Well, you’ve been waiting for a big remake bombshell. One of those major “Don’t you DARE you touch that!!” kinds of licenses. There have been some “relatively” big pictures to receive the remake treatment in recent memory, such as “The Day the Earth Stood Still” but nothing to really stand in disbelief at. Not a “Citizen Kane”-esque level of audacity, but a recent rumor of there being a potential “The Third Man” remake starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire does tread dangerously close. Luckily, if proven to be true, there may be some talent to pull this off. Click on the jump, and let’s hop on this ferris wheel together.
First and foremost, this is still just a rumor, and as being reported by CHUD it’s “still early enough in the game that it could all fall apart, but it’s also late enough in the game that it could be officially announced in a week or two.” According to the article not only are DiCaprio and Maguire starring, but it’s also being penned by “Eastern Promises” screenwriter Steven Knight. As an ardent fan of Maguire and DiCaprio and with Knight’s experience writing a script for a film with an overseas setting, the only thing at this point that would piss me off would be to attach an unfit director, and at the rumor stage no helmer has been mentioned. That being said, David Cronenberg does excellent work with actors and has worked in Europe multiple times. And Steven Sodbergh’s “The Good German” closely resembles the atmosphere and look of a film made from that time period, but that’s under the assumption they don’t move the story in a modern-day setting.
“The Third Man” is one of the most universally beloved films amongst critics. It’s one of the premier film-noir pictures, was ranked #57 on AFI’s original Top 100 Films list, and is considered by many to be the best film to come out of Europe. If this does come to fruition I’d expect a lot of curiosity from fans especially once it finds a director. However, DiCaprio and Maguire as Harry Lime and Holly Martins, respectively, makes good sense, unless they want to tack an accent on one and cast them in the Major Calloway role. So many possibilities if this rumor turns out to be reality.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Addresses MAN OF STEEL Rumors and Talks SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR
Sundance 2013: BEFORE MIDNIGHT Review
New TV Spots for OBLIVION, PAIN AND GAIN, and MOVIE 43
Green Band Trailer for EVIL DEAD Remake
Sundance 2013: KILL YOUR DARLINGS Review
My gut reaction is that this is the worst idea ever, but I quickly realized this was just me being protective of one of the best films of all time.
The truth is, a lot of the themes in the original film could possibly carry over (in terms of Americans blundering into a situation, thinking they are in control of it when really they’re way out of their league). The plot…it’d be a stretch, and they’d be better off setting it in a third-world country or Iraq. Harry Lime’s whole scheme doesn’t make sense in a modern European city.
And if it brings more attention to the original, then so be it. The classics always live on, in spite of what we cinephiles so often fear.
At first glance yes, i thought the same as well. Another Hollywood remake but they have been doing this for years and well, its not like anyone is going to stop them. LOL!
Also you’re right mate, it might shed some light to a movie that is insanely brilliant and ripe for a remake to bring it to a wider audience.
Jury is still out whether it will be a faithful and brilliant remake or another blood bath to mediocrity. LOL!
My gut reaction is that this is the worst idea ever, but I quickly realized this was just me being protective of one of the best films of all time.
The truth is, a lot of the themes in the original film could possibly carry over (in terms of Americans blundering into a situation, thinking they are in control of it when really they’re way out of their league). The plot…it’d be a stretch, and they’d be better off setting it in a third-world country or Iraq. Harry Lime’s whole scheme doesn’t make sense in a modern European city.
And if it brings more attention to the original, then so be it. The classics always live on, in spite of what we cinephiles so often fear.
At first glance yes, i thought the same as well. Another Hollywood remake but they have been doing this for years and well, its not like anyone is going to stop them. LOL!
Also you’re right mate, it might shed some light to a movie that is insanely brilliant and ripe for a remake to bring it to a wider audience.
Jury is still out whether it will be a faithful and brilliant remake or another blood bath to mediocrity. LOL!
This film cannot be remade. Today, titles and plots are being recycled. The general target audience could not relate to “The Third Man”.
OK, here’s a recycling: Lime is a crack lord or arms dealer in L.A. who hides in cyberspace instead of the Russian zone. He was thought to be dead, but paid off some politicians or FBI people to fake the forensics. Martens is a small town newspaper writer from Nebraska, Calloway is a hard boiled Fed or LA detective, and Anna is an addict with a heart of gold who’s habit is supplied by the guys Lime left behind.
Through internet and cell phone investigation, Lime is found to be living, and DNA confirms it. After Martens rolls over on him, there is a bloody kung-fu/gun fight nearly to the death, and in a spectacular slow motion explosion, Lime is killed (maybe…leave room for a sequel). Anna goes to rehab, and with Marten’s support lives happily ever after in Omaha.
Put out video games, graphic novels, action figures, the whole shot.
If you want 700 repetitions of the F word, get Samuel L. Jackson and Dennis Hopper involved. “What the F*** did the muthuhf***in’ Swiss make? The F***in’ cookoo clock!”
Just an idea…
This film cannot be remade. Today, titles and plots are being recycled. The general target audience could not relate to “The Third Man”.
OK, here’s a recycling: Lime is a crack lord or arms dealer in L.A. who hides in cyberspace instead of the Russian zone. He was thought to be dead, but paid off some politicians or FBI people to fake the forensics. Martens is a small town newspaper writer from Nebraska, Calloway is a hard boiled Fed or LA detective, and Anna is an addict with a heart of gold who’s habit is supplied by the guys Lime left behind.
Through internet and cell phone investigation, Lime is found to be living, and DNA confirms it. After Martens rolls over on him, there is a bloody kung-fu/gun fight nearly to the death, and in a spectacular slow motion explosion, Lime is killed (maybe…leave room for a sequel). Anna goes to rehab, and with Marten’s support lives happily ever after in Omaha.
Put out video games, graphic novels, action figures, the whole shot.
If you want 700 repetitions of the F word, get Samuel L. Jackson and Dennis Hopper involved. “What the F*** did the muthuhf***in’ Swiss make? The F***in’ cookoo clock!”
Just an idea…