First of all, a movie like this seems right up the Coen Brothers' alley. And secondly, they haven't written anything that they didn't consequently direct since Crimewave in 1985.
From what I have read, they had the Gambit script done shortly after they finished No Country For Old Men. Does anyone know why they are unwilling to direct Gambit?
Because Cameron Diaz is in it?
shareHaha, good call. But they had the script finished well before she was attached. I just can't believe they would write something and then not want to direct it.
share"...they had the script finished well before she was attached."
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Oh. Well, I can't help you but your point is certainly well taken.
Obviously the Coens' did well by their "True Grit" remake, and though many hate it, I was very taken with Tom Hanks' over-articulate comedy performance,the Southern Gothic look and expert "body falls off the bridge" CGI effects in "The Ladykillers." They are 50/50 on their written/directed remakes with the critics, and 100% in my book.
No doubt when the new "Gambit" comes out, the Coens will reveal their reasons.
I will GUESS that they wrote the script intending to direct it, and then decided against the material for some reason, perhaps (and I am serious here), its lack of death. "True Grit" and "The Ladykillers" had killings, as have so many Coen films. But then again, some have not....
P.S. I am a big, big, big, big, big fan of the original "Gambit." I bumped my long post on that one at its board (Gambit 1966.)
Hahahahahahaha
It dosn't matter anyway we are all insignificant in this big ass nowhere, twilight zone s**t!
But they directed a movie that had Marlon Wayans...Cameron Diaz is a much better actor than Wayans (aside from his gig in Requiem for a Dream)...not that that's saying much...
shareAll I can do is speculate but I'd say they need a break. They've been churning out great films for a while now.
Or maybe because they feel like another director would better suit the material. But I'm just talking *beep*
These are some movies of mine. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/lanser87
Maybe they're wanting to devote they're directing efforts towards a horror film coming out the same year? Though I don't know if they're actually going to do a horror film; only heard rumors. It'd be neat, however, if they got nominated for two screenplay oscars in the same year.
"All I know is that this violates every canon of respectable broadcasting."
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My understanding echoes Jake's: the project was a writing job only.
Just like The Ladykillers (which was originally to be directed by Barry Sonenfeld I think) and Intolerable Cruelty.
Those are the only two of their films that I don't flat out love.
Maybe they are reserving their directing efforts for their own work, which suits me fine.
As much as I'd love to see this cast in a Coen directed film...
Sooner or later, everyone needs a haircut.
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which was originally to be directed by Barry Sonenfeld I think
I thinks it's also that they are just more careful about the projects they choose to direct these days.
Their early careers were, respectfully, a little hit and miss (Of course when it was a hit it was mushroom cloud scale).
So this far along in their careers: considered two of the best directors in the world with 13 Oscar nominations collectively, I think you stop thinking about what would be fun and interesting to make and start to focus more on your legacy.
It's a shame though because I think it's that type of risk taking that lead to films like The Big Lebowski.
Sounds about right.
They said exactly that in an interview. They do writing assignments on the side very frequently, in fact, but this is the first one that's actually being made. (Studios buy tons of scripts, but usually only a small percentage are actually produced.)
shareA friend sent me an article today regarding Gambit - it is quite long - but the following paragraph might explain why the Coen's arn't directing the film.
A trail of writers came and went. Then, Lobell got lucky. Told that the Coens were looking for a little rewrite work between their movies, Lobell went after them. They said yes and did a radical overhaul that gave a dated picture a fresh context. As Lobell sat in his den reading that draft in 2003, he knew he had a movie. "I will never forget that first time I read it, from the opening line I knew I was in for a ride," he said. "They reinvented about 90% of it, so much so that it didn't feel like a remake."
http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/a-14-year-gambit-finally-provides-a-big-payoff-for-producer-mike-lobell/
The Coen's were also apparently in London a week or so ago during the read through and rehearsals, probably doing rewrites.
shareThe Coen brothers wrote A Serious Man but didn't direct it which was in 2009.
"Back off, man. I'm a scientist!"
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Being obtuse must be the highest form of wit where you're from.
shareEthan Coen wrote 'Naked Man' but their storyboard artist J. Todd Anderson directed it. It has all the quirks and eccentricities of a traditional Coen film, but just wasn't quite up to par. I like it though. It doesn't even have a dvd release!!
shareI wish they were.
share