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{{Short description|2008 American film directed by Frank Miller}}
{{Infobox Film
| name = The Spirit {{for|the earlier 1987 TV movie pilot|The Spirit (1987 film)}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Thespiritposter.jpg
| name = The Spirit
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| image = Thespiritposter.jpg
| director = ]
| alt =
| producer = ]
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| writer = ''']:'''<br>]<br>'''Screenplay'''<br>Frank Miller
| director = ]
| starring = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]
| producer = {{Plainlist|
| music = ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
}}
| screenplay = Frank Miller
| based_on = {{Based on|'']''|]}}
| starring = {{Plainlist |<!--Per poster billing-->
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
}}
| music = ]
| cinematography = ] | cinematography = ]
| editing = Gregory Nussbaum | editing = Gregory Nussbaum
| distributor = ]<br>] | studio = ]
]
| released = December 25, 2008
| distributor = ]
| runtime = 100 min.
| released = {{Film date|2008|12|25}}
| country = ]
| runtime = 103 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 102:30--><ref>{{cite web|title=''THE SPIRIT'' (15)|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/spirit-2008-0|work=]|date=2008-12-12|access-date=2013-02-12}}</ref>
| language = English
| country = United States
| budget =
| language = English
| gross =
| budget = $60 million<ref>{{cite news|author=Michael Cieply |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/15/business/media/enders-game-is-a-bet-for-gigi-pritzkers-oddlot-entertainment.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |title='Ender's Game' Is a Bet for Gigi Pritzker's OddLot Entertainment |work=The New York Times |date=2013-01-14 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref>
| followed_by =
| gross = $39 million<ref name=bom/>
}} }}
'''''The Spirit''''' (also known as '''''Will Eisner's The Spirit''''' in promotional materials) is a {{fy|2008}} ] ]-] ] ] based on the ] ] supplement ] created by ]. Batfilm, ], and ] produced the film.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.comics2film.com/b/index.php?blog=17&title=lionsgate_conjures_the_spirit_with_odd_l&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 | title=Lionsgate conjures 'The Spirit' with Odd Lot Entertainment and visionary filmmaker and graphic novelist Frank Miller| publisher=Comics2Film |date=May 16, 2007 | first= | last= | accessdate=2008-09-18}} (no longer links to article)</ref> ] wrote and directed the film, which stars ] as the Spirit and ] as his nemesis, the ]. Filming began in October 2007, with release originally scheduled for January 16, 2009, but on May 6, 2008, it was announced that the release date would be moved up to December 25, 2008.<ref name="panel">{{cite news | author=McClintock, Pamela | url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117985199.html?categoryId=13&cs=1&query=The+Spirit | title=Christmas gets Frank Miller's 'Spirit' | publisher=Variety | date=2008-05-06 | accessdate=2008-05-}}</ref>


'''''The Spirit''''' is a 2008 American ] ] written and directed by ] and starring ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. Based on the ] ] and ] character '']'', by ], and produced by ] and ],<ref>{{cite web|title=Lionsgate conjures 'The Spirit' with Odd Lot Entertainment and visionary filmmaker and graphic novelist Frank Miller|url=http://www.comics2film.com/b/index.php?blog=17&title=lionsgate_conjures_the_spirit_with_odd_l&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1|website=Comics2Film|publisher=Wayback Machine|access-date=18 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930014540/http://www.comics2film.com/b/index.php?blog=17&title=lionsgate_conjures_the_spirit_with_odd_l&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1|archive-date=30 September 2007|date=16 May 2007}}</ref> it tells the story of a ghost-like superhero who defends Central City from the Octopus who competes with the superhero's childhood friend Sand Saref for the Blood of Heracles in order to become immortal.
The protagonist is involved in a love triangle with Sand Saref and Ellen Dolan, the daughter of Central City's Police Commissioner Dolan. The controversial character ] does not appear in the film.<ref name="panel">{{cite news | author= Douglas, Edward | url=http://superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=5253 | title=''The Spirit'' Panel at NY Comic-Con '07 | publisher=SuperHeroHype.com | date=2007-02-25 | accessdate=2007-02-26 }}</ref>


The film was released theatrically in the United States on December 25, 2008, to negative reviews and was a ]. It was later released on ] and ] on April 14, 2009.
==Cast/Characters==

* ''']''' as ''']''': A rookie cop who returns from the dead to fight crime in Central City from the shadows.<ref name="love" /> Miller had required actors who wanted the starring role to audition, and Macht was able to attain the role in August 2007.<ref name="macht" />
==Plot==
* ''']''' as ''']''': A villain who plans to wipe out all of Central City and will kill anyone unlucky enough to see his face. Jackson was Miller's first choice for the role and was cast in May 2007.<ref>{{cite news | author= Siegel,Tatiana | coauthors=Borys Kit | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ie62938636be2f71fecac797ed78e3302 | title=Miller sees Jackson as evil 'Spirit' | publisher=] | date=2007-05-18 | accessdate=2007-05-18 }}</ref> Jackson, Frank Miller, and the costume designer went through the various scenes of the film to design costumes to fit the scenery. They included a samurai suit to fit an Asian setting, a Nazi costume to fit a torture setting, a "</nowiki>]]ish" suit with a large hat and coat, and a "gold kind of paisley coat at the end, the rich fur and the gloves" for a gun scene. When asked about the change from the Octopus just being recognized by a pair of gloves in the comics to the various costumes, Jackson stated "It's just an opportunity to be larger than life to take the Octopus's theme of dressing the way he feels everyday, or having a theme to his day to day life and making some sense with it. And hopefully the audience will take the ride with us".<ref>, MTV.com "Splashpage", July 26, 2008</ref>
<!--DO NOT USE EXCESSIVE DETAIL. Film plot summaries should be between 400 and 700 words per WP:FILMPLOT-->
* ''']''' as ''']''': A ] scientist and accomplice to the Octopus.<ref>{{cite news | author=Kit, Borys | coauthors=Tatiana Siegel | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3ided21673370e52a3d7c4c2e9e6e6674d | title=It's a triple feature for Johansson | publisher=] | date=2007-08-17 | accessdate=2007-08-17 }}</ref>
Denny Colt, also known as "the Spirit", learns about a major case from Detective Sussman involving his nemesis "]". The Spirit dons his costume and travels across rooftops, saving a woman before connecting with Officer Liebowitz. At the swampland, ] Sand Saref rises from the water to shoot Sussman. The Spirit and Liebowitz find the wounded Sussman. Sand and her husband Mahmoud had earlier fled with chests they recovered from the water. Shot at, Sand escaped, leaving one chest behind which was retrieved by Octopus. The Octopus beheads Liebowitz and his cloned henchmen attack the Spirit. His accomplice ] flees with the chest as the two arch-nemeses fight.
* ''']''' as ''']'''.<ref>{{cite news | author=Kit, Borys | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3ia314015383aee6d14c4065f49edf632c | title=Mendes moved to join 'Spirit' | publisher=] | date=2007-08-22 | accessdate=2007-08-22 }}</ref> The actress told director ] that she wanted to work with him on ''The Spirit'' before she had seen a script for the film.<ref>{{cite news | author=Carroll, Larry | url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2007/10/10/eva-mendes-has-the-spirit/ | title=Eva Mendes Has 'The Spirit' | publisher=] | date=2007-10-10 | accessdate=2007-10-10 }}</ref>

* ''']''' as ''']''': The police commissioner's daughter.<ref name="love" />
The next morning, the Spirit is awakened by his lover ], daughter of Commissioner Eustace Dolan. He is undeterred by his gunshot wounds. He notices a gold locket in Sussman's hand, which had been torn from Sand's neck. The locket contains pictures of a much-younger Colt and Sand, and had been his gift to her. Sand had become disenchanted with the city's corruption following the death of her father, a police officer, and left for fifteen years. In a secret lair, the Octopus and Silken Floss discover their chest contains the ], not the Blood of Heracles, as expected. Sand and Mahmoud visit an underworld figure who sold them the location of the treasure, and it is implied he gave the location to the Octopus.
* ''']''' as '''Commissioner Dolan'''.<ref name="love" />

