Paramount and director Michael Bay seem bound and determined to turn Bay’s next big picture, true-life tale Pain and Gain, into a real piece of work (read – not a film that gets its big gags from racist robots). First, Bay secured a story that’s seemingly ready-made for the cinematic treatment – a dark, funny, bizarre, and captivating story about loser bodybuilders in Miami who get mixed up violent crime (violent crime that, despite their bulk, they are truly not cut out for). Then, he filled out his cast with a mix of recognizable talent (Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson), spiced it up with some solid hitters (Ed Harris, Tony Shaloub, and Anthony Mackie), and then (for once in his directorial career), cast a model (Bar Paly) in a role suitable for a model. What next, Bay?
According to THR, screenwriter Scott Rosenberg has been brought in “for polish and punch-up duties” on the film’s script. First penned by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (all three The Chronicles of Narnia films, Captain America: The First Avenger), Rosenberg will likely add bigger action and and the sort of humor Bay goes for (fun fact, Rosenberg wrote the “Animal Crackers” scene in Armageddon).
While Rosenberg has been working almost exclusively in television for the last few years (his credits include cancelled series like October Road, Life on Mars, and Happy Town), his feature film resume is weirdly impressive and quite varied. Rosenberg has penned stuff like Things To Do in Denver When You’re Dead, High Fidelity, Gone in Sixty Seconds, and Kangaroo Jack. But Rosenberg’s best script is far and away 1997’s Con Air. I am not kidding. Do you not love Con Air? I unabashedly love Con Air. If Pain and Gain can harness that film’s weird mix of humor, action, and (dare I say it?) heart, I’m sold. But, then again, I’ve been sold on this baby for awhile.
Also, have you read the original Miami New Times report that Bay is basing his film on yet?
Related Topics: Michael Bay
