DOMINIC COOPER HELPS “ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER”

The secret part of Lincoln’s life and the secret part of the battle he fought will be revealed in cinemas nationwide in the blood-curling, non-stop action thriller “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” starring Benjamin Walker, Dominic Cooper, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Rufus Sewell. 

Walker and Cooper

Every good vampire slayer needs a mentor (even Buffy).  For Lincoln, that turns out to be Henry Sturgess, a 500-year-old vampire who has tired of his peers’ bloodlust and attitude towards humanity. For that role, the filmmakers chose Dominic Cooper, who saw his career enjoy a boost with the likes of “Mamma Mia” and and “An Education” and won plenty of acclaim for “The Devil’s Double.” But Cooper wasn’t quite sold on the idea when he was first handed the script. “I said, ‘I'm not reading that. Goodbye!’ It sounded like a bit of a joke. I mentioned to someone else that had read the book and they said the book was brilliant and I thought, ‘this is ridiculous,’ and then… when I started reading it… We never knew about him as a man. In my studies in England, I loved finding out about him, what incredible man he was and what he achieved in his life. Then I read the book and the script at the same time. The book is so rich with ideas and concepts and I was wondering which one they were going to pick for the movie, how they were going to condense it to a film. I thought that the original screenplay picked all the really interesting dynamics of the characters and I immediately wanted to be part of it. Because it didn't take itself too seriously, it wasn't a serious biographical piece, but at the same time you learned a lot from it. And I also thought that Timur has an incredible vision and I love the way he shoots action sequences. He shoots action like no one else. So I get that plus Tim Burton's crazy imagination.”

Lincoln’s journey begins when his mother Nancy is stricken with a disease of unknown origin – but recognizable to young Abraham as resulting from a vampire’s bite.  Nancy was a woman of intelligence and heart, imparting on her son the notion that, “until everyone is free, we are all slaves.” Abraham never forgot those words, which came to define his views toward slavery.  Nor would he ever forget the eternal evil responsible for his mother’s death: a vampire (and local businessman) named Jack Barts, portrayed by Marton Csokas, against whom Abraham swears revenge. 

                But his first attack against Barts fails, and Abraham narrowly escapes with his life. He is rescued by the charismatic Henry, a high-living and refined ladies’ man.  Henry, portrayed by British actor Dominic Cooper, is not interested in Abraham’s simple quest for revenge. Instead, he instructs Abraham to control his rage, become stronger, and fight for the greater good of mankind.  “It’s a choice,” Henry tells Abraham, “between doing something extraordinary or being satisfied with simple vengeance.”

               

                “Henry finds the young man’s thirst for revenge to be uninteresting,” says Cooper.  “But he sees Abraham of being capable of so much more, and thinks he can help him rise above a selfish quest.”  Henry instructs Abraham – physically and intellectually – on the fine art of vampire hunting, for a purpose far greater than revenge.  But the teacher is far from being a righteous figure.  “Henry is at the top of his game at being a vampire hunter, but he’s also very flamboyant,” says Cooper. “He enjoys life to its fullest and often goes to extremes in doing so.”

                “The actor has to be somebody who can play 20-55, and they have to play it convincingly. You move differently when you're 40 and your centre of gravity shifts. So you make a list of all the criteria and a list of those people you could cast, it’s a short list! I remember hearing Quentin Tarantino talk about casting Inglourious Basterds and if he hadn't found Christoph Waltz it would have been hard to make. Same for us. If we didn’t find Ben Walker, it would have been very hard to make the movie. Somebody said, ‘you need to go see this guy in New York, he's in this play called Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.’ So we flew to New York to see the play and he just owned it. And then we started working with him.  Just working with him without make-up on, meeting in New York, Los Angeles and doing all these things that ultimately lead to a process where Greg Cannom, the make-up artist made him Abraham Lincoln. And he came and delivered the Gettysburg Address to us, and it just gave us chills. Unbelievable.”

He’s quick to point out the appeal of the fanged fiends: “There's something extremely sexy about vampires. The idea that you can live forever is something mysterious, and I think we all secretly have that desire. We are completely compelled and fascinated by vampires. They are all tragic figures and they don't necessarily want to be in the position they're in. There's a million ways to play them.” For Cooper, one of the main elements of Sturgess he had to get his head around was playing him as an ancient creature. “Ultimately someone who has lived for 500 years must be pretty bored. You have seen all the riches in the world, you’ve got all the money, you probably fulfilled every desire a man could have, and you have tried everything out. And that’s why he is a person that goes to extremes and tries so desperately to have some sensation in life. He probably just wants to find the love in his life that he never had. But he also is very wise and a great mentor to have. But there definitely is a dark itch and a lot of desperation.”

“ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER” is now showing in cinemas nationwide in 3D and 2D cinemas from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Story: The secret life of one of America's well-loved president as a vampire hunter. Based on the book by Seth Grahame-Smith.

Review:  I first knew about Abraham Lincoln when I was memorizing The Gettysburg Address during my elementary school days. It's hard to re-imagine Lincoln as a slayer of the undead. I admire this president because of his ideals and how he handled the American Civil War. Unlike any wars, this war is not good vs. evil. Each side is neither right nor wrong. Each side shares an ideology that contradicts the other. Abraham Lincoln is instrumental in this crisis that prevented his nation to divide. Otherwise, there will be a Confederate States of America.

My copy of the book

Seth Grahame-Smith pioneered a new fiction genre called mash-up novels. He rewrote classic literature and mix it with zombies, vampires, androids, monsters. His first mash-up novel was Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. This idea is not new to me when I read the Klingon Hamlet years ago. Similar to Grahame-Smith is another author Harry Turtledove, the father of alternate history.

My review will be in the point of view of a movie patron than a book reader. I haven't read the book yet even if I already have a copy. The reason why I haven't read it before is because it might spoil me from enjoying the movie. Grahame-Smith was well researched about Lincoln that you might think he got Lincoln's diary and using it as a material add vampire involvement. 

The movie also included  historical significant people in Abe Lincoln's life such as Thomas and Nancy Lincoln, Joshua Speed and Mary Todd. Abe Lincoln is ideal as Graham-Smith's slayer of the undead because he is very tall. Since his father's an outdoors man, it is also possible that young Abe has this discipline. As for being an excellent fighter as shown in the trailers, he likes a good fist fight. According to a History Channel show "Ten Things You Don't Know About..." Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln always gets into a fist fights at a bar. A historian said that during a campaign speech, he saw one of his people outnumbered and beaten by a rival supporter. He went down the platform, threw one of the rival supporters off balance and drove them away and went back and continued with his speech.

But the fighting methods seems more like Asian martial arts. Since Timur Bekmambetov is directing, you can't help but make comparisons with his earlier work, Wanted. As for the vampires, they are just like the old-school vampirism and they don't sparkle. But unlike the stereotype vampires, they are just monsters with no other powers or charming abilities. What amazes me, that, Benjamin Walker, who plays Abraham Lincoln, was able to look like the 16th president not just because of prosthetics and trademark Lincoln beard but also with that same stern look President Lincoln has in the historical photo and painting archives.

Summary: It was good movie. Bekmambetov and Benjamin Walker did well for this movie and I am now looking forward reading the book. Another consolation for me here is seeing Mary Elizabeth Winstead. I really like her in Scott Pilgrim and Sky High. I never thought she could also do a more serious role besides the likes of Ramona Flowers(Scott Pilgrim). Abraham:Vampire Hunter is now showing in Philippine cinemas in 3D and 2D formats and is distributed by Twentieth Century Fox.

 Trivia: Another fact you don't know about Honest Abe Lincoln. Lincoln once held views that was considered racist. Check out 10 Thing You Don't Know About Abraham Lincoln on History Channel.

MASHUP AUTHOR SETH GRAHAME-SMITH’S “ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER”

The untold story that shaped America’s nation based on Seth Grahame-Smith’s “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” literary fusion of history and fiction will soon be seen onscreen come July 4 in 3D and 2D cinemas nationwide.

                A non-stop mad search for both the hunted and the hunter, “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” stars Benjamin Walker who plays the titular role of Abe Lincoln resurrected onscreen as a vampire hunting politico who later became one of the world’s most influential president.

                Adapted for movie by highly-regarded genre-bending filmmakers Timur Bekmambetov (directing) and Tim  Burton (producing) , the birth of Smith’s pulsating book came about in 2009  Seth Grahame-Smith was on a US book tour to promote a new “mash-up” fiction book, “Pride And Prejudice And Zombies.”  As he travelled the nation's bookstores, from state to state, he noticed two things. In the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth, every store had a promotional table set up with biographies of the iconic president. And at the height of the popularity of TWILIGHT, every store would stock a range of Young Adult vampire fiction right next to it. He remembers thinking, “if you could combine the two, surely you'd be onto a winner.”

                “It began as a cynical observation, to be honest with you,” he admits. When I read about and researched the actual man, I became fascinated and fell in love with him and his trials and tribulations. Throughout his life he had every disadvantage: no wealth and no connections. He was poor as dirt, and surrounded by death. And yet, by the power of his intellect and his determination he was able to not only achieve the impossible of becoming a lawyer, but to become the leader of a nation tearing itself apart. And then he went on to save that nation.” 

