Revenge is one of drama’s great motivators. From “Hamlet” to “Captain America: Civil War,” it’s often the main driver of a plot in films of all kinds, but the 1970s saw the development of a particular sub-strain of Revenge Movie, films that reflected the anger drawn from a society haunted by Vietnam and Watergate and rising crime. And one of the best known was “Death Wish.”
Based on Brian Garfield’s novel, and originally directed by Michael Winner, the film saw Charles Bronson as an ordinary man who becomes a gun-toting vigilante after his wife is murdered and his daughter raped in a home invasion. The film went on to be a huge surprise hit, and Bronson returned for four further sequels, with increasingly strained plot motivations behind them.
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Garfield’s similar novel “Death Sentence” was adapted by James Wan a decade ago, starring Kevin Bacon, but despite multiple attempts, a full-on remake is yet to materialize: Joe Carnahan was attached for a time, and more recently “Big Bad Wolves” helmers Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado were attached before parting ways with MGM and Paramount. But now the film has a new director, as The Hollywood Reporter reveals that Eli Roth will direct the new film for the studios.
Roth made his name as an enfant terrible of horror with “Cabin Fever” and “Hostel,” but recent thriller “Knock Knock” saw him move away from gorehound fare, and he flirted with studio movie “Meg” before eventually parting ways. His deal here has closed, and with Bruce Willis long attached to take over Bronson’s role, this should move ahead quickly at this point.
We can’t confess to being huge fans of Roth, or of the material, and it seems like the sort of thing that Willis could all too easily phone in. But we are at least intrigued by the idea that the script comes from Scott Alexander and Larry Karazewski, who recently knocked it out of the park with “The People Vs. O.J. Simpson.” Can they find something new in the revenge movie? We’ll likely find out in 2017 or 2018.
I hardly think they ‘knocked it out of the park’ with the OJ thing. I thought that was light-weight, shallow, and embarrassing for all involved. Their writing resume has better stuff than that, but aligning themselves with Roth is pretty bad. I forced myself to watch Knock Knock the other night because I like Keanu Reeves, but man, that was the most trite, shallow, stupid thing I’ve seen in a long time. I felt sorry for Reeves, but he bad that bed getting involved in a Roth movie so it’s on him. And Willis, although I’ve liked him in the distant past, is a real has-been, arrogant joke. The original Death Wish, and especially the sequels, was pretty swarthy low-brow to begin with. I can only imagine what a low-brow with nothing on him mind director like Eli Roth is going to do with it. Ugh!
You seem to be in the extreme minority on your O.J. opinions (I haven’t seen it yet, but have heard nothing but glowing reviews from just about everyone and plan on checking it out). Nothing wrong with having a dissenting opinion, and I may eventually agree with you once I see it… but it’s certainly the dissenting one.
But I totally agree that Roth is probably the worst working director in decades, and that his entire career has been a ride on the coattails of his friendship with Tarantino and the fratboy-fueled cult success of the terrible Cabin Fever. I won’t be expecting this to do better than Knock Knock, and if the film bypassed theaters altogether I wouldn’t be surprised– Willis seems to be catching up to Cage as the biggest name making the most straight to digital releases these days.
Thanks, Brian. I appreciate your reply. I will admit that I’m so sick of OJ and how he slaughtered these two people and got away with it in front of the world I had no interest in this OJ TV movie. I watched some of it and stand by my perceptions. I don’t mind being in the minority…even the ‘extreme’ minority as you stated…lol…
Look, the thing was made by that Murphy guy who did Glee of all things and the stupid, and trite American Horror Story so he ain’t exactly a raving intellectual. Beside, this OJ show was middle of the road not taking a stance white-bread simplistic junk. Most of the scenes no one who was there wrote any of the dialogue so it was all made up from the mind of this Murphy guy. Sorry, but I have no interest in his made up silliness and this was made for TV, herd mentality, playing it safe junk. If people believe otherwise, well, I will refrain from stating what I think of them. To each his own, but don’t try to sale me dog poop while convincing me it’s really top of the line chocolate ice cream…lol…
You are correct regarding Roth and Willis and stated it very well. Good luck for when and if you watch Travolta Revolta and Cuba Jr. thinking he’s OJ. Come on, Man!!!…lol…
Like I said, I haven’t seen O.J. yet, so I can’t really have an opinion on it. I’m not a fan or Murphy (who I think creates some pretty ostentatious ideas and then isn’t capable of going any deeper, so everything plays out as surface-level shock)… but part of the reason O.J. is highly regarded is because of the layered writing from Alexander and Karazewski AND the fact that Murphy had little to do with the show overall. He didn’t create it (which is unusual for something he’s involved with), but instead came on after the fact as more of a gun for hire, and had much less creative input. I’m sure if he’d been there from the beginning of the project, it would have been much, much worse, more sensationalized, glitzy, and tabloid-chasing in its approach.
That’s funny, as I thought that was what it was with regards to your last sentence. Look, it’s cool. I think my feelings about Simpson and anything other than a hard hitting expose about how much of a monster and pyscho he was and is and the surrounding ego centric without morals lawyers who helped get him off just has no interest to me. It’s funny. A good friend of mine here in L.A. who also used to be in the film business as I was just laughed when I told him about the conversation I was having with you. An intelligent and respectful one, I might add and thank you for. Anyway, my friend felt even more negative about the show then me. He watched it for a very short time and was able to ascertain just what it was and how shallow and trite and terrible it and the acting was that he turned if off never to return. I lasted a little longer, but not much. It just isn’t very good, Brian. They simplified and white-washed it not wanting to offend anyone which just makes it even more morally reprehensible to me. If you watch it and like it and disagree with me then so be it. I just don’t want to hear about it…lol…
I think you nailed Murphy and his work pretty much on the head and this whole OJ thing was all that. I don’t care if he did or did’;t do this or that or whatever. He was the head honcho on it and reflects his low brow sensibilities…and that’s all I have to say about it…lol…
Good luck to you. I’ve enjoyed our communication. Cheers…and Peace!
I thought Knock Knock was excellent – a parody on sexual violence. Perhaps you need to watch it again!
Thanks for your reply, but no thanks…I don’t need to watch it again. Why? Roth doesn’t have the intelligence to make a good satire with the issues at hand. I suggest you try viewing Michael Haneke’s Funny Games if you want to see the real deal and a film by a master filmmaker. Roth is a schlock miester and not worth my time. Sorry, Thorin. Some go for his slop and some don’t because they see if for what it is. I am of the latter.
Thanks again for you reply. Cheers…and Peace!
Admittedly, he is not the Best Director around, however he surprised me with Knock Knock! Actually, he could be the right Director for Death Wish – a violent, pulpy take on the Revenge Genre!