* ''']''' as ''']'''.<ref name="love" />
Having fully regenerated, Commissioner Dolan calls The Spirit away to a case and relates Sand's history as one of the world's great jewel thieves. While arresting her, he reveals he knows she is looking for the Golden Fleece, and she shoves him through a window, which he survives. The Spirit receives a tip on the location of the Octopus's lair, but is captured while investigating. The Octopus reveals that his and Floss's experimentation led to the creation of an immortality serum. The Octopus first tested it on Colt's dead body. Colt was revived and earned the ire of ] for escaping her clutches. Eventually, the Octopus injected himself with the serum, but he needs the blood of the demigod ] to perfect the formula. The Spirit escapes by seducing assassin Plaster of Paris, who as a parting gift turns on The Octopus. When the Spirit mentions Sand's name, she stabs him out of spite.
* ''']''' as '''Young Denny Colt'''.<ref name="love" />

* ''']''' as '''Phobos''': One of the Octopus's henchmen.<ref name="love" />
After recovering, the Spirit stumbles to the city docks and collapses into the water where Lorelei: Angel of Death confronts him. He initially submits, but changes his mind after remembering the women he has known. As he swims to the surface, she vows to have him. At the projects, Sand, Floss, and their henchmen meet to exchange the Blood of Heracles for the Golden Fleece. Sand attempts to convince Floss to leave the Octopus before he kills her. Floss gains the upper hand and the Octopus asks Floss for the vase of blood. As the Spirit suddenly materializes, Floss drives off, unable to take a side.
* ''']''' as ''']''': A phantom siren.<ref name=squad>{{cite news | author = McNary, Dave | title = Pair joining 'Spirit' squad | publisher = ] | date = 2007-10-08 | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117973594.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 | accessdate=2007-10-08}}</ref>

* ''']''' as '''Plaster of Paris''': A murderous French nightclub dancer.<ref name=squad/>
The Octopus shoots a series of progressively larger guns at the Spirit, apparently killing him, but Dolan's ] team storms the area and opens fire. The Octopus is maimed. As he desperately tries to drink the Blood of Heracles, Sand shoots the vase. The Spirit rises, shown to be wearing a bullet-proof vest and blows up the Octopus with a grenade while Sand uses the Golden Fleece to protect them from the explosion.
* '''Meeghan Holaway''' as '''Holly'''.

* '''Seychelle Gabriel''' as '''Young Sand Saref'''.
The Spirit gives Sand her locket back. They kiss as Ellen looks on, feeling betrayed. The old flames bid each other goodbye and the Spirit convinces Dolan to release Sand in gratitude for helping to save the world. Nearby, Floss discovers one of the Octopus's severed fingers crawling towards her. She picks it up and departs with two of the clones. Meanwhile, the Spirit and Ellen make amends and embrace.

==Cast==
* ] as ]: An ambitious and formerly eager young cop killed on the job who under mysterious circumstances is reborn as a masked crimefighter with an eye for the ladies.<ref name="love"/> Determined to still keep his beloved city safe, he works with Central City's police force from the shadows.
** ] as Young Denny Colt<ref name="love"/>
* ] as ]: A former coroner turned psychotic supervillain who plans to bring all of Central City to its knees and will kill without discretion anyone unlucky enough to stand in his way.
* ] as Silken Floss: A ] secretary and perversely innocent accomplice to the Octopus, only slightly saner than he is.<ref>{{cite news |author=Kit, Borys |author2=Siegal, Tatiana |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3ided21673370e52a3d7c4c2e9e6e6674d |title=It's a triple feature for Johansson |publisher=] |date=2007-08-17 |access-date=2007-08-17}}</ref>
* ] as Sand Saref:<ref>{{cite news |author=Kit, Borys |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3ia314015383aee6d14c4065f49edf632c |title=Mendes moved to join 'Spirit' |publisher=] |date=2007-08-22 |access-date=2007-08-22}}</ref> The Spirit's childhood sweetheart who perennially seduces and marries wealthy men, has them killed, and uses their money to fund criminal exploits in a constant pursuit of a life of the highest luxury and influence over the criminal underworld. She is also a tragic ] with her policeman father accidentally murdered causing her to have a hatred of police and Central City and break up with aspiring cop Denny Colt. Her portrayal in the film combines her backstory from the original comics with characteristics of another prominent femme fatale in the series, P'Gell.
** ] as Young Sand Saref
* ] as ]: The police commissioner's daughter and a top surgeon who considers it her duty as the Spirit's current flame to keep him healthy and alive (much to her father's chagrin).<ref name="love"/>
* ] as Commissioner Eustace Dolan: The hard-boiled and commanding police commissioner of Central City and the Spirit's father figure.<ref name="love"/>
* ] as Morgenstern: A spunky rookie officer and skilled sharpshooter who idolizes the Spirit and claims that Sand Saref suffers from ].<ref name="love"/>
* ] as Phobos, Logos, Pathos, Ethos, Bulbos, Huevos and Rancheros, Mangos, Adios and Amigos, etc.: The Octopus's thuggish and moronic, yet highly resilient cloned henchmen.<ref name="love"/>
* ] as ]: A phantasmic siren and the Angel of Death waiting to take the Spirit, who must continually force himself to resist her.<ref name=squad>{{cite news |last1=McNary |first1=Dave |title=Pair joining 'Spirit' squad |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/pair-joining-spirit-squad-1117973594/ |access-date=May 6, 2019 |work=] |date=October 8, 2007 |language=en}}</ref>
* ] as Plaster of Paris: A sexy French belly dancer and assassin in the employ of the Octopus, she wields tri-pronged throwing knives and a sword.<ref name=squad/>
* ] as Donenfeld: An underworld figure and fence of ancient artifacts that sold the map to the Blood of Heracles to Sand.
* Arthur the Cat as Himself: A cat that is the Spirit's animal companion.

] and ] president ] also have cameo roles in the film where Miller portrays Officer Liebowitz while Levitz portrays Onlooker #3.<ref name=fji>{{cite web |title=Spirit guide: Frank Miller adapts Will Eisner's cult comic |url=http://www.filmjournal.com/node/1965 |website=] |access-date=May 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206234914/http://www.filmjournal.com/node/1965 |archive-date=December 6, 2018 |date=December 22, 2008}}</ref>


==Production== ==Production==
===Development===
In the early 1990s, producer ] obtained the rights to ]'s 1940s ]-supplement ] series '']'' for a ] ]. The producer promised Eisner that he would not permit anyone who "didn't get it" to work on the project. Two ideas pitched to Uslan were to put the Spirit in a costume and to have the Spirit really be a resurrected dead man that possessed superpowers.<ref name="xtra">{{cite news | author=Jordan, Justin | url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=9802 | title=NYCC, XTRA: "Will Eisner's The Spirit" Panel | publisher=] | date=2007-02-25 | accessdate=2007-02-26 }}</ref> Screenwriter ], a comic book fan, expressed interest in writing the script.<ref>{{cite news | author = ] | url = http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=2196 | title = Countdown To ''Hulk'': John Turman talks about ''Hulk'' and other heroes | publisher = ] | date = 2003-06-01 | accessdate = 2008-06-13}}</ref>
In the 1970s, director ] obtained the film rights to '']'' and contacted ] to write a script for him. Eisner declined but recommended ], who wrote a two-hour ] script for the filmmaker. Friedkin and Ellison afterward had an unrelated argument, and the project was abandoned.<ref>{{cite web|author=Kiel Phegley |url=http://www.cbr.com/ellison-gets-in-the-spirit/ |title=Ellison Gets In "The Spirit" |publisher=Comic Book Resources |date=2010-05-21 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref> During the 1980s, ], ], and producer ] attempted to get an animated adaptation off the ground, though studio executives praised the screenplay, they thought the film would be unmarketable, and this version was scrapped.<ref>{{cite web|author=Steven Paul Leiva |url=http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2008/12/12/the-spirit-that/ |title='The Spirit' movie that could have been |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=2008-12-12 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Fiamma|first1=Andrea|title=Il trailer del film di Spirit mai realizzato da Brad Bird|url=http://www.fumettologica.it/2015/04/spirit-brad-bird-trailer/|website=]|access-date=2016-12-30|language=it-IT|date=2015-04-15}}</ref>


