Since it sounds like perfect oscar-bait, they would crank up the drama quite a lot. Robinson dies in Atticus arms, giving a five minute speech, for instance.
And there has to be a Romantic subplot, of course. So Atticus Finch (Brad Pitt) falls for the inexplicably single school teacher (Catherine Zeta jones).
And it would probably whitewash a lot of the actual racism. No N-Words, for instance.
No, there would be ONE use of the n-word, by Mayella Ewell’s father, after which he is ostractized by the rest of his racist buddies for going too far.
Personal brush with fame: Mary Badham, who played Scout, is from Birmingham, AL, and was close friends with the former owners of my house. She used to spend the night in my house quite often.
I think he’s a perfectly fine and capable actor, but I think they would miscast him as Atticus in an attempt to make it seem edgier and would direct him to be a bit “quirky.”
I think the recent general trend to dislike Johnny Depp has to with that recent thriller/caper flick in which most people feel that he just phoned in a particularly bland performance
I think Johnny Depp could pull of Atticus (imagine having never seen Gregory Peck do it).
They’d collapse characters - is there any need for Jem AND Dill - can Miss Maddie and Stephanie be the same person - might as well throw our need for Atticus’ sister in there too?
I think it is Oscar bait, so Atticus has to loose his case, but Tom Robinson should get lynched on screen after the trial when then town hears that Atticus will appeal.
And more Boo Radley, you can’t get a best supporting actor nomination off one scene (well, you can, but its harder) - he should interact with the kids more often.
[hijack] This thread makes me want to start a “Johnny Depp is a great actor” thread. I’m not changing my opinion cause he made a lousy movie or two. All the great had a few clunkers. [end hijack]
After Jem and Scout are attacked, Atticus pulls out two Glocks, sticks a couple of magazines in his belt and goes out looking for Bob Ewell, snarling “Now it’s PERSONAL!”
Call me naive, but I think they’d do it right. TKAM is held in near-reverence by anyone who cares in this country. They might not make a masterpiece, but I can’t see it becoming a near-parody like *The Scarlet Letter *(which, let’s face it, had it coming–God, I hated that book).