• Kurosawa’s Birthday Month, Day 15

    March is Akira Kurosawa month at Criterion. On the twenty-third, the great Japanese filmmaker would have been one hundred years old. For this centennial celebration, we will be posting trivia questions and other contests, and giving away a different prize every weekday. To see yesterday’s winner, check out the update on yesterday’s post.

    Today’s prompt:

    Cast an imaginary remake of your favorite Kurosawa film.

    Please respond by commenting below, and we’ll choose our favorite on Monday. You must reside in the U.S. or Canada and leave a valid e-mail address to be eligible for the prize (a DVD of Ikiru).

    UPDATE: Our winner is Alex Zechiel, who had this to say:

     

    Ikiru would make for an interesting American remake, mainly because to understand the real drama in the third half of the film, an understanding of Japanese culture and societal norms are necessary. To see a director manage to translate the courage that Watanabe’s character had into our American culture would be astounding.

    I think Gene Hackman would make for a good American counterpart to Watanabe; hell, we’ve already seen him faking stomach cancer in The Royal Tenenbaums, in which he gives one of my favorite performances of the last decade.

    Anna Kendrick would be a fine choice for Kimura; she’s just proven herself in Up in the Air, and using a still somewhat unknown actress could better detach the audience from any preconceptions.

    Watanabe’s son could be portrayed by Tobey Maguire; we’ve seen him in only one role in which he’s deviated from the norm, and that was in The Good German, in which his character dies much too quickly. Not that his character would be evil as in that film, per se, but I don’t recall liking Watanabe’s son too much on my first viewing of Ikiru.

    Finally, the novelist who Watanabe meets in the bar and who takes him out for a good time could be played by none other than Crispin Glover, one of our finest, strangest, and most underrated actors. I think he could bring a believability and quirkiness to the role that would suit the story very well.

    Wow, I actually kind of want to see this now.

     

    Congratulations, Alex!

    Contests

102 comments

  • By Manny Allbritton
    March 19, 2010
    07:12 PM

    I would love to win Kurosawa's box set!
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  • By David
    March 19, 2010
    07:16 PM

    The Seven Dwarves as the Seven Samurai. Come on.
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  • By Jim Shegas
    March 19, 2010
    07:17 PM

    IKIRU (American Remake): William H. Macy (in the Watanabe role), Amanda Seyfried (as the young girl), Ryan Gosling (as Watanabe's son).
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  • By Craig Duffy
    March 19, 2010
    07:17 PM

    ok i'll remake "seven samurai" but with yul brynner and...oh wait. ok let me try again. i'll remake "yojimbo" with clint...no wait...bruce. shit! this is harder than it looks. ok here it goes. "rashomon" with jeff goldblum in the mifune part! what the heck. replace mifune with goldblum in EVERY kurosawa film!
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  • By Todd LaPlace
    March 19, 2010
    07:20 PM

    RASHOMON While I was thinking about going with a cast of actors that included those who appear in other films inspired by the alternative narrative structure of "Rashomon" (Gwenyth Paltrow in "Sliding Doors," Franka Potente and Moritz Bleibtreu in "Run Lola Run," Guy Pierce of "Memento," etc.), I think it'd be much more interesting to see what this movie would look like in the hands of someone with the necessary emotional depth, but also a subtle sense of humor that can update and differentiate the remake from the original. That's why I'd love to see Joss Whedon tackle the project, with a group of his regular actors filling out the cast. Imagine how great it'd be to see Nathan Fillion and Morena Baccarin (from "Firefly") as the husband and wife, James Marsters (from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel") as the thief, Eliza Dushku (from "Dollhouse") as the psychic and Anthony Stewart Head (from "Buffy") as the woodcutter. I'm sure it'd keep much of the structure there, but Joss would surely do an excellent job updating the story for a more contemporary feel. I know I'd watch it.
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  • By Austin
    March 19, 2010
    07:21 PM

    Red Beard is a drama that could transition well as a western adaptation. Dr. Kyojo Niide - Dustin Hoffman Dr. Noboru Yasumoto - Ryan Gosling The Mantis - Tilda Swinton Otoyo - Abigail Breslin
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  • By Armando V
    March 19, 2010
    07:23 PM

    High and Low is my favorite Kurosawa film. My imaginary remake would have Daniel Day Lewis in the role originally played by Toshiro Mifune, and Leonardo Dicaprio as the kidnapper. I would also cast Robert De Niro as the police inspector and Kevin Spacey as the driver who gets his son kidnapped. Martin Scorsese would direct of course.
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  • By Chris Reid
    March 19, 2010
    07:24 PM

    There is no need to remake them. That is the ONLY correct answer.
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  • By SCUBADONC
    March 19, 2010
    07:24 PM

    I guarantee that studio execs are going to be cruising this series of comments looking to fill out their remake rosters. Be careful what you wish for!!
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  • By Flynn joffray
    March 19, 2010
    07:25 PM

    I would remake every Kurosawa film by reassembling the Monty Python crew and shooting it with a handycam!
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  • By Evan McCoy
    March 19, 2010
    07:25 PM

