Eric Rohmer Tagged Articles at Cinematical

If nothing else, Eric Rohmer's The Romance of Astrea and Celadon raises many interesting questions about the nature of the auteur theory and film canons in general. Rohmer is a certified auteur, and a world master. He has made many, many good films and a few great ones, especially when adding entries to his three celebrated series: "Six Moral Tales" (in the 1960s and 1970s), "Comedies and Proverbs" (six films in the 1980s) and "Tales of the Four Seasons" (in the 1990s).

These films, which often have a relaxed, al fresco quality, mainly focus on young, smart, attractive contemporary French people who talk a lot get themselves into romantic situations. When he departs from this successful formula, as with his last two films, The Lady and the Duke (2001) and Triple Agent (2004), the results are considerably less. So when a filmmaker like Rohmer makes something as blatantly, painfully awful as The Romance of Astrea and Celadon, it brings such ideas into sharp relief.

Considered one of the least of W.C. Fields' films, this little more than an hour long morality tale directed by Erle C. Kenton (Island of Lost Souls)--an almost Rohmerish parable about snobbery--was a pleasant surprise discovery on the W. C. Fields Comedy Collection Vol. 2. This movie balances The Great Man with a sort of fairy godmother, an unhappy princess on the American tour. It could lure in female fans in who might be repelled by a real Fields day like The Bank Dick or Never Give a Sucker an Even Break. The Booze Movie blog, run by a 100-proof fan of Fields, mentions this film slightingly, pointing out that it was based on a short story published in the woman's magazine Redbook, and has Redbook's own lack of edge. (Incidentally, it's a nigh-shot for shot remake of an earlier silent version, the Gregory La Cava movie So's Your Old Man.)

The movie was out of circulation for some time; William K. Everson wrote that it was "a major disaster" that the public couldn't see it, in his 1972 book The Art of W.C. Fields. True, You're Telling Me! lacks in the written-by-pink-elephants whimsy of Fields at his most extreme. And yet there's an emotional center here that won't repel the harder-core fan of Fields, who was certainly the grandfather of Homer Simpson. Fields plays a gauche but intrepid drunkard named Sam Bisbee, in search of that million dollar payoff that'll bring him well-deserved leisure for life. It's his passing friendship with a female stranger on a train that makes it happen.

Back in February, it was announced that Eric Rohmer's renowned Chloe in the Afternoon would be remade by Fox Searchlight as a rollicking comedy, set in the US. Behind the completely insane idea -- who looks at Chloe and says "You know, this would be better if it was really, really hilarious!"? -- is none other that Chris Rock, who both wrote the screenplay (with Louis C.K.) and is set to star in the film. When the project was first announced, Drumline director Charles Stone was in negotiations to take the helm, and his involvement subsequently became official. For unspecified reasons, however, Stone dropped out (I'm guessing it was due to "creative conflicts" that centered on the absurdity of the entire concept), and has recently been replaced by ... Chris Rock. Hey, he's doing everything else, right?

Rock's only other directorial effort for cinema (he's directed an episode of Everybody Hates Chris) was Head of State (which he also co-wrote and starred in) a cynical comedy about American politics that got a handful of good reviews. The current project stars Rock as "a professional man" married to Gina Torres who gets himself into trouble when his ex, Kerry Washington, appears on the scene; shooting begins next month in New York.

Woo hoo, another remake! This time, it's French genius Eric Rohmer's Chloe in the Afternoon that is the victim inspiration, and Chris Rock who's to blame behind the update. Rohmer's film "depicted the life of a happily married office worker who daydreams about other women until he encounters the mistress of an old friend who tries to seduce him." Needless to say, the remake - entitled I Think I Love My Wife - will be moved to the US, and will take place in modern-day New York. Oh, and it's now going to be hilarious comedy. Of course it is.

Rock wrote the screenplay with Louis C.K. and plans to star in the film, which Fox Searchlight's president is calling "a modern look at contemporary relationships to which...Rock lends his acerbic and distinctive point of view." In negotiations to direct is Charles Stone, whose Drumline (which I have to confess to secretly loving) apparently led Rock to approach him for a collaboration.

There's no timeline yet for the film's production, but I'm crossing my fingers that it won't be a complete insult to Rohmer. I mean, Rock has some talent, and Drumline is great, dammit. It could work. Right? Oh, nevermind.