Mediocre Director to Tackle Sci-Fi Action Flick at Edge of Universe

Posted by Dr. Cole Abaius (cole.abaius@filmschoolrejects.com) on March 10, 2009

We're waiting for this announcement.

The beautiful thing about science fiction is the mystery surrounding the premise. Since the writer gets to create the world, but can’t simply create it from scratch, there’s usually an interesting adherence to reality that acts as the anchor for whatever strange creatures and new physics rules exist in that brave new world. The mystery surrounding Last Man, the property just picked up by Fox through New Regency, is whether writer/director David Ayer will be playing the highly talented version of himself or the version of himself that can’t direct his way out of John Hurt’s stomach.

And, yes, that was a really poorly worded reference to Alien.

Variety describes the film as focusing on a grizzly captain defending a far-away planet with his band of trusty, yet totally green, American soldiers. At first glance it sounds like a fantastic high concept premise that could easily be loose plot points and thin character development used as down time between each bad ass battle scene – but Ayer is at the helm.

So riddle me this: how can the guy who wrote Training Day also be the same guy who wrote S.W.A.T.? And do I need to remind fans that he’s the director behind Street Kings, a movie that was easily one of the worst of last year? The guy is a mystery himself – someone who can pull out a genius script, a decent one, or a completely terrible one. However, so far the only thing he’s ever proved to do behind the director’s chair has been consistent – and that doesn’t bode well for this film.

However it could be worse. We could be hearing news that Keanu Reeves will be working with Ayer again, signing on as the grizzly captain.

What do you think? Should I stop making John Hurt references?


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  • 'Street Kings' was far from being one of the worst movies of last year. Any problems it had, and there are several, stem more from the screenplay than the directing. So you should be criticizing James Ellroy... And Ayer also directed Christian Bale in 'Harsh Times' which was bleak, brutal, and pretty good.
  • Yeah, you're being too hard on 'Street Kings.' S.W.A.T. is a perfect popcorn action flick. But Ayer is mediocre, he gets too much credit for 'Training Day.' Harsh Times was bleak and brutal, but I think I'd have to disagree with it being "pretty good." I'll watch almost anything two or three times (from High School Musical 2 to Aliens to Scary Movie 2) but Harsh Times after one viewing I was like "Eh, not interested enough to watch it again."

    Could have been fantastic, but felt it fumbled pretty badly in the last 20 minutes.
  • David G
    I was skeptical of Street Kings in theatres. I happend to see it last week on HBO and have to say it wouldnt have been a waste of the ticket price and duration time. I enjoyed every minute of it. A lot more than can be said about alot of garbage films of the last ten years. Training Day wasnt worth a second viewing. I dont understand why Denzel did that movie. He lost some cred with it I think. But Ill second that SWAT is worth watching at home for its action.
  • SWAT suffered from the ever bombtastic Colin Farrell, who could turn gold into lead. I went to see Samual Jackson and Michelle Rodreguiz but ended up being disappointed by the film in the last 20 minutes due to Farrell.
  • tia
    Keanu and Street Kings were wonderful. The problem with Street Kings was the editing. If some of the "extra" scenes were left in the movie would have been gold. But as it stood-it was very watchable and Keanu was great in it.
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