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OT: Jack Nicholson Drops out of Toni Erdmann remake --Joins Redford in Retirement?

posted 6 years ago by ecarle (14979)
15 replies | jump to latest

We'd been watching this around here:

Jack Nicholson hasn't appeared in a movie since 2010 -- "How Will I Know?" and he had a pretty small part in that, almost a cameo , as a favor to writer-director James L. Brooks(who helped Jack come back twice, winning Oscars for Terms of Endearment and As Good As it Gets.)

Jack didn't announce retirement -- but then neither did Gene Hackman or Sean Connery when they quit movies (though both later confirmed it.)

Anyway, an announcement last year that Jack would come back in a remake of "Toni Erdmann" was a big deal.

And now, he's out.

It may be just as well. In "How Will I Know," Jack was showing signs not only of age, but of returned weight which rather obliterated our memories not only of "Young Sexy Jack"(Five Easy Pieces) but of "hefty middle-aged Jack"(Witches of Eastwick, Batman.) Hey, I don't look so good in photos anymore either -- but I'm not a movie star.

Alas, "How Will I Know" was a pretty bad movie, not up to Brooks' classics. We cling rather to the two films that Jack did before that: (1) The Departed, a Best Picture winner for Scorsese and an all-star gangster bash with Jack as the planet around which everyone orbited and (2) The Bucket List, poorly reviewed in some quarters, but a hit that put a phrase on the map for all time(and a touching look at "the end" for Old Man Jack, whose character has cancer along with pal Morgan Freeman, who has it too.)

The Departed was the quality bow-out for Jack, and he has all those various periods of greatness behind him: the period from Easy Rider to Cuckoo's Nest; the 80's(ups and downs, but The Shining, Terms of Endearment, Prizzi's Honor, Eastwick and the rich-making Batman); the 90's("the best character star in the business" -- A Few Good Men, Hoffa, Blood and Wine with Michael Caine; As Good As it Gets.) And About Schmidt as his anchor "00s" film.

That's enough, don't you think?

Meanwhile, Robert Redford, at 82(Jack's age, too? Close) has announced that his new movie "The Old Man and the Gun" will be his last though he's left the door open a little bit -- "Never Say Never."

Its sad for this 70's movie buff(who grew up watching them first run in theaters) to watch that generation walk off the stage. But there comes a time when a star should.

Except, evidently, Clint Eastwood, who will soon be working "above the title" as a star in "The Mule" a movie about a 90-year old drug running courier(Mule.) But Clint is different.

Nicholson hasn't announced retirement, and Redford might come back, but...it looks like adios.

Adios.

PS. Bill Murray is rumored to take the Erdmann role.

[–] swanstep (2616) 6 years ago

Yes, here's my note about it from another thread:

Speaking of remakes, Jack Nicholson has withdrawn from the titular role in the Kristin Wiig-starring (as the daughter) remake of Marin Ade's near-classic German comedy Toni Erdmann (2016). On the one hand there aren't many roles big enough to tempt Jack to come out of effective retirement so this may mean that Nicholson is in fact done. :( On the other hand, there aren't too many guys who could possibly pull off the old-bear-Toni-Erdmann-father-to-Wiig part and Jack's uniquely starry and box office in that group. One wonders now whether this remake will ever be made.

Bill Murray is too slight in build for the role I'd say and also just has the wrong vibe. Nolte or Travolta, maybe Beatty or Brian Cox or even Bruce Willis, should be considered. You'd need to hold proper auditions to just see who might work well.

[–] ecarle (14979) 6 years ago

One wonders now whether this remake will ever be made.

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I'm reminded, for some reason, of how Marnie was sold to the world for months as "Grace Kelly returns to the screen," and how, when it ultimately came out starring "merely" Tippi Hedren, it was without box office excitement right out of the gate(Hitch could at least have cast an established star like Lee Remick, who was considered, or Carroll Baker.) Without this film being "the return of Jack" -- its far less big a deal. And the original is far more likely to be revered.

Which reminds me: we have been talking remakes on this board lately, and I think we forgot the Big Hollywood Machine(3 decades at least) of Hollywood immediately making Americanized remakes of key foreign films. Like The Departed.

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Bill Murray is too slight in build for the role I'd say and also just has the wrong vibe. Nolte or Travolta, maybe Beatty or Brian Cox or even Bruce Willis, should be considered. You'd need to hold proper auditions to just see who might work well.

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I like every name on that list for their acting prowess and charisma. The problem(compared to Jack) is that the box office star power of all them save Murray has rather diminished in recent years. And the great Brian Cox never really became a star. He's in SuperTroopers, for God's sake! A teenage relative showed me that movie and I had to laugh at Cox "giving his all" to the ridiculous comedy.

Indeed we will see if this film is ever really made, and, if it IS made, what kind of impact it has. Without Jack.

[–] ecarle (14979) 6 years ago

Related: a friend this week sent me a photo of Gene Hackman -- smiling, slim and moustacheoed at age 88 -- promoting his purchase of an electric bike in his home community of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

He looks good. 88 for movie stars is different.

