{"id":3808,"date":"2008-11-20T02:55:41","date_gmt":"2008-11-20T01:55:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/?p=3808"},"modified":"2009-09-26T05:27:58","modified_gmt":"2009-09-26T04:27:58","slug":"behind-the-release-body-of-lies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.filmdetail.com\/2008\/11\/20\/behind-the-release-body-of-lies\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind the Release: Body of Lies"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/p>\n A couple of weeks ago I though it would be an interesting idea to write a bit more in depth about how films are made and released at UK cinemas.<\/p>\n Hopefully, this series of posts will give you more insight into\u00a0the development, production and release\u00a0of films in this country, ranging from big budget Hollywood productions to more arthouse fare.<\/p>\n First up for consideration is Body of Lies<\/a><\/strong> which is the big release this week from a major Hollywood studio, in this case\u00a0Warner Bros<\/a>.<\/p>\n Based on the\u00a0novel of the same name<\/a> by\u00a0David Ignatius<\/a>, the story is about a CIA operative (Leonardo DiCaprio<\/a>) who goes to Jordan to track an elusive terrorist leader behind a wave of attacks in mainland Europe.<\/p>\n Directed by\u00a0Ridley Scott<\/a>,\u00a0written by\u00a0William Monahan<\/a> and also stars\u00a0Russell Crowe<\/a> and Mark Strong<\/a> in key supporting roles.<\/p>\n It is quite an interesting mainstream\u00a0film in that it is a major release filled with A-list talent (all things big studios love) but at the same time deals explicitly with a dark, contemporary subject (something they are less keen on, especially as films about the war on terror have tanked at the box office).<\/p>\n So, how did this come about?<\/p>\n DEVELOPMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n Over two years ago in March 2006,\u00a0Warner Bros.<\/a> hired screenwriter\u00a0William Monahan<\/a> to adapt a novel called ‘Penetration’ by\u00a0David Ignatius<\/a>, which would be directed by\u00a0Ridley Scott<\/a>.<\/p>\n Possibly due to the fact that the original title of the book sounded a bit like a porn movie, it was retitled in 2007 to ‘Body of Lies’, as was the film.<\/p>\n Variety reported in May 2006 that an item called ‘Warner sets spy team<\/a>‘:<\/p>\n Warner Bros. has set\u00a0William Monahan<\/a> to adapt David Ignatius’ Middle East espionage novel “Penetration,” with Ridley Scott to direct. De Line Pictures is producing with Scott Free.While Monahan most recently drafted the Hong Kong hit\u00a0“Infernal Affairs”<\/a> into\u00a0Martin Scorsese<\/a>-directed drama “The Departed,” he got his start as a screenwriter by scripting the Middle East-set pics “Tripoli” and\u00a0“Kingdom of Heaven”<\/a>‘ for Scott.<\/p>\n With\u00a0“Penetration,”<\/a> they reteam on a thriller that sends a CIA operative to Jordan to track a high-ranking terrorist. The spy is aided by the head of Jordan’s covert operations in an uneasy alliance that leads to cultural and moral clashes between the men. WB exec veep\u00a0Lynn Harris<\/a> will shepherd the drama along with Scott Free’s\u00a0Michael Costigan<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n What’s interesting about this story is that it shows that the desire amongst creatives to do Iraq themed movies.<\/p>\n In the years following 9\/11 the big studios stayed clear of the war on terror for fear of alienating the US public or being deemed ‘unpatriotic’ (which they are anyway, but never mind).<\/p>\n However by 2006, clearly the stars, agents and directors were willing to tackle what is one of the defining news stories of this decade.<\/p>\n But who would star in it? If you are Warner Bros and already have an A-list director on board, you also need a big star in order to help recoup the budget at the box office.<\/p>\n Step forward\u00a0Leonardo DiCaprio<\/a>. In April 2007 Variety again reported<\/a>:<\/p>\n DiCaprio’s deal has to be negotiated, but he already has worked the picture into his busy schedule.<\/p>\n He’ll make it this fall after first reteaming with“Titanic”<\/a> co-star\u00a0Kate Winslet<\/a> on\u00a0“Revolutionary Road,”<\/a> the\u00a0Sam Mendes<\/a>-directed\u00a0DreamWorks<\/a> drama that shoots in April.