Actually, it's quite brilliant

Actually, it's quite brilliant

Apr 01

One of my favorite movies (and definitely my favorite movie adapted from a play) is Sleuth, wherein a young Michael Caine matches wits with an Sir Larry Olivier. It’s definitely a old-school film, set almost entirely inside an English country mansion. And in this neverending season of remakes, someone has decided to update the film. This would normally drive me batty, as remakes rarely match their roots.

However, the remake is going to star Michael Caine and Jude Law. With Jude Law taking Caine’s role, and Sir Michael Caine taking Sir Olivier’s role. And the brilliance is that Jude Law has already re-did Caine in Alfie. Fate doesn’t get more fatey that that, really.

Really, I think it should be a rule – if you’re going to remake a Michael Caine film, you have to use Jude Law. And I’d go see them – Get Carter would have been a far better film, no doubt, with Law instead of Sylvester Stallone. “I am the Law!” No you ain’t!

Let’s fan out and see what we’ve got;

Zulu – I think in the current state of things, a dose of African history would be a good thing to revisit. And Law would be just the person to bring in the kids. Plus, I’d like to hear his take on, “Zulu. Bloody ‘undreds of them.”

The Ipcress File – Casino Royale was ok, but the Bourne series is the new spy standard, and I think Law could do some justice to some old school cold-war shit.

Get Carter – Needs to be said again.

The Man Who Would Be King – I don’t know who the new Cean Connery is. Maybe Clive Owens. But find him! And then put him and Law in this remake.

Deathtrap – Another play turned movie. And totally gay. But it’s an important test to Law’s conviction (the one I’ve just made up), as an actor, to take over all of Michael Caine’s old roles.

Actually, this is more work than I thought – here, go look yourself, and stop when you get to 1988’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. And in particular, pay attention to all the movies you don’t recognize (like Harry and Walter Go To New York.) Those should TOTALLY be re-done. Not only would most people think it was new, you could then sell the DVD of the old movie to them later.

It’s sinster, but I like it.