In fact it was, he suspects, the very first superhero origin story. “I began thinking that in the American psyche there's really no greater superhero than Abraham Lincoln.”

Weaving a gothic horror tale into Lincoln's biography, and doing so in as truthful a way as possible, came surprisingly easy for Grahame-Smith. Many moments in the real Lincoln's life jumped out straight away as being ripe for re-imagining with a vampiric twist. It began with the death of his mother when he was nine years old. “Her death had a tremendous effect on his life. The determination to escape his situation and better himself was borne of a desire to honor his mother's memory. It was quite obvious to me that if it were a vampire that had killed her, that would set him off on this path.”

                The result of the marriage of truth and fiction at the heart of “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” is bounced through Timur Bekmambetov's very particular prism.  Says Ben Walker, who plays Lincoln himself, “This is a period movie told in intricate and fascinating ways. It's the same material, the same time, and we're being very true to that, but through Timur's imagination we're getting to see the tiny minutiae that really make it special and fresh for us.”

Grahame-Smith summarizes the point of this grand adaptation very simply: “The film is a strange mix of absurdity and accuracy. The title makes an absurd promise, but everything after that is delivered with absolute sincerity. We never wink at the audience. We never play it as a joke. And whether it's the set design, the costume design, or Lincoln's prosthetics – everything is accurate. Timur knew early on that the more absurd the premise the more dedicated you have to be to it to pull it off.”

                “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” is from 20^th Century Fox to be available in 2D and 3D format and distributed by Warner Bros. in local cinemas.           

                Check out 20^th Century Fox (Philippines) in Facebook and 20thcenturyfoxph Youtube pages to watch the latest trailers and features.

THE DARK SIDE OF ERIN WASSON IN “ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER”

Texas-born supermodel, designer, entrepreneur and actress, Erin Wasson plays the ruthless, sexy and evil vampire Vadoma in “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” directed by renowned Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov.   

Erin Wasson as Vadoma

 The thrilling film delivers an entirely original twist to the story of the iconic American president. Vampires are re-imagined as evil bloodthirsty slave traders and Lincoln (played by Ben Walker) is portrayed as a master at killing the supernatural creatures.   In this fantastical action-packed movie, the iconic leader Abraham Lincoln has a secret life alongside his presidential duties: hunting the undead. Rooted in historical fact that is blended skillfully with a fictional supernatural tale, Lincoln is portrayed as a man who was essentially the first superhero.

                Ben Walker gives a powerful performance as President Lincoln. The film also stars Dominic Cooper as Henry, a high living ladies’ man who saves his life and instructs him on the art of vampire hunting. Rufus Sewell portrays Lincoln’s vampire nemesis Adam, commander of the vampire army. Erin Wasson plays the gorgeous vampire, Vadoma, Adam’s chief lieutenant and bodyguard. The film is based on Seth Grahame-Smith’s bestselling novel.

               

Wasson sinks her teeth into a deliciously meaty and malevolent role – following is her q&a on her thoughts on beauty, fashion, martial arts and vampires.

Q:           What kind of vampire is Vadoma?

A:            “She is a woman of few words, a woman of action who is on a mission, she is very straightforward. She’s a really strong, powerful woman who is very talented and good at what she does. She’s a skilled assassin.”

Q:           Can you explain what these assassins are doing at this point in US history? 

A:            “The slaves are our food; we’re trading slaves to keep us (the vampires) alive. The vampires are living off the blood of the slaves.”

Q:           What kind of costume do you wear?

 A:           “The interesting thing about Vadoma’s costume is that the color palette consists of shades of red, crimson and deep purples. She always wears a hat and sunglasses during the day. She is a woman on the move.  She spends her day on horseback so the costumes have to be practical. She definitely has a dark side.”

Q:           How interesting was it playing someone who’s really evil?

A:            “It was great. Vadoma is pure evil so there’s not a lot of consciousness going into her actions and not a lot of emotion.”

Q:           Why do you think vampires continue to be so popular?

A:            “They are part modern day folklore and it is the mystery of vampires that I think intrigues people.  People connect vampires to sexuality, with the element of the blood. There is a correlation between vampires and human urges or desires.”  

Q:           How would you say that your own natural beauty, your looks, have contributed to your extraordinary success?

A:            “I certainly think that [my looks] have contributed to my career. You know, that is how I fell into the industry and that was partly how I got to experience so much. That has enabled me to be where I am now.  I’m grateful for the beauty, but I’ve been able to see through that. I’m more beautiful inside than outside (laughs).”