    "The Bad Sleep Well", featuring Adrian Pasdar in the Toshiro Mifune role. Nuff said. (Alec Baldwin as one of the corrupt executives would be pretty tasty as well!)
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  • By Benjamin Crais
    March 19, 2010
    07:28 PM

    There are actors I would like to appear in this remake that are dead. So I'm going to create a dream cast, if that's alright, I hope it is! :) Yojimbo remake: Kuwabatake Sanjuro: Toshiro Mifune is the only person who could play this role, but if I had to give it to someone else, I would say Clint Eastwood. He played the role well in Fistful of Dollars, and I would like to use Clint Eastwood at this day and age, he seems to have matured as an actor and gained more depth and I think he could do a great job. Sanjuro would have to of aged immensely, but I think it works as a weary character. Unosuke: Alain Delon. He is excellent as the dangerous hitman in Le Samourai and would play this role excellently. He has the perfect appearance, (if I can cast him at the age he was when he was in Le Samourai) and would be fantastic. The Officer: Steve Buscemi. Steve Buscemi is weaselly and would play the the brownnosing officer very well. Gonji: Max von Sydow: Looks the part of a sympathetic old man, but he also brings depth into any character he plays, it's all in the eyes. Ushitora: Robert De Niro. An aged Robert De Niro could play on his earlier experience of playing mobsters, but as always, would bring something new and exciting to the role of the gang leader. Seibei: Marlon Brando. Always an excellent actor, and seriously, who doesn't want to see Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro control two warring gangs? Homma: Though it's a very small role, Morgan Freeman can display a feeling of great wisdom and would be good in this role. I know I skipped a few characters, but I have to go meet people for a movie!
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  • By Tom Helberg
    March 19, 2010
    07:28 PM

    Rashômon Tajômaru - Ed Helms Masako Kanazawa - Kristin Wigg Takehiro Kanazawa - Bill Hader
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  • By telemachus vlachakis
    March 19, 2010
    07:28 PM

    (forgot my email before) HIGH AND LOW This time set in a slum of Cuba, overlooked by rich american businessman Kevin Spacey, and his wife Julianne Moore. Their driver’s (Gael Garcia Bernal) young son is kidnapped by local desperate drug addict (Benicio Del Toro) for ransom. A group of Detectives, including an old expert (Brian Cox).
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  • By Alex Zechiel
    March 19, 2010
    07:36 PM

    Ikiru would make for an interesting American remake, mainly because to understand the real drama in the third half of the film, an understanding of Japanese culture and societal norms are necessary. To see a director manage to translate the courage that Watanabe's character had into our American culture would be astounding. I think Gene Hackman would make for a good American counterpart to Watanabe; hell we've already seen him faking stomach cancer in The Royal Tenenbaums, in which he gives one of my favorite performances of last decade. Anna Kendrick would be a fine choice for Kimura; she's just proven herself in Up in the Air, and using a still somewhat unknown actress could better detach the audience from any preconceptions. Watanabe's son could be portrayed by Tobey Maguire; we've seen him in only one role in which he's deviated from the norm, and that was in The Good German, in which his character dies much too quickly. Not that his character would be evil as in that film, per say, but I don't recall liking Watanabe's son too much on my first viewing of Ikiru. Finally, the novelist who Watanabe meets in the bar and who takes him out for a good time could be played by none other than Crispin Glover, one of our finest, strangest, and most underrated actors. I think he could bring a believability and quirkiness to the role that would suit the story very well. Wow, I actually kind of want to see this now.
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  • By Lionel English
    March 19, 2010
    07:38 PM

    Stray Dog. With Gene Hackman in the Shimura role, and Matt Damon in the Mifune role, and Karl Urban as the thief.
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  • By Fred O.
    March 19, 2010
    07:38 PM

    Rashomon Redux Steve Buscemi - A Woodcutter Bill Paxton - A Priest Paul Giamatti - A Commoner Benicio del Toro - Tajomaru Mark Ruffalo - The Samurai Maria Bello - The Wife Johnny Depp - The Medium John Goodman - The Voice of The Medium
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  • By Tony
    March 19, 2010
    07:46 PM

    Tony Nunes Ran with... CLINT EASTWOOD as the patriarch Hidetora RICKY GERVAIS as Hidetora's fool Kyoami JON HAMM as the elder son Taro SCARLETT JOHANSSON as Taro's wife Lady Kaede ERIC BANA as Hidetora's son Jiro ZOE SALDANA as Jiros's wife Lady Sué BRENDAN GLEESON as Jiro's general Kurogane PAUL DANO as the banished son Saburo
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  • By Connor
    March 19, 2010
    07:55 PM

    SCANDAL (SHUBUN) Gerard Butler as Ichiro Aoye Rose Byrne as Miyako Saijo Michael Caine as Hiruta Diane Kruger as Masako Hiruta
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  • By Colin Aldridge
    March 19, 2010
    07:59 PM