[–] jasonbourne (1027) 6 years ago

I'm interested in film noir and neo-noir and recently saw a mid-40s Gene Hackman in Night Moves (1975). (Night Moves is playing with Chinatown as part of a 70s neo-noir double feature.) It's an odd movie, but has a bunch of noirish characters in it.

It's a mystery, but it's unlike the typical mystery where the audience tries to figure out who done it.

Instead, this is a mystery about why the characters are all acting like the way they are? I read it wasn't a success at the box office. Maybe people didn't understand the noir-ishness of it back then. Maybe people couldn't understand the mystery. I'm still trying to piece together why murder was necessary. [spoiler]The ultimate goal is to get ahold of a large artwork in three pieces that is being smuggled, but then the characters daily lives get in the way of each other.[/spoiler] I still can't figure out how and why the first character was killed besides jealousy. In fact, there isn't a reason for why any murder was necessary.

[–] swanstep (2616) 6 years ago

In fact, there isn't a reason for why any murder was necessary.

That may be right! I'd have to watch NM again to be sure.... but in general a lot of the paranoid thrillers of the '70s are, on reflection, vulnerable to this kind of objection. E.g., all the ultra-powerful corporation in Parallax View needed to do is just *not react* to people trying to investigate it (who'll never come up with much and will always be dismissed as cranks, etc.). Instead they assassinate people left and right, blowing up planes and boats, and employing lots of shadowy manpower (including lots of backwoods cops) to do all this. Do all *that* and you're asking for leaks and necessarily drawing a lot of investigative attention, and, really, asking to be caught.

[–] ecarle (14979) 6 years ago

I find the irony about the "conspiracy paranoid seventies" to be that it seems to have all really arrived in the 21st Century...via this device we're typing on now. The Internet. Which can be used for evil as well as good.

'nuff said.

[–] jasonbourne (1027) 6 years ago

Interesting theory. I was debating whether to watch Parallax View or not. I may have saw the beginning long time ago and turned it off. Now, I'll have to watch it lol. Maybe people get killed because in theory that's what greed and power does. There not need be a motive like in traditional murders. Hopefully, on second viewing you'll get the deeper noirishness of the characters. Mwahahahaha.

[–] ecarle (14979) 6 years ago

I'm interested in film noir and neo-noir and recently saw a mid-40s Gene Hackman in Night Moves (1975). (Night Moves is playing with Chinatown as part of a 70s neo-noir double feature.) It's an odd movie, but has a bunch of noirish characters in it.

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Chinatown came out in 1974. It was a 30's period piece set in LA. One year later, by a sort of coincidence, we got TWO modern noirs with unconventional private eyes, both set in the South. One was "The Drowning Pool" with Paul Newman, playing his 1966 Harper character, but transplanted from Southern California to Louisiana.
The other was "Night Moves," which begins in LA, I think, and then moves to Florida. I think there was confusion because nymphet Melanie Griffith played similar teen seductress roles in both pictures. I know I used to get them mixed up.

But Night Moves -- from director Arthur Penn (Bonnie and Clyde, Little Big Man) has the stronger reputation as a "real" noir. It is also famously hard to figure out. Nice: Hackman's private eye is also an ex NFL football player(Hackman sold it) who uses a football move to bring down an opponent.

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It's a mystery, but it's unlike the typical mystery where the audience tries to figure out who done it.

Instead, this is a mystery about why the characters are all acting like the way they are?

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Well stated.

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I read it wasn't a success at the box office. Maybe people didn't understand the noir-ishness of it back then. Maybe people couldn't understand the mystery.

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All of the above, I think. Though it has cult film status -- and the ending is quite a bit of exciting stunt work involving a light plane crash into the ocean next to a pleasure boat. Some key people drown in that plane, its a scary final scene as we can see them through the window of the sinking plane, desperately trying to get out. No go.

[–] ecarle (14979) 6 years ago

Gene Hackman is indeed retired now, but in his heyday, he ran neck and neck with Michael Caine for being willing to appear in one film after another, usually picking quality material but sometimes going for the paycheck(as in a comedy cop buddy movie with Dan Ackroyd.) While guys like Jack Nicholson and Early Robert DeNiro were very picky and appeared mainly in masterpieces and sometimes took a year or two off between films, Hackman just worked and worked and worked. He joked about a movie he made called "March or Die," about the French Foreign Legion, saying "Not only do I not remember making it, I can't believe I appeared in a movie called March or Die."

And thus when the time came , Hackman retired. With the money well invested, I presume -- poor Burt Reynolds overspent and lost his millions(divorce didn't help.)

Hackman's final film was a 2004 light political comedy called "Welcome to Mooseport," in which he played the US President, retired to a small town and locked in a ridiculously overblown race for Mayor opposite Regular Guy Ray Romano. It was cute, minor. Hackman was crisp and authoritative. But honestly...Welcome to Mooseport?

