This may be the most indulgent article series I am going
to embark on (maybe only rivaled by my “Casting My Own Movie” series I started
but never followed up on), but this should be interesting. I am going to take
classic movies and break down who would/could/should be cast in a remake if one
were made at this very moment. Obviously, these are films that should never be
touched, but it is interesting to think about.
Now with a movie like The
Deer Hunter, one that is so fully and completely post-Vietnam in impact and
release date, it is difficult to really comprehend how it could be changed in
terms of writing and directing. I will assume the movie requires the same
traits from the actors, but the overall scope of the movie would probably be
changed to fit into the present day. Not an exact science, I know, but it is
the best I can do. So, check out what I came up with for the greatest movie of
all time, Michael Cimino’s 1978 Oscar-winning masterpiece The Deer Hunter:
WRITER(S)
Original: Michael
Cimino (story), Louis Garfinkle
(unpublished script), Quinn K. Redeker
(unpublished script), Deric Washburn
(story/screenplay)
What is required: The Deer Hunter is not exactly a writing showcase, so it is not a
highly sophisticated screenplay. The writer would need to be able to thoroughly
develop several different primary characters, as well as making reality out of
situations as extreme and provocative as Russian Roulette games. Since the
original is over 3 hours, the screenplay does not necessarily have to be tight,
but it needs to be thick and deep. It would take a special writer to bring it
all together.
Who would be chosen: William Monahan. He would be a tremendous choice. He has worked
with several different main characters in a remake format with The Departed. Although not great work,
he has worked with war films before with Kingdom
of Heaven. He has the prestige of being an Oscar winner, but he really
hasn’t worked all that often. I wouldn’t complain.
My choice: David
Simon. It is time this guy made a movie. After a couple sensational
multi-character TV shows (The Wire, Homicide: Life on the Street) and a
really popular war miniseries (Generation
Kill), it is clear that he has the resume to take on such this subject.
What most attracts me to this choice is his edginess and unrelenting style.
That is what is most important for a movie like this. He would probably set it
in Baltimore instead of Pittsburgh, but hey… screw the Steelers!
DIRECTOR
Original: Michael
Cimino
What is required: It is difficult to really
quantify what Cimino actually brought to the table, since the rest of his
career was one giant flop, but the movie really is remarkably directed. It
needs to be someone who can bring all three major sections of the movie
together into one inspired film. Even in the most extreme and heartbreaking
sequences, the movie still needs to be very grounded and realistic.
Who would be chosen: Ridley Scott. For me, this would be a worst-case scenario. However,
he has collaborated with Monahan once already (Kingdom of Heaven), and he has made an effort recently to make more
domestic dramas between his action, war, and sci-fi pictures. He may be able to
pull it off, but I just can’t even imagine having to sit through a three hour
Scott movie. If he can calm down his gunfire obsession and make a couple war
sequences as disturbing as some of Alien,
while maintaining a personal and emotional touch on the quieter scenes, then it
could work. Either way, I would not really want to come near this. I would be
afraid of what it would do to my favorite movie.
My choice: David
O. Russell. He would be a bit of an outside-the-box directing choice, but
seeing what he was able to accomplish in Three
Kings, as well as the painful humanity of The Fighter, I feel like he could really breathe life into the
quieter small-town scenes as well as the gritty, emotional war sequences. It
would not be a perfect choice, but he would make it feel more modern and even
more relevant today.
Axel
Original: Chuck
Aspegren
What is required: This is not a really important
part, but it provides the slightest bit of levity in the otherwise completely
serious movie. He was not an actor, just a steel worker that the crew met on
location, but he fit perfectly in with the group of friends. So, the actor
would essentially just need to appear as an ordinary guy, as well as deliver
and repeat the classic line “Fuckin’ A!” and dip his Twinkies in jars of mustard.
Who would be chosen: Zach Galifianakis. It is not out of the question to think that he
could pull this off, seeing how he was cast and was virtually unrecognizable in
Into the Wild, but this would
actually be a cool role for him. He would be able to provide the light humor of
the part, plus he sort of looks like Aspergren. I just feel like he is a bit
too old for the part, and his presence might be a distraction from the other
characters.
My choice: Michael
Gladis. I am always quick to mention actors from my favorite TV shows when
relevant. Gladis has always had a slightly humorous part in Mad Men, and this seems like the sort of
part that could be a nice introduction into film for him. He looks like he
could be a steelworker at times. Since this role is not too vital to the movie,
this type of actor is that would best serve Axel’s purpose.