    Rashomon: Witness #1: Max von Sydow Witness #2: Harvey Kietel The Woman: Amanda Seyfield The Man: Ryan Gosling The Killer: Leonardo DiCaprio The Listener: Joseph Gordon Levette
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  • By Kenji L.
    March 19, 2010
    08:06 PM

    Seven Samurai is worth a remake, and as a tribute, the main cast should be composed of the best working directors... Kambei Shimada - Clint Eastwood / Ang Lee Kyuzo - Wong Kar Wai / John Woo Kikuchiyo - Quentin Tarantino / Stephen Chow Heihachi Hayashida - Takeshi Kitano / Michael Moore Gorobei Katayama - Peter Jackson Katsushiro Okamoto - Christopher Nolan Shichiroji - Pedro Almodovar evil samurai leader - Roman Polanski / James Cameron evil samurai 1 - Tim Burton evil samurai 2 - David Lynch evil samurai 3 - Lars von Trier evil samurai 4 - Park Chan-wook evil samurai 5 - Vincent Gallo senior of farmer - Hayao Miyazaki farmer 1 - Martin Scorsese farmer 2 - Woody Allen farmer 3 - Zhang Yimou farmer 4 - Hou Hsiao-hsien
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  • By Art Henderson
    March 19, 2010
    08:06 PM

    Remake "Seven Samurai" as an animated film featuring insects. Oh. Wait. That's already been done.
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  • By Vincent Grippi
    March 19, 2010
    08:15 PM

    RASHOMON ONE MAN CAST- Robin Williams
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  • By Brian
    March 19, 2010
    08:16 PM

    The Lower Depths as.... The Low A Spike Lee Joint Set in an apartment building in at the edge of the French Quarter overlooking a cemetery in 1920's New Orleans. A mysterious voodoo priest (Kahei, played by Morgan Freeman) rents a room from a dilapidated apartment's owners, (Rokubei and Osugi, played by James Earl Jones and Pam Grier, respectively) and begins to impress the low life tenants with his demeanor and spiritual nature. The leader of the slums, (Sutekuchi, played by Don Cheadle) has been having an affair with Osugi, but begins to fall for her daughter (Okayo, played by Thandie Newton), who rejects his advances at first, only to fall for him later resulting in tragic results. The tenants, filled with jazz players, winos, and prostitutes are played by (Tracy Morgan, Ozzie Davis, Chris Tucker, Maya Rudolph, and Mo'nique).
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  • By Cavan Campbell
    March 19, 2010
    08:17 PM

    Imagine Throne of Blood, remade thusly: Washizu (MacBeth): Benicio del Toro Lady Washizu (Lady MacBeth): Famke Jansen Miki (Banquo): Javier Bardem The Forest Spirit (The Three Witches): Adriana Barraza
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  • By Zizouowen
    March 19, 2010
    08:34 PM

    One of the most significant thing about Kurosawa's films is they are full of hearts and souls. I believe to have its own soul, a remake should has its own style and value. However, it is very hard for current films to convey the pure and sublime spirit of any of kurosawa's films, even the latest one Madadayo. A solution to this maybe to remake an animation film. My first watched and favorite Kurosawa film is Seven Samurai, and to remake this one, I'd like to cast some animal actors with samurai clothes and swords. Samurai except Mifune could be replaced by dogs or wolves, and Mifune who was first an outsider, could be bear or tiger. Bad guys can be replaced by hyena, and peasants can be played by small animals such as chicken and rabbits. Don't underestimate animation films, in recent years it seems that they can be even more meaningful and inspiring. So maybe remake Seven Samurai is not a bad idea after all!
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  • By Jay Kantor
    March 19, 2010
    08:41 PM

    Oh my god it would be definitely be Ikiru. There are just such a timeless and universal themes that I think would best be handled by a Director like Kelly Reichardt (Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy). I think Kelly Reichardt is appropriate because of her more meditative style. This film doesn't need a ton of dialogue and would probably be better served in her style of longer, drawn out scenes that focus on the psyche of the individual. It would be nice to see Willem DaFoe in the Kanji Watanabe role. DaFoe's style is obviously much more dialogue driven but if you look at Lar Von Trier's Antichrist there are many fantastic moments of realization that DaFoe goes through that I think are important for a role like Watanabe. Not to mention his facial acting which is so expressive. The Kimura part would be great with Audrey Tautou even if she is a little older for the role but she continues to be so youthful and just has such a great grasp on the subtle nuances of physical acting. For a Cinematographer I think the best choice is Anthony Dod Mantle (Antichrist, Slumdog Millionaire, The Last King of Scotland) because he just has such great composition, isn't afraid of a close-up, and is able to adapt to the style of the director while maintaining his own look.
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  • By Dirkson
    March 19, 2010
    08:56 PM

