INSIDE THE IRON MAN

[MattBrady]

by Joe Tirella

Yes, Robert Downey Jr., is Iron Man...got a problem with that?

The reason why Iron Man works, and works so well, is the unprecedented cast that director Jon Favreau assembled. Three Academy Award nominated actors (Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, Terence Howard) and one Oscar winner (Gwyneth Paltrow) must surely be a record for a comic book film. In Paltrow's case, she says the moment she heard about the star-studded cast, shed signed on. "I wanted to do this film because the group of people — Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, Jon Farvneau — were so brilliant," she said. "How do you not do that movie?"

It almost didn't happen though. Robert Downey Jr., thanks to his penchant for drug busts and rehab, had become something of box office poison, despite his occasionally brilliant track record, such as in Chaplin. Downey had to sell himself to the studio. "They didn't come to me," he says. "I went to them. I said, 'This is me.'" Favreau totally agreed but he was straightforward with the star. It wasn't gonna happen. "It was a no before it was a yes," says Favreau. But, in his heart, he knew that Downey was perfect for the role: he had the acting chops and could bring credibility to the film, which is essentially about a guy in a red and yellow metal suit.

Downey was asked to do a screen test, something of an insult for an actor of his stature. But rather than pull a diva stunt, he happily submitted to one. "I see so many people screw up their lives or their careers by thinking that some things are beneath them," he says. "I think I got the part pretty much 5 seconds after the screen test (laughs). That's life."

In a way, Downey is Iron Man. There are two many parallels between the Downey's life and the myth of Iron Man/Tony Stark to ignore. Like Star, Downey had it all, and almost lost it; like Stark he knows about the pain of addiction and inner demons. He's lived in the fast lane and he survived — without the benefit of superpowers or a repulsor ray-firing metal suit, I might add. When you first see Downey in the opening scene of the film, riding in a Humvee along with American soldiers, cracking jokes and sipping a cocktail, he was so in his natural element, it's fair to ask, was he acting?

Renowned for his ability to lose himself while researching a role, he brought that same intensity to Iron Man as he did to Chaplin. "When I was doing Chaplin I was absolutely out of my mind in this relentless pursuit," he says. "When I do research I look at everything," he says.

Even 45 years worth of comics? Apparently so. "So I called up and asked, 'May I have everything you have on Iron Man?' And they were like, we'll send you over a package." That package, according to co-star Jeff Bridges, who plays the villainous Obadiah Stane, was folder full of comics.

No, that's not what Downey meant. "I was like, 'No, may I have everything you have on Iron Man.'" Including, every toy and piece of merchandise that the film would promote. But Robert, he was told, that would be like a truck size load of material.

Exactly. He got what he asked for, and it shows on the screen. He is everything Iron Man.

[Vintage]

Now that's method and dedication.

[rayallison]

While the Iron Man cast is absolutely impressive, Batman Begins had quite a few Oscar names prior to their casting-- 2 Oscar winners (Micheal Caine and Morgan Freeman) and 3 nominees (Liam Neeson, Ken Watanabe and Tom Wilkinson). Plus I think the original Superman was loaded with them too (Hackman, Brando, Ned Beatty,Jackie Cooper, Trevor Howard, Terrance Stamp -- all winners or nominees pre-Superman). Hey, whatever, hopefully Iron Man is as good!!

[Corpulent1]

That's really exciting, that someone of Downey, Jr.'s caliber would take what many would consider a trivial role so seriously and bring such passion to it. I'm glad that Hollywood is starting to realize that comic characters are as rich and complex as any other characters. Kudos to all involved; Iron Man is the first comic-related movie I'm really, truly excited for since Batman Begins.

Just as an aside, does anyone copy edit these articles? There were loads of typos and misspellings and such all over this one. It was hard to read in places.

[rayallison]

While the Iron Man cast is absolutely impressive, Batman Begins had quite a few Oscar names prior to their casting-- 2 Oscar winners (Micheal Caine and Morgan Freeman) and 3 nominees (Liam Neeson, Ken Watanabe and Tom Wilkinson). Plus I think the original Superman was loaded with them too (Hackman, Brando, Ned Beatty,Jackie Cooper, Trevor Howard, Terrance Stamp -- all winners or nominees pre-Superman). Hey, whatever, hopefully Iron Man is as good!!

[Doc_doom79]

One of my fav actors, directors and my fav superhero....


FANBOYING OUT...

[ubuking]

I'm very glad that Downey got it back together. He's always been great and I love what he did in the last few years (A Scanner Darkly, anyone?). Maybe in the sequel they will touch upon the alcohol addiction, then it will be Downey giving his best in Stark's role.

[TheToileteer]

I'd almost forgotten about "A Scanner Darkly." Yeah, that was a woefully underappreciated film--deadly serious hard-core science fiction, innovative style, great actors.

[HartyPotter]

Man, he must have so much Iron Man stuff.

[OM]

Originally Posted by Vintage

Now that's method and dedication.

...Nah, it's just a sign that Downey will be entering rehab again for a totally new reason - he's addicted to comic books and all their promotional tie-ins. Which means he'll be sharing a room with Jerry Seinfeld when he decides to kick his Superman addiction, and then will write a book that'll destroy our hobby more than Wertham did to our ancestors by exposing the dangers of comics.

