I’m watching “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” in about three weeks time at the Cannes Film Festival. My expectations are reserved but I’m ready to be surprised.
This will be the first Indy without Steven Spielberg at the helm. He decided not to direct ‘Dial of Destiny,’ no doubt passing the mantle after 2008’s “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull” turned out to disappoint many.
Spielberg has seen ‘Dial of Destiny’ and claims that we should all rest easy because it’s great:
Bob Iger had a screening for a lot of the Disney executives, and I came to the screening along with the director James Mangold. Everybody loved the movie. It’s really, really a good ‘Indiana Jones’ film. I’m really proud of what Jim has done with it. When the lights came up I just turned to the group and said, ‘Damn! I thought I was the only one who knew how to make one of these.
Of course, Spielberg won’t say that the film is bad given that he remains a producer on this film. His loyalty to the “Indians Jones” franchise is still strong.
James Mangold takes over directing duties here. His filmography is pretty good,” Ford v Ferrari” and “Logan” particularly stand out. Will he deliver the goods? The $300 million sequel sounds ambitious enough at 142 minutes and the fact that Harrison Ford is de-aged for close to half an hour.
Ford will be 81 by the time the film is released this summer, not to mention that the role is a physically demanding one — is it any wonder that there are doubts that this could actually be pulled off? Ford isn’t out-of-shape in the least bit, but he is set to become the oldest action movie star.
“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is set for a theatrical release on June 30.
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