In the early 1990s, producer ] and executive producers ] and Steven Maier subsequently obtained the rights for a live-action ]. The producer promised Eisner that he would not permit anyone who "didn't get it" to work on the project. Two ideas pitched to Uslan were to put the Spirit in a costume and to have the Spirit be a resurrected dead man who possessed supernatural powers.<ref name="xtra">{{cite web|last1=Jordan|first1=Justin|title=NYCC, Xtra: "Will Eisner's The Spirit" Panel|url=http://www.cbr.com/nycc-xtra-will-eisners-the-spirit-panel/|website=]|access-date=22 September 2017|date=25 February 2007}}</ref> Screenwriter John Turman, a comic book fan, expressed interest in writing the script.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Worley|first1=Rob|title=Countdown To Hulk: John Turman talks about 'Hulk' and other heroes|url=http://www.cbr.com/countdown-to-hulk-john-turman-talks-about-hulk-and-other-heroes/|website=Comic Book Resources|access-date=10 February 2017|date=1 June 2003}}</ref>
In July 2004, financier ] acquired the rights to the film. OddLot's producers Gigi Pritzker and Deborah Del Pete began a collaboration with Uslan, working at Batfilm Productions, to adapt the story. Eisner, who was protective of the rights to his creations, said that he believed in the producers to faithfully adapt ''The Spirit''.<ref>{{cite news | author=Michael, Fleming | url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117908165.html?categoryid=1238&cs=1 | title=Odd Lot, Batfilm join forces for 'Spirit' | publisher=] | date=2004-07-22 | accessdate=2007-02-13 }}</ref> In April 2005, ] ] ] was hired to adapt ''The Spirit'' for the big screen,<ref>{{cite news | author=Mohr, Ian | url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117920635.html?categoryid=1350&cs=1 | title=Loeb will get into 'The Spirit' | publisher=] | date=2005-04-05 | accessdate=2007-02-13 }}</ref> but the writer eventually left the project. Later in April, Uslan approached ] at Will Eisner's memorial service in New York City several weeks after Miller's '']'' was released in theaters, interested in initiating the adaptation technique with Miller's film for ''The Spirit''.<ref name="panel" /> Miller had initially hesitated, doubting his skill in adapting ''The Spirit'', but ultimately embraced his first solo project as writer-director.<ref name="xtra" /> As Miller described his decision-making, "The only thought in my mind was, 'It's too big — I can't possibly do it.' And I refused. And about three minutes later as I was at the doorway, I turned around and said, 'Nobody else can touch this,' and I agreed to the job on the spot".<ref name=fji>, ], December 22, 2008</ref>


In July 2004, financier ] acquired the rights to the film. OddLot's producers Gigi Pritzker and Deborah Del Prete began a collaboration with Uslan, Melniker, and Maier working at Batfilm Productions, to adapt the story. Eisner, who was protective of the rights to his creations, said that he believed in the producers to faithfully adapt ''The Spirit''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Michael Fleming |url=https://variety.com/2004/film/markets-festivals/odd-lot-batfilm-join-forces-for-spirit-1117908165/ |title=Odd Lot, Batfilm join forces for 'Spirit' |publisher=Variety |date=2004-07-22 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref> In April 2005, comic-book writer ] was hired to adapt ''The Spirit'' for the big screen,<ref>{{cite web|author=Ian Mohr |url=https://variety.com/2005/film/markets-festivals/loeb-will-get-into-the-spirit-1117920635/ |title=Loeb will get into 'The Spirit' |publisher=Variety |date=2005-04-05 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref> but the writer eventually left the project. Later in April, Uslan approached ] at Will Eisner's memorial service in New York City several weeks after Miller's '']'' was released in theaters, interested in initiating the adaptation technique with Miller's film for ''The Spirit''.<ref name="panel"/> Miller had initially hesitated, doubting his skill in adapting ''The Spirit'', but ultimately embraced his first solo project as writer-director.<ref name="xtra"/> Miller described his decision-making: {{blockquote|The only thought in my mind was, "It's too big—I can't possibly do it." And I refused. And about three minutes later as I was at the doorway, I turned around and said, "Nobody else can touch this," and I agreed to the job on the spot.<ref name="filmjournal1">{{cite web|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/esearch/e3i8a7ba6d185c56a44dde220cb5168caff |title=Spirit guide: Frank Miller adapts Will Eisner's cult comic |publisher=Film Journal International |date=2008-12-22 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref>}}
In July 2006, the film ] reported Miller would write and direct the film adaptation for ''The Spirit'' ; Miller and the producers publicly announced this at the 2006 ] in ].<ref name="odd job" /> Miller said that he was putting together a ] that included large parts of ''The Spirit'' strip panels. As Miller described the project, "I intend to be extremely faithful to the heart and soul of the material, but it won't be nostalgic. It will be much scarier than people expect".<ref name="odd job">{{cite news | author=McClintock, Pamela | coauthors=Ben Fritz | url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117947038.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 | title=Odd job for Miller | publisher=] | date=2006-07-18 | accessdate=2007-02-13 }}</ref> Miller plans to film ''The Spirit'' using the same digital background technology that was used for ''Sin City'' and '']''.<ref name="exclusive">{{cite news | author=Moro, Eric | url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/745/745055p1.html | title=Exclusive: Frank Miller Talks ''The Spirit'' | publisher=] | date=2006-11-09 | accessdate=2007-02-13 }}</ref> The film would also copy specific shots from the comic, similar to ''Sin City''.<ref name="nycc">{{cite news | author=Carle, Chris | url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/767/767757p1.html | title=NYCC 07: The Spirit | publisher=] | date=2007-02-24 | accessdate=2007-02-25 }}</ref>


