JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonHerzog versus Ferrera - A remake of Bad Lieutenant
June 20th 2008 00:01
Werner Herzog the Bad Detective
Werner herzog tries to get on top of Abel Ferrera
Initial news of Hollywood’s desire to remake Abel Ferrera’s (King of New York, The Funeral) blunt instrument to the head Bad Lieutenant, left many of its passionate fans reaching for the nearest object of pain with the intent of disembowelling those responsible.
Poster for the originalBad Lieutenant
Then we all had to stand back a minute and assess the second part of the story. Nicholas Cage was onboard replacing Harvey Keitel in the lead role. As far from Michael Bay as you can imagine, the eccentric cinema tactician Werner Herzog was attached as Director……and he proudly stated he had no knowledge of filmmaker Abel Ferrera and had never seen the powerful original. Furthermore he refuses to watch it for fear of corrupting his own artistic vision.
An interview on defamer.com asked if he had had talked to Abel Ferrera about the remake and Werner’s response:
“I have no idea who Abel Ferrara is. But let him fight the windmills, like Don Quixote.” – Werner Herzog
Then Defamer askes:
You did a remake before with Nosferatu, but —
“It was not so much a remake as a homage to Murnau. But I don't feel like doing a homage to Abel Ferrara because I don't know what he did — I've never seen a film by him. I have no idea who he is. Is he Italian? Is he French? Who is he?”
New York Director Abel Ferrera voiced his complaints about his work being remade and vowed to fight it even before the feisty Herzog was attached, now a war of words is escalating.
herzog winds up many including Klaus
Known for his tenacious language and intellectual determination, Herzog is a European personality, happiest when attempting the impossible. His steadfast stance against his ideas being corrupted in the viewing is totally in line with his refusal to fall inline because of someone else’s perceived notions of reality. Even a real life sniper’s bullet failed to extinguish his passion.
Fluttering between documentaries (Grizzly Man) and feature films (Aguirre Wrath of God, Fitzgarladdo) his artistry often renders the unbelievable as a tangible truth. Obsessed with examining disconnection from society and humanity, he looks for characters that operate outside of the status quo and quest for deeply personal redemption and fulfilment in fact or fiction.
Werner Herzog in cameo
Attracted to Bad Lieutenant through its screenplay he plans to reimagine the story of this corrupt cops frenzy of redemption with a more distinct leaning towards the obvious noir elements. The online furore currently raging serves as free press that may well promote the film onto the lips of more than just the art house crowd.
As a massive fan of both Directors and the source John Doe is undecided about the merits of a remake. The only thing that is certain is this reincarnation will be another unique entry into the annals of film history by a Director who is every bit an original.
A revealing Henry Rollins interview with Herzog
Herzog recently talked film with Director Jonathon Demme
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I plant to see Herzog's doco Encounters at the End of the World today
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Encounters at the End of the World looks like a stunning Antarctic documentary, I am as usual envious of your SFF free pass!!
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I can't declare it an absolute write off idea to remake it, purely because of the Herzog name attached...a lot more forgivable than any number of horror remakes going around.
I too found it amusing that Herzog has never heard of Ferrera, just because they operate so far outside of Hollywood and are incredibly idiosyncratic. I imagine the two of them sitting down over a bottle of wine would result in a fusion of undiluted art house genius.
Great to see you drop by, thank you.