# Which movies should be remade? My nomination--Tommy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 12, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342 "2003-06-12T15:15:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/1 "2003-06-12T15:15:50Z")
As much as I love the rock opera _Tommy_, I find the 1975 movie disappointing. Ken Russell’s eccentric directing style emphasized freakish set design and heavy handed satire (as in the parody of the Eucharist by distributing Marilyn Monroe’s last supper, booze and barbituates, to a Marilyn-worshipping congregation during “eyesight to the Blind.” Moreover, Pete Townsend as musical director ruined the music by going heavy on the keyboards in his orchestration. The movie soundtrack lacks the raw energy of the studio album, not to mention that the movie features Jack Nicholson and Oliver Reed in singing roles when neither man could carry a tune in a bucket. My first job in remaking the movie would be to cast the band. Since the original Who are either too old or too dead to rock out with the explosive energy the music requires, I’ll need new musicians. My choice would be to have Phish play the music, with solo assists from Tom Morello and Bob Mould on “Amazing Journey” and “Pinball Wizard.” Next, I’ll have to cast the actors. Tommy: Michael Cerveris, who played the role on Broadway Nora Walker: Nicole Kidman Frank: Hugh Jackman The Hawker (Eyesight to the Blind): Chris Cornell Cousin Kevin: Thom Yorke Uncle Ernie: Ewan McGregor Acid Queen: John Cameron Mitchell Sally Simpson: Mandy Moore (just because I want to see her get kicked in the face) Psychiatrist (Go to the Mirror): Marilyn Manson Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/2 "2003-06-12T15:21:30Z")
A _Tommy_ remake sounds keen to me…I too love the rock opera, but the film was embarassing. Entertaining, but embarassing. I’ll have to think about my dream cast, but I think your selection of Nicole Kidman as Mrs. Walker is brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/3 "2003-06-12T15:23:34Z")
Oh, and Dave Grohl on drums and backing vocals ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/4 "2003-06-12T15:24:30Z")
Hmm. I can think of so many remakes these days that have sucked, and so few that are good (well, I’m sure I could think of one if I tried… right?) that I was ready to say ‘no’ to this. But I admit you’ve got some good ideas - for one, you’ve got two of my favorite singers in there (Yorke and Cornell), and a few of my favorite actors. _Tommy_ was the first Broadway show I ever saw, though I don’t remember it particularly well. McGregor, though I like him, might be a bit young for Uncle Ernie. Nothing insurmountable, I suppose, and he does sing rather well. I think I’d really have to listen to the whole album again to comment further, but it sounds promising. Sounds WAY better than the upcoming remake of _The Rocky Horror Picture Show_ featuring Manson. :weeps: ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/5 "2003-06-12T16:00:41Z")
I’d like to see an all-Aussie/Kiwi version of _The Magnificent Seven_. Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Heath Ledger in the Horst Buchholz role, Huge Ackman… ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/6 "2003-06-12T17:34:46Z")
**Jesus Christ: Vampire Hunter**. It’s only a few years old, admitadely, but it’s such a great idea with such potential, that I’m sure with the right budget and the like, it can avoid the trappings of independant film (i.e. horrible production value, terrible sound and dubing, bad choreography, lame special effects). Again, the movie’s GREAT, even with these problems…but it could be SOOO much better. ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/7 "2003-06-12T18:37:26Z")
mmm … Nicole Kidman, covered in baked beans, writhing around with a giant hotdog… … … I’m sorry, what was the question again? ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/8 "2003-06-12T18:38:34Z")
But seriously, I’d kill to hear Bob Mould cover a Who song … _any_ Who song. How about Directors? Obviously someone with a distinctive visual style … a Gilliam, a Boyle … Coens perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/9 "2003-06-12T19:05:46Z")
Sorry, I’m of the opinion that **no** movies should ever be remade. Do original work or get out of the field. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/10 "2003-06-12T20:09:04Z")
BELL BOOK & CANDLE, with Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan replacing Stewart/Novak, the Jack Lemmon “beatnik” brother now an Eminem wannabe, and Carol Burnett as the Elsa Lanchester befuddle aunt. PYGMALION with an ebonics twist, possibly repairing Steve Martin and Latifah for a movie that actually works. Whoopi Goldberg should play “Eliza’s” mother and in this version she gets a talk-show (just like Alfred Doolittle became a morality lecturer). ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/11 "2003-06-12T22:19:18Z")
