Posts with tag AlanParker
They're Remaking 'Angel Heart'?
Filed under: Horror », Deals », Noir », Remakes and Sequels »
I'm starting to think I'm the only one out there who still follows the old maxim: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But, it's downright silly of me to think that a movie producer would ever miss the chance to earn a few bucks on a remake. Variety reports that Michael De Luca has partnered with Alison Rosenzweig and Michael Gaeta on a remake of Alan Parker's (Evita) 1987 horror-suspense flick, Angel Heart.Angel Heart originally starred Mickey Rourke as a seedy private investigator hired to locate a nightclub singer who's gone on the run. Robert De Niro co-starred as Rourke's mysterious client, Louis Cyphre, along with Lisa Bonet as the daughter of a voodoo priest. The film had a little bit of everything: voodoo, hard-boiled detectives, the prince of darkness, and more plot twists than you can shake a stick at. Not to mention the film is probably best remembered for its controversial sex scenes starring a Cosby kid naked and rolling around in blood.
The film might not have been a huge hit upon release, but has gained cult status over the years, and according to Variety, De Luca "has long been a fan of the novel." The production is still in its early stages, and so far there are no names attached to the project. De Luca adds, "It's a great blend of genres with a great Faustian bargain, compelling, universal themes and a rare combination of literary and commercial appeal." One thing is for sure -- unless they have some changes planned for the update, I wouldn't exactly describe the story of Harry Angel as one with 'commercial appeal' ... would you?
Andy Fickman Tapped to Direct 'Fame' Remake, Source Says
Filed under: Drama », Music & Musicals », Deals », MGM », Remakes and Sequels »
It didn't seem all that long ago when we first had news that MGM was planning to dust off the 1980's musical Fame. Now, FilmJerk claims that sources report that Andy Fickman has been chosen to direct. Originally directed by Alan Parker (Evita, Pink Floyd The Wall), Fame centered on a high school for the performing arts in New York. If MGM has chosen Fickman to helm the remake, it certainly gives us an indication that MGM could be planning a little sanitizing of the original film's more gritty elements (drug abuse, pornography, and abortion). So far, Fickman has directed the Amanda Bynes comedy She's the Man, and the Disney football film The Game Plan with Dwayne Johnson -- with both films definitely falling into the category of family-friendly.Say what you want about the original film (it's hard to overlook the excessive use of leg-warmers, I know), but at least Parker tried for just a slightly more realistic portrayal of struggling artists and the cost of success -- Well, at least as realistic as people bursting into musical numbers in the middle of a crowded NY intersection can be. Since nothing is definite yet, its way too early for purists to declare any changes to the original film as blasphemy -- although you can't blame them when you look at Fickman's track record so far.
1980 Musical 'Fame' Being Remade by MGM
Filed under: Drama », Music & Musicals », Deals », MGM », Fandom », Remakes and Sequels »
Call me a pessimist, but I can't help but think that as soon as a studio decides to remake a movie from my childhood, it can't help but pale in comparison. The Hollywood Reporter recently announced that MGM has partnered with 300's Mark Canton to put together a remake of the 1980 musical Fame. The original film, directed by Alan Parker (Evita) starred Irene Cara, Laura Dean, and Barry Miller as students at the New York School of Performing Arts and became known for its signature line "I'm gonna live forever!," which you can be certain will be used in the remake. MGM's Rick Sands has confirmed that a writer and a director have been hired, but he was keeping quiet about any further details about casting.
Sands is also not making any promises about how close the new remake will stick to the original. However, he did comment on some of the changes saying, "We'll update it, (but) we'll still keep some of the songs. The script is being written right now, but we are keeping it under wraps. There will be a strong musical component, though," which makes it sound like Fame is going to be bottled into the new dance film craze with a little of the old music thrown in to appease the people who are nostalgic for the original. You have to admire a musical that can work in dance numbers in between story lines about abortion, drug abuse, and sexual exploitation. It's also worth noting that it won an Oscar for the original song (Fame), and spawned a TV series and a long-running musical. Oh well, as long as they don't mess with Hot Lunch ... some things are sacred.
Charlize at the Bottom of the World
Filed under: Drama », Casting », Newsstand »
Sorry, actresses who look like normal people: Charlize Theron seems to have cornered the market on your jobs. I mean, come on -- it's not like normal people can magically get all hot and take her "Gorgeous Woman Needed" roles, but she comes waltzing in and, like, puts one some makeup, or gains a little weight and Bam!, suddenly she's one of us. That bitch. After the Academy-loved successes that were Monster and North Country, Theron is now taking on The Ice at the Bottom of the World (based on a short story and screenplay by Mark Richard), in which she'll play "a heroin addict and out-of-control single mother," a role that you know will mean a lot of greasy hair, big bags under the eyes, and perhaps a tabloid-worthy weight loss to make her look appropriately smack-loving skeletal. As Karina reported early this year, Theron has owned the rights to the story for a long time, so it's clearly something about which she feels quite strongly. Well, either that or she read it and thought "Oscar!".The film is being directed by Alan Parker, and Theron's character actually sounds like something of a supporting figure in the story. The focus will be on her character's father, "a grizzled Navy captain" who has been forced against his will to retire due to ill health.
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Discuss: So, How Was 'Twilight'?
Quizzimatical: Vampire Movies
Insert Caption: Twilight
Fan Made: 'Twilight' Cookies
Cinematical Seven: Great Exports from Down Under
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