Will there be a Remake?
-
Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Friends of Eddie Coyle
paul_rothchild — 17 years ago(August 02, 2008 07:44 PM)
I just finally saw TFOEC a little while ago after having read the book years ago and heard so many people on this board and elsewhere raving about it.
Well, all the hype was deserved. It was an incredible movie.
It got me thinking that this would be a great candidate for a remake. It just seems with all these great gritty crime films set in Boston doing so well (MYSTIC RIVER, DEPARTED, GONE BABY GONE), Eddie Croyle has a lot of the same ingredients.
So what do people think? Good for an updated remake or too good in its original form and shouldn't be remade? -
paul_rothchild — 17 years ago(August 06, 2008 06:57 PM)
To introduce the story, character, and world to a whole new generation of film goers.
To, through advances in technology, cinematography, film quality, sound, and special effects, tell the story on a grander, more contemporary level.
To feature a deeper, more well rounded cast.
There are plenty of reasons to remake a great but little seen film like "The Friends of Eddie Croyle". -
mlbroberts — 17 years ago(October 21, 2008 08:16 AM)
I can see Johnny Depp in the Jordan role (he's a Jordan kind of actor - nice to look at, can be all different kinds of sinister, and he's interested in good roles with meat on the bones), but I'm having trouble with Mitchum = I don't see anybody around today that can play that crumpled, worn out, beaten down but still finagling and horny as hell character. They just don't let actors age anymore.
-
mlbroberts — 10 years ago(May 09, 2015 04:00 PM)
Liam Neeson can only do a Liam Neeson kind of role (not all that nuanced) and could never pull off Eddie. I would like to have seen Robin Williams take a stab at it - he was an actor of more depth than he got credit for, and he could have pulled off that crumpled look and attitude very well.
-
dalldorfw — 10 years ago(March 17, 2016 08:53 AM)
".Maybe a remake will help develop an interest in the original."
That has happened. When the 'Halloween' remake came out, people were renting/buying more copies of the original because it reminded them of when 'Halloween' was something good. -
Nikon11 — 17 years ago(August 07, 2008 11:12 AM)
I get what you're saying - but I can't think of any remakes that've been any good. And they're always compared to the original, and not usually in very good terms.
I don't see any need for special effects, and the cast was perfect.
But I'll admit to not knowing what the hell "well-rounded cast" actually means. -
paul_rothchild — 17 years ago(August 07, 2008 03:23 PM)
Surely you jest. Perhaps you've not given it enough thought.
Try these solid remakes on for size:
John Carpenter's The Thing
Cape Fear
The Departed - remake of Internal Affairs
Oceans Eleven
The Fly
The Magnificent Seven - remake of The Seven Samurai -
dep1353 — 17 years ago(August 07, 2008 05:44 PM)
.For the most part, the films you listed were either action, western or sci-fi. "Eddie Coyle", being more character driven, is not really a film that could be improved by the advances you mentioned.
.Actually, the
only
issue I have with "Eddie Coyle" is the soundtrack, and only in parts ( something about the guitar work, I think ).
.And I agree with Nikon11, I can't think of a more deep and well rounded cast. Maybe you have some suggestions?
.
Have a nice day
. -
Oliver-50 — 17 years ago(August 07, 2008 06:50 PM)
I love that this film is a bit of a hidden treasure. I found out about it when it was on Roger Ebert's top ten list of 1973 and decided to track down a bootleg on Ebay. I think the film is better left alone. Besides, why remake an already near-perfect movie? Why not take a crappy movie and remake it into a good one? Like Leonard Part 6, remade with Ice Cube. I'm just saying.
Walk. Don't Drive. Save money, your heart, and the environment. -
paul_rothchild — 17 years ago(August 09, 2008 02:21 PM)
I listed 6 very good to great remakes off the top of my head, and you dismissed these for "the most part" as "either action, western, or sci-fi".
The makers of "Cape Fear", "Oceans Eleven", and "The Departed" (3 of the 6, or 50% of the films I listed) would beg to differ with your characterization - none of them are action, wester, or scifi.
In fact "Cape Fear" and "The Departed" in particular underscore my point. Both were mystery/thrillers, based on a number of complex and interesting characters that drove the plot, with great performances in the original - the original "Cape Fear" notably starring Robert Mitchum.
And "Oceans Eleven" was hardly an action movie, but rather a comedic heist movie with a number of great characters.
All three remakes were fine films and with fine performances (Robert DeNiro in "Cape Fear" anyone?).
I guess the reality is that this debate happens anytime you discuss a remake of a great film. I'm sure there were plenty of cries from fans loyal to the original against remaking "Cape Fear" or "The Departed", etc. -
dep1353 — 17 years ago(August 09, 2008 05:02 PM)
.I never meant to dismiss those films. Some of my favorite movies are
action, western and sci-fi
. My point was that all the "advances" in
technology, cinematography, film quality, sound, and special effects
really can't add that much to great performances.
.Actually, your suggestion that the remake could feature a
deeper, more well rounded cast
strikes
me
as a little dismissive. -
dep1353 — 17 years ago(August 11, 2008 08:30 AM)
.As to the depth of the cast, Helena Carroll, who played Eddie's wife Sheila, was probably better known for her stage work ( including the original "Separate Tables" and "Oliver", and revivals of "Design for Living" and Private Lives" ). Maybe her finest film role was as Aunt Kate in Huston's "The Dead".
-
Nikon11 — 17 years ago(August 11, 2008 05:15 AM)
I don't jest here.
Your list:
John Carpenter's The Thing - Didn't see it.
Cape Fear - Saw it a long time ago, and thought that DeNiro overplayed it, and I don't care about it.
The Departed - remake of Internal Affairs - Doesn't really count as a remake, because the original is foreign, so there's a reason for it. It's not just re-doing a movie for the sake of re-doing it.
Oceans Eleven - I can't even remember if I saw it - so I couldn't have been that impressed.
The Fly - Saw it and don't remember it, and don't care.
The Magnificent Seven - remake of The Seven Samurai - Didn't see it.
So, my opinion isn't changed.