In July 2006, the film ] reported Miller would write and direct the film adaptation for ''The Spirit''&thinsp;; Miller and the producers publicly announced this at the 2006 ] in ].<ref name="odd job"/> Miller said that he was putting together a ] that included large parts of ''The Spirit'' strip panels. As Miller described the project, "I intend to be extremely faithful to the heart and soul of the material, but it won't be nostalgic. It will be much scarier than people expect".<ref name="odd job">{{cite web|last1=McClintock |first1=Pamela |last2=Fritz |first2=Ben |url=https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/odd-job-for-miller-1200339562/ |title=Odd job for Miller |publisher=Variety |date=2006-07-18 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref> Miller filmed ''The Spirit'' using the same digital background technology that was used for ''Sin City'' and '']''.<ref name="exclusive">{{cite web|last=Moro |first=Eric |url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2006/11/09/exclusive-frank-miller-talks-the-spirit |title=Exclusive: Frank Miller Talks The Spirit - IGN |publisher=IGN |date=2006-11-09 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref> The film would also copy specific shots from the comic, similar to ''Sin City''.<ref name="nycc">{{cite web|last=Carle |first=Chris |url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2007/02/25/nycc-07-the-spirit |title=NYCC 07: The Spirit - IGN |publisher=IGN |date=2007-02-24 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref>
In February 2007, Miller completed the first draft of the screenplay, and began work on a second draft.<ref name="popwatch">{{cite news | author=Gopalan, Nisha | url=http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2007/02/its_been_the_ca.html | title=With NY Comic Con kicking off, it's (Frank) Miller time | publisher=] | date=2007-02-23 | accessdate=2007-02-24 }}</ref> Principal photography was initially slated to begin in late spring 2007.<ref name="odd job" /> Miller also plans to begin filming '']'' in late spring,<ref>{{cite news | author=Spelling,Ian | url=http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=40259 | title=Miller: ''Sin 2'' Is Ready To Go | publisher=] | date=2007-02-23 | accessdate=2007-02-26 }}</ref> but Uslan indicated that filming for ''The Spirit'' will begin before Miller starts '']''.<ref name="panel" /> Following the casting of ] as the ] in August 2007, filming was re-slated for the following October.<ref name="macht">{{cite news | author=Fleming, Michael | coauthors =Diane Garrett | url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117969608.html?categoryid=13 | title=Gabriel Macht to star in ‘Spirit’: Sony picks up rights to comicbook adaptation | publisher=] | date=2007-08-02 | accessdate= 2007-08-03 }}</ref> It took place in Albuquerque Studios in ].<ref name="love">{{cite news | author=Kit, Borys | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ib429a97580f60ae2166395f1268d6bf8 | title=Miller's 'Spirit' finds love with Paulson | publisher=] | date=2007-09-25 | accessdate=2007-09-25 }}</ref>


In February 2007, Miller completed the first draft of the screenplay and began work on a second draft.<ref name="popwatch">{{cite news |author=Gopalan, Nisha |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2007/02/its_been_the_ca.html |title=With NY Comic Con kicking off, it's (Frank) Miller time |publisher=] |date=2007-02-23 |access-date=2007-02-24}}</ref> Principal photography was initially slated to begin in late spring 2007.<ref name="odd job"/> Miller also planned to begin filming '']'' in spring 2009,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Spelling|first1=Ian|title=Miller: Sin 2 Is Ready To Go|url=http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=40259|website=SCI FI Wire|publisher=Wayback Machine|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225084539/http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=40259|archive-date=25 February 2007|date=23 February 2007}}</ref> and Uslan indicated that filming for ''The Spirit'' would begin before Miller started ''Sin City 2''.<ref name="panel"/> Following the casting of ] as the Spirit in August 2007, filming was re-slated for the following October.<ref name="macht">{{cite web|last1=Fleming |first1=Michael |last2=Garrett |first2=Diane |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/gabriel-macht-to-star-in-spirit-1117969608/ |title=Gabriel Macht to star in 'Spirit' |publisher=Variety |date=2007-08-02 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref>
''The Spirit'' was shot using ]'s ] digital camera.<ref name="bb">{{cite news | author= | url=http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/New_Contracts_24/The_Orphanage_Brings_VFX_And_DI_Processes_Together_With_Film_Master_15639.shtml | title=The Orphanage Brings VFX And DI Processes Together With Film Master| publisher=broadcastbuyer.tv | date=2008-04-09 | accessdate=2008-04-10 }}</ref>


===Casting===
The film contains a number of references to Eisner collaborators and other comics personae. These include "Feiffer's Industrial Salt", alluding to ''Spirit'' ] ]; "Iger Avenue", named for ] partner ]; "Ditko's Speedy Delivery", named for ], a comic book artist and writer ; and Donenfeld and Liebowitz, characters played by ] and Frank Miller, respectively, and named for two of ]' founders, ] and ].<ref></ref>
Miller held auditions for the title role, and Macht was cast in August 2007.<ref name="macht"/> Mendes told Miller that she wanted to work with him on ''The Spirit'' before she had even seen a script for the film.<ref name="carroll">{{cite web|author=Larry Carroll |url=http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2007/10/10/eva-mendes-has-the-spirit/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011230219/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2007/10/10/eva-mendes-has-the-spirit/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |title=Eva Mendes Has 'The Spirit' |publisher=MTV |date=2007-10-10 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref>

Jackson was Miller's first choice for the role of the supervillain and was cast in May 2007.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Siegel|first1=Tatiana|last2=Kit|first2=Borys|title=Miller sees Jackson as evil 'Spirit'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ie62938636be2f71fecac797ed78e3302|website=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Wayback Machine|access-date=19 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070520052817/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ie62938636be2f71fecac797ed78e3302|archive-date=20 May 2007|date=18 May 2007}}</ref> Jackson, Miller, and the costume designer developed elaborate costumes for the Octopus to wear; they are different for each of his scenes. They include a ] robe complete with a wig, a full ] '']'' uniform, a ] duster-influenced outfit with an out-of-proportion ], and a costume consisting of a ] and a ] influenced by 1970s ] ]s. When asked about the change from the Octopus being recognized in the comics by distinctive gloves, Jackson said, "It's just an opportunity to be larger than life to take the Octopus's theme of dressing the way he feels every day, or having a theme to his day to day life and making some sense with it. And hopefully, the audience will take the ride with us."<ref>{{cite web|author=Shawn Adler |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2592607/samuel-l-jackson-takes-us-through-his-spirit-wardrobe/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116213242/http://www.mtv.com/news/2592607/samuel-l-jackson-takes-us-through-his-spirit-wardrobe/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 16, 2016 |title=Samuel L. Jackson Takes Us Through His 'Spirit' Wardrobe |publisher=MTV |date=2008-07-26 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref>

===Filming===
Filming began in October 2007, and took place at ] in ].<ref name="love">{{cite web|title=Miller's 'Spirit' finds love with Paulson|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ib429a97580f60ae2166395f1268d6bf8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011201532/http://hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ib429a97580f60ae2166395f1268d6bf8|url-status=dead|website=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Wayback Machine|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-date=11 October 2007|date=25 September 2007}}</ref> ''The Spirit'' was mainly filmed with ]'s ] digital camera. ] was filmed with ]'s ] camera.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Dead Reckoning|last=Witmer|first=Jon D.|magazine=]|publisher=]|location=], U.S.|date=February 2009|volume=90|issue=2|page=44|issn=0002-7928}}</ref> The film's release was originally scheduled for January 16, 2009, but on May 6, 2008, it was announced that the release date would be moved up to December 25, 2008.<ref name="panel">{{cite web|author=Pamela McClintock |url=https://variety.com/2008/film/markets-festivals/christmas-gets-frank-miller-s-spirit-1117985199/ |title=Christmas gets Frank Miller's 'Spirit' |publisher=Variety |date=2008-05-06 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref>

The film contains a number of references to Eisner collaborators and other comic book luminaries. These include "Feiffer Industrial Salt", alluding to ''The Spirit'' ] ]; "Iger Avenue", named for ] partner ]; "Ditko's Speedy Delivery", named for ], a comic book artist and writer; and the characters Donenfeld and Liebowitz, played by ] and Frank Miller, respectively, who are named for two of ]' founders, ] and ].<ref name="filmjournal1"/>

===Music===
{{Infobox album
| name = The Spirit
| type = film
| artist = ]
| cover =
| caption =
| alt =
| released = December 23, 2008
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = ]
| length =
| label = Silva Screen
| producer =
| prev_title = ]
| prev_year =
| next_title = ]
| next_year =
}}
Producer Deborah Del Prete said that Miller wanted "elements of the '40s jazz sound married with iconic heroic music and even a touch of the ]."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://enewsi.com/news.php?catid=190&itemid=14188 |title=The Spirit Production Notes & Images |publisher=ENewsi.com |access-date=2017-02-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211080000/http://enewsi.com/news.php?catid=190&itemid=14188 |archive-date=2017-02-11 }}</ref> ''The Spirit''{{'}}s mysterious ]-like soundtrack was composed and conducted by ].

