“Outbreak” is 25 years old, on Netflix and really isn’t about the coronavirus

Before its 25th anniversary on March 10 and people started staying at home before the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread, Outbreak was already on Netflix streaming. Nowadays, the Wolfgang Petersen movie is now on 5th most popular on Netflix as people are watching in their houses. 

It would be fun to look back on Outbreak anyway. Dustin Hoffman and Rene Russo play Army and CDC doctors respectively with a cast including Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Patrick Dempsey and Donald Sutherland. Now that we’re living through an outbreak, there’s more interest but it’s important to remember it’s still just a movie.

There are broad strokes of science in Outbreak. Somewhere between Armageddon (movie with Bruce Willis and directed by Michael Bay) dismissing actual scientific measurements to declare the rock like “the size of Texas” and actual scientific procedures lies Outbreak. It does show how a disease can spread through human contact. In this case, it comes from an animal, so the monkey spits on Jimbo (Dempsey) and scratches Rudy (Daniel Chodos) the pet store owner.

The Motaba virus has a 24 hour cycle. That’s good for cinema because the scientists can see symptoms immediately. The coronavirus takes days and weeks to manifest and people carrying it can be asymptomatic.

Coronavirus has spread beyond a single town, and it’s unlikely the military will be flying helicopters and launching missiles to keep people in their homes. If you can separate the fiction from real contagions, Outbreak is a perfectly fun movie to watch on Netflix. If it’s still too close to home, there are plenty of other viewing options until this all blows over.

Hope u like it. 

xoxoxo 

ME

RENE RUSSO FANPAGE'S VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL!!!

Rene's family moments in the Academy Awards: along with her husband, Dan Gilroy (left),
and along with Dan and her daughter Rose Gilroy (right). (photo: Getty Images).

While in United States Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14, in Brazil, this day is celebrated on June 12 (tomorrow).

As I said on the end of part 2 of her bio, since 1992, Rene is happily married to Dan Gilroy, and both have a beautiful daughter, Rose Gilroy, who pursues modeling since 2016. 

And what about in movies? I selected five romantic opposites with whom Rene she played: Mel Gibson, Pierce Brosnan, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman & last but not least, Jake Gyllenhaal. 

Mel Gibson, Pierce Brosnan, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman and Jake Gyllenhaal:
the 5 lucky men of the Valentine's Day Special. (collage: M.E.Serrano)

1- Mel Gibson (Lethal Weapon 3, Lethal Weapon 4 & Ransom)

Rene Russo and Mel Gibson, 1992. (photo credits: David McGough/Getty Images)

Mel Gibson is well known for doing Mad Max & Lethal Weapon franchises, Conspiracy Theory, and many others. And what's Rene Russo got to do with this story? Well, here it goes. Most of the movies Rene starred were next to Mel Gibson (3 times in total). In Lethal Weapon 3 (1992), while Lorna (Russo) and Riggs (Gibson) were comparing scars, they share a kiss together, and in Lethal Weapon 4 (1998), they work again together, now their characters are wife and husband.

But between Lethal Weapon movies, they worked together again in Ransom (1996), Mel and Rene were Tom and Kate Mullen, respectively. Both have to face their son's kidnapping, done by Jimmy Shaker (Gary Sinise, great in Apollo 13 and CSI NY)
2- Pierce Brosnan (Thomas Crown Affair)

Rene Russo and Pierce Brosnan, 1999. (photo credits: Ronald Simmoneit/Getty Images)

Pierce Brosnan is best known as roles as Mrs. Doubtfire, some 007 movies and... Thomas Crown Affair, along with Rene Russo. In a People magazine article, according to Pierce, "Rene is the only woman of the summer in my book. She does it in such a gorgeous, sensuous, sexy way.”  

And in Rene's recent interviews on TV, many of the interviewers ask of... Thomas Crown Affair. According to Rene: "Many women ask of him... what was he like? Is he cute? Is he dreamy? Yes he is. He's a good kisser. (...) For the love scenes, are always really hard! (laughs)" 

3- Robert De Niro (The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle, Showtime & The Intern).

Rene & Robert De Niro, holding Rocky & Bullwinkle plushies.
HOW CUTE! (photo credits: Time & Life Pictures)

Another actor who worked most times with Rene was Robert de Niro, great in many movies, such as Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Cape Fear remake, Casino and many others. But with Rene... he worked three times, two as a romantic opposite: Showtime and recently, The Intern (The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle doesn't count... even De Niro worked together with her, Rene's romantic opposite was Jason Alexander, great in series as Seinfeld, and in movies such as Pretty Woman, The Paper and Shallow Hal).

In Showtime, De Niro plays Mitch, while Russo plays Chase, a TV producer (in the end there are hints of romance between both of them), and in The Intern, Robert plays Ben (a widow), and Rene plays Fiona (the massagist). In my opinion, the best part is when Fiona appears massaging Ben's back... so relaxing...

In the end of The Intern, Ben and Fiona ended together. 

4- Dustin Hoffman (Outbreak)

Dustin Hoffman hugging Rene Russo during Outbreak premiere, 1995.
(photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage)

Dustin Hoffman is best known on Tootsie, Rain Man (he won an Academy Award), Kramer vs. Kramer, The Graduate and many others. Now, in Outbreak, Hoffman portrays Sam Daniels, Robby's ex-husband (Robby is portrayed by Russo). Sam and Robby reconcile when he and Salt (Cuba Gooding Jr.) saved her from Ebola disease. 

5-Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler & Velvet Buzzsaw)

Jake and Rene: perfect chemistry in scene. (photo credits: StarTraks Photo)

And finally, last but not least: Jake Gyllenhaal. Jake is one of the actors with most popular audience, specially youngsters (and girls too). He is great in Donnie Darko, Brokeback Mountain, Jarhead, Southpaw... and Nightcrawler. 