    Hidden Fortress (American Version) Although rebirthed in its many incarnations, I think it would be cool to have a closer retelling of this film set in the time of the American Civil War. I have selected the following actors and actresses based on experience as well as their ability to preserve the essence of their original Japanese counterparts and translate it with a Westernized sensibility. Even though this is not made a comprehensive list of all the characters in the film, the characters that I have chosen to list encapsulate the key players in a possible remake of Akira Kurosawa’s classic tale, Hidden Fortress. Russell Crowe as General Rokurota Makabe: He is chosen based on his versatility and his ability to play bold and dignified characters of leadership, similar to that of Toshiro Mifune, as demonstrated in his role in Gladiator. Anne Hathaway as Princess Yuki: She is chosen based on her ability to play dignified yet emotionally charged characters. Brad Garrett as Tahei: He is chosen based on his comic timing and burly build that in a sense matches Minoru Chiaki’s. Marlon Wayans as Matakishi: He is chosen based on his slapstick humor and his ability to play complex characters as in Requiem for a Dream and the remake of The Lady Killers. Sean Connery as The Old General, Izumi Nagakura: He is chosen based on his experience in roles of leadership, such as in First Knight; nowadays, he kinda’ looks like Takashi Shimura to boot! Hugh Jackman as General Hyoe Tadokoro: He is chosen based on his warlike spirit. Besides, it would be cool to see Crowe and Jackman duke it out for a little while. Mary Alice the Old Lady-in-Waiting: Although not taking a major role in the film, she would play a key part in a pivotal moment in which she helps to plan the safe route of passage for the princess. As exemplified in her role in The Matrix Revolutions, Alice can exemplify that sense of motherly authority and leadership that will help guide the protagonists to their ultimate destination. Thanks for the chance to list my dream cast!
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  • By Bill Melidoneas
    March 19, 2010
    08:57 PM

    The Seven Samurai as The Seven Crusaders starring Christian Bale in the Mifune role, filled out by Russell Crowe as the leader of the group followed by Sean Penn, Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joseph Gordon Levitt as the youthful Crusader. To be directed by Christopher Nolan one of the few pioneer filmmakers out there in the film world.
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  • By Alex K
    March 19, 2010
    09:05 PM

    Dersu Uzala. It is set on a planet Akira. A group of explorers encounter an alien being who has been "one" with the land from the birth and thus able to save the party from perishing in the treacherous jungle-like terrain. Jeff Bridges as the explorer, Werner Herzog as the native Dersu. Directed by Harmony Korine.
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  • By Ted House
    March 19, 2010
    09:06 PM

    Remake "Red Beard" [In my mind Dr. Red Beard is sorta like the the original "House M.D." tv show.] so the cast: Hugh Laurie (dr. house) as "Dr. Kyojō Niide, AKA Red Beard" Joshua Jackson as Dr. Noboru Yasumoto Emily Deschanel as The "mad woman" There are plenty of roles open, but those are the three main characters So the Plot would be the same more or less, except for it being American. Hugh Laurie (Dr. Red Beard) , who runs his Hospital with a stick rather than a carrot. If you've ever seen "House M.D" you'd understand. He know for being a jerk, but he's just eccentric. A new young doc comes to call on Red Beard but is then informed of his placement in the staff and tries to get fired by being a nuisance. And Emily Deschanel of "Bones" fame would play the "mad" woman locked up in the herb garden that can only be treated by Dr. Red Beard. She's beautiful, and vivacious, is awfully cunning and would play the role well. Since Hugh knows the part of a wise and stubborn doctor he'd carry his role to the oscar history. And Joshua Jackson would do well as a sort of angsty young (30) doctor that believes he has a better role as physician to the Shogun (or in this version, it could be say neurology specialist, really any other position that could be more important than helping a poor village.) And that's my fantastic remake of "Red Beard" cast that is sure to picked up by the one of the big movie producers out there that read this contest entry
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  • By Marko Balaban
    March 19, 2010
    09:24 PM

    Since many of Kurosawa's films have already been appropriated into American cinema, I am thinking that IKIRU would be a painfully relevant film for today's society. How many times have we seen some politician taking all the praise for something that someone else has worked hard for a long time. This type of remake would possible give the public a rather positive view of certain people in the system of bureaucracy who actually do want to help. The greatest thing of all is that everyone could easily identify themselves with a certain character from the story. However, shot by shot remake of this classic would not be as pleasing as appropriating this story in a contemporary setting, as American cinema has done before with his other films.
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  • By Kevin
    March 19, 2010
    09:31 PM

    Ikiru starring Hal Holbrook.
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  • By Sean C.
    March 19, 2010
    09:37 PM

    Seven Samurai Starring Howie Mandel as Kambei Harvey Keitel as Gorōbei Jack Black as Shichirōji Michael Fassbender as Heihachi Bi Rain as Katsushirō Daniel Day-Lewis as Kyūzō Robert Downey Jr. as Kikuchiyo Ernest Borgnine as The Village Elder Kris Kristofferson as Manzō Hilary Swank as Shino (ala Boys Don't Cry) Gene Wilder as Yohei and Tim Curry as the Bandit Leader
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  • By Jes
    March 19, 2010
    09:46 PM

    Seven Samurai with each role played by Buster Keaton and co-directed by Buster Keaton and Wes Anderson
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  • By dan grgas
    March 19, 2010
    09:52 PM