Q:           What was your childhood like in Texas? 

A:            “I come from a really strong Texas family. I grew up playing in the streets of my neighborhood, predominantly with boys. We would be out all day long until the street lights came on. My mother (Chris Wasson) is incredible; she’s a strong woman, enabling you to be able to walk through the challenges of life and keep your head above water, so I give a lot of credit to my folks.”

Q:           It sounds like your Mother was a great role model?

A:            “Absolutely. My mom was a flight attendant for 30 years. When I started out as a model at 15 she came to every shoot with me, in between her flying schedule. She is the kind of mother who would have lunches packed and waiting for me and my sister Meghan, even when she’d just got off a ‘redeye’ (all night) flight. She would drop us off at school and then come home and do house chores. I don’t know when she slept. And then she did it all over again the next day.”

Q:           You are considered a style icon.  Is that rewarding?

A:            “I don’t even know what it means to be a style icon. It is interesting you know, because when people tell me  that’s what I am, it doesn’t really make any sense. But I’m super appreciative that people see me in that way. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that.” 

Q:           What has been  the defining moment in your career so far?

A:            “Getting a cosmetic deal because in this kind of business, that gives you an incredible security blanket. You never know when things are going to come and go with the ebb and the flow, so getting a cosmetic contract (with Maybelline) allowed me to breathe a little bit easier.  When I was a young girl, I grew up looking at their make up and I still don’t understand why I’m here, I am very grateful.”

                “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” is released in theaters (2D and 3D) from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

PRESIDENT BY DAY, VAMPIRE HUNTER BY NIGHT

“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” tweaks history onscreen as America’s most iconic and beloved president Abraham Lincoln is portrayed as a vampire slaying powerful political figure of his time.  

Benjamin Walker as Abraham Lincoln

 

                Visionary filmmakers Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (director of “Wanted”) bring a fresh voice to the bloodthirsty lore of the vampire, imagining Lincoln as history's greatest hunter of the undead.   

                Taking the role of the multi-faceted Lincoln in the movie as politico, husband and the person he became when his mother died at a young age is stage actor Benjamin Walker who has also appeared in Clint Eastwood’s “Flags of Our Fathers” and in the movie “Kinsey”.

                Before Walker takes center stage as Abraham, the audience will meet the character as a child.  His journey begins when his mother Nancy is stricken with a disease of unknown origin – but recognizable to young Abraham as resulting from a vampire’s bite.  Nancy was a woman of intelligence and heart, imparting on her son the notion that, “until everyone is free, we are all slaves.” Abraham never forgot those words, which came to define his views toward slavery.  Nor would he ever forget the eternal evil responsible for his mother’s death: a vampire (and local businessman) named Jack Barts, portrayed by Marton Csokas, against whom Abraham swears revenge.  

Finding an actor able to wear that burden was a process, says Bekmambetov. “There were two main reasons we settled on Ben Walker,” he reveals. “The first was that he shared Lincoln's personality. He has an unbelievable, grounded and sarcastic sense of humor and he's a very straightforward, honest man. The second reason was strategic: we wanted to choose an actor who brings no baggage to the screen. We wanted the audience to believe they were seeing Lincoln, and not a movie star playing Lincoln.”

Walker is aware of the challenge inherent in accepting the role. “As a country, we're always looking for heroes, and Lincoln is the quintessential American hero,” he says. “He's self-created, self-educated and a common man who made himself extraordinary. I think we're fascinated by that.”

For Walker, the story works as an allegory for Lincoln's real struggle. He may not have fought vampires in real history, but he certainly waged plenty of battles of his own. “In everyone's life, there comes a point where you have to choose how you're going to live and what kind of person you're going to be,” says Walker. “And Lincoln finds that in his life: how he's going to truly defeat this evil, whether with an axe late at night or whether he's going to put those things away and become what we know today.”

For Seth Grahame-Smith from whose book of the same title the movie was adapted and who also serves as screenwriter and executive producer for the film, meeting Walker on set for the first time was quite an experience. “It was very eerie at times,” he laughs. “Ben's a classically trained theatrical actor who went to Juilliard, and he approached the role with intense seriousness. His research and his physical and voice training were all very intense, and he didn't approach it as a genre movie; he approached it as an historical drama. I think that's one of the things that make this movie special. It has a central performance that's stronger than you usually find in these big summer movies.”

                “Abraham Lincoln” Vampire Hunter” opens July 4 in theaters nationwide in 3D and 2D format from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.