A Nightmare on Elm Street with Nicolas Cage

A film about a former child killer who invades teenagers' dreams and kills them in their sleep.

Odds are he's rocking out to "Dream Weaver," by Gary Wright

The Set-Up

Wes Craven had recently made the film Swamp Thing which tanked at the box office. As he was thinking about his next project, he read an article about former Cambodian refugees of the Khmer Rouge who died in their sleep for no discernible reason. I wrote a short story about the genesis of the movie here:

https://flapperhouse.com/2017/05/18/the-monster-study-fiction-by-andrew-davie/

The Execution

The film not only became incredibly successful, spawned six sequels, a crossover, and a remake, but along with Halloween, revolutionized the horror film genre. This film had a major impact on me throughout my life. I remember having a conversation with my third-grade teacher about how all of my creative writing that year focused on Freddy Krueger, the antagonist from the franchise. 

What might have been

The role of Glen was originally offered to Charlie Sheen before being accepted by then-unknown Johnny Depp. Since Cage's agent had introduced Depp to the casting director, it allowed Cage to audition. The role of Glen was not memorable in and of itself, but it provided Depp an opportunity to break into the film industry and become one of the most successful actors of the last thirty-plus years. However, who knows what would have happened had Nic Cage played the part. Would either he or Depp have achieved the heights they were able to achieve? Would Cage have gone a different route entirely?

"That's 'The pen is mightier.'"

                                        "I'll be takin' these Huggies and whatever cash you got."

                         
                    

                                

Platoon with Keanu Reeves

A film based upon Oliver Stone's experiences as an infantryman during the Vietnam war. The film was written partially to debunk the message put forth in the film The Green Berets. 

Shot in the Philippines, under similar conditions Coppola would experience during the filming of Apocalypse Now!, Platoon has become a classic film. It won The Best Picture and Director Academy Awards in 1986 and helped to launch the careers of Willem Dafoe and Charlie Sheen, among others. Not to mention, it has some of the best quotations which explain what it's like to teach middle school. 

Sometimes, I feel like a dude born of these two fathers

The Set-Up

Oliver Stone had already won an academy award for writing the film Midnight Express. He also wrote the screenplays for the films Conan the Barbarian and Scarface. He had won acclaim writing and directing the film Salvador, but still had trouble getting the financing for Platoon. Originally, he had wanted Charlie Sheen's older brother, Emilio Estevez for the part of Chris, but by the time he got financing in place, Estevez was too old.

The Execution

Platoon not only has the distinction of being one of the best Vietnam films of all time, but one could argue it is one of the best films. For most of my teaching career, I would use this film to make analogies to what the teaching experience was like. The film also launched the careers of a slew of notable actors.

           
             I'm always reminded of this scene when I think of my teaching career.

What might have been

Reeves, just at the beginning of his career, follows a completely different path that sees him going for darker and more serious roles early own. Whether he ultimately becomes John Wick remains to be seen. He still makes River's Edge but avoids The Bill and Ted franchise entirely. Instead, the following film gets made:

                         
                             "Come on, B-uddy." "For the last time, IT'S BILL!"

Who knows what might have been. Certainly, Sheen did a terrific job in the role of Private Chris Taylor. Had Reeves been cast though, this might have been the version of The Matrix which was released instead.

                                          Somewhere, in West Philadelphia