Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PRODUCTION
"Love Is the Drug" in a glitzy musical sequence that in- The art was designed by Alex Pardee of Snafu Comics,[20]
cludes all ve female leads.
with title art work by Los Angeles grati artist Galo Canote. Pre-production began in June 2009 in Canada. Snyder had also added that he enjoyed the freedom of lming
his own original script.[21] Photographer Clay Enos was
2 Cast
hired to take still pictures on set and to take portraits of
the main actors.[22]
Emily Browning as Babydoll
Abbie Cornish as Sweet Pea
Jena Malone as Rocket
3.2 Casting
3
3.1
Production
Development
Snyder had tapped Amanda Seyfried rst for the lead role,
Babydoll.[23] When asked if Seyfried was up for the role,
Snyder said, We'll see. We're trying to, so ... Shes
great. It would be great if it worked out.[28][29][30] Snyder had also oered roles to Abbie Cornish, Evan Rachel
Wood, Emma Stone, and Vanessa Hudgens.[31] However,
Seyfried turned it down due to a conict in schedule with
her HBO series Big Love.[32] Browning agreed to replace
Seyfried in the role. During the conrmation of her involvement, Hudgens, Wood, Cornish, and Stone were all
Warner Bros. announced in early 2009 that they would still in talks.[33]
distribute Sucker Punch due to the success of Snyders Wood dropped out of the project due to scheduling
previous lm, Watchmen.[13][16][17] They've never said, conicts with her recurring role in HBOs True Blood
'Ahh, it could have been shorter', or, 'Too bad its so R- and her stage production of Spider-Man: Turn O the
ish.' And thats really cool. I'm challenging them again Dark.[34] She was later replaced by Malone for the role
with Sucker Punch.[13][16][17] In early interviews, Snyder of Rocket.[35] Chung was signed up to play Amber";
stated that he would make Sucker Punch an R-rated lm, Emma Stone had been oered the part but declined due
but a later interview stated that he was aiming for it to be schedule conict with her lm Easy A.[36][37] Freida Pinto
rated PG-13.[18] In its theatrical release, the movie was ul- was also considered for the role of Amber before it
timately rated PG-13. Snyder cut many crucial scenes be- went to Jamie Chung. Gugino, who was cast as Madam
fore the lms release in order to satisfy the MPAA's cen- Gorski, a psychiatrist in the asylum, previously worked
sors, but claimed that the home media release of the lm with Snyder on Watchmen.[38] Hamm was conrmed in
will be a directors cut and closer to his original vision.[19] late August 2009 to play The High Roller. Isaac was
Sucker Punch is described by Snyder as "Alice in Wonderland with machine guns. The lm rst gained attention
in March 2007. Snyder put the project aside to work on
Watchmen rst.[11][12] The lm was co-written with Steve
Shibuya, who authored the original script on which the
story is based.[13][14] Snyder directed and produced with
his wife and producing partner, Deborah Snyder, through
their Cruel and Unusual Films banner. Wesley Coller
served as executive producer.[15]
When Snyder was in San Diego hosting a Blu-ray live also tapped at around the same time.[39][40][41] Snyder
screening of Watchmen for Comic-Con, he handed out T- conrmed that Glenn agreed to be involved in the project,
shirts for Sucker Punch featuring the rst art for the lm. portraying The Wise Man.[42]
3.5
3.3
Title
Training
3.4
3
approach everything, and then keep pushing it
from there.[54]
Rick Carter served as production designer[55] while the
visual eects of the lm were done by Animal Logic
with 75 visual eects specialists, and the Moving Picture
Company (MPC) who were awarded over 120 shots.[56]
Sucker Punch operates on three levels a reality, then
a sub-reality where the psych ward world shifts into a
strange high-rollers brothel. The nal level is made up of
a dream world where more action sequences that are removed from time and space take place.[46] Warner Bros.
announced earlier that Sucker Punch would be released
in 3D format.[57] Snyder describes the conversion into
3D as a completely dierent process.[58] However, it was
later announced that the lm would not be presented in
3D. Snyder lmed a Maximum Movie Mode interactive Blu-ray commentary for the lms home media
release.[59]
Snyder wanted to design the lm as something with no
limits, considering that he co-wrote the script from an
original idea. He added that he wanted it to be a cool
story and not just like a video game where you're just
loose and going nuts.[60] Snyder also noted the inuence of Asian iconography, particularly Japanese elements such as samurai, anime, and mecha.[61]
6 RELEASE
Snyder has stated one interpretation of the lm is that it of classic songs) of tracks by Alison Mosshart, Bjrk,
is a critique on geek culture's sexism and objectication Queen, and performances from stars Emily Browning,
of women.[19]
Carla Gugino, and Oscar Isaac. The album was praised
by music and lm critics, as were Brownings vocals.
