2008 Woodie Awards
"Funny Games"
By: Joe Cunningham
Issue date: 3/21/08 Section: Pulse
Every year has its slew of remakes; some of them are good, but must are pure garbage because the films do not transfer well into our modern-day culture. Then there is "Funny Games."
A remake of an Austrian film of the same title from 1997, the movie tells the story of a family who is tormented by a pair of assailants while visiting their cabin for vacation. It stars Naomi Watts and Tim Roth.
The original has been widely considered to be one of the most intense and disturbing movies of the last 20 years, and the remake has the benefit of being helmed by the same director of the previous version, Michael Haneke, who helmed the equally infamous French film "Cache" from 2005. This way it avoids being butchered by some hack that tries to pass himself off as a director, and will actually have a chance to be a good movie.
Also, with a legitimate and respectable cast headlining, the film has enough going for it that it will at the least be an equal to its original incarnation. In the worst case scenario, it will at least be more original than most of the junk that we are exposed to.
Unfortunately, due to its highly subjective material and not being directed by someone named Michael Bay, it is unlikely that this film will gain any kind of widespread popularity.
If the opportunity presents itself to see the U.S. version of "Funny Games," then do so. If not, try to find the original to rent. It should, at the very least, be equal (if not better) than the one in theaters.
A remake of an Austrian film of the same title from 1997, the movie tells the story of a family who is tormented by a pair of assailants while visiting their cabin for vacation. It stars Naomi Watts and Tim Roth.
The original has been widely considered to be one of the most intense and disturbing movies of the last 20 years, and the remake has the benefit of being helmed by the same director of the previous version, Michael Haneke, who helmed the equally infamous French film "Cache" from 2005. This way it avoids being butchered by some hack that tries to pass himself off as a director, and will actually have a chance to be a good movie.
Also, with a legitimate and respectable cast headlining, the film has enough going for it that it will at the least be an equal to its original incarnation. In the worst case scenario, it will at least be more original than most of the junk that we are exposed to.
Unfortunately, due to its highly subjective material and not being directed by someone named Michael Bay, it is unlikely that this film will gain any kind of widespread popularity.
If the opportunity presents itself to see the U.S. version of "Funny Games," then do so. If not, try to find the original to rent. It should, at the very least, be equal (if not better) than the one in theaters.
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