Ron Perlman and Selma Blair in Hellboy based on Mike Mignola's comic. (Columbia)
Director Guillermo Del Toro and actor Ron Perlman may not be Martin Scosese and Robert DeNiro but their multiple collaborations are getting increasingly better. The latest is an adaptation of Mike Mignola's Dark Horse Comic series Hellboy (opening April 2 throughout San Diego.)
Mexican filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro is a foreign director who's managed to keep his unique style of filmmaking even while working within the Hollywood studio system. He has a penchant for stylish horror with a hint of Catholicism. Cronos and The Devil's Backbone (both made in Mexico) are his most personal films, and Mimic and Blade 2 are his bigger budgeted Hollywood endeavors. But his distinct personality can be found in all. With Hellboy , however, Del Toro seems to have made his most personal Hollywood film, fulfilling a dream to bring Mike Mignola's comic book hero to the big screen with Ron Perlman in the lead. Casting Perlman was something Del Toro had to fight for since no one was interested in a non-A-list, fifty-ish actor to anchor a potential franchise. The American Perlman first worked for Del Toro on the Mexican vampire tale, Cronos and then acted for him again in the American tale of bloodsuckers, Blade 2 . But both roles were supporting ones. In Hellboy , Perlman assumes the lead and delivers the goods.
