Here’s why Steven Spielberg directing a remake of HARVEY is a bad idea

August 3rd, 2009 at 04:43pm Will Pfeifer

From Variety.com…

Steven Spielberg has committed to his next film, and it will be an adaptation of the Mary Chase Pulitzer Prize-winning play HARVEY, which will be done as a co-production between 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks.

I’m not one of those people who think Steven Spielberg is the best director of the modern era, but I have no doubt that he’s the most powerful director of the modern era — and maybe ever. When he wants to make a movie, he can get studios to line up financing, stars to beg for a role and the best writers/cameramen/crew to kill themselves to work with him. That’s because everyone knows, with all that Spielbergian power at the helm, the movie will (a) get made and (b) have a good shot at being a hit.

If you ask me, the trouble is Spielberg never really uses all that power at his disposal. With his clout (and not inconsiderable personal fortune), he could literally make any movie he wants. So this is it? A remake of a 1954 fantasy about a guy and an imaginary rabbit that was cute — but no means classic?

Pretty safe — and, frankly, boring — choice there, Steven. How about a stark drama? Or some science fiction epic that really pushes the boundaries of cinema, ala Kubrick’s 2001? You’re the guy who made SCHINDLER’S LIST, MUNICH and MINORITY REPORT — all unusual films that seemed like the work of a guy challenging himself. You had that Lincoln biopic with Liam Neeson slated to play Honest Abe in the works — I hope that’s still a go once you get HARVEY out of your system. Sure, we’ve seen Lincoln movies before, but with the resources at your disposal and Neeson a perfect fit (visually, at least) for the role, that movie had real potential. But this movie about the rabbit — that’s a remake?

Sounds like something I’ll catch on TV if — and it’s a big if — I happen to be channel surfing and there’s nothing else on. Sorry.

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