Like I said on the Nightcrawler post weeks ago, Rene Russo and Jake Gyllenhaal have such chemistry in Dan Gilroy's debut (Jake was Lou, Rene was Nina). Both were great... and the public (specially Rene and Jake fans) questioned themselves... Why Jake and Rene were forgotten on the Golden Globes & the Academy Awards? (...) Jake should have received something, he should have received a nomination! 

And this year, Rene and Jake are working again together, in Velvet Buzzsaw, by Dan Gilroy. Jake plays Morf Vandewalt, and Rene, Rhodora Haze! We're excited for both working together! 

Other Rene's romantic pairings...

Along with these five, Rene also worked with Kevin Costner (Tin Cup, 1996),  Clint Eastwood (In the Line of Fire, 1993), John Travolta (Get Shorty, 1995), Emilio Estevez (Freejack, 1992), Tom Berenger (Major League, 1989), Jim Belushi (Mr. Destiny, 1990), Dennis Quaid (Yours Mine and Ours, 2005), and many others!

Wish u everybody a Happy Valentine's day!

Hope u like it!

love u guys.

xoxoxo

ME 

Outbreak (MOVIE REVIEW)

Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo and Morgan Freeman are part of the main cast
of "Outbreak" (1995), directed by Wolfgang Petersen. (photo credits: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Director: Wolfgang Petersen (he worked with Rene in the movie In the Line of Fire, 1993, but he also was known directing Air Force 1, Troy, Poseidon, among others).

Produced by: Wolfgang Petersen, Gail Katz, Arnold & Arnie Kopelson.

Written by: Laurence Dworet & Robert Roy Pool.

Main Cast: 

- Dustin Hoffman ------- Colonel Sam Daniels

- Rene Russo ------------ Dr. Roberta Keough (Robby)

- Morgan Freeman ------- Brigadier General Billy Ford

- Donald Sutherland ------ Major General Donald McClintock (Donnie)

- Kevin Spacey ------------- Lieutenant Colonel Casey Schuler

- Cuba Gooding Jr. -------- Major Salt

- Patrick Dempsey-------- James Scott (Jimbo)

Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo and Morgan Freeman as Sam, Robby and Billy,
respectively (photo credits: Peter Sorel/Warner Bros. Pictures)

Release Date: March 10, 1995 (USA) / April 7, 1995 (Brazil)
Running time: 128 min.

Budget / Box office: $50 million / $189,8 million. (box office success).
Plot Summary: In the late 60's, a virus called Motaba (which causes a mortal fever) was discovered in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo). To keep this virus a secret, U.S. Army Officers Donnie McClintock (Donald Sutherland) and Billy Ford (Morgan Freeman) destroy the camp where the soldiers where infected.

Some years later, Sam Daniels (Dustin Hoffman), an USAMRIID virologist, is sent to investigate an outbreak in Zaire. Along with him, were Casey (Kevin Spacey) and Major Salt (Cuba Gooding Jr.) . They gather some information and return to the United States. Ford, now a brigadier general and Daniels' officer, advises that the virus will spread.

The monkey Betsy, host of the virus, is smuggled into the country and sent into Cedar Creek, California. Jimbo Scott (Patrick Dempsey, who recently worked as Derek in Grey's Anatomy), a worker in an animal testing laboratory, is infected when he was stealing the monkey to sell into the black market. After failing and releasing the monkey into the woods to Cedar Creek, Jimbo develops symptoms while flying to Boston, infecting his girlfriend. The illness is investigated by Dr. Robby Keough (Rene Russo), a CDC scientist and Daniels' ex-wife. To end, Jimbo, the pet owner, Alice (Jimbo's girlfriend) die, but Keough concludes that no one else in Boston was infected.

While Ford provides the serum, Daniels realizes he was aware of the virus before the outbreak, and confronts the general that Motaba was a bioweapon and infected the monkey. In the time everyone was dying, Daniel learns about Operation Clean Sweep, and McClintock plans to use the operation to conceal the virus' existence.

The operation starts, Salt and Daniels escape in the helicopter to the ship where Betsy was, and Daniels carries a photo of the monkey to release it to the media. Both discover that a Cedar Creek resident, Mrs. Jeffries (Gina Menza), discovers that her daughter Kate (Kara Keough) was playing with Betsy in the yard... so the CDC was warned about the situation.

Rene Russo as Robby in a scene of "Outbreak" (1995)
(photo credits: Warner Bros. Pictures)

The ending of Outbreak is when Salt and Daniels mixes Betsy's antibodies with Ford's serum to create an anti-serum, saving Robby, while then, Casey died. Donnie was arrested, Daniels and Keough reconcile, and Cedar Creek residents are totally cured.

Fun Facts about the movie:

• This movie, along with an episode from The Simpsons from 1997, predicted the Ebola outbreak in October, 2014.
• Outbreak was the first movie when Rene Russo and Morgan Freeman worked together; the other was recently, in Just Getting Started, some months ago, in December 2017.
• Outbreak was based from the book The Hot Zone, by Richard Preston, also released in 1995.
• The monkey Betsy appeared in the sitcom Friends (1994).
• Scenes in Cedar Creek were filmed in Ferndale, California. 

Critical Reception:

• IMDB: 6,6/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 59% (mixed; 44 critics).
• Metacritic: 65%
• CinemaScore: A - (from A+ to F).

On April 24, I'll write more details about Rene Russo's character, Robby Keough, of Outbreak... 

Hope u like it.

Love u guys...

xoxoxo

ME