John
Original: George
Dzundza
What is required: This is another part that is not
among the main characters, but it is about on the same level as Axel. He is another friend of the main characters. The actor would need to have that
ordinary guy feel, and really just seem like he belongs in that group.
Who would be chosen: Patton Oswalt. This may just be another case of the fact that he
looks and acts like the original, but he would be the perfect casting as John.
He has the quirky attitude as well as the ability to be serious. Even if he
just plays it like Big Fan, he will
be fine.
My choice: Patton
Oswalt. He is just the perfect choice for this.
Stan
Original: John
Cazale
What is required: Stan is essentially the bullied
one of the group. He is absent-minded and weak, but he does provide quite a bit
of heart. He is also the oldest of the group. Cazale was one-of-a-kind, and it
is almost a shame to talk about replacing his final role, but there is one
great choice.
Who would be chosen: Mark Ruffalo. He is excellent at these types of supporting roles,
and I could just imagine him in that scene in the cabin absolutely breaking our
hearts. He would be perfect.
My choice: Mark
Ruffalo. I cannot even picture any other actor in this role.
Linda
Original: Meryl
Streep
What is required: The part is incredibly subtle
and underplayed. The actress would need to be able to show restraint, even in
the scenes where emotions are all around her.
Who would be chosen: Jennifer Lawrence. She is the next Meryl Streep, and even though
she is too young for this particular part (same thing was said about her in Silver Linings Playbook), she would
still be incredible and totally authentic in it.
My choice: Carey
Mulligan. She is one of the best actresses out there at being completely
believable in her role no matter what the circumstances of the film are. She is
perfect at playing the sweet, likeable girlfriend role, which would make her
relationship with the leads seem totally genuine.
Steven
Original: John
Savage
What is required: This is probably the most
Oscar-friendly part in the film (and the one that wasn’t recognized). Steven is
an emotional character, and there is also something just off about him. He
never seems to be fully together, so the actor would need to be believable as a
weaker personality. He is essentially the little brother to the others.
Who would be chosen: Shia LaBeouf. I could see him sliding into the role quite nicely. He
would not be the best choice, but there could be far worse. He has the nervous
energy to nail some of the Vietnam scenes, but he would really need to hold it
back in the third act.
My choice: Dane
DeHaan. He is one of the top up-and-coming actors out there. He has the
perfect persona for Steven. In every role I have seen from him, he just exudes
that internally tormented weaker character that this role requires.
Nick
Original: Christopher
Walken
What is required: Well, Walken gave the greatest
performance in the history of movies. It requires something truly special by
the performer. More than anything, the role is about facial expressions. The
actor needs to be able to show pain and worry on his face, and at other times be
absolutely emotionless and heartbreaking. Nick is the most important character
in the movie.
Who would be chosen: Joseph Gordon-Levitt. This would be an awesome pick. He can totally
own those later scenes, and he has really developed a wide range emotionally. This
is the type of role that he needs if he really wants to become an A-lister,
which he certainly has the talent to be.
My choice: Paul
Dano. This would not be a popular choice, but there are few actors working
right now that have mastered facial expressions the way Dano has (evidence: Little Miss Sunshine). He has the total
package to do the part justice. He has yet to have this vital of a role in a
movie (perhaps There Will Be Blood is
the closest thing), but if given the opportunity, he might just blow us away.
Michael
Original: Robert
De Niro
What is required: Stepping into De Niro’s shoes is
always going to be difficult, but this part is not his most iconic. At its
core, the part is all about passion and raw emotion. He is the dominant character
in the film, also the one most filled with anguish. As opposed to essentially
everyone else, he lets it out. He is a volatile, protective, and furious
character.
Who would be chosen: Jake Gyllenhaal. I have never been the biggest fan of his, but he
can certainly act. I am not sure if he can really hold his own in this big of a
part, but I believe he has the tools to pull it off, even if we haven’t seen him
do it yet.
My choice: Ryan
Gosling. If I had to choose one actor who could become the next De Niro, it
is Gosling. He has not really had this fiery of a part in his career, but he
would kill it. I cannot even imagine what he would make the audience feel in
those later scenes and in the first Roulette sequence…especially being directed
by David O. Russell. If there was ever a planned remake of this movie and he signed
on as Michael, I would be there.
Anyone else have ideas for these parts? Thoughts? Comments? What
movie would you like me to do next? Let me know!