But what the hey? Absinthe is about to become 100% legal in the US, so we've got something to look forward to anyway...

[J.M.De la Torre]

Just seen the movie. I totally dig it! Probably the best superhero movie until now. It has the best actors and is far more credible even in the superheroing parts. Y regret though not seeing Nick –Sam L.– Fury.
I guess I'll go for the dvd.

[Ironhorse]

I remember when heard the cast the first time, Downey Jr as Stark? You gotta be kidding me! No way in hell he could play a good Iron Man, but it seems I was totally wrong, every review says the same thing, he is quite perfect for the character and I'm totally relieved. Peace.

[mistavez]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

I remember when heard the cast the first time, Downey Jr as Stark?

i couldnt stop laughing when i heard about it. I thought it was to perfect of a fit. The movie looks like it will be good (and im not even an irom man fan) and i may end up skipping work to go watch it
any word on how the video game plays?

[RedPhoenix]

When I first heard that Robert Downey Jr. was going to be Iron Man I thought; perfect. He is Iron Man. I'm so stoked for this movie, can't wait for Friday!

[GohanWinner]

I don't know why people questioned Downey so much. I saw it completely, it made so much logical sense. The only way I was having trouble was visual, and then I found a picture of him with a goatee and I was sold. so...whatever. lol

[Sweeps]

Originally Posted by J.M.De la Torre

Y regret though not seeing Nick –Sam L.– Fury.
I guess I'll go for the dvd.

Stick around after the credits are done. That's all I'm saying.

[Spaz_Monkey]

I've been saying since day one that Downey was the perfect actor to play Tony Stark.

Glad to see I was right!

[Laz Green]

I heard Ghostface from Wu-Tang (Also known as Iron Man, Tony Starks, Pretty Tony etc) makes a cameo. This true?

[chr70]

Saw it today and i can't wait for the next one. Robert Downey Jr. IS Tony Stark.

[ANGELDOGGIE]

Right from the get go this was brilliant casting, absolutely brilliant!!!! The movie will and in fact DOES speak for itself !!! BRAVO !!!!!!!!!!!!

[SeventhSense]

I´ve just seen the movie, and even though I´m not a huge Iron Man fan.... I LOVED it!!!
"Tony" was everything I could have hoped for in this film, and Robert Downey Jr. delivered in spades.
It was brilliant, in my humble opinion, and I would love to see at least 2 more!

PS: Wait till the credits are over.

[geek4x4]

Originally Posted by Sweeps

Stick around after the credits are done. That's all I'm saying.

There's nothing after the credits. Saw it last night.

[gmsalpha]

I didn't stay for the post credits sequence if there was one, because being a sneak preview, the two screens it was on were packed to capacity and I had to get outta that madhouse before traffic.

Anyway, the last line of the movie is freaking PERFECT! It totally sends you out in a good mood, but I won't give it away by telling you what is said, or by who.

I loved the movie. I don't think it was the best comic book movie to date. That is probably Spider-Man 2 or Batman Begins (IMHO), but this one was really good and a lot better than I gave it credit for. I imagined it would be a little bit on the cheesy side, but it gets two thumbs up for great acting, awesome visuals, and a very good storyline that fits the character very well.

I'm so glad to see Robert Downey Jr in a big Summer blockbuster after the problems he's been through. He was the perfect actor for this role and I can't really picture anyone else playing Tony Stark.

There aren't many movies I'd consider seeing twice, but if I can find someone to go with, I'll see this one twice, and I've never purchased or had an interest in the comic. But the movie is GRRRR-REAT!!! At least that's what Tony "the tiger" Stark says.

[geek4x4]

Originally Posted by Laz Green

I heard Ghostface from Wu-Tang (Also known as Iron Man, Tony Starks, Pretty Tony etc) makes a cameo. This true?

Kind of, there's a scene where Tony and Jim are on his plane drinking. behind them on a big screen is a music video with ghostface. (I think it's him, at least.)

[Andre MOP]

Originally Posted by gmsalpha

I didn't stay for the post credits sequence if there was one, because being a sneak preview, the two screens it was on were packed to capacity and I had to get outta that madhouse before traffic.

Anyway, the last line of the movie is freaking PERFECT! It totally sends you out in a good mood, but I won't give it away by telling you what is said, or by who.

I loved the movie. I don't think it was the best comic book movie to date. That is probably Spider-Man 2 or Batman Begins (IMHO), but this one was really good and a lot better than I gave it credit for. I imagined it would be a little bit on the cheesy side, but it gets two thumbs up for great acting, awesome visuals, and a very good storyline that fits the character very well.

I'm so glad to see Robert Downey Jr in a big Summer blockbuster after the problems he's been through. He was the perfect actor for this role and I can't really picture anyone else playing Tony Stark.

There aren't many movies I'd consider seeing twice, but if I can find someone to go with, I'll see this one twice, and I've never purchased or had an interest in the comic. But the movie is GRRRR-REAT!!! At least that's what Tony "the tiger" Stark says.

Perfect? Really?

It didn't even scratched X2 or Batman Begins to me.

Iron Man was a Fantastic Four done right. A very common movie, but brilliantly acted and decently directed. Too bad it had no real ambitions to try something new.

The final fight was just one super-huge cliché.