Tommy would be a great remake, if they found someone to do it right. Would Baz Luhrman be too flashy? ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/12 "2003-06-12T22:36:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GMRyujin \* > \*\*Tommy would be a great remake, if they found someone to do it right. Would Baz Luhrman be too flashy? \*\* Too flashy? Considering Ken Russell did the original film, I doubt even Baz Luhrman could make the project _more_ excessive. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/13 "2003-06-12T22:55:44Z")
I used to be of the opinion that _Rollerball_ would be an exceelent candidate for a remake, sinc the story is so good yet the Norman Jewison film seems extremely dated. Then they did go ahead and “remake” it and I guess I learned to be careful what you wish for. ---
**Author:** ![JustPlainBryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/57b2e6/32.png) [@JustPlainBryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustPlainBryan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/14 "2003-06-12T23:15:13Z")
I would like to see “A Clockwork Orange” remade, the twist being that that instead of the storyline occuring in England in the near future, it would occur in a present-day US urban inner city. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/15 "2003-06-12T23:26:42Z")
If it were up to me (which it ain’t), I’d keep Baz Luhrmann away from it. I just don’t dig his work - maybe I think he’s too convinced of his own revolutionary genius. I’d prefer someone who’d let the characters breathe and story tell itself. There are so few people doing musicals that I’m not sure who I’d pick for it. Sam Mendes, I guess, since he’s worked on the stage (and did the revival of _Cabaret_) and in film and been successful in both. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/16 "2003-06-12T23:28:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Exapno Mapcase \* > \*\*Sorry, I’m of the opinion that **no** movies should ever be remade. Do original work or get out of the field. \*\* Hell yes. Enough with the remakes, already! What, _Oceans’s Eleven_ and _Sabrina_ weren’t smarmy enough the first time around? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/17 "2003-06-12T23:44:44Z")
The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, and The Scorpion King are good arguments on this behalf. I don’t see the harm in giving a second shot to story or idea that wasn’t well-executed the first time. But - and I hope this doesn’t sound like I’m playing to both sides - things really are getting out of hand right now. I remember seeing _The Matrix: Reloaded_ - a sequel itself - and EVERY PREVIEW except one (and this was out of about six) was either for a remake or a sequel. It’s getting pretty disgusting; you can tell Hollywood is being run by people who see films as nothing but product. On the upside, the pendulum _has_ to swing the other way eventually - if not from within Hollywood, from without. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/18 "2003-06-12T23:45:05Z")
Upon viewing this thread, I was going to make a tasteless, cheap, and obvious remark about having Uncle Ernie be played by Michael Jackson but I decided not to. Anyway, I really don’t see the need to remake the movie. The Broadway stage version, on the other hand, is probably different enough to possibly warrant being filmed. As for casting suggestions, add me to the list of people who think Nicole Kidman is the perfect choice as Tommy’s mother. As for the other roles, I’d like to see Shirley Manson as the Acid Queen mainly because I’ve always wanted her to do a cover of the song. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/19 "2003-06-12T23:51:06Z")
The 1975 movie was my first exposure to _Tommy_ (and The Who) so for me it will always be the definitive version (YMMV). Gobear, you say Jack Nicholson can’t carry a tune, yet you’d replace him with Marilyn Freaking Manson? Sounds to me like a perfect example of going from bad to worse…😉 ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342/20 "2003-06-13T00:41:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Exapno Mapcase \* > \*\*Sorry, I’m of the opinion that **no** movies should ever be remade. Do original work or get out of the field. \*\* Damn straight!! What the hell was that hack John Huston thinking remaking _The Maltese Falcon_ As if that Bogart dude made a better Sam Spade than Ricardo Cortez. Or what about that lazy-ass Hitchcock fellow who remade his own damn movie with _The Man Who Knew Too Much_? Ooh look, it’s in color this time, and has a Doris Day musical number! Get out the field, you hacks!! You too, Cecil B. DeMille, with your just add sound and color to the 10 commandments gambit. Back on topic: Tommy is the sort of movie that’s perfect for a remake. Great potential in the source material, but a lot of cringeworthy moments in the original execution. If there’s room for improvement, why not try a redo? Sure, a shot-for-shot remake of Psycho was just plain stupid, and Casablanca is perfect the way it is, but if the original is flawed, as is Tommy (IMHO, of course), sure, try again. I see Bob Hoskins as Uncle Ernie for some reason. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-movies-should-be-remade-my-nomination-tommy/181342.md?page=2)