{{Blockquote|It's Sand Saref (Eva Mendes) who has the most elaborate of all the themes because it's based on her relationship with Denny Colt when they were in their teens, well before he became the Spirit. Saref's music ultimately becomes the love theme of the movie. It's very romantic, almost old fashioned, especially when they finally kiss. Frank Miller and I talked about that scene quite a bit. He really wanted me to 'go for it'—to make their music as romantic as possible. In the end, the Spirit is like a modern day ], without the psychological ambivalence towards women. He truly loves every woman he meets. It's part of his makeup. He has a certain naiveté in this respect.|David Newman<ref>{{cite web|last1=Schweiger|first1=Daniel|title=E-Notes: COMPOSER DAVID NEWMAN IS VISITED BY THE GHOST OF 'THE SPIRIT' PAST|url=http://ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=3169|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211235022/http://ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=3169|url-status=dead|website=iFMagazine|publisher=Wayback Machine|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-date=11 February 2010|date=25 December 2008}}</ref>}}

There is an eerie, wordless soprano for Lorelei (Jaime King) that is performed by Newman's 19-year-old daughter Diana, a vocal major at the University of Southern California.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jon Burlingame |url=https://variety.com/2008/film/awards/sound-bites-david-newman-1117997546/ |title=Sound bites: David Newman |publisher=Variety |date=2008-12-17 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref>

] sings a cover of the classic "]" in the closing credits of ''The Spirit''. The song dates to 1930, written by ], with lyrics written by ]. The song was originally sung and popularized by ] in the film '']'' (1930) and has been covered by ] (1940), ] (1961), and ] (1962).

The trailers for the film feature music from the '']'' album by ].{{Citation needed|date=March 2017}}{{relevance inline|date=September 2017}}<!--should this be under Marketing?-->

Soundtrack track list:
# "Spirit / Main Title"
# "Lorelei 'Angel of Death{{'"}}
# "Enter Silken Floss – Octopus Kicks"
# "Just a Fight"
# "You're An Accident"
# "Spirit Reflects"
# "Egg on My Face"
# "Sand / Octopus Lair"
# "I Am Sorely Disappointed"
# "Spirit Finds Sand / Falling / Hung Up"
# "Plaster of Paris Dance"
# "Spirit and Plaster Run"
# "Lorelei 'You Are Mine' / Spirit Wants"
# "Stand Off / Spirit Just Keeps Coming"
# "Shootout"
# "Octopus Buys It"
# "Spirit Kisses Sand"
# "It's You I Love / She Is My City"


==Marketing== ==Marketing==
{{More citations needed section|date=March 2017}}
], ], Deborah Del Prete, ], and ] at the 2008 ] convention promoting the film]]
], ], ], ], and ] at the 2008 ] promoting the film]]
At the ] on February 24, 2007, director-screenwriter ] and producer ] was scheduled to present a panel for ''The Spirit'',<ref>{{cite news | author= | url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=9495 | title=NYCC Announces More Special Guests; Important Deadlines | publisher=] | date=2007-01-29 | accessdate=2007-02-13 }}</ref> though Miller was unable to attend due to recuperation from hip and leg injuries.<ref name="popwatch" /> Instead, Uslan, fellow producer F.J. DeSanto, and former ''The Spirit'' publisher ] presented a panel at which they described the history of the film and the film's progress.<ref name="panel" />
At the ] on February 24, 2007, director-screenwriter ] and producer ] were scheduled to present a panel for ''The Spirit'',<ref>{{cite web|title=NYCC ANNOUNCES MORE SPECIAL GUESTS; IMPORTANT DEADLINES|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=9495|website=Comic Book Resources|publisher=Wayback Machine|access-date=13 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207104609/http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=9495|archive-date=7 February 2007|date=29 January 2007}}</ref> though Miller was unable to attend due to recuperation from hip and leg injuries.<ref name="popwatch"/> Instead, Uslan, fellow producer F.J. DeSanto, and former ''The Spirit'' publisher ] presented a panel at which they described the history of the film and the film's progress.<ref name="panel"/>


] produced a making-of book, ''The Spirit: The Movie Visual Companion'' by Mark Cotta Vaz, featuring interviews with the cast and crew, photos, ]s and production art. It was released November 25, 2008. ] produced a making-of book, ''The Spirit: The Movie Visual Companion'' by ], featuring interviews with the cast and crew, photos, ]s, and production art. It was released November 25, 2008.{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}} A second book, ''Frank Miller: The Spirit Storyboards'', was announced for release on May 6, 2009,{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}} but was never released.


The film was rated ] by the ] for "intense sequences of stylized violence and action, some sexual content, and brief nudity".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/latest_mpaa_ratings_119 | title=Latest MPAA Ratings: #119 | date=2008-08-27 | accessdate=2008-08-29 }}</ref> The film was rated ] by the ] for "intense sequences of stylized violence and action, some sexual content, and brief nudity".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/latest_mpaa_ratings_119 |title=Latest MPAA Ratings: #119 |date=2008-08-27 |access-date=2008-08-29 |archive-date=2008-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927033622/http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/latest_mpaa_ratings_119 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


The film was released ] ]. The film was released on ] 2008.{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}}


==Reception== ==Reception==
The film has received generally mixed reviews from critics. As of December 26, 2008, it has a 16% positive rating from 49 reviews on the movie-review aggregate site ], the consensus being, "Though its visuals are unique, ''The Spirit''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s plot is almost incomprehensible, the dialogue is ludicrously mannered, and the characters are unmemorable".<ref></ref> ] of the '']'' said, "There is not a trace of human emotion in it. To call the characters cardboard is to insult a useful packing material".<ref>, '']'', December 23, 2008</ref> ] of '']'', and a one-time comic book writer, found that, "Gorgeous ] and design can't mask the hollow core and bizarre ugliness of this mishandled comics adaptation," and noted that while Eisner's own Spirit was "an average-Joe in a rumpled suit — a vulnerable but insouciant Everyman in humanist fables", Miller's Spirit "now has a superpower — a ]. Eisner's own spirit must be spinning in its grave".<ref>, '']'', December 24, 2008</ref> ] of '']'', noting that he "stand outside the circle of comic-book obsessives", found the movie a "ludicrously knowing and mannered noir pastiche, full of burnt-end romance and 'style, but robotic at its core".<ref>, '']'', December 23, 2008</ref> ] in '']'' summed up, "To ask why anything happens in Frank Miller's sludgy, hyper-stylized adaptation of a fabled comic book series by Will Eisner may be an exercise in futility. The only halfway interesting question is why the thing exists at all".<ref>, '']'', December 25, 2008</ref> The film ranked number nine its opening weekend, earning $6.5 million for the three-day period and $10.4 million since its Thursday Christmas release.<ref>Cieply, Michael, , '']'', December 28, 2008</ref>


==Footnotes== ===Box office===
Released in 2,509 theaters,<ref name=bom>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=spirit09.htm |title=The Spirit (2008) |publisher=Box Office Mojo |date=2008-01-22 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref> ''The Spirit'' grossed $10.3 million in its opening four days, placing 9th in the box-office ranking for the weekend.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gnerre|first1=Andrew|title=Marley & Me Enjoys a Record-Breaking Christmas|url=http://www.moviemaker.com/blog/item/marley_me_enjoys_a_record_breaking_christmas_20081229/|website=MovieMaker Magazine|publisher=Wayback Machine|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230134137/http://www.moviemaker.com/blog/item/marley_me_enjoys_a_record_breaking_christmas_20081229/|archive-date=30 December 2008|date=29 December 2008}}</ref> The film grossed $19.8 million in the US and $18.6 million internationally for a worldwide total of $38.4 million.<ref name="bom"/> ''Variety'' estimated that the film's poor performance at the box office cost Odd Lot Entertainment tens of millions of dollars in losses, but Odd Lot Entertainment's CEO Gigi Pritzker denied rumors that Miller's other projects had been cancelled.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fleming|first1=Michael|title=Odd Lot shakeup|url=https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=cannes2007&jump=story&articleid=VR1118003505&cs=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604224825/http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=cannes2007&jump=story&articleid=VR1118003505&cs=1|url-status=dead|website=Variety|publisher=Wayback Machine|access-date=10 February 2017|archive-date=4 June 2009|date=12 May 2009}}</ref>
{{reflist | 2}}