    THE HIDDEN FORTRESS as a sci-fi flick called Star Wars starring Harrison Ford, Mark Hamil, and Sir Alec Guiness. Oh, and Petter Mayhew.
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  • By Nick
    March 19, 2010
    09:53 PM

    DERSU UZALA Dir. Terence Malick 1800s; unknown troop explores Canadian wilderness, marking territories for whites and Indian reservation. Timothy Olyphant as the Captain Russell Means as Dersu
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  • By Patrick
    March 19, 2010
    10:05 PM

    Seven Samurai with the cast of The Hills, duh!
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  • By Ben
    March 19, 2010
    10:14 PM

    Ikiru, with Tom Hanks, Natalie Portman, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The Everyman Tom Hanks, and not the Symbologist Tom Hanks.
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  • By Danny Crocker
    March 19, 2010
    10:33 PM

    Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Toshiro Mifune in Red Beard. JG-L - Dr. Calvin Noyes Michael Cera - Resident Dr. Isaac Zachary Michelle Trachtenberg - Nurse Rosanna Sapene Max Records - The Kid (Scamp)
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  • By Marc
    March 19, 2010
    10:40 PM

    RASHOMON starring JAVIER BARDEM as Tajomaru FOREST WHITAKER as Takehiro Kanazawa MICHELLE WILLIAMS as Masako Kanazawa SISSY SPACEK as The Medium JOSH BROLIN as The Woodcutter DAVID STRATHAIRN as The Priest JOHN TURTURRO as The Commoner
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  • By Randall
    March 19, 2010
    10:54 PM

    americanized remake of Seven Samurai Kambei - Nick Nolte Gorobei - Josh Brolin Shichiroji - Kris Kristofferson Heihachi - Jeffrey Dean Morgan Katsushirō - Paul Dano Kyūzō - Thomas Jane Kikuchiyo - Karl Urban Yohei - Alec Baldwin Manzo - Michael Keaton Rikichi - Sam Rockwell Bandit Leader - Russel Crowe i'm seeing it as another western kinda remake or maybe some kinda gangland epic kinda remake. either by the Coen bros or Andrew Dominik
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  • By Brian G
    March 19, 2010
    11:07 PM

    I would like to see Stray Dog remade. Gerard Butler as Detective Murakami David Morse as Detective Sato Scarlett Johansson as the show girl
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  • By RYAN MCGLADE
    March 19, 2010
    11:25 PM

    I would love to see a remake of "Ikiru" set in contemporary American society. As the doomed protagonist, I would have to go with Harvey Keitel. I have no doubt that he would bring depth to a role in which he is forced to face his own mortality, and it would be all the more heartbreaking to see the soul of a dying man crack through Keitel's famous tough-guy visage. As the young woman whom he connects with, originally portrayed by Miki Odagiri, I would cast Maggie Gyllenhaal, who was excellent in a similar role in the recent Academy Award-winning "Crazy Heart". As the main character's preoccupied son and daughter-in-law, I would cast Sam Rockwell and Cameron Diaz, respectively, because I was captivated by Rockwell's recent performance in "Moon" and I believe that Diaz has a wider range than most audiences give her credit for (see: "Being John Malkovich"). Finally, as the proatgonist's former co-worker who tries to change things after his death but realizes that things will just stay the same, I would cast the always-reliable Morgan Freeman, who would bring his usual wisdom and acting excellence to the table. Overall, I believe that, although it could never top the original, such an adaptation of "Ikiru" could introduce more people to the greatest filmmaker of all time, Akira Kurosawa.
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  • By Bruce Gilchrist
    March 19, 2010
    11:39 PM

    Yojimbo Reset in the favelas of Mexico City with Gabriel Garcia Bernal in the Mifune role; Alfonso Cuaron directs, providing allegorical commentary on the state of Mexican politics.
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  • By calvin Vankeersbilck
    March 19, 2010
    11:44 PM

    High and Low Kingo Gondo - Willam Defoe The Kidnapper - Michael Fassbender
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  • By Scout Tafoya
    March 19, 2010
    11:47 PM

    I can't win this one cause I won last time but I just wanted to share this. The Bad Sleep Well in the 20s/30s, speakeasies and the like. Mads Mikkelson in the Mifune role, Alan Rickman in the Takashi Shimura role, Jason Isaacs as the villain, Cillian Murphy as the supportive friend, Emily Mortimer as the daughter/wife. I thought Emily Blunt, but after seeing Emily Mortimer in Shutter Island, I feel like she could do the super vulnerable thing that Ko Nishimura did so well.
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  • By calvin Vankeersbilck
    March 19, 2010
    11:47 PM

    High and Low Kingo Gondo - Willem Dafoe Cheif Detective - Leonardo Dicaprio The Kidnapper - Michael Fassbender Directed by Martin Scorsese
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  • By InfamousHugo
    March 19, 2010
    11:47 PM

    IKIRU Director: Ken Loach Cast: Sean Connery
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  • By Tomas Roges
    March 19, 2010
    11:54 PM

