Remake? - Straight Time (1978) Discussion

If anybody ever attempts to remake/ruin this movie I will personally give the people responsible a Dembo bear hug.

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[–] ccr1633 18 years ago

"If anybody ever attempts to remake/ruin this movie I will personally give the people responsible a Dembo bear hug."
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The version with gun in hand, right?

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[–] blabber2317 17 years ago

well how would any of you know if they do remake it that it would suck

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[–] Rushmore_Elite 17 years ago

I kinda thought Heat was a bit of a "re-imagining" of this film. Updated of course but with loads of similarities... Both great by the way.

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[–] blabber2317 17 years ago

but do you think if someone did a remake of this would it suck or not

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[–] ccr1633 17 years ago

"but do you think if someone did a remake of this would it suck or not"
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1. In this day and age most remakes suck (i.e. The Longest Yard)
2. It's not the 1970s anymore, so the flavor of the film would be completely different. It's not possible now to recreate that same down-and-out 1970s vibe. They may as well just make a movie similar in spirit, but call it something different, because in no way could it qualify as a genuine remake unless they purposefully set it in the 1970s.

If somebody did try a remake, thought, I'd nominate Johnny Depp for Max Dembo.

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[–] blabber2317 17 years ago

well you know the big thing about show business is they take risks and some remakes are good (i.e. King Kong) it just take the right people to do it and take that chance now if they needed someone to play max dempo i dont know if johnny depp would be the best person cause hes kinda old maybe someone younger even though johnny depp doesnt even look old

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[–] ccr1633 17 years ago

"well you know the big thing about show business is they take risks and some remakes are good (i.e. King Kong) it just take the right people to do it and take that chance now if they needed someone to play max dempo i dont know if johnny depp would be the best person cause hes kinda old maybe someone younger even though johnny depp doesnt even look old"
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Hoffman was 41 when he did Straight Time, and Depp is 43 now.

King Kong was okay, but for every good remake there are 20 piles of dogzhit.

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[–] Rushmore_Elite 17 years ago

Allright, again, can I just kind of suggest that a remake of this is already being made: "Heat" has got some striking similarities storywise. And I found this on the Edward Bunker site on IMDB: I'm quoting here:

"He is a close friend of Michael Mann since the two worked on the screenplay adaptation of his first novel No Beast So Fierce. Bunker worked on Heat as prison technical advisor with Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Kevin Gage and Dennis Haysbert."

You're asking in effect if there should be YET ANOTHER remake of Straight Time? Right?

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[–] ccr1633 17 years ago

"Allright, again, can I just kind of suggest that a remake of this is already being made: "Heat" has got some striking similarities storywise. And I found this on the Edward Bunker site on IMDB: I'm quoting here:"
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Whatever Bunker's involvement, I don't see much similarity with Heat. First, Heat played to the hilt the cop/robber angle, which was completely absent in Straight Time. Second, all the crooks in Heat were seasoned, ultra-slick professionals who went after big-time scores. Straight Time just wouldn't be the same film if you take out the small-time crook angle, struggling with his payrole, pulling low-grade heists with his equally semi-professional buddies. I'm not trying to be combative here. Honestly, I see very few similarities. Not for one second did Straight Time come to mind in any of my numerous viewings of Heat. Maybe it's just me.

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[–] Rushmore_Elite 17 years ago

Yep, you got a point that the cop/robber angle is absent in "Straight Time" and for that matter the book it is based upon.
I said earlier in this thread that "Heat" felt like a re-imagining of "Straight Time" and I still think this is is the case.

The story is about an ex-con who is hellbent on not going back to prison, no matter what. He puts together a team to do a heist (in the city in broad daylight) which is supposed to be proffesional and efficient. Something goes wrong and suddenly the protagonist is hunted. He can't leave the city though until he has had revenge on an old partner. This turns out to be his downfall.

This storyline is identical in both movies. Granted, it is not the most original of storylines, but with Bunker's involvement in both movies I think it is more than just a coincident.

Don't you agree?

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[–] Star_blazer_9000 17 years ago

A remake of this film is not bad idea. Its not very well-known, the story had great potenial but failed to wow me (regardless of Hoffman's performance and Harry Dean Stanton appearing in it) and would be great if the movie were a comedy than a drama. If you think about it, it just works as a comedy. I think its better to do remakes like this insted of remaking classics in which they know why will fail. Keifer Sutherland might do ok as Ned but thats just off my head.

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[–] Woodyanders 17 years ago

"Straight Time" doesn't need a remake; it's fine the way it is.

Look nonchalant and keep on smiling.

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[–] patchofblue65 17 years ago

I agree too. Leave it alone. The majority of remakes are terrible and it's impossible to recreate that "70's" feel of movies nowadays.

