. Another sequel, Red 3, is in development.[3]

Contents
[hide]

 1Plot
 2Cast
 3Production
 4Release
 5Reception
o 5.1Critical response
o 5.2Box office
o 5.3Accolades
 6Sequel
 7References
 8External links

Plot[edit]
Frank Moses, retired black-ops CIA agent, lives alone in Cleveland, Ohio. Lonely, Frank often
chats on the phone with Sarah Ross, a worker at the General Services Administration's pension
office in Kansas City, Missouri. He creates opportunities to talk to her by tearing up his pension
checks and calling her to say they had never arrived.
One night, a "wetwork" (assassination) squad raids Frank's house and attempts to kill him, but he
easily wipes them out. Knowing they have tapped his phone, he believes Sarah will be targeted.
In Kansas City, as Sarah refuses to go with him, he forcibly ties her up and gags her with duct
tape. Meanwhile, CIA agent William Cooper is assigned by his boss, Cynthia Wilkes, to hunt
down and kill Frank.
To find out who is targeting him, Frank tracks down his old associates for help. He goes to New
Orleans, Louisiana, and visits his CIA mentor, Joe Matheson, who now lives in a nursing home.
Joe tells Frank that the same hit squad murdered a reporter for The New York Times. Locked in
a motel by Frank, Sarah escapes. Another agent, posing as a police officer, tries to kidnap her,
but Frank returns in time. Cooper attacks them, but Frank tricks the police into arresting Cooper
and escapes with Sarah. The two head to New York City and find clues left behind by the
deceased reporter, which leads them to a hit list.
They then find Marvin Boggs, another former black-ops agent and a paranoid conspiracy
theorist. Marvin tells them the people on the list, including Frank and Marvin, are connected to a
secret 1981 mission in Guatemala. Another person on the list, Gabriel Singer, is still alive. The
trio tracks down Singer, who tells them that the mission involved extracting a person from a
village. Singer is then assassinated by a helicopter-borne machine-gunner, and the team
escapes as Cooper closes in.
Frank goes to ex-Russian secret agent Ivan Simanov, who helps him infiltrate CIA headquarters.
In the CIA archive, Henry, the records keeper, who has much respect for Frank, simply hands
him the Guatemala file. Frank confronts Cooper in his office and the two have a vicious fight.
Though victorious, Frank is shot during his escape. Having escaped an attempt on his life, Joe
arrives and helps extract the team. They hide out in the home of former wetwork agent Victoria
(Mirren), who treats Frank's wound and joins the team.
The file gives them clue to the next lead, Alexander Dunning, an illegal arms dealer, currently
being protected by the FBI. Frank, Marvin and Joe enter Dunning's mansion, with Joe posing as
a buyer from Djibouti, and Frank and Marvin disguised as bodyguards, while Victoria and Sarah
keep watch outside. They interrogate Dunning, who reveals the target for extraction was the
now–Vice President Robert Stanton (Julian McMahon), a Lieutenant in the United States Army at
the time whose Senator father was able to organise his extraction from the field via Dunning.
Stanton ordered the hit on the people who were involved in the operation to hide the fact that he
was responsible for massacring a village of civilians, clearing house for his upcoming plans to
run for President.
Cooper and a team of FBI agents surround Dunning's mansion. Cooper tries to negotiate Frank's
surrender, and Frank tells him about the Vice President's treachery. The terminally ill Joe
pretends to be Frank, walks outside, and is killed by sniper from the Vice President's personal hit
squad. The confusion, as well as Victoria's cover fire, buys the team enough time to leave the
mansion, but Sarah is captured. They escape with the help of Ivan, who is Victoria's old flame.
Frank calls Cooper from his family's phone and warns him against harming Sarah, as he
threatens to kill Cooper's family, although it is hinted the threat wasn't genuine and Frank was
only intent on scaring Cooper.
The team, along with Ivan, kidnaps Stanton at a campaign fundraiser disguised as waiters, party
guests, cooks, and Secret Service. Frank calls Cooper, offering to trade Stanton for Sarah. At the
meeting point, Dunning arrives. After a short dialogue, Dunning injures Stanton, revealing himself
and Cynthia Wilkes to be the masterminds behind the assassinations and the destruction of the
village but Stanton was only a scapegoat. Disgusted with Wilkes' corruption, Cooper pretends to
arrest Frank, but shoots and kills Wilkes. Marvin and Victoria kill Dunning's bodyguards, and
Frank kills Dunning by crushing his windpipe. Cooper lets Frank's team go. As they leave the
scene, Frank and Sarah are eager to start a new life together, but Ivan reminds Frank of his
favor.
A few months later, Frank and Marvin are in Moldova with a stolen nuclear device. They flee
from Moldovan Army troops with Marvin wearing a dress and in a wooden wheelbarrow being
pushed by Frank.