    Stray Dog Dir. Matin McDonagh Murakami - Joseph Gordon Levitt Sato - Ed Harris
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  • By Samantha Webb
    March 20, 2010
    12:00 AM

    What better chance for an ensemble cast than a rehashed Seven Samurai! Playing Kambei would be William Hurt, in a performance that would not only stretch his potential but show the depth such an actor can bring to a role when given the chance. The part of Gorōbei would be taken on by Sean Bean. He could bring his own twist on the character while keeping the roots of Gorōbei firmly in place. Jim Broadbent would be given the part of Shichirōji. His jovial demeanor is the first giveaway, but the intensity he can bring (think Moulin Rouge) to small parts is his true selling point. Robbie Coltrane in the part of Heihachi, bringing a colorful addition to the cast and leaving a lasting impression in a part he was born for. Katsushirō portrayed by Yoo Ji-tae, the actor best known for his part as the villain in Oldboy. There's a subtlety he brings to his roles that speaks for itself. Kyūzō. A toughie at first but I ultimately gave up and handed it over to the only image that wouldn't leave my mind, the ever stoic David Carradine. His image sprinting into the woods can be switched in and out with Seiji Miyaguchi's seamlessly. Kikuchiyo is another close call, a character I almost gave up on and said "Mifune is the only one I can picture in the part." But after pulling hairs I decided I truthfully can see Johnny Depp giving an outstanding performance in his stead. Richard O'Brien would fill the shoes as the over bearing father Manzō (it's no stretch for him to come out half crazed) and his daughter Shino would be played by Claire Danes. Which just leaves Christopher Lee to play the village elder.
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  • By Kellie
    March 20, 2010
    12:01 AM

    Ah, well the remake would be The Hidden Fortress one of my favorite film of his. I would for a remake in Akira Kurosawa honor, not take his idea of fedual japan, but instead make this Europe, England exactly, The middle ages, instead of a samurai there would be knights, not such a big change. This could beat Braveheart at the boxoffice or Oscars if it ever happened. With the cast I would pick, it would be the best remake ever.. Because I love English History so much and with the basis of Kurosawa's plot, and some more input I could see it being a wonderful movie. The players: General Rokurota Makabe: Vincent Cassel, because he's a great actor I mean if you've seen La Haine or brotherhood of the wolves then you know he could play Makabe. He's good in period films. Princess Yuki: My favorite actress, Emily Blunt. She's talented and smart. She brings lots of heart to her character. She played Queen Victoria for god sakes, I mean of course she could do a period film. Tahei: Ah, Jonas Armstrong, he's semi popular if you've seen Robin Hood, or some other bbc shows you know him. But I really believe if given the chance he could do a film, I've seen book of blood, clive barker's newer movie and I loved his performance, he was emotional and hard edge, I seriously didn't think this was just another horror movie after I've saw it, since his performance was good. Oh yeah and of course Robin Hood, I loved that show because of him. To see him in this remake would be cool, if it ever happened, I know it's fake and just our opinions but seriously i see good things for Jonas Armstrong. Also he could do it as a period film... Matakishi : Sir Ben Kingsley, because you need a movie with him, he played Gandhi and did a wonderful job. I really think that he could play in any movie and make it good. I also think Kurosawa would have loved him if he ever got a chance to use him in his films. Izumi Nagakura: Ray Winstone, I know why him? Because he's so amazing and so overlooked for his performances, if I could cast him in any movie or really every movie I would, I just love him. Just some names that I think would do a good job. I would never want to see this remade though, or with my idea, but it's interesting to think.
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  • By Nick Philpott
    March 20, 2010
    12:09 AM

    DRUNKEN ANGEL: Nick Cave as the doctor Paul Dano as the young gangster with TB Tom Waits as the head of the Gang
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  • By TJD
    March 20, 2010
    12:15 AM

    Washizu Tilda Swinton Lady Washizu Keanu Reeves Noriyasu Betty White Miki Meryl Streep Old Ghost Woman Will Ferrell
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  • By Matthias Galvin
    March 20, 2010
    12:17 AM

