Did you see commercials for Extraordinary Measures and think it was a CBS Sunday night made-for-TV movie with a surprisingly starry cast? No reason to feel ashamed. It is a product of CBS Films – its very first.
In a highly unorthodox move, CBS Chief Executive Les Moonves, a former actor, played a part in reordering the sequence of certain scenes and cutting others in the drama – starring Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser – due in theaters this Friday.
The New York Times reports:
Mr. Moonves was demure about his involvement, particularly regarding the editing of the film. “I just threw out a suggestion,” he said. He added, “You know me, with content I can’t keep my hands off.” Even so, he met with the filmmakers, read the script, looked at rough cuts and even visited the set.
The film touches on the sensitive subject of Pompe disease, a potentially fatal neuromuscular genetic disorder that affects children’s organs and muscles. Ford plays a scientist (with the personality of House) who works with a father whose children suffer from Pompe disease.
CBS Films is sticking to tradition and I’m not just talking about the ragged tearjerker medical drama storyline. It plans to release “four to six films a year, anchored by stars and costing up to $50 million apiece,” The Times reports.
Not showing off, not falling behind. That appears to be CBS’ mantra upon entering the film industry. From the looks of Extraordinary Measure’s previews, it will fail to attain the sleeper hit status of The Blind Side, but it will hopefully be at least one notch above the ham-fisted, manipulative and family-friendly aspects as well as the box office impotence that often characterize this genre.
What are your expectations for Extraordinary Measures?