Cast[edit]
 Bruce Willis[4] as Francis "Frank" Moses
 Morgan Freeman[5] as Joe Matheson
 John Malkovich[6][7] as Marvin Boggs
 Helen Mirren[6][8] as Victoria Winslow
 Karl Urban[9] as William Cooper
 Mary-Louise Parker[4] as Sarah Ross
 Rebecca Pidgeon as Cynthia Wilkes
 Brian Cox as Ivan Simanov
 Richard Dreyfuss[10] as Alexander Dunning
 Julian McMahon[10] as Vice President Robert Stanton
 Ernest Borgnine[10] as Henry, The Records Keeper
 James Remar[11] as Gabriel Singer

Production[edit]
Gregory Noveck, a representative of DC Comics working in Hollywood to get their titles made
into films, wanted the comic developed, but Warner Bros. was not interested. The creators of the
comic exercised their right to go elsewhere, but this required approval from all divisions of
Warner Bros., including television, before it could be approved. After several years, in 2008,
Noveck was allowed to take the project to Mark Vahradian at Di Bonaventura Productions.
Unusually, this made it the first film from DC not produced by Warner Bros., after the purchase.[12]
In June 2008, Summit Entertainment announced plans to adapt Warren Ellis and Cully
Hamner's Red. Red was adapted for the big screen by brothers Erich and Jon Hoeber, who also
wrote the adaptations of Whiteout and Alice. The project was produced by Lorenzo di
Bonaventura (GI Joe, Transformers).[13]
By April 2009, Bruce Willis was reportedly in discussions with Summit to take the starring role of
Frank Moses.[14] It was reported in July 2009 that Morgan Freeman was in talks to co-star
alongside Willis in the film.[15] Also in July 2009, Robert Schwentke, the director of The Time
Traveler's Wife and Flightplan, was in negotiations to direct Red.[16] In August 2009, Schwentke
confirmed to MTV News that he was on board. He stated that he loved the script, but differences
existed between the comic and the movie, stating; "It's very funny, which the comic book isn't ...
It's not as violent as the comic book," and "The script that I've read is obviously different from the
comic, because I don't think the comic gives you enough for a two-hour movie."[5]
In November 2009, Helen Mirren was reported to work alongside Freeman and Willis in the
film.[8] Also in November 2009, John C. Reilly and Mary-Louise Parker were in negotiations to join
the cast. Reilly would play a retired CIA agent who is paranoid that everyone is out to kill him.
Parker would play the romantic interest, a federal pension worker who becomes embroiled in the
Willis character's struggle to stay alive.[17] In the same month, Julian McMahon, Ernest
Borgnine, Richard Dreyfuss, and Brian Cox entered negotiations to join the cast.[10]
In December 2009, creator Warren Ellis stated on his mailing list that "(I) Read the RED script.
Not bad. Not the book, but not bad. Funny. Especially when you know the casting. Very tight
piece of work. Talked to the producers last week. They're all kind of giddy over the casting
coups. Who wouldn't want to see Helen Mirren with a sniper rifle?"[18] Also in December 2009
Summit Entertainment announced a release date of October 22, 2010.[19] The same
month, James Remar was cast in an unspecified role,[11] in addition to Karl Urban as
"Cooper".[9] In January 2010, reportedly John Malkovich had signed to star opposite Bruce Willis,
replacing John C. Reilly, who exited the role in late December.[7]
Principal photography began on January 18, 2010, in Toronto, Canada.[4] Red was shot in and
around the Toronto metropolitan area for nine weeks before moving on to the road and ending
in New Orleans in late March for the final two weeks of principal photography.[4] Filming in
the French Quarter of New Orleans commenced in March 2010.[citation needed]Additional photography
was shot for a post-credits scene in Louisiana in August 2010.[20]

Release[edit]

Mirren and Willis at a panel for the film at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2010

A teaser trailer for Red was released in June 24, 2010.[21] The first full trailer debuted in July 22,
2010 at the San Diego Comic-Con International.[6] The film premiered at Grauman’s Chinese
Theatre in Hollywood on October 11, 2010.[22][23] Red was released on Blu-rayand DVD on
January 25, 2011.[24]