===Critical reception===
==References==
On the review aggregator ] the film holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on 114 reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The website's critical consensus reads, "Though its visuals are unique, ''The Spirit's'' plot is almost incomprehensible, the dialogue is ludicrously mannered, and the characters are unmemorable."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_spirit|title=The Spirit (2008)|website=]|publisher=]|access-date={{RT data|access date|df=iso}}}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> ] gave it an aggregate score of 30 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating "generally negative reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/spirit2008 |title=The Spirit reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=2011-01-31 |archive-date=2010-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624113438/http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/spirit2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Audiences polled by ] gave the film an average grade of "C−" on an A+ to F scale.<ref name="cinemascore">{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fantastic-four-gets-worst-cinemascore-814137 |title='Fantastic Four' Gets Worst CinemaScore Ever for Studio Superhero Movie |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=August 9, 2015 |website=] |access-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref>
*
*
*
==External links==
* {{imdb title|id=0831887|title=The Spirit}}
* {{amg title|id=1:355798|title=The Spirit}}
* {{metacritic film|id=spirit2008|title=The Spirit}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|id=the_spirit|title=The Spirit}}
* {{mojo title|id=spirit09|title=The Spirit}}


] of the '']'' gave the film one out of four stars and said, "There is not a trace of human emotion in it. To call the characters cardboard is to insult a useful packing material".<ref>{{cite web|last=Sobczynski |first=Peter |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081223/REVIEWS/812239987 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224140828/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081223/REVIEWS/812239987 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 24, 2008 |title=The Spirit Movie Review & Film Summary (2008) |publisher=Roger Ebert |date=2008-12-23 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref>


In a positive review, Ricky Bentley of the '']'' said, "Macht manages to meld macho with melodrama to make the Spirit come to life."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bentley |first1=Rick |title=The Spirit (PG-13) *** |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/miami-com/things-to-do/article225665470.html |access-date=May 6, 2019 |work=] |date=December 24, 2008 |language=en}}</ref>

] of '']'', a one-time comic-book writer, found that "gorgeous ] and design can't mask the hollow core and bizarre ugliness of this mishandled comics adaptation", and noted that while Eisner's own Spirit was "an average-Joe in a rumpled suit—a vulnerable but insouciant ] in humanist fables", Miller's Spirit "now has a superpower—a healing factor. Eisner's own spirit must be spinning in its grave".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lovece|first1=Frank|title=The Spirit|url=http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/exploreli/ny-ete5975235dec24a%2C0%2C6764122.story|website=Newsday|publisher=Wayback Machine|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208014344/http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/exploreli/ny-ete5975235dec24a%2C0%2C6764122.story|archive-date=8 February 2009|date=24 December 2008}}</ref>

Chris Barsanti of '']'' stated, "It's a frankly gorgeous effect, liberated by the fact that Miller adapted freely from Eisner's panels—the two were longtime friends—to create an organic story instead of slavishly following the master's work", and calling it "one of the year's most refreshingly fun films."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Barsanti|first1=Chris|title=The Spirit Movie Review, DVD Release|url=http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/reviews/The-Spirit|website=Filmcritic.com|publisher=Wayback Machine|access-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102065832/http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/reviews/The-Spirit|archive-date=2 January 2009}}</ref>

] of '']'', found the movie a "ludicrously knowing and mannered noir pastiche, full of burnt-end romance and 'style', but robotic at its core".<ref>{{cite web|author=Owen Gleiberman |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/12/24/spirit-7/ |title=The Spirit – |publisher=Entertainment Weekly |date=2008-12-24 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref>

Ken Hanke of '']'' observed, "The film may not move smoothly—Miller's too fond of 'just damn weird' digressions for that—but it does move and isn't hard to follow. Its screwiness is deliberate and it's all a matter of taste."<ref>{{cite web|author=Ken Hanke |url=http://www.mountainx.com/movies/review/spirit |title=The Spirit |publisher=Mountain Xpress |date=2008-12-31 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref>

] in '']'' summed up, "To ask why anything happens in Frank Miller's sludgy, hyper-stylized adaptation of a fabled comic book series by Will Eisner may be an exercise in futility. The only halfway interesting question is why the thing exists at all."<ref>{{cite web|author=A. O. Scott |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2008/12/25/movies/25spir.html?ref=movies |title=Gabriel Macht, Directed by Frank Miller, Is Ducking Villains and Vixens |work=The New York Times |date=2008-12-24 |access-date=2017-02-10}}</ref>

In 2010, '']'' magazine listed the film at {{Abbr|No.|number}} 32 on their "Top 50 Worst Movies of All Time" list.<ref>{{cite web|title=The 50 Worst Movies Ever|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/50-worst-movies-ever/|website=Empire|access-date=3 June 2017|language=en|date=4 February 2010}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
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* {{IMDb title|0831887|The Spirit}}
* {{Mojo title|spirit09|The Spirit}}
* {{Metacritic film|title=The Spirit}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|the_spirit|The Spirit}}


{{Frank Miller}}
{{DC Comics films}} {{DC Comics films}}
{{The Spirit}}
{{Frank Miller}}
{{Authority control}}


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Latest revision as of 12:00, 22 December 2024

2008 American film directed by Frank Miller For the earlier 1987 TV movie pilot, see The Spirit (1987 film).
The Spirit
Theatrical release poster
Directed byFrank Miller
Screenplay byFrank Miller
Based onThe Spirit
by Will Eisner
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyBill Pope
Edited byGregory Nussbaum
Music byDavid Newman
Production
company
DarkLot Entertainment DC Entertainment
Distributed byLionsgate
Release date
  • December 25, 2008 (2008-12-25)
Running time103 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$60 million
Box office$39 million

The Spirit is a 2008 American neo-noir superhero film written and directed by Frank Miller and starring Gabriel Macht, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Dan Lauria, Paz Vega, Scarlett Johansson, and Samuel L. Jackson. Based on the newspaper comic strip and DC Comics character The Spirit, by Will Eisner, and produced by OddLot and Lionsgate Films, it tells the story of a ghost-like superhero who defends Central City from the Octopus who competes with the superhero's childhood friend Sand Saref for the Blood of Heracles in order to become immortal.

The film was released theatrically in the United States on December 25, 2008, to negative reviews and was a commercial failure. It was later released on DVD and Blu-ray on April 14, 2009.

Plot

Denny Colt, also known as "the Spirit", learns about a major case from Detective Sussman involving his nemesis "the Octopus". The Spirit dons his costume and travels across rooftops, saving a woman before connecting with Officer Liebowitz. At the swampland, femme fatale Sand Saref rises from the water to shoot Sussman. The Spirit and Liebowitz find the wounded Sussman. Sand and her husband Mahmoud had earlier fled with chests they recovered from the water. Shot at, Sand escaped, leaving one chest behind which was retrieved by Octopus. The Octopus beheads Liebowitz and his cloned henchmen attack the Spirit. His accomplice Silken Floss flees with the chest as the two arch-nemeses fight.