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[–] jimmy_miller 16 years ago

I see a lot of these remake threads around, I'd like to know why the OP wants it to be remade? I mean was there something wrong with it, something he'd want to change in it, sure, remakes are done all the time, the most classic stories are told over and over again. But with this film I just don't see it necessary.

And when someone said he sees it would make a good comedy, I have to agree, some of the scenes could be easily turned into comedic ones. The kind of stuff you often see in a Coen brothers film, for example.

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[–] JustCallMeAndy 16 years ago

Side stepping the arguement on if this film should be remade, if it WAS to be remade, i think elias koteas would be ideal for the max dembo part...

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[–] DJ-Ren 15 years ago

Why? Whywhywhy would you ever remake this? You can't add CGI and make this better (which is the argument for certain films, like King Kong), you'd never get anything more realistic...it'd be like remaking Taxi Driver. These aren't the 70's anymore. The parole officer wouldn't "cut him slack" for wanting to be out in a hotel, "free" for one night. And that's if he had to contact his parole officer at all. There are so many prisoners in California that many of them get "no-appointment parole", which means you never have to go in and see your parole officer, he CAN go see you at work, you home, etc., but most likely won't. You're SUPPOSED to have a job, stay sober, etc., but odds are nobody's going to check up on you. Plus, the "throw you in jail for a week while we check your urine" wouldn't fly. They could have you tested and get the results in minutes, esp. if you were looking for something specific (in this case heroin).

But the fact is you couldn't make the movie any better. Just could not happen.

-ak

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[–] realmovieseeker 15 years ago

I wish they did a remake... BUT THIS time with all the characters from the BOOK!!!

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[–] DJ-Ren 15 years ago

They cut characters, scenes, dialouge, any number of things when they are turning a book into a movie. The plain fact is that they are two different mediums. A book can spend 3 pages describing a lush garden; a movie can show the garden in a single shot. But mostly it's the other way around. In films, a character's thoughts have to be shown metaphorically; every character and event has to be propelling the plot further along; and, the biggest problem of all - if you used every character, event, conversation, etc. from a book when making a movie, the movie would either be 15 minutes of a guy contemplating his navel, or it would be 6 hours of people walking and talking, with a break for action every now and then.

"OK! Let's go make some LSD!" - Fringe

-ak

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[–] ztate84 8 years ago

Instead of a remake of Straight Time, how about an Eddie Bunker Bio Flick

And at the end, have Jason Schwartzman play a young Dustin Hoffman who visits Bunker in jail and tells him about his plans to turn No Beast So Fierce into a film. Then making the arrangements to get Bunker on parole.

Wouldn't that be cool?

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[–] mim-8 15 years ago

Don't you think that there is enough silly remakes of great movies?

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[–] vbelyshev 15 years ago

this film is based on a book called no beast so fierce, which mike mann is more than familiar with as he used the author of the novel, ed bunker as a consultant for heat. further on the novel was credited as a reference in heat for niel mccully, i think

Time is Luck. The Luck has ran out.

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[–] kitie7 15 years ago

I wouldnt want a remake, not at all, but it would be cool to make another version based on the book, and with the book's title 'No beast so fierce' which sounds more hard, and to show all the things that they left out of the book in Straight Time.

Larry Clark could direct using the same style he used in Another Day In Paradise, or even Quentin Tarantino.

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[–] marwans07 15 years ago

sean penn would be good in the hoffman role. or maybe viggo mortensen.

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[–] untrve 10 years ago

Ha! I can actually see that! I wouldn't mind - though I do feel that this film is pretty perfect as it is; Grosbard did a fantastic job. I loved the pacing too. (And I'm really keen on seeing his other works). As for directors, (along with your acting choices), I think Lumet would be the only guy who could match the delicate blend of realism & humour ~ too bad he's gone I guess.

Noose.

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[–] realmovieseeker 14 years ago

Kitie: i AGREE 100%

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[–] ztate84 7 years ago

Yeah, a remake would be cool, but by actually setting it in the appropriate time period (before the net, cell phones, reality tv, etc)

If it would help get the film made, I would be cool with the title of the book (although I do think the title: Straight Time is better and more ironic to Max Dembo's situation)

Show Max as somewhat of a big player on his last day in prison, and then show him as a lonely outcast when he walks the streets of LA. His conflict with his parole officer, his struggles to get a job (especially since Rosenthal won't let him apply to be a car salesman, despite his experience)

I didn't like the fact that Max got a job right away in Straight Time. In the book, he fails at getting jobs because he has to disclose the fact that he's an ex-con and the frustration of society refusing to give him a second chance. And then the ray of hope when he gets an offer from Abe Meyers to work as a bouncer at a club he co-owns.

But because he let a friend fix in his apartment (like the film) Rosenthal finds out and has him sent back to jail on parole violation.

I digress, I've said too much lol

In closing, if this is "remade" I hope they do it right and make it similar to Straight Time but more so like the book. Make it three hours long and they can totally make this a period piece version of Heat.

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