Reception[edit]
Critical response[edit]
Red has a 72% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 193 reviews and
an average rating of 6.4/10. The consensus reads: "It may not be the killer thrill ride you'd expect
from an action movie with a cast of this caliber, but Red still thoroughly outshines most of its big-
budget counterparts with its wit and style."[25] Metacritic gave the film a score of 61/100 based on
a normalized rating of 37 reviews.[26]Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average
grade of "A-" on an A+ to F scale.[27]
Justin Chang of Variety stated Red is "An amusing, light-footed caper about a team of aging CIA
veterans rudely forced out of retirement".[28] John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter stated
"Although tailor-made for genre fans, it benefits from flavors of humor and romance that keep its
appeal from being fanboy-only".[29]
Conversely, Roger Ebert gave the film two stars out of four, stating that it is "neither a good
movie nor a bad one. It features actors that we like doing things we wish were more
interesting."[30] A. O. Scott of The New York Times said, "It is possible to have a good time
at Red, but it is not a very good movie. It doesn't really try to be, and given the present state of
the Hollywood economy, this may be a wise choice".[31] Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles
Times said, "It's not that it doesn't have effective moments, it's that it doesn't have as many as it
thinks it does. The film's inescapable air of glib self-satisfaction is not only largely unearned, it's
downright irritating".[32]
Box office[edit]
On its opening weekend, Red earned an estimated $22.5 million on around 4,100 screens at
3,255 locations, coming in second behind Jackass 3-D.[33] The film closed in theaters on February
3, 2011, grossing over $90 million in the United States and $108.6 million in foreign markets. The
film received an overall gross of $199 million worldwide.[1]
Accolades[edit]

Year Award Category

IGN Summer Movie Award Best Comic Book Adaptation

Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical

2010

Satellite Award Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical

Golden Globe Award[34] Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Breakthrough Achievement

Movies for Grownups Award

Best Comedy

Actress Defying Age and Ageism

Best Female Action Star

2011 EDA Female Focus Award

Outstanding Achievement by a Woman in the Film Industry

Women's Image Award

Artios Award Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Big Budget Feature - Comedy

Best Action or Adventure Film

Saturn Award
Best Supporting Actor
 Year Award Category

Best Supporting Actress

Critics' Choice Award Best Action Movie

NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

Best Thriller

Best Supporting Actress

Scream Award
Best Ensemble

Fight Scene of the Year

Sequel[edit]
Main article: Red 2 (film)
The film's financial success surpassed producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura's expectations.[35][36] In
October 2011, Summit Entertainment officially announced that Red 2 would be released on
August 2, 2013, with Jon and Erich Hoeber rehired to write the screenplay.[37] In March 2013, the
film's release date was moved from August 2, 2013 to July 19, 2013.[38]The sequel fared less well
than its predecessor both critically and financially. The film received mixed reviews from critics
and grossed $148.1 million worldwide.