The next morning, the Spirit is awakened by his lover Dr. Ellen Dolan, daughter of Commissioner Eustace Dolan. He is undeterred by his gunshot wounds. He notices a gold locket in Sussman's hand, which had been torn from Sand's neck. The locket contains pictures of a much-younger Colt and Sand, and had been his gift to her. Sand had become disenchanted with the city's corruption following the death of her father, a police officer, and left for fifteen years. In a secret lair, the Octopus and Silken Floss discover their chest contains the Golden Fleece, not the Blood of Heracles, as expected. Sand and Mahmoud visit an underworld figure who sold them the location of the treasure, and it is implied he gave the location to the Octopus.

Having fully regenerated, Commissioner Dolan calls The Spirit away to a case and relates Sand's history as one of the world's great jewel thieves. While arresting her, he reveals he knows she is looking for the Golden Fleece, and she shoves him through a window, which he survives. The Spirit receives a tip on the location of the Octopus's lair, but is captured while investigating. The Octopus reveals that his and Floss's experimentation led to the creation of an immortality serum. The Octopus first tested it on Colt's dead body. Colt was revived and earned the ire of Death for escaping her clutches. Eventually, the Octopus injected himself with the serum, but he needs the blood of the demigod Heracles to perfect the formula. The Spirit escapes by seducing assassin Plaster of Paris, who as a parting gift turns on The Octopus. When the Spirit mentions Sand's name, she stabs him out of spite.

After recovering, the Spirit stumbles to the city docks and collapses into the water where Lorelei: Angel of Death confronts him. He initially submits, but changes his mind after remembering the women he has known. As he swims to the surface, she vows to have him. At the projects, Sand, Floss, and their henchmen meet to exchange the Blood of Heracles for the Golden Fleece. Sand attempts to convince Floss to leave the Octopus before he kills her. Floss gains the upper hand and the Octopus asks Floss for the vase of blood. As the Spirit suddenly materializes, Floss drives off, unable to take a side.

The Octopus shoots a series of progressively larger guns at the Spirit, apparently killing him, but Dolan's SWAT team storms the area and opens fire. The Octopus is maimed. As he desperately tries to drink the Blood of Heracles, Sand shoots the vase. The Spirit rises, shown to be wearing a bullet-proof vest and blows up the Octopus with a grenade while Sand uses the Golden Fleece to protect them from the explosion.

The Spirit gives Sand her locket back. They kiss as Ellen looks on, feeling betrayed. The old flames bid each other goodbye and the Spirit convinces Dolan to release Sand in gratitude for helping to save the world. Nearby, Floss discovers one of the Octopus's severed fingers crawling towards her. She picks it up and departs with two of the clones. Meanwhile, the Spirit and Ellen make amends and embrace.

Cast

  • Gabriel Macht as Denny Colt / The Spirit: An ambitious and formerly eager young cop killed on the job who under mysterious circumstances is reborn as a masked crimefighter with an eye for the ladies. Determined to still keep his beloved city safe, he works with Central City's police force from the shadows.
  • Samuel L. Jackson as The Octopus: A former coroner turned psychotic supervillain who plans to bring all of Central City to its knees and will kill without discretion anyone unlucky enough to stand in his way.
  • Scarlett Johansson as Silken Floss: A femme fatale secretary and perversely innocent accomplice to the Octopus, only slightly saner than he is.
  • Eva Mendes as Sand Saref: The Spirit's childhood sweetheart who perennially seduces and marries wealthy men, has them killed, and uses their money to fund criminal exploits in a constant pursuit of a life of the highest luxury and influence over the criminal underworld. She is also a tragic anti-heroine with her policeman father accidentally murdered causing her to have a hatred of police and Central City and break up with aspiring cop Denny Colt. Her portrayal in the film combines her backstory from the original comics with characteristics of another prominent femme fatale in the series, P'Gell.
  • Sarah Paulson as Dr. Ellen Dolan: The police commissioner's daughter and a top surgeon who considers it her duty as the Spirit's current flame to keep him healthy and alive (much to her father's chagrin).
  • Dan Lauria as Commissioner Eustace Dolan: The hard-boiled and commanding police commissioner of Central City and the Spirit's father figure.
  • Stana Katic as Morgenstern: A spunky rookie officer and skilled sharpshooter who idolizes the Spirit and claims that Sand Saref suffers from Electra complex.
  • Louis Lombardi as Phobos, Logos, Pathos, Ethos, Bulbos, Huevos and Rancheros, Mangos, Adios and Amigos, etc.: The Octopus's thuggish and moronic, yet highly resilient cloned henchmen.
  • Jaime King as Lorelei Rox: A phantasmic siren and the Angel of Death waiting to take the Spirit, who must continually force himself to resist her.
  • Paz Vega as Plaster of Paris: A sexy French belly dancer and assassin in the employ of the Octopus, she wields tri-pronged throwing knives and a sword.
  • Richard Portnow as Donenfeld: An underworld figure and fence of ancient artifacts that sold the map to the Blood of Heracles to Sand.
  • Arthur the Cat as Himself: A cat that is the Spirit's animal companion.

Frank Miller and DC Comics president Paul Levitz also have cameo roles in the film where Miller portrays Officer Liebowitz while Levitz portrays Onlooker #3.

Production

Development

In the 1970s, director William Friedkin obtained the film rights to The Spirit and contacted Will Eisner to write a script for him. Eisner declined but recommended Harlan Ellison, who wrote a two-hour live-action script for the filmmaker. Friedkin and Ellison afterward had an unrelated argument, and the project was abandoned. During the 1980s, Brad Bird, Jerry Rees, and producer Gary Kurtz attempted to get an animated adaptation off the ground, though studio executives praised the screenplay, they thought the film would be unmarketable, and this version was scrapped.

In the early 1990s, producer Michael Uslan and executive producers Benjamin Melniker and Steven Maier subsequently obtained the rights for a live-action film adaptation. The producer promised Eisner that he would not permit anyone who "didn't get it" to work on the project. Two ideas pitched to Uslan were to put the Spirit in a costume and to have the Spirit be a resurrected dead man who possessed supernatural powers. Screenwriter John Turman, a comic book fan, expressed interest in writing the script.

In July 2004, financier OddLot Entertainment acquired the rights to the film. OddLot's producers Gigi Pritzker and Deborah Del Prete began a collaboration with Uslan, Melniker, and Maier working at Batfilm Productions, to adapt the story. Eisner, who was protective of the rights to his creations, said that he believed in the producers to faithfully adapt The Spirit. In April 2005, comic-book writer Jeph Loeb was hired to adapt The Spirit for the big screen, but the writer eventually left the project. Later in April, Uslan approached Frank Miller at Will Eisner's memorial service in New York City several weeks after Miller's Sin City was released in theaters, interested in initiating the adaptation technique with Miller's film for The Spirit. Miller had initially hesitated, doubting his skill in adapting The Spirit, but ultimately embraced his first solo project as writer-director. Miller described his decision-making:

The only thought in my mind was, "It's too big—I can't possibly do it." And I refused. And about three minutes later as I was at the doorway, I turned around and said, "Nobody else can touch this," and I agreed to the job on the spot.

In July 2006, the film trade press reported Miller would write and direct the film adaptation for The Spirit ; Miller and the producers publicly announced this at the 2006 Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. Miller said that he was putting together a film treatment that included large parts of The Spirit strip panels. As Miller described the project, "I intend to be extremely faithful to the heart and soul of the material, but it won't be nostalgic. It will be much scarier than people expect". Miller filmed The Spirit using the same digital background technology that was used for Sin City and 300. The film would also copy specific shots from the comic, similar to Sin City.

