Pitch Your Movie: Heather’s “Ambassador 51″
Today, Heather from the awesome blog Movie Mobsters is pitching her movie in continuation of our month long blogathon (Check the schedule) following the Hollywood Fantasy Draft we conducted recently. Please share your thoughts and any insights you have in the comments and don’t forget to rate the pitch at the bottom!
Previous Pitches:
- Andrew Robinson’s “Untitled Joss Whedon Project“
- Anna’s “Truth and Lies”
- Novroz’s “Sunset Mystery“
- Kai’s “The Time Jumper“
- Peter’s “Untitled Hallstrӧm Project“
- Marc’s “Once Upon a Time in Z-West“
- Ruth’s “Hearts Want“
- Castor’s “Hλlf Life“
- Next: Travis on Wednesday
Ambassador 51
Directed By: David Fincher
Written By: Heather Roddy
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Sigourney Weaver, Lena Headey, Delroy Lindo, John Malkovich, Nathan Fillion, Donnie Yen, Michael Biehn, and Jason Momoa
Tagline: “It’s amazing how bomb scares are now a source of inconvenience instead of terror.”
In the midst of the dirty grit of Detroit is lurking something far worse than hookers and drug rings, and a city that is going to drown in it’s corruption. In the midst of this action/thriller flick, it is a character driven story more about the details. The theme of darkness and violence will be explored through the eyes of Amanda Brook.
Cast & Characters
 | Lena Headey is Amanda Brook. She is a solitary woman. Abused by her alcoholic father (played by Malkie), unknowing who her mother was. At the age of twelve her father attacked her and this time she defended herself, and killed him. Her references to him come only at crime scenes or in nightmares. She grew up in a number of foster homes, and eventually became a cop. An obsessive compulsive work aholic her spare time is spent running. A marine and now a detective in the crap of Detroit, she only comes home to her cat named MacGyver where she spends time reading Max Brooks novels. |
 | Viggo Mortensen plays Mark Allen, a local FBI agent, quiet and simple. He connects to Amanda right away. They have an attraction and sexual tension, but their professional relationship keeps them at bay from each other. |
 | John Malkovich plays a John Doe, the nameless abusive father of Amanda that is only referred to in flashbacks or nightmares. |
 | Nathan Fillion plays Andrew Hutchinson, the guy who wants to be Lena’s boyfriend. He’s perfect, charming. Everything about him is right, but she can’t commit. His calls and attempts to woe her are shot down by her inability to connect, but that doesn’t stop his persistence. |
 | Delroy Lindo is Thomas Jackson, the chief of police. Tough, rugged, obviously seen it and done it all, he seems a source of comfort to Amanda, and a somewhat safe father figure to her. |
 | Sigourney Weaver is Cameron James, the head of local FBI, and Mark’s boss. She is a strong woman who seems ten steps ahead of every crime scene she’s at, which becomes a source of fear when Amanda suspects she is partnered with the bad guy leader Sean Duke. |
 | Michael Biehn plays Sean Duke, a local politician, who seems to be one of the only men left without dirty hands in the investigations of Detroits political crime ring. What Amanda begins to uncover is that she not only suspects him of being the big bad of the newly created crime ring, but something much larger.. |
  | Jason Momoa and Donnie Yen are both playing henchman working for the big bads. They might be nameless, but will get a ton of screentime, because in spite of the thriller/suspense category this film will be loaded with violence. |
The Pitch
We enter the story zooming in from the morning skyline of Detroit and close in on a woman running (Headey). When the close up on her face happens we see a beautiful and determined person and follow her to her apartment, where she greets her cat MacGyver. Each regard each other lovingly and yet with a bit of indifference. By now you’ve felt the city and are becoming comfortable with her surroundings. When following her to work we discover she is a detective and being alone, she takes note of the apartment. The office is littered with calls of violence, bomb threats, and darkness. Too many to acknowledge all of, though she spent the day investigating a bomb scare. The violence sends her to flashbacks of her abusive father, and when she looks around she sees a local politician Sean Duke (Biehn) talking to news cameras and Agent Cameron James (Weaver) barking orders sneering at the sideshow the situation has become. People are surrounding the event honking and yelling to clear the road, more annoyed by the threat of the bomb, rather than in fear. The passiveness of the peoples city strikes Amanda as sadly depressing and bleak, rather than stupid.