References[edit]
1. ^ Jump up to:a b c "RED (2010)". Box Office Mojo. Amazon.com. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
2. Jump up^ Fritz, Ben (October 14, 2010). "Movie Projector: Bruce Willis gunning for Johnny
Knoxville as 'RED' opens against 'Jackass 3-D'". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company.
Retrieved October 16, 2010. The studio spent about $60 million to make "RED" after tax credits
3. Jump up^ 'Red 3' in the Works at Summit (Exclusive). Hollywoodreporter.com (2013-05-17).
Retrieved on 2017-04-02.
4. ^ Jump up to:a b c d "Red Begins Principal Photography". /Film. January 18, 2010.
Retrieved January 18, 2010.
5. ^ Jump up to:a b "EXCLUSIVE: Robert Schwentke's 'Red' Adaptation To Be A 'Funny' Take On
Warren Ellis' Story". MTV Splash Page. August 4, 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
6. ^ Jump up to:a b c Chavez, Kellvin (July 22, 2010). "SDCC 2010: New RED Trailer". Latino Review.
Retrieved July 23, 2010.
7. ^ Jump up to:a b "John Malkovich signs on for 'Red'". The Hollywood Reporter. January 10, 2010.
Archived from the original on January 14, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
8. ^ Jump up to:a b "Casting Notes: Alan Cumming in Burlesque; Mirren Does Espionage; Dempsey
Steals Laughs; Weaver and Shawkat Hit Cedar Rapids". /Film. November 4, 2009.
Retrieved January 19, 2010.
9. ^ Jump up to:a b Rob M. Worley (December 21, 2009). "TREK Doc cast in RED". mania.com.
Retrieved January 20, 2010.
10. ^ Jump up to:a b c d "Julian McMahon sees 'Red'". The Hollywood Reporter. November 12, 2009.
Archived from the original on February 26, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
11. ^ Jump up to:a b Justin Kroll (December 14, 2009). "James Remar". Variety. Retrieved January
20,2010.
12. Jump up^ Kit, Borys (October 13, 2010). "Secret Origin: How 'RED' escaped Warner Bros. and
ended up at Summit". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
 13. Jump up^ "Warren Ellis' Red and Ocean Headed to the Big Screen". /Film. June 12, 2008.
Retrieved January 19, 2010.
14. Jump up^ "Bruce Willis is living hard". Risky Business. April 29, 2009. Retrieved January
20,2010.[dead link]
15. Jump up^ "Morgan Freeman Joins The Big Screen Adaptation of Warren Ellis' Red". /Film. July
19, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
16. Jump up^ "Director closes in on 'Red'". The Hollywood Reporter. July 28, 2009. Archived
from the original on September 1, 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
17. Jump up^ "John C. Reilly, Mary-Louise Parker seeing 'Red'". The Hollywood Reporter. November
4, 2009. Archived from the original on November 8, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
18. Jump up^ Warren Ellis (November 30, 2009). "BAD SIGNAL Ungh". Retrieved January 19, 2010.
19. Jump up^ "Red Gets 2010 Release Date". /Film. December 17, 2009. Retrieved January
19, 2010.
20. Jump up^ "Willis, Malkovich head south for quick 'Red' shoot (exclusive)". The Hollywood
Reporter. August 19, 2010. Archived from the original on August 23, 2010. Retrieved August
23, 2010.
21. Jump up^ "Exclusive Teaser Trailer". Yahoo!. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
22. Jump up^ "'Red,' LA Premiere". Access Hollywood. October 12, 2010. Retrieved January
18,2011.
23. Jump up^ "Me and my girls: Bruce Willis proudly shows off his wife and eldest daughter Rumer
on the red carpet of new film Red". Daily Mail. October 12, 2010. Retrieved January 18,2011.
24. Jump up^ "RED - Official Movie Website". Red-themovie.com. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
25. Jump up^ "Red Movie Reviews, Pictures". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved October
21, 2010.
26. Jump up^ "Red (2010): Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
27. Jump up^ "CinemaScore". cinemascore.com.
28. Jump up^ Chang, Justin (September 29, 2010). "Red". Variety. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
29. Jump up^ John DeFore (September 29, 2010). "Red -- Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
Retrieved October 21, 2010.
30. Jump up^ Roger Ebert (October 13, 2010). "Red". rogerebert.com. Chicago Sun Times.
Retrieved October 14, 2010.
31. Jump up^ A. O. Scott (October 14, 2010). "Who Ya Callin' Gramps, Junior?". New York Times.
Retrieved August 15, 2012.
32. Jump up^ Kenneth Turan (October 15, 2010). "Movie review: 'Red'". Los Angeles Times.
Retrieved August 15, 2012.
33. Jump up^ Gray, Brandon (October 17, 2010). "'Jackass' Crashes Into Fall Record". Box Office
Mojo. Amazon.com. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
34. Jump up^ "The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards NOMINATIONS | OFFICIAL WEBSITE of the
HFPA and the GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS". Goldenglobes.org. December 14, 2010.
Retrieved January 31, 2011.
35. Jump up^ Kit, Borys (2011-11-17). "Summit Pulls the Trigger on 'RED' Sequel". The Hollywood
Reporter. Archived from the original on 2012-10-02. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
36. Jump up^ Rosenberg, Adam (2011-01-26). "'RED' Sequel Confirmed, Screenwriters
Returning". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on 2012-10-02. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
37. Jump up^ Wigler, Josh (2011-10-26). "'Red 2' Targets August 2013 Release, Plot
Revealed". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on 2012-10-02. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
38. Jump up^ Lesnick, Silas (2013-03-11). "Summit Moves RED 2 Up to July 19". Superhero
Hype. Archived from the original on 2013-03-21. Retrieved 2013-03-21.

External links[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations
related to: Red (2010 film)

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media related to Red Panel
 at the 2010 Comic-Con
International.

 Official website
 Red on IMDb
 Red at AllMovie
 Red at the TCM Movie Database
 Red at Box Office Mojo
 Red at Rotten Tomatoes

[show]

Live-action films based on DC Comics

[show]

Films directed by Robert Schwentke

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