It seems like there is an older generation of filmmakers who have earned enough good word-of-mouth from their industry companions that they can fund any passion project that excited them; despite the fact that their last few films have been commercial flops (even if they were critical hits), Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola have both generated significant budgets for their upcoming filmsKillers of the Flower MoonandMetropolis, respectively. It’s exciting to see that their lifetime of great work has paid off in funding their upcoming work, as great directors deserve to have the resources to pursue original films on the largest possible canvas. Regardless if it’s something as financially momentous as James Cameron’sAvatar: The Way of Wateror as commercially divisive asRidley Scott’sThe Last Duel, these directors deserve the opportunity to have their films seen.
Sadly, not every great director is warranted that opportunity. The aforementioned filmmakers did represent an older generation that emerged during a very different theatrical system that didn’t have the complications of the streaming era. Films likeGoodfellasandAvatarweren’t just financial hits, but critical ones too; today, it seems like there’s a greater disparity between the films that earn great reviews and those that perform well at the box office. It’s sad to see that some filmmakers are considered to be no longer commercially viable after a series of box office failures.Gore Verbinskihas yet to make a new film after bothThe Lone RangerandA Cure for Wellnessbombed at the box office, an unfortunate fate for two interesting films and one incredible filmmaker. Here’s why Gore Verbinski deserves a comeback.
The Pirates Trilogy Is One of the Best Blockbuster Franchises
It’s odd to see how intellectual property has become more dominant than anything on today’s theatrical marketplace, and how the notion of an “original” film initiating a franchise has become so rare. While there are occasional franchises likeJohn Wickthat seem to emerge out of nowhere, the notion of something like thePirates of the Caribbeantrilogy being made today seems completely unbelievable. Even though it was based on a theme park attraction from Walt Disney World,Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearldid not resemble any sort of film that was successful at the time. Pirates films hadn’t been popular in quite some time; while Disney had made some genuine swashbuckler classics in its Golden Era, the failure of films like Roman Polanski’sPirates!and Renny Harlin’s infamousCutthroat Islandsuggested that it was simply a doomed genre.
However, Verbinski managed to capture the perfect modern blockbuster.Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearlwas relatively classical in its story, as the “hero’s journey” harkened back to classic stories likeStar WarsandThe Lord of the Rings. What made it unique was that Verbinski committed to the practical swordplay, spent timedeveloping a rich mythologyand most importantly, gave Johnny Depp the freedom to give one of the most instantly iconic characters in film history. Not only did Captain Jack Sparrow become one of the most popular characters in recent memory, but the performance earned Depp his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor (one that he would lose to Sean Penn forMystic River).
Related:Best Gore Verbinski Films, Ranked
He Succeeds in Every Genre
While not quite as perfect as their predecessor, 2006’sPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chestand 2007’sPirates of the Caribbean: At World’s Endlack none of the ambition, craftsmanship, and entertainment value ofPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Disney certainly learned its lesson when they attempted to not bring back Verbinski for other sequels. The critical failure of 2011’sPirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tidesand 2017’sPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Talessuggests that it was Verbinski, not Depp, who was responsible for the original trilogy’s success.
Instead of returning to work with Depp on anotherPirates of the Caribbeanfilmthat inevitably would have attempted to perpetrate a story that did not justify continuation, Verbinski understood the reason why his trilogy was successful in the first place. Jack Sparrow works best as a supporting character that makes the hero more interesting, a role similarly occupied by Harrison Ford’s Han Solo in the originalStar Warstrilogy. Verbinski decided it was best to get Depp involved with other films that would show a different side of their collaborative abilities; 2011’sRangowas a decidedly odd western epic that just so happened to be a talking animal. The fact that it was a hit and even earned the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature is proof that the Oscars are actually willing to embrace oddball projects.
Related:The Best Pirate Movies, Ranked
His Failures Are Interesting
Even though it was a legendarybox office failure,The Lone Rangeris not the disaster that it has been made out to be. Some audiences were expecting another rip-roaring adventure story similar toPirates of the Caribbean, only to get a slow, methodical western epic about the collapse of the American west and the takeover of capitalism. In many ways, it felt like this generation’sHeaven’s Gate, another great western that was initially met with sharp hatred, but later went on to become a monumental classic. Hopefully more audiences will appreciate how unique of a swing the project is now that it is widely available on Disney+ alongside other blockbusters from the era.
