Absolutely fascinating article concerning Kerry and Kevin Conran, brothers whose names most film fans should recognize but probably don’t:
So, who exactly are Kerry and Kenny Conran? Perhaps this theatrical trailer might serve as a refresher:
Released in 2004, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow was a film unlike any other…at least up to that point. Kerry Conran wrote and directed the film while Kenny Conran worked to visualize the concepts that ultimately made it to the screen.
The film was the first to feature actors working almost entirely in front of a greenscreen and all the backgrounds and effects were created by computer. This practice, trailblazed for the first time in this film, was subsequently utilized in films such as 300, Sin City, the Star Wars prequels, and a whole host of other features.
And yet, Kerry Conran hasn’t directed a feature film since the release of Sky Captain over ten years ago.
So what happened?
The article goes into details and I highly urge you check it out. But I will say, briefly, that the film fell prey to the bottom line -money- as well as, perhaps, the brothers’ inability to establish and maintain contacts within the industry.
It is a story well worth checking out.
As for my feelings regarding Sky Captain and the world of Tomorrow? When I first heard of the film I was super excited to see it. I’m a big fan of art deco art (which the film has in spades) and I also absolutely love the serial cliffhangers/pulp fiction of the 1930’s and 40’s.
However, when I saw the film (in the theaters, no less!) I found it visually stunning but, to be frank, rather lifeless. All three leads (particularly Angelina Jolie, who essentially played a female Nick Fury!) were good but the film was never as exciting as it should have been and there was never a point where I was breathless or in rapture.
I did buy the DVD when it came out (I don’t believe a high definition BluRay has ever been released), and was hoping the film would do enough business to get a (hopefully better) sequel. Alas, none of that was to be.
Too bad.
If the article is accurate and the price of making the film was greatly exaggerated (and therefore the financial losses incurred didn’t happen), then the Conrans and the film were effectively shafted by the studios. Everyone glows in success and no one wants to admit being part of a “failure”.