Hackman's last GREAT role, I'd say, was as the errant rogue paterfamilias in 2001's "The Royal Tennebaums." He was Oscar good in that, very funny and finally very moving.

Oscar(Best Actor) for The French Connection. Oscar (Supporting) for Unforgiven(opposite Clint, who was more and more willing to share the screen with other stars as the 90's arrived.) Big hit in The Poseidon Adventure. The first Lex Luthor. And scores of other films.

[–] ecarle (14979) 6 years ago

Funny: The old groovy 60s/70's comedy chestnut "Rowan and Martin's Laugh In" is on streaming, and I found a 1972 episode of the show with guest...Gene Hackman. He's fairly young and robust and virile, and one remembers just how great his crisp, growly voice was -- even if no one could imitate it. He's wearing a moustache(for his coming mob movie with Lee Marvin, Prime Cut, no doubt.) And he was a good sport:

Ruth Buzzi: Mr. Hackman, congratulations on your Best Actor nomination for The French Connection. Will you be OK if you don't win?
Hackman: I'll be fine. (Beat) Suicide runs in my family.

I think the shaking thing about Gene Hackman retiring is that we always figured he just keep working and working. Michael Caine does...though he is finally slowing down on screen appearances in HIS eighties.

[–] jasonbourne (1027) 6 years ago

Just curious. How many times did you watch NM. I saw it 2.5x and got the gist of it, but couldn't figure out why murder was necessary even for noir standards. Obviously, one has to look at it for its meaning elsewhere as in other overarching influences in play. We can see Hackman's character be strong and weak. [spoiler]His wife continues to cheat on him after he know.

Even the title may be a play on words of the chess moves discussed in one scene in the movie by Harry Moseby. Harry doesn't see it even though he knows about it; It's just like what's happening in his marriage and explains the ending. Also, there is one unforgettable line regarding underage Melanie Griffith's character when her stepfather and Harry are discussing.[/spoiler]. Definitely a movie one isn't going to get in one viewing.

[–] ecarle (14979) 6 years ago

Just curious. How many times did you watch NM.

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Oh, I saw it when it came out, at the theater, and then on cable. That was literally decades ago.

I gave it a re-watch a few years ago.

But I tell you: I barely remember the plot at all. I'm of an age, alas, where that happens. I just remember the highlights -- like Hackman learning his wife is cheating on him, meeting the man, and allowing it to go on.I remember that scary plane crash finale(the bottom board of the low-flying seaplane -- there's a name for that -- clips the head of a scuba diver, killing them instantly and leading to the crash.)

I do know that when I watched it a few years ago, "I got it." (I also, as I recall, looked up some explanatory critiques of the film, in other words, "i cheated.") Key is that one or two sympathetic characters turn out to be killers and they've got their reasons, as I recall.

Wasn't James Woods one of the victims?

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I saw it 2.5x and got the gist of it, but couldn't figure out why murder was necessary even for noir standards.

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All I can tell you is, there WAS a reason for it. A few years back when I last saw Night Moves...I knew it.

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Obviously, one has to look at it for its meaning elsewhere as in other overarching influences in play.

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Yep. Its definitely a character piece, with a nice mix of male and female characters. Doesn't one of the female characters say she married one tough guy "because he was actually the nicest man I could find around here." Funny line as I recall.

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[–] ecarle (14979) 6 years ago

We can see Hackman's character be strong and weak.

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Yes. Here's how good an actor he could be. One year earlier, in The Conversation, with either his hairpiece off or a slightly shaved forehead, Hackman played a meek, moody bureaucratic kind of guy(a professional "bugger.") And here he is playing a sexy(moustache) former NFL player with the muscle to back his investigations(it was suggested, was it not, that the footballer's brawn helped him BE a private eye. He likely would not have met Arbogast's fate (hey, ON topic.)

And yet, even as a brawny tough guy, Hackman gave us weakness and a haunted quality. As I recall, there were reasons for THAT, too. Reasons his wife was cheating on him. (He cheated on her?)

But I really can't remember. Isn't it great for me? Give me two years, and I can see Night Moves again and it will be like a whole new movie for me. I'll have forgotten everything.

[–] jasonbourne (1027) 6 years ago

I'll go by order of the dead appearance. I need to figure out who was behind it like in the traditional murder mysteries. The smugglers were Tom Iverson, Paula, Marv Ellman, Quentin and Joey Ziegler. For some reason Marv was killed, but why kill him when he's carrying one of the pieces? Perhaps it was an accident. How did Harry, Paula and Delly get so lucky finding his plane at night? Quentin seemed the most likely suspect due to jealousy, but who knows? I think Tom killed Quentin since he was in the dolphin cage. Even Harry accuses him of it. Maybe Tom figures one less to share the loot with. Joey kills Delly or was it an accident? We know Joey killed Paula and he tried to kill Harry. Actually, I feel like I'm Harry just going in circles lol.

[–] jasonbourne (1027) 6 years ago

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