PatriceLeconte Tagged Articles at Cinematical

In 2002, French filmmaker and actor Patrice Leconte brought us Man on the Train -- the story of a teacher and thief who meet and befriend each other. As their friendship develops, they realize that they wish they had the other's life. The award-winning film is one that inspired Roger Ebert to say: "I have seen The Man on the Train twice, will see it again, cannot find a flaw." Of course, you know what that means! Stomach your groans and prepare yourself -- a remake is coming.

The Hollywood Reporter posts that Miramax is whipping up an English remake of the film. As of now, the only person signed on to the project is screenwriter Daniel Taplitz, the man who just brought us Chaos Theory. Thomas Bezucha (The Family Stone) is in negotiations to direct, and THR says that Billy Bob Thornton "is said to be circling the project."

I really enjoyed Chaos Theory, but I wasn't too much of a fan of The Family Stone. I'm sure, however, that they can make an enjoyable movie. But will it be one worthy of the original? I'm not convinced. Leconte excels at creating really excellent and dynamic friendships on-screen (think Mon Meilleur Ami), and while the films have mainstream comedy aspects, there's a depth to them that makes them more than just a normal comedy. But maybe they'll all surprise me and make it more than just your everyday comedy. Production is scheduled to begin later this year.

One of my favorite films from TIFF last year -- Patrice Leconte's Mon Meilleur Ami -- just hit theaters a few days ago, and somehow I missed it. Luckily, it's not too late to go on about why you should see this movie. Why do I care? Beyond the fact that it is an entertaining, solid comedy, we've got a chance here to patronize a great foreign language film and show that North America can handle a non-English film that isn't directed by Mel Gibson or Clint Eastwood. In February, I posted about how Brian Grazer and Universal were already gearing up for an English-language remake. But why bother when the film is now on the big screen?

Mon Meilluer Ami, which is titled My Best Friend for North American audiences, is about François Coste (Daniel Auteuil), a completely conceited art dealer who is stunned to learn that none of his so-called friends like him. Of course, he denies the accusation, and his business partner makes a bet with him -- he can keep an expensive Greek vase he picked up with their business' money if he can produce a genuine best friend. If he can't, the vase is hers. After stumbling upon an eternally-jovial cabbie a few times, he hires the man to teach him how to find a friend.

You can check out the trailer over at the film's website. The film is only in limited release now, but hopefully all of you lovely cinemagoers will patronize the available screenings like mad and inspire IFC to send the film to more theaters.

Two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank has begun developing a remake of French director Patrice Leconte's 2004 film Intimate Strangers, a mystery drama about a woman who is seeing a man she thinks is a psychiatrist, but he isn't. I haven't seen the film, but Roger Ebert gave it a glowing three and a half stars, and gushed over the psycho-sexual setup. I can't top the master, so here's his take: "She thinks he is a psychiatrist. He is not, but doesn't tell her that, and as she continues her visits he ignores the withering stares of Madame Mulon and sits sphinx-like behind his desk, hardly moving a muscle, listening to her story as it grows steadily more strange, and it must be said, more erotic."

Okay, someone sign De Palma up for this immediately -- this is the movie he should be casting Hilary Swank in, not The Black Dahlia, where she was supposed to look exactly like Mia Kirshner, even though she, um, doesn't. The remake of Strangers is being scripted by a writer named Kelly Fremon, and Variety says Swank "has an eye" to star in the picture, as well as produce alongside Frederic Golchan and Ted Field. Swank is currently in post-production on a film for Warner Bros. called P.S., I Love You, and has her named attached to a project called Labyrinth about a woman with multiple personalities, and one of those personalities knows the identity of a serial killer -- that sounds more like a Halle Berry type of role, doesn't it?