Remake


I hate to see movies remade simply for the act of remaking them. However, I think the novel Catch 22 deserves a better film version than the Mike Nichols/Buck Henry production. Though the 1970 film has many highlights I have always felt the film is too murky and unclear in both filmmaking style and in message. Also the film goes from comedy to drama with little in between. Hopefully one day some director choses to remake the work and push it more towards a Dr. Strangelove style of satire.
The film is helped by an all-star cast and I would like to see some of the "Frat Packers" (Vince Vaughn, the Wilson brothers, Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Ben Stiller) in it. I think Vaughn has the deadpan sarcasm and broding charisma to play Yossarian. Vaughn has had great as a dry comedian but is also skilled in dramatic work. I'd also like to see Luke Wilson as the Art Garfunkel part and Owen Wilson as Arfy with Jack Nicholson as Dreedel or Cathcart. I don't know who would direct perhaps someone like David O. Russel or Spike Jonze (though neither seems like a perfect choice).

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The seventies film wasn't perfect, but if was good and it had Alan Arkin, and face it... modern Hollywood isn't going to do better.

Nobody in modern eHollywood has the nerve to do good dark humor, or to question power structures, and the big studios are not in the business of making the military or the "greatest generation" look bad. I love the book, and I dont wan tto see it touched by a filmmaker who doesn't have the nerve to satirize anyone and everything, regardless of who's offended.

And Hollywood is so very, very afraid of offending these days.

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