In February 2007, Miller completed the first draft of the screenplay and began work on a second draft. Principal photography was initially slated to begin in late spring 2007. Miller also planned to begin filming Sin City 2 in spring 2009, and Uslan indicated that filming for The Spirit would begin before Miller started Sin City 2. Following the casting of Gabriel Macht as the Spirit in August 2007, filming was re-slated for the following October.

Casting

Miller held auditions for the title role, and Macht was cast in August 2007. Mendes told Miller that she wanted to work with him on The Spirit before she had even seen a script for the film.

Jackson was Miller's first choice for the role of the supervillain and was cast in May 2007. Jackson, Miller, and the costume designer developed elaborate costumes for the Octopus to wear; they are different for each of his scenes. They include a samurai robe complete with a wig, a full Nazi Schutzstaffel uniform, a Western duster-influenced outfit with an out-of-proportion cowboy hat, and a costume consisting of a karakul hat and a fur-lined coat influenced by 1970s blaxploitation pimps. When asked about the change from the Octopus being recognized in the comics by distinctive gloves, Jackson said, "It's just an opportunity to be larger than life to take the Octopus's theme of dressing the way he feels every day, or having a theme to his day to day life and making some sense with it. And hopefully, the audience will take the ride with us."

Filming

Filming began in October 2007, and took place at Albuquerque Studios in New Mexico. The Spirit was mainly filmed with Panavision's Genesis digital camera. High-speed photography was filmed with Vision Research's Phantom camera. The film's release was originally scheduled for January 16, 2009, but on May 6, 2008, it was announced that the release date would be moved up to December 25, 2008.

The film contains a number of references to Eisner collaborators and other comic book luminaries. These include "Feiffer Industrial Salt", alluding to The Spirit ghost writer Jules Feiffer; "Iger Avenue", named for Eisner & Iger partner S.M. "Jerry" Iger; "Ditko's Speedy Delivery", named for Steve Ditko, a comic book artist and writer; and the characters Donenfeld and Liebowitz, played by Richard Portnow and Frank Miller, respectively, who are named for two of DC Comics' founders, Harry Donenfeld and Jack Liebowitz.

Music

The Spirit
Film score by David Newman
ReleasedDecember 23, 2008
GenreClassical
LabelSilva Screen
David Newman chronology
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins The Spirit My Life in Ruins

Producer Deborah Del Prete said that Miller wanted "elements of the '40s jazz sound married with iconic heroic music and even a touch of the spaghetti western." The Spirit's mysterious Henry Mancini-like soundtrack was composed and conducted by David Newman.

It's Sand Saref (Eva Mendes) who has the most elaborate of all the themes because it's based on her relationship with Denny Colt when they were in their teens, well before he became the Spirit. Saref's music ultimately becomes the love theme of the movie. It's very romantic, almost old fashioned, especially when they finally kiss. Frank Miller and I talked about that scene quite a bit. He really wanted me to 'go for it'—to make their music as romantic as possible. In the end, the Spirit is like a modern day Don Juan, without the psychological ambivalence towards women. He truly loves every woman he meets. It's part of his makeup. He has a certain naiveté in this respect.

— David Newman

There is an eerie, wordless soprano for Lorelei (Jaime King) that is performed by Newman's 19-year-old daughter Diana, a vocal major at the University of Southern California.

Christina Aguilera sings a cover of the classic "Falling in Love Again" in the closing credits of The Spirit. The song dates to 1930, written by Frederick Hollander, with lyrics written by Sammy Lerner. The song was originally sung and popularized by Marlene Dietrich in the film The Blue Angel (1930) and has been covered by Billie Holiday (1940), Doris Day (1961), and Sammy Davis Jr. (1962).

The trailers for the film feature music from the I Choose Noise album by Hybrid.

Soundtrack track list:

  1. "Spirit / Main Title"
  2. "Lorelei 'Angel of Death'"
  3. "Enter Silken Floss – Octopus Kicks"
  4. "Just a Fight"
  5. "You're An Accident"
  6. "Spirit Reflects"
  7. "Egg on My Face"
  8. "Sand / Octopus Lair"
  9. "I Am Sorely Disappointed"
  10. "Spirit Finds Sand / Falling / Hung Up"
  11. "Plaster of Paris Dance"
  12. "Spirit and Plaster Run"
  13. "Lorelei 'You Are Mine' / Spirit Wants"
  14. "Stand Off / Spirit Just Keeps Coming"
  15. "Shootout"
  16. "Octopus Buys It"
  17. "Spirit Kisses Sand"
  18. "It's You I Love / She Is My City"

Marketing

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
Gabriel Macht, Frank Miller, Deborah Del Prete, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jaime King at the 2008 Comic-Con promoting the film

At the New York Comic Con on February 24, 2007, director-screenwriter Frank Miller and producer Michael Uslan were scheduled to present a panel for The Spirit, though Miller was unable to attend due to recuperation from hip and leg injuries. Instead, Uslan, fellow producer F.J. DeSanto, and former The Spirit publisher Denis Kitchen presented a panel at which they described the history of the film and the film's progress.

Titan Books produced a making-of book, The Spirit: The Movie Visual Companion by Mark Cotta Vaz, featuring interviews with the cast and crew, photos, storyboards, and production art. It was released November 25, 2008. A second book, Frank Miller: The Spirit Storyboards, was announced for release on May 6, 2009, but was never released.

The film was rated PG-13 by the MPAA for "intense sequences of stylized violence and action, some sexual content, and brief nudity".

The film was released on Christmas Day 2008.

Reception

Box office

Released in 2,509 theaters, The Spirit grossed $10.3 million in its opening four days, placing 9th in the box-office ranking for the weekend. The film grossed $19.8 million in the US and $18.6 million internationally for a worldwide total of $38.4 million. Variety estimated that the film's poor performance at the box office cost Odd Lot Entertainment tens of millions of dollars in losses, but Odd Lot Entertainment's CEO Gigi Pritzker denied rumors that Miller's other projects had been cancelled.

Critical reception

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 14% based on 114 reviews, with an average rating of 3.6/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Though its visuals are unique, The Spirit's plot is almost incomprehensible, the dialogue is ludicrously mannered, and the characters are unmemorable." Metacritic gave it an aggregate score of 30 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating "generally negative reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C−" on an A+ to F scale.

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film one out of four stars and said, "There is not a trace of human emotion in it. To call the characters cardboard is to insult a useful packing material".

In a positive review, Ricky Bentley of the Miami Herald said, "Macht manages to meld macho with melodrama to make the Spirit come to life."

Frank Lovece of Newsday, a one-time comic-book writer, found that "gorgeous cinematography and design can't mask the hollow core and bizarre ugliness of this mishandled comics adaptation", and noted that while Eisner's own Spirit was "an average-Joe in a rumpled suit—a vulnerable but insouciant everyman in humanist fables", Miller's Spirit "now has a superpower—a healing factor. Eisner's own spirit must be spinning in its grave".

Chris Barsanti of Filmcritic.com stated, "It's a frankly gorgeous effect, liberated by the fact that Miller adapted freely from Eisner's panels—the two were longtime friends—to create an organic story instead of slavishly following the master's work", and calling it "one of the year's most refreshingly fun films."

Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly, found the movie a "ludicrously knowing and mannered noir pastiche, full of burnt-end romance and 'style', but robotic at its core".

Ken Hanke of Mountain Xpress observed, "The film may not move smoothly—Miller's too fond of 'just damn weird' digressions for that—but it does move and isn't hard to follow. Its screwiness is deliberate and it's all a matter of taste."

A. O. Scott in The New York Times summed up, "To ask why anything happens in Frank Miller's sludgy, hyper-stylized adaptation of a fabled comic book series by Will Eisner may be an exercise in futility. The only halfway interesting question is why the thing exists at all."

In 2010, Empire magazine listed the film at No. 32 on their "Top 50 Worst Movies of All Time" list.

References

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