<\/p>\n Scott already is scouting venues in Morocco for a film that will shoot in Washington, D.C., Europe and the Middle East.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n After DiCaprio was on board,\u00a0Russell Crowe<\/a> also joined for a supporting role.<\/p>\n Interestingly, Crowe anticipated back then that the film might not be popular, saying to MTV<\/a>:<\/p>\n I think the perspective of \u2018Body of Lies\u2019 is ongoing,\u201d he said of the script.<\/p>\n It\u2019s machinations and creations of the American government, in terms of its foreign policy.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t think it\u2019s so responsive to what\u2019s happening now \u2014 because what\u2019s happening now is actually the fruit of seeds planted two or three decades ago, if not more.<\/p>\n But I think it\u2019s timely to do a movie like that \u2026 it\u2019s important, and Ridley is up for [portraying] the true negatives of this web of intrigue that\u2019s been created.\u201d<\/p>\n I don\u2019t think it will be very popular,\u201d Crowe insisted. \u201cBut that\u2019s never been part of my project choice process.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n At this stage it might seem odd that a major studio (especially as one as keen on popcorn movies as Warner Bros) would be green-lighting this type of material.<\/p>\n But I’n guessing that a combination of star power (studios always want to please A-listers) and the hope that Scott could do what he did with Black Hawk Down (i.e. turn military themed material into an accessible hit) made Alan Horn<\/a> and the suits at Burbank feel this could be a smart and accessible thriller that touched on modern issues.<\/p>\n So, with the cast set and locations scouted, production was all set to begin.<\/p>\n PRODUCTION<\/strong><\/p>\n Now, how much does a film like Body of Lies cost to produce?<\/p>\n Actual budgets for films are very hard to come by as studios (for various different reasons) want to keep that information secret, but various pundits and organisations come up with estimates.<\/p>\n The IMDb reckons\u00a0$70 million<\/a>, as do Box Office Mojo<\/a>. That though is just the production budget, which doesn’t include the marketing of the film once it is completed.<\/p>\n The film was shot on location in Washington D.C., Europe and various locations in the Middle East.<\/p>\n However,\u00a0Dubai<\/a> in the\u00a0United Arab Emirates<\/a> was dropped after the National Media Council there took exception to content of the script.<\/p>\n Ali Jafaar of Variety reported in August 2007 that<\/a>:<\/p>\n Pic was set to shoot in Dubai toward the end of the year.<\/p>\n “After receiving approval, it was later rejected as Dubai does not want to do any scripts that are of a political nature,” says\u00a0Tim Smythe<\/a>, CEO ofFilmworks<\/a>, the Dubai-based shingle that was repping the production for Warners in the region.<\/p>\n Mideast-set portions of the film will likely all be shot in Morocco now.<\/p>\n The decision has already meant that two other Dubai-set shoots, a big-budget studio pic as well as a smaller budget East European feature, have subsequently pulled out of filming there.<\/p>\n Variety understands that the decision to nix the Scott project was based on U.A.E authorities’ reluctance to have Dubai associated with film subjects related to terrorism, Al Qaeda and Islamic fundamentalism.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n This meant Scott had to relocate the Jordan sequences to his\u00a0old stomping ground of Morocco<\/a>, where he shot Black Hawk Down and Kingdom of Heaven.<\/p>\n Because of his history in shooting in the country, Scott has become friends with King Mohamed VI of Morocco, which helped the production gain access to government buildings and locations such as the\u00a0Ministry of Finance and Casablanca airport (which doubled as Jordanian locations in the film).<\/p>\n However, principal photography began on September\u00a05th 2007 in the US at the\u00a0Eastern Market, Washington, D.C.<\/a> where part of the\u00a0Capitol Hill<\/a> neighbourhood was converted to resemble a wintry\u00a0Amsterdam<\/a> in order to film a\u00a0car bombing<\/a>.<\/p>\n