When looking for a pirate movie for bad movie Monday, Cutthroat Island is the clear choice. The movie is considered by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the biggest flop ever. It destroyed Carolco pictures despite them having the successful Terminator and Rambo series. It also pretty much put the kibosh on actress Geena Davis's career as a leading lady.
Directed by Davis's then husband, Renny Harlin, Geena Davis is Morgan Adams, a pirate who must prove she is worthy of being captain of her father's ship after he is killed. Matthew Modine is William Shaw, a conman who is captured and sold into slavery. Morgan purchases William because he is educated and needs someone who speaks Latin to decipher a treasure map her father left her.
Together with her crew who are threatening to mutiny, they must gather the other two pieces of the map - one of which is held by her uncle (and father's killer) Dawg Brown (Frank Langella), who is also intent on getting the treasure.
This movie's biggest problem is it's direction (or lack there of). Harlin, known most notably for directing Die Hard 2, runs the movie like a modern action film with slow motion action scenes and huge explosions. The humor is too cutesy, and the cinematography is terrible. Harlin was nominated for a Razzberry for worst director (one of four times).
The story itself isn't bad, but the characters are horrible miscast. Davis and Modine look uncomfortable and completely out of place is a period pirate movie. Langella, who I usually like as a villain, is cheesy and almost unwatchable.
Does this movie deserve to be known as the greatest box office flop of all time? Not even close. The movie isn't terrible; it's one of those I'll pause on if I'm flipping channels and it's on. I can think of movies that are a lot worse and made a ton of money (I'm looking at you, Michael Bay!!!). It was an interesting idea - well before it's time. In the hands of a different director and different cast, the movie might have been a success.
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