After a day in the life of Amanda, we follow her home where she stops for an awkward dinner with Andrew Hutchinson (Fillion), a charming man who has been attempting to court her. In true gentlemen form he walks her to her door and leaves with a sparkle of hope in his eyes. She retreats inside to her cat and settles upon reading when she receives a call late, and a frantic male voice is on the other end claiming he received her card during a bomb scare at Cobo Arena, he says he knows what was really going on and that the bomb must have been diversion. She offers to meet him right away, but he’s clearly frightened. She gets dressed and offers to meet him at a local Coney island. She sees the man nervous constantly looking over his shoulder. He begins to explain that the corruption of the entire Detroit local government was only allowed to get out of control for a bigger scam, a bigger group, something to distract the city and the people from what was really going on. He’s been nothing but a small player until the day of the bomb threat. He tells her to start looking in her own office and then to look to the FBI and not to trust anyone. Amanda gets ready to ask questions when suddenly two men burst into the restaurant, one using high level martial arts and the other at least six foot six, and monster in size. (Yen and Momoa). Amanda finds herself in hand to hand combat with the giant, while the ninja guy makes quick work of her informant. Her gun is knocked from her hand before she can shoot the ninja, but she quickly reaches for the blade in her boot and slices the dread locked giant across the cheek. Blood sprays, she’s slammed across a table her head hitting a pole. Her eyes start to close shut as she sees the informants throat slit by the ninja and it jerk back from the six foot giant shooting.
When she wakes in the hospital to the eyes of Chief Jackson (Lindo) and Agent Allen (Mortensen). (Whom we’ve met during the day already) She gasps in fear knowing she should trust each of these men but is too concerned to say anything initially, until Agent Allen briefly leaves and Chief talks to her about his growing suspicions within the department and even further. He claims he believes Allen can be trusted. In her gut, she trusts him too. Chief asks her to off the record investigate with Allen with the hopes to find what’s really going in both departments.
The nosing around leads not only to Cameron James, Agent Allen’s boss, but she somehow seems connected with him in a ways that are hardly kosher, and yet impossible to improve. Agent Allen and Amanda finally make a break in their investigation and find the connections of James and Duke to somehow connect with seedy, and yet untouchable known criminals that are all taking haven right across the river in Windsor. Being in Canada, the levels of jurisdiction make the investigation that is “unofficial” even more complicated. As Allen and Amanda do cross the border their presence doesn’t go unnoticed and they find themselves in something larger than either of them could have imagined.
The dollar and dance of the crime story isn’t what makes this film stand apart from others, but the characters should, and the manner in which Fincher would deliver the film visually to convey the exact mood of bleakness. The point of the story is about the desensitized way crime and terror is now apart of our lives. Everyday in life people turn their heads at a world gone wrong, but just because this has been going on forever, doesn’t mean it needs to be ignored as well. There might be thoughtful themes within the story, but it’s going to be meant to entertain, and I guarantee you, I could entertain you.
–
Heather Roddy
http://www.moviemobsters.com/
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23 Comments
Why am I not surprised that there is a ninja here??? And why aren’t YOU playing this ninja, Heather? I like the use of Detroit as a backdrop as it is not used enough and I can see Fincher bringing it to a new/unique life. Headey is an interesting and bold choice to play the lead here and the pairing with Viggo would be strong, I would think…again, no surprise that you drafted Viggo for this. Is Bowie adding a song for the end credits?
I like Headey’s character – there is a lot to her, which I enjoy watching. Looks like plenty of room to keep the audiences on their feet and wondering what will happen next. Very good cast, the plotline is very well written. I can see it playing out a bit in my head as I read. Good job, Heather!!!
It wasn’t my initial intention, but after I took on Donnie Yen it seemed an obvious direction to go in. I needed at least two pretty tough guys for those roles, and they are polar opposites in their styles which will make them fun. They won’t show up an insane amount, but they’ll certainly be present.
I had a post-apocalyptic setting initially and then decided the disarray of the city right now (I’m actually from Detroit) it might make for a good story, especially with Fincher at the Helm.
And c’mon Peter, you didn’t think I’d make a movie with at least one or two Bowie tracks in it? I can’t get through a day without Bowie let alone my own feature film!
I guess I’m the only random crazy person that would insist on Sigourney Weaver, Ninja’s, and David Bowie for my movie.
Heather, I was going down the cast list and you absolutely floored me!! Biehn (awesome) and Donnie Yen…nice touches though nothing is as good as calling Weaver’s character “Cameron James” 8D You crafty devil:P
The idea of Momoa and Yen breaking into the restaurant has 80′s awesomeness written all over it…kind get a Die Hard intro vibe from it. You have a gift for imagery and would love to read more and learn more about the intriguing characters! Also, I want more Michael Biehn:)
What are my favorite action movie influences? 80′s/90′s of course!
