Ryan McNeil
The stars have lost their glitter…”
Today as I was pondering what to write about, my fried Jess (for sure this time) dropped a suggestion:
What is a film that should be remade?
I immediately started sorting through all of the crazy ideas that have dropped in the time I’ve been running this site. There was that version of Bonnie & Clyde that was supposed to happen with Hilary Duff. Rose McGowan was supposed to get into Jane Fonda’s space-skirt for BARBARELLA. Heck, both Chris Rock and Mike Nichols were supposed to be working on versions of Kurosawa’s HIGH AND LOW.
At every turn, we have done what movie fans do – we have raised up our hands, cried foul, wondered what was ever wrong with the original.
However, in thinking about this question, my brain drifted towards the hype-fest we annually endure called The Super Bowl. The one played last weekend had that half-time show performed by Beyonce…and Miss B was herself supposed to star in a planned remake: A STAR IS BORN.
You remember don’t you? A year and a half ago the news came down that director (and subsequent empty-chair-conversationalist) Clint Eastwood wanted to remake the property, and that The Irreplaceable One had been cast as his leading lady. Trust me, you were up in arms about it.
Then, just four months ago, we learned that the tide had turned. Due to scheduling conflicts, Beyonce dropped out of the project. While I can’t seem to find any confirmation of Eastwood dropping out as well (presumably to resume telling people to get off his lawn), it stands to reason that the project is indefinitely on-hold.
But what if it’s a remake that is supposed to happen? Stay with me here…
A STAR IS BORN is a film that has already been made three times over. First by William Wellman in 1937 starring Janet Gaynor and Frederic March. That film was remade into a musical in 1954 by George Cukor with Judy Garland and James Mason taking over the leads. Finally, in 1976, Frank Pierson remade the film with Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristoffersen. This version stripped out the musical element.
So for better or for worse, this is a story that Hollywood feels driven to revisit once a generation…and now we sit here overdue.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not in any rush to see Beyonce try to act again, and I’m in even less of a rush to see Clint try his hand at a movie musical. However, in the right hands, perhaps there’s something new that can come from A STAR IS BORN. The road to stardom has changed so drastically from where this story started – let alone where we left it. So too have the costs that come along with it. As if that wasn’t enough, the fall from fame seems even more vicious and public than it ever was.
Want to really make life imitate art? Take a lead from that original piece of casting and farm the cast of DREAMGIRLS – might it not be a bit interesting to see Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy in the main roles?
Perhaps that’s too on the nose, but I for one would drop the price of admission to find out.
Remake any film you like as long as you bring something new to the party. Kurasawa’s samurai movies became great westerns, High Noon was solid Sci Fi, Clueless was great Austen.
It’s not the source that’s important but the imagination you bring to it.
Very well said sir!
Thanks for stopping by the site – an honour, as always.
I like this idea – personally I think it’s time for a remake of Rebecca. Terrific story that could use an update. I think it helps to have enough time pass, but I think you nailed it – a timeless story is required first.
Hmm…perhaps some sort of REBECCA remake could incorporate the lifestyle and marital dynamic we saw in THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES?
I’m not against remakes in theory and know that many films that are considered classics were actually not the first takes on that story. Even so, I do get cautious because there are so many bad examples from recent years. I think the key is finding something unique or different with the story. The example above of Clueless is a great example, and Outland is a cool remake of High Noon. The Yojimbo story was remade well, and we’ve seen plenty of great Shakespeare adaptations of the same work.
Looking at specifics, it’s so hard to know what would be the best choice. I think there are some ’70s sci-fi films that might work on a modern scale with the right people involved. Of course, they also could become a mess like Total Recall this year. It all depends on the talent.
For me the key comes down to being able to graft an old story on to new realities. Not like I think it needs to be remade, but for instance what do you this a deft hand could do with ACE IN THE HOLE?
I was very much looking forward to the potential interpretation of “what if Kurt Cobain didn’t die, but, instead, faded away?”
I still hope for that.
Heck, forget about lacing that into STAR/BORN, just tell that story!
There supposedly were plans to remake “The Incredible Shrinking Man” as an Eddie Murphy comedy (though that’s been so long reported that it may be by the boards), but I would like to see a remake — one directly adapted from Richard Matheson’s novel, not his film script. The book has several significant differences from the 1957 movie; there is a young daughter (whose character is omitted from the film), and the Scott Carey protagonist continuously shrinks (instead of remaining at a half-sized state for awhile). In the book, the child-sized Scott has to use his wits to avoid being roughed up by a group of teen bullies, and his sexual frustration and male inadequacy as he diminishes (and his wife becomes to him an overpowering giant) is far more evident. In the right hands, and with today’s improved special effects, a dramatic 21st-century “Shrinking Man” could be as brilliant as Jack Arnold’s original was in its time.
Hey VP – Sorry I didn’t respond sooner! (I love that all the classic bloggers have been dropping by lately)
That does sound like a great idea for a remake, but I’d have one little caveat: I wouldn’t want Eddie Murphy anywhere near it. The man seems to be box office poison these days, and I can only envision his remake being some farcical romp that would be at home with THE KLUMPS or 1000 WORDS.
Now what would your idea look like if it were made with someone like Sam Rockwell in the lead?
Does anybody know still about the proposed Thin Man remake? I remember people being up in arms about that. Imo, it could work with Johnny Depp in the Powell role if the remake was a little bit darker, as opposed to the comedy that the original film was. If I remember correctly, the original story by Hammett, which I should go back and read as a refresher, was funny but in a darker way.
Hi Stefanie – Welcome to the Matinee!
A quick Google search says that the THIN MAN remake isn’t entirely dead, but has been delayed. Word is that the price tag is a little high at the moment ($100M, which would put it in a tougher position to make a profit). Also, Rob Marshall was slated to direct but has shuffled his schedule around a bit.
So it would seem as though it’s not totally dead – just “in limbo”.
THIN MAN might be a good candidate to remake because of its pulpy nature and the length of time that has past since the original films. The question will come down to execution.
Good call!