5 Marketing
Sucker Punch participated in the Comic-Con 2010 and
showed the rst footage of the lm, featuring the songs
Prologue by Immediate Music and The Crablouse by
Lords of Acid. The trailer was released on July 27 on
Apple Trailers. The second ocial trailer was released on
November 3 and was attached to Due Date, Harry Potter
and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, and Black Swan.[58] On
February 15, Titan Books released the ocial Art of the
Film book full of pictures, to mark the lms release in
the following month.
The lm received a PG-13 rating. To avoid an R rating,
a sex scene was cut. Browning said, I had a very tame
and mild love scene with Jon Hamm ... I think its great
for this young girl to actually take control of her own sexuality. She added, "[The MPAA] got Zack to edit the
scene and make it look less like shes into it. Zack said
he edited it down to the point where it looked like he was
taking advantage of her. Thats the only way he could get
a PG-13 [rating] and he said, 'I don't want to send that
message.'"[72]
In the United Kingdom, the lm received a 12A certicate for moderate violence, threat, language and sexual
references. The lm was passed with no additional cuts
required.[1] The extended directors cut was given a 12.
6 Release
6.1 Critical reception
In September 2009, Chung reported that they had begun Sucker Punch was negatively reviewed by lm critics.
recording tracks for Sucker Punch.[69] Oscar Isaac said
Review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes reports that
the songs used in the lm are not original, but are new 23% of 202 critics have given Sucker Punch positive rearrangements of existing music.[70]
views, giving it an average rating of 4.1/10; the consenTyler Bates (who composed all of Snyders previous live- sus states: Its technically impressive and loaded with
action lms) and Marius de Vries (who composed the eye-catching images, but without characters or a plot
score for the lm Moulin Rouge!) co-wrote the lm to support them, all of Sucker Punch 's visual thrills
score. The ocial trailers contain samples from the songs are for naught.[73] The lm holds a 33 out of 100 on
Prologue by Immediate Music, Crablouse by Lords Metacritic, signifying generally unfavorable reviews
of Acid, "When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin, among 29 critics.[74]
"Tomorrow Never Knows" by The Beatles, And Your Although Snyder had claimed that he wanted the lm to
World Will Burn by Cli Lin, "Panic Switch" by the be a cool story and not just like a video game where
Silversun Pickups, and Illusion of Love (Fred Falke you're just loose and going nuts,[60] some critics comremix) by Ue.
pared the lm unfavorably to a video game in their reSucker Punch: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released on March 22, 2011[71] by WaterTower Music. It
contained nine tracks, all covers, remixes, and mash-ups
(as the label website says, wildly re-imagined versions
6.2
Box oce
Depiction of women
5
However, Betsy Sharkey of The Los Angeles Times suggested that the lm neither objecties nor empowers
women and that instead it is a wonderfully wild provocation an imperfect, overlong, intemperate and utterly
absorbing romp through the id that I wouldn't have missed
for the world.[87] In a retrospective article about the critical reception of Sucker Punch, James MacDowell questioned the alleged misogyny of the lm, arguing that it
does not in fact aim to oer female empowerment, but
is instead a deeply pessimistic analysis of female oppression, because it makes clear that, just as men organize the dances, so do they control the terms of the
ght scenes; in neither do the women have true agency,
only an illusion of it.[88][89] Writing in a separate piece
for The A.V. Club months after giving the lm a C-"
grade, Nathan Rabin concluded, Depending on whom
you ask, Snyder set out to make either the ultimate sexist masturbatory fanboy fantasy or the ultimate critique
of sexist masturbatory fanboy fantasies. He failed spectacularly on both counts, but in true Fiasco form, theres
something fascinating and even strangely majestic about
that failure.[90] Scott Mendelsohn of The Hungton Post
called the lm a bitterly sad and angrily feminist miniepic, and said that while it presents scenes of matterof-fact lechery from men towards women that is an accepted norm in our society, both then and now, it earns
kudos for daring to actually be about something relevant
and interesting. It is actually very much about the sexualization of women in popular culture, rather than just
using those tools to make pointless exploitation fare.[91]
Patrick Bromley of DVD Verdict posited that Sucker
Punch uses the prism of popular culture to say something about the roles that women nd themselves forced
intoand not just in the fantasies of geeks and fanboys.