I’m actually hoping that it could balance action and the crime thriller as well as the Lethal Weapon series, but with a darker and seedier perspective.
The world needs more Michael Biehn brotha!
Preach Sista preach…Say Amen for Biehn:)
Weaver is a take no shit kind of character so you’ve got the darker and seedier wrapped up…oh an throw in some Malkovitch to seal the deal.
I love the concept of this film. Heady seems to be perfect for the lead role, and would probably have great chemistry with Viggo (but then again, who doesn’t?). This movie sounds very Fincher-esque, so it’d be right up his alley. Would definitely watch this movie.
While I was reading that I actually had the the thought that Shreks boulder would have great chemistry with him. I know he could play his role low key and yet anchor the film, and besides I like the “idea” of people hooking up in movies like this more than them actually doing it. Look at Hicks and Ripley in Aliens, best non-romance romance ever. That tension elevates scenes without being obvious about it, and besides there’s no time for the happy kiss at the end of the movie because they saved the day. Characters in my stories will be lucky if I don’t kill them all off.
Sigourney Weaver is Cameron James – love that, Heather!
Nice to see Lena Headey in the leading role.
Thanks Dan!
I think it’s about time she gets a chance, but it would only work if you give her the right role. I think she’s beautiful and sexy, but so strong at the same time, the kind of chick I dig.
I love your cast, tons of eye candy he..he.. but why have that gorgeous face of Jason Momoa be sliced by a knife?? I’m so glad you recognize Lena Heady, not only for her beauty, but leading lady potential. I was very impressed by her in 300 and then in Sarah Connor. And Sigourney as Cameron James, VERY nice! It’d be so cool to see her with Michael Biehn again and this genre is right up Fincher’s alley.
I did laugh at John Malkovich’s character though, I’m kinda sad for him relegated to flashbacks and nightmares, but we know he can do that role really well.
For once, he is the one sneaking into other people brain
Because it would leave a sexy scar Ruth! And yes, yes, yes, YES! Of course I was going to have a movie with beautiful everybody, and I make my henchman gorgeous, because Donnie Yen is absolutely delicious.
When I picked Malkie the first thing I had in mind was a dark, evil role for him, but not this over the top bullshit he does all too often. He made me so happy in Burn After Reading, I wanted something else weird and wrong for him. Plus he could make those scenes resonate.
Thank Ruth!
I’m trying to wrap my head around Fillion as the “nice guy”. It’s wrong, but I always think of him as Caleb first (Buffy).
I used to have a major crush on Lena Headey, loved her in The Jungle Book – though that was ages ago.
You only got the first act Andrew. Maybe he isn’t so nice.
He’s charming, and smart, and strong, and yet still too right for her.
At one point I had him cast in Biehn’s part, because he can play one hell of a villain, but I decided I wanted someone a little older for that part.
NINJA!
Very good pitch Heather! I could definitely see Sigourney Weaver as the bad gal for once and she would have the screen presence to make it memorable. I would definitely be interested in reading more and having Fincher “attached” to this would give it a really great atmosphere like the one he crafted in Se7en.
I wonder if Fincher would ask Weaver to shave her head like he did in Alien3?
I thought of her in Working Girl and just loved her so much as the wicked Katharine, I realized she could play that icy in charge and evil yet charming role better than anyone else I could conceive.
Heather great job! And since I apparently watch movies with a mini skirt on and my legs wide open…my VERGINA loved it too.
Michael Biehn, Jason Momoa and a cat named MacGyver…!!! NUFF SAID.
Good pitch, Heather. Very relevant themes, and there’s no doubt Fincher would bring out the best from it and be fearless in its execution. And, like everyone else, I love Weaver’s character name. Pretty sure she’d enjoy playing up to that name.
Yup. I’m there. Opening day.
And being someone who originally hails from the Detroit area… I’ll refrain from differentiating between “hookers” and “crack whores who’ll perform oral sex for drug money.” But it’s the perfect location… and seeing Viggo as a cop in Detroit just gave me a weird premonition of seeing him as Robocop…? He and Weller have a resemblance.
Love the story. Short and sweet. Not that I don’t admire the thought that everyone puts into their pitches, but you give just enough to keep my appetite whet.
Well done Ms. Heather.
Really great cast! With a lot of potential of being both goodies and baddies!
All ready commented on your site but I’ll reiterate that I love it.
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