As action-thriller debuts go,
Con Air was a fairly spectacular way to begin a career. This in spite of a simple and yet tenuous premise, a cast of mixed abilities, and a number of peaks and troughs along the narrative arc that thrashed at the bonds of credulity. And, yet, Con Air was one of the very best of its type in a generation when writing and wit had otherwise been cast aside as an inconvenience- a malignity of the Hollywood film making machine that endures till this very day. At its heart lay the films casting and characterisations- John Malkovich can often be a chore, Nicolas Cage can be downright bonkers; here, however, their selection and the wit and measured nature of their dialogue afforded them among the best and most underrated performances of their careers. A full twelve years on, although the cast have all faired remarkably well commercially, the films Brit director,
Simon West, though a very wealthy man, has not came close to equalling the stylish romp that was Con Air. Speaking in London this week, whilst promoting his Jason Statham fronted action flick, The Mechanic,
West announced his intentions to revisit his career peak and all talk of his most recent film promptly ceased.
"I'd like to do... Con Air 2... It'd be great. It's a matter of getting everybody together. There's so many people involved and it's about getting everybody to agree. But I'm going to bring it up to Nic. I'm going to put a bug in his ear about it. If the two of us want to do it, we'll go after the others."
Admittedly, the comment, in part, does appear to be tinged with wishful thinking. However, the reaction it has aspired both in print and online will give indications to film makers and distributors of the appetite for a follow up to one of the most effortlessly cool thrillers of its generations. One hopes for the reputations of all involved they are able to do it justice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyEd0dTzG2M