Bromley further judged that the lm is about ghting
a losing battle. About using every tool at your disposal,
be it sexuality or physical strength or wit or the ability
to band together to ght a common enemythe tool of
Sisterhoodand about how that still isn't enough.[92]
6.3
REFERENCES
6.4
Home media
Sucker Punch was released June 28, 2011 on DVD and in [19] Interview: Zack Snyder on the Sexuality and World of
'Sucker Punch'". Film School Rejects. 2011-03-27. Rea Blu-ray combo pack. The lm reached #1 best-selling
trieved 2011-08-19.
DVD for four weeks in a row, selling over a million copies
[99]
in America on its premiere day. An R-rated extended [20] Billington, Alex (2009-07-26). Comic-Con: First Look
cut was included on the Blu-ray release, which adds 18
at Zack Snyders Sucker Punch Art. First Showing. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
minutes to the lm.[100] The bonus features include four
animated shorts based on the four fantasy scenarios.
[21] Why Zack Snyder thinks his action fantasy Sucker Punch
will blow 300 away. 2009-06-23. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
References
[22] Reesman, Bryan (2009-07-26). Clay Enos: Photographing The Watchmen". Sci-Fi Wire. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
[1] "SUCKER PUNCH (12A)". British Board of Film Classication. March 10, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
[25] Zack Snyder Reveals Sucker Punch Details. 2009-0215. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
[4] Sperling, Nicole (2009-04-03). Zack Snyder: 'Watchmen' director discusses his next lm. Entertainment
Weekly. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
[26] Reppe, Elizabeth (2009-03-04). Zack Snyders GirlPowered Sucker Punch". Retrieved 2009-05-15.
[27] Finke, Nikki (2007-10-05). Warners Robinov Bitchslaps Film Women; Gloria Allred Calls For Warners Boycott. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
[28] Sanchez, Stephanie (2009-02-23). IESB Exclusive:
Zack Snyders Sucker Punch Casting News!". Retrieved
2009-05-05.
[29] Zack Snyder Wants to Sucker Punch Amanda Seyfried.
2009-02-23. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
[8] The REAL reason Sucker Punch will lose money. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
[31] Elfman, Malin. Zack Snyder Goes for All Female Cast
in Sucker Punch. Retrieved 2009-05-13.
[35] Zack Snyder adds two to Sucker Punch! (April 20, 2009)
[36] Brevet, Brad (2009-04-22). Did Evan Rachel Wood
Drop O Snyders 'Sucker Punch' To Sip on 'True Blood'
Instead?". Rope of Silicon. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
[37] Matt Goldberg (2009-04-21). The Asylum Has Revolving Doors in Zack Snyders Sucker Punch. Retrieved
2009-05-13.
[38] Fleming, Michael (2009-08-03). Gugino feels Snyders
Sucker Punch". Variety. Retrieved 2009-08-04.
[39] McNary, Dave (2009-08-27). Oscar Isaac set for
'Punch'". Variety. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
[40] Schwartz, Terri (2009-08-28). Jon Hamm & Oscar Isaac
Join Girl-Heavy Cast (Vanessa Hudgens! Emily Browning!) of Sucker Punch". MTV. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
[41] Rosenberg, Adam (2009-08-19). "Mad Men Star Jon
Hamm Takes A Sucker Punch From Zack Snyder. MTV.
Retrieved 2009-08-29.
[42] Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub (2009-06-24). Zack Snyder
talks WATCHMEN Directors Cut Blu-ray, Comic-Con
2009, 300 Blu-ray, and SUCKER PUNCH.
[43] Galluzzo, Robert (2009-08-30). Jamie Chung on Snyders Sucker Punch. Coming Soon.net. Retrieved 200908-31.
[44] Adam (2009-06-19). Vanessa Hudgens: Im Learning
How to Kick, Punch". Showbiz Spy. Retrieved 2009-0622.
