A look ahead at a look behind
The Day the Earth Stood Still has invaded cineplexes everywhere, resurrecting the 1951 classic with an updated theme of global-warming dread and the star power of Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, and Mad Men lothario Jon Hamm. Hollywood remakes are on the rise, and the new year promises a bumper crop, with brazen filmmakers set to “reimagine” scores of beloved movies (even The Birds is slated for revival). Here’s our preview of some of the déjà-vu-inducing flicks awaiting us in 2009. Will any of them pull a Casino Royale and trump their originals? Place your bets now.
The Taking of Pelham 123 | Due out: July
The 1973 pulp novel that inspired this NYC-subway-hijacking thriller may be obscure, but it’s already spawned two other films. Director Tony “Man on Fire” Scott is hoping the third time’s a charm — and with such heavyweights as Denzel Washington, John Travolta, and James Gandolfini slotted, Scott might have a runaway hit on his hands.
Fame | Due out: September
Gliding in on a High School Musical updraft, this film is an updated version of the Oscar-winning 1980 musical about an NYC high school full of steely-calved, Danskin-swaddled teen theater prodigies. With original Fame alum Debbie Allen tapped to co-star, we can only hope we’ll be hearing more classic lines like “You’ve got big dreams? You want fame? Well, fame costs. And right here is where you start paying ... in sweat.”
Sherlock Holmes | Due out: November
The brainiac of Baker Street holds a Guinness World Record for being cinema’s most portrayed fictional character (he’s appeared in more than 200 films), and Hollywood is about to add another notch to his belt. Robert Downey Jr. dons the detective’s iconic deerstalker cap for this Guy Ritchie–helmed Holmes revival.
A Christmas Carol | Due out: November
Much like fruitcake, here’s a holiday classic that never expires. This time it’s getting the Robert Zemeckis treatment, so expect boffo special effects galore, including the spectacle of Jim Carrey whipsawing between the roles of Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future.
