Toys (film)

Toys is a 1992 surreal black comedy film directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robin Williams, Michael Gambon, Joan Cusack, and Robin Wright. The film failed at the box office at the time of its release despite its impressive cast and lavish filmmaking. Interestingly enough, the costume and art direction in set design led to it receiving nominations for the Oscars in those categories.

Many see it is as a missunderstood classic.

Despite its lack of success in theaters, Toys eventually gained somewhat of a cult following over the years that followed after its release to video and heavy television play, at least in part, due to its unique storyline and the many surreal aspects of the film, including the heavy use of Magritte-inspired imagery.

Magritte's art, particularly The Son of Man is obvious in its influence on the set design, and in part the costume design, of the film. The poster for the film distributed to movie theaters features Robin Williams in a red bowler hat against a blue, cloud-lined background. Golconda is also featured during a sequence where Robin Williams and Joan Cusack's characters perform in a music video sequence rife with surreal imagery, much of it Magritte-inspired.

Tagline : Laughter is a state of mind.

Soundtrack
"Winter Reveries" (Excerpt from Tchaikovsky's "Symphony No. 1")
Conducted by Shirley Walker
"The Closing of the Year" (Main Theme)
Performed by the Musical Cast of Toys featuring Wendy & Lisa
Written by Trevor Horn and Hans Zimmer
Prior to its release received minor radio airplay as a winter holiday song
"Ebudae"
Performed by Enya
Written by Enya and Roma Ryan
"The Happy Worker"
Performed by Tori Amos
Written by Trevor Horn and Bruce Woolley
"Alsatia's Lullaby"
Performed by Julia Migenes and Hans Zimmer
Written by Hans Zimmer
"Workers"
Performed by The Musical Cast of Toys
Written by Trevor Horn and Bruce Wooley
Alternate version of "The Happy Worker"
"Let Joy & Innocence Prevail" (Instrumental)
Performed by Pat Metheny
Written by Hans Zimmer and Trevor Horn
"The General"
Film dialogue performed by Michael Gambon
Written and performed by Hans Zimmer
"The Mirror Song"
Performed by Thomas Dolby
Featuring dialogue from the film by Robin Williams and Joan Cusack as well as backing vocals by Bruce Woolley
Written by Trevor Horn and Bruce Woolley
"Battle Introduction"
Film dialogue performed by Robin Williams
Written and performed by Hans Zimmer
"Welcome to the Pleasuredome" (Into Battle Mix)
Performed by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Written by Peter Gill/Holly Johnson/Brian Nash/Mark O'Toole
Into Battle Mix by Trevor Horn, Robin Hancock, and Tim Weidner
"Let Joy & Innocence Prevail"
Performed by Grace Jones
Written by Hans Zimmer and Trevor Horn
"The Closing of the Year/ Happy Worker (Reprise)"
Performed by The Musical Cast of Toys, Wendy & Lisa, and Seal
Written by Trevor Horn and Bruce Woolley
Little Boy Jack Levinson

Cast

Robin Williams - Leslie Zevo

Michael Gambon - Lt. General Leland Zevo

Joan Cusack - Alsatia Zevo

Robin Wright Penn - Gwen Tyler (as Robin Wright)

LL Cool J - Captain Patrick Zevo

Donald O'Connor - Kenneth Zevo
Arthur Malet - Owen Owens

Jack Warden - Old General Zevo

Debi Mazar - Nurse Debbie
Wendy Melvoin - Choir Soloist
Julio Oscar Mechoso - Cortez

Jamie Foxx - Baker

Shelly Desai - Shimera
Blake Clark - Hagenstern
Art Metrano - Guard at Desk

Awards

Plot

Kenneth Zevo (Donald O'Connor) had made of himself a surrealistic toy empire, that he, his two children, Leslie (Robin Williams) and Alsatia (Joan Cusack), and the factory employees were more than happy to live and work in. When Kenneth dies, much to his family's surprise, he leaves Zevo Toys to his military fanatic brother Lt. General Leland Zevo (Michael Gambon). Leland has no love for toys and is embittered in life having never fought in any "great war". In time, with the aid of his adopted son Patrick (LL Cool J) he converts the factory to a militaristic operation at the loss of employees and the trust of Kenneth's children. Leland begins to manufacture military equipment disguised as toys for which he brings children to remotely pilot. It is clear the general has gotten out of hand even causing his son to switch sides. Led by Patrick and Leslie, Alsatia, Kenneth's trusted assistant Owen Owens (Arthur Malet), and Leslie's new girlfriend Gwen (Robin Wright Penn) form a resistance against General Leland. They infiltrate the facility and pit an army of Zevo's original wind-up tin toys against Leland's missile-launching monsters. Alsatia is shot during the battle, and it is revealed that she is in fact a robot made by Kenneth to give Leslie a sister after the death of his mother. In the aftermath of a tumultuous battle, General Leland is defeated and Leslie, now fully prepared for the duty, inherits the factory, aided by Gwen and a repaired Alsatia.

Trivia

Action and Adventure -

Animation - Comedy - Crime - Documentary -
Family - Foreign Language - Historical - Horror - Musical - Political

lonympics

Job Centre

A map of where different US films & TV programmes blanket across the USA are

ZANADU - A FUN BASED SITE, WITH SOME FILM RELATED SECTIONS

Flight Las Vegas Nevada - Find a flight to Las Vegas

Cheap flights Beijing - Get your tickets here Fly to Beijing

Present Idea Website

Bank Interest Rates - A Website on Bank Interest Rates

Car Cheap Insurance - Get Cheap Car Insurance from here

Flights London - Want to fly to or Visit London get your Flight and Hotel place here

Real estate Index

Funny Jokes

Get your fave music here for your IPOD

Buy DVD Rent DVD Get your DVDs from here

http://www.buydvdrentdvd.com/