[45] Adam (2009-08-19). Vanessa Hudgens Can't Wait to
Get Fit. Showbiz Spy. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
[46] Rachel Abramowitz (2009-08-06).
Zack Snyders
'Sucker Punch' will be a special brand of girl crazy. Los
Angeles Times.
[47] Devin Faraci (2009-06-23).
ZACK SNYDER'S
SUCKER PUNCH COULD BE PG-13. Retrieved
2009-06-25.
[48] Truitt, Brian (2009-01-23). Exclusive: Zack Snyder on
nishing up 'Watchmen'". Retrieved 2009-08-26.
[49] Kaufman, Amy (2011-03-24). Movie Projector: Will
Wimpy Kid put Sucker Punch on the ropes?". Los Angeles
Times (Tribune Company). Retrieved 2011-03-24.
[50] Barton, Steve (2009-06-24). Zack Snyder Talks Sucker
Punch. Dread Central. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
[51] Connelly, Brendon (2009-02-20). Zack Snyders Sucker
Punch Aiming For March 2011 Release. Retrieved
2009-09-17.
[52] Enk, Bryan (2010-01-25). Zack Snyder Drinks His Last
Sucker Punch". UGO.com. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
[53] Kit, Borys (2009-03-03). Actresses line up for Zack Snyders Sucker Punch"". Reuters. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
EXTERNAL LINKS
[97] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0978764/awards
[98] 22 Like18 Dislike0 Dec 9, 2011 by Brian Gallagher
(2011-12-09). 15 Finalists Set for Visual Eects Oscar.
MovieWeb.com. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
[99] Filmratings.com Sucker Punch ratings.
[78] Sucker Punch Movie Review. The Sydney Morning Her- [100] Sucker Punch - DVDActive/News. DVDActive. 2011ald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
05-19. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
[79] Sucker Punch reviewed by Mark Kermode. kermodeandmayo. YouTube. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
[80] The Mary Sue, Rebecca Pahle (21 August 2013) Retrieved 10 November 2013
[81] 'Sucker Punch' and the Decline of Strong Woman Action
Heroines - The Atlantic, 28 March 2011
[82] Monika Bartyzel. Girls on Film: Faux Feminism in
'Sucker Punch.'" Retrieved 2011-11-12
[83] Michael Phillips. One mans fantasy is anothers torture.
Retrieved 2011-04-06
[84] Steve Persall. Review: This Sucker Punch is low blow
indeed. Retrieved 2011-04-06
[85] "Sucker Punch review from A.O. Scott. The New York
Times. 2011-03-24. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
[86] Peter Debruge. Sucker Punch. April 06, 2011.
[87] Betsy Sharkey (2011-03-25). Movie Review: Sucker
Punch". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-04-06.
[88] Questioning 'Empowerment': The Reception and Feminism of Sucker Punch. Alternatetakes.co.uk, May 26,
2011, retrieved July 7, 2011
[89] Owen Nicolls (2011-12-19). Worst lms of the year
2011. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
[90] Furtively Feminist, Mostly Misunderstood Case File
#197: Sucker Punch. The A.V. Club. Onion, Inc.
September 14, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
[91] Scott Mendelsohn: HuPost Review: Sucker Punch - Genuinely Feminist, Its a Deeper, Darker Confection
Than One Might Presume. The Hungton Post. March
24, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
[92] DVD Verdict Review - Sucker Punch (Blu-ray)". Verdict
Partners. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
[93] Brandon Gray: Weekend Report: 'Wimpy Kid' Blindsides
'Sucker Punch'. Box Oce Mojo, March 28, 2011, retrieved 2011-04-01
[94] Ray Subers: Around-the-World Roundup: 'Battle: LA'
Stays Ahead of 'Rango'. BoxOceMojo, March 29, 2011,
retrieved 2011-04-21
[95] Brandon Gray: Weekend Report: 'Hop' Lays Golden Egg.
BoxOceMojo, April 4, 2011, retrieved 2011-04-21
[96] Ray Subers: Around-the-World Roundup: 'Sucker Punch'
Leads Slow Weekend. BoxOceMojo, April 6, 2011, retrieved 2011-04-21
8 External links
Ocial website
Sucker Punch at the Internet Movie Database
Sucker Punch at Box Oce Mojo
Sucker Punch at Rotten Tomatoes
Sucker Punch at Metacritic
9.1
Text
9.2
Images
9.3
Content license