Dito Montiel is responsible for bringing out of Shia La Beouf one of his most empathetic performances with his directorial debut, A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints. Filmed in 2006 before the more-method-than-Brando actor embarked on a frankly loony series of highly-publicized stunts, he put in a solid turn. Now that the duo are collaborating once more for Man Down, it does bring into question La Beouf’s infamous bag-wearing incident, during which he made sure it was known he was out of the ‘biz.
In the film, La Beouf plays U.S. Marine Gabriel Drummer, who lives in a future American dystopia. Setting off to find his estranged wife (Kate Mara) and son, he brings along his best buddy Devin (Jai Courtney) and the pair commence on tracking down what remains of his family.
This first glimpse at the movie, which is currently in production, shows the best buds as they encounter Clifton Collins Jr.’s character, a man who may be able to offer information about Drummer’s brood. Looks like they’re at a interesting crossroads, as the guns are on display.
The premise of the pic might sound pedestrian, but from a script by Adam Simon (Synapse) and with Montiel’s verve for getting corking performances from his cast (there’s hope for Courtney), Man Down might be the sleeper hit of next year. We’ll find out when it hits theatres on October 15th, 2015.
In a savage post-apocalyptic America, U.S. Marine GABRIEL DRUMMER (La Beouf), searches desperately for the whereabouts of his estranged son, JONATHAN and wife, NATALIE (Mara). Accompanied by his best friend DEVIN ROBERTS (Courtney), a hardnosed marine whose natural instinct is to shoot first and ask questions later, the two intercept CHARLES (Clifton Collins Jr.), an apocalyptic survivor carrying vital information about the whereabouts of Gabriel’s family. As we revisit the past, we are guided in unraveling the puzzle of Gabriel’s experience and what will eventually lead us to the origin of this war torn America.