    "Triginta. Call me that. From when my name was on a sign. Or, if you want, call me the Agent." Sylvester Triginta has come to 1920s Capitol Hill looking for something to do. He's come here a long time from when his name was on the sign Triginta & Associates, and he'll be happy to take what he gets. Most disbarred layers are. Robert Downey Jr. plays the scruffy old fixer, with enough poise and assurance that he makes us feel like Robert Mitchum and Jeff Bridges are always in the room. And when he walks in without anything on his shoulders, he fast makes friends with barman William Powell--and ex-detective himself, who settled into owning and running the most popular speakeasy for the Cap's power players: The Drinkin' Memorial. It's there that Sly first hears about the ongoing storm in the House of Representatives (or, as Powell's barman calls it: "The Whore House") and the Senate ("The Drunk House"), and decides to see if he can make some money off it. He starts by getting an ear with Herbert Miller (an almost invisible, American-speaking, Alec Guinness), Congressman, and Miller-Guinness foreign alcohol magnate. Soon, he becomes his legal advisor. But when newly-elected HR Al Swearengen (the great Ian McShane) hears about this, he fetches some of his hired men from Deadwood, South Dakota: a funny, if slightly dim, James Gandolfini as Jack Snap, the brother of one of Swearengen's underlings. But the partner Swearengen really wants his his partner: the the fiercer, smarter, fast-drawing Conrad Veidt (perfect Western English, and right off of his stint in a certian Cabinet) as the hitman Seth Gatson. Seth's jet black hair, thinning wide smile, and eyes that are as wide as they can be evil... Even without his pistol, he'd make everyone in a room go quiet. Despite them, Sly is able to engineer the two parties to destroy themselves (and, in a moment of Hollywood happy endings, leave us with Good Government), after having had adventures hiding in a Desk (Earl Williams style) to avoid getting seen; helping a nice young couple (Joy Page and Helmut Dantine) escape debtor's prison. And with the utmost class, and elegance (and a bit of blind luck), Downey's Triginta illustrates just how crafty one can be to show that Switchblade beats Rod. All this will be set to Masaru Sato's wondeful Yojimbo score. P.S. Clint Eastwood is slated to direct the remake, with Hugh Jackman, and co-starring Morgan Freeman.
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  • By C Tyler Belile
    March 20, 2010
    12:37 AM

    Stray Dog as a gangster flick set in the 30's/40's. Det. Murakami (Mifune) - Ben Foster Det. Sato (Shimura) - Jeffrey Dean Morgan Harumi Namiki - Michelle Williams Yusa - Cillian Murphey
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  • By Mark
    March 20, 2010
    01:12 AM

    Ran, as an 80's war on drugs allegory set in Houston with lots of cocaine, submachine guns and strip clubs. Lady Kaede: Tilda Swinton Hidetora: Frank Langella Saburo: Leonardo DiCaprio Tango: Ruben Blades Jiro: Johnny Depp Kurogane: Mark Wahlberg Taro: John Malkovich Lady Sue: Rose Byrne Kyoami: Gael Garcia Bernal
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  • By Alex Goldstein
    March 20, 2010
    01:19 AM

    i would choose to remake Red Beard. The Farrelly Brothers would write and direct it, and it would change from a drama to a gross-out comedy. Dr. Kyojō Niide- is a grumpy old curmudgeon played by Danny Glover- is sick of his boring life as a doctor. However, when he meets Noboru Yasumoto, a quirky young sprite played by Frankie Muniz, he faces the conflict that he will be replaced someday, when the medical world moves far beyond the ideas that he was trained in. However, when they meet "The Mantis", a hypochondriac played by Chris Elliott, they have a strong bonding experience and ultimately understand the circular motion of life. There are also fart jokes.
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  • By Ben Middleton
    March 20, 2010
    01:30 AM

    Hidden Fortress: Abbot and Costello as Tahei and Matashichi, Katherine Hepburn as the Princess, and Ben Kingsley (ala Sexy Beast) as Gen. Makabe. Set it in post apocalyptic Australia and add in evil midget armies for good measure. If Hollywood falls for . . . I mean loves this, I get final cut!
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  • By Justin T
    March 20, 2010
    02:10 AM

    Ikiru: I would cast an unknown actor in the leading role, because in doing so, it allows the protagonist to be the "every man" that the character needs to be. The beauty of the original for me, is that I had never seen Takashi Shimura before, and I was never taken out of the depths of the story as a result. Though it might be easy to say "I would cast Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, or a similarly famous aging actor, their very presence will have the unintended consequence of drawing attention away from the magnificence of the script and characters itself. If even for a split second, a person says "There's Jack Nicholson!, I loved him in ______", they are drawn out of the story and it loses its all-encompassing beauty that makes it my favourite Kurosawa film. The breathtakingly-beautiful swing-in-the-snow scene would never have the same impact if you were looking at the face that had been in dozens of other classics, and was widely recognized around the world. When the universality and simplicity of a story are its strengths, one should never leave it up to the audience to bring their own preconceived notions about an actor to the role. It should be fresh, like a new batch of clay, allowing the actor and viewer to interact through the film medium and mold their own relationship for the role, and film.
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  • By Bob Castle
    March 20, 2010
    03:00 AM

    My choice for this contest is Stray Dog. Directed by Curtis Hanson. (The director of L.A. Confidential. The man can take any genre and turn it on it's head.) Anthony Mackie (the hurt locker) as Murakami. Mackie is a young promising actor who could play Mifune's role with grace. Brendan Gleeson as Detective Sato. Gleeson played a father figure for the movie "In Bruges." Imagine what he could do here Lee Pace as Yusa the theif. Yusa suffered a great deal in this movie. Lee Pace suffered in "The Fall." That and he could make an equal adversary to Mackie Carey Mulligan as Harumi Namaki the showgirl. This beautiful actress could play this suffering showgirl Catherine Keener as Harumi's Mother. I bet at least 85% of the people playing in this contest has at least mentioned Meryl Streep. But I thought of giving her a break and cast Ms. Keener in the role instead.
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  • By David Smith
    March 20, 2010
    03:43 AM

    Just to have you know, prior to writing this, I tried to come up with one for Drunken Angel but failed to find any individual to replace Toshirô Mifune. He truly is the epitome of an incomparable actor. Anyway, the second film I chose happens to be Akira Kurosawa's Dreams I'd imagine this as more of a tribute rather than a full fledged remake. I'd pull in different filmmakers from different cultures to share their own interpretations of the segments to pay tribute to the master of cinema. (Plus it isn't amongst my absolute favorite Kurosawa films, so remaking it isn't a complete abomination, just a slight abomination.) 1) Sunshine Through The Rain Director: Hayao Miyazaki What better way to start out a series of surreal dreamlike sequences than good old fashion 2D animation by one of the greatest animators to walk the planet? The colors and atmosphere in this segment would fit Miyazaki's style perfectly... 2)The Peach Orchard Director: Zhang Yimou Cinematography: Christopher Doyle This seems like a pairing capable of putting their own twist to the story and achieving the visual splendor that Kurosawa himself captured... 3) The Blizzard Director: Bernardo Bertolucci Cinematography: Vittorio Storaro To get a good blend of culture from someone who's openly influenced by Kurosawa, Bertolucci deserves a spot. This was one of the more difficult pieces to fill in because my first choice (Tarkovsky) is no longer with us, but if Bertolucci reached back to his "Last Emperor" years, this could work well... 4) The Tunnel Director: Francis Ford Coppola or George Lucas (They can fight amongst themselves to see who'll get their name on the credits) Cinematography: Michael Ballhaus The relationship and admiration of Coppola and George Lucas to Kurosawa is no secret. Though it's no secret either that the works of these two have suffered in recent years. Nonetheless, they deserve a spot to direct and the themes of this segment seem very fitting to pay their tribute... 5) Crows Director: Martin Scorsese (Come on, who else do you think, that's a no brainer) Cinematography: Robert Richardson This one I would only be fitting to have Scorsese direct and cast Leonardo DiCaprio as van Gogh. Much how Kurosawa cast his apprentice (of sorts), Scorsese would do the same. Not to mention Leo is very close in age of van Gogh at his time of death... 6) Mount Fuji in Red Director: Steven Spielberg Cinematography: Janusz Kaminski Again, not the biggest of Spielberg fans, but the themes of nature and industry in this segment seem fitting for him. It is obvious that Kurosawa has a major influence on him and even if you're not a fan of his work, it's undeniable that he's one hell of a storyteller... 7) The Weeping Demon Director: Abbas Kiarostami Cinematography: Mahmoud Kalari Okay, this one might be the most far fetched, but let me briefly explain my reasoning. Death isn't a new subject in cinema, Kiarostami has tackled it before in in a lighter tone, while Kurosawa tackled it here in a darker light (as he did in the segment "The Tunnel" as well). Now to bring a variety of different culture into the mix, I'd be curious to see the take on this through Kiarostami's eyes. It may just be a grand failure, or it could be a stand out piece. Yeah, it's a reach I hear ya. 8) Village of the Watermills Director: Kim Ki-duk Cinematography: Baek Dong-hyeon This segment in Kurosawa's film was a beautiful tribute to the natural world. With films such as "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring", Kim Ki-duk could produce a terrific closing segment and would undoubtedly capture the world as beautifully as Kurosawa did. ------ Casting actors for each spot is something that would take an awfully large amount of time so I'd trust these filmmakers to cast their own pieces. I wanted to include Tarkovsky so badly on multiple segments (Blizzard/Weeping Demon) but I had to keep it in the realm of possibility using living filmmakers. This would be a true tribute to Kurosawa it were possible. Even though it's far beyond belief, I'd be first in line to see it...
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  • By David Allen
    March 20, 2010
    03:47 AM

    "Crows" - the short from "Akira Kurosawa's Dreams" Martin Scorsese would direct (obviously) Leonardo DiCaprio - Filmmaker (Scorsese-like in appearance, but taller, obviously) Tatsuya Nakadai (The 8th Samurai)- Akira Kurosawa We open with Leo sitting in a theatre at a Kurosawa retrospective. Leo would stand and walk into "Rashomon" as the sun shines down through the trees. The reality of the film's story would continue to exist once Leo entered, but he would find Kurosawa sitting in place of the camera.The famous filmmakerwould be leaning down on one knee listening to the witnesses tell each side of their story. We would then follow Leo as he followed Kurosawa through films from throughout his career, showcasing his experimentations in genre, in cinematic styles, and between color and black and white. Kurosawa (near the end of his life) would speak to Leo about life and cinema, being honest about his hardships, but looking fondly back at his successes. The film would end in "Madadayo", with Kurosawa walking off into the sunset from the that film. Leo would leave the film and sit back in his seat and watch the reel conclude. The short could be called "Rain" considering Kurosawa's obsession with the weather, but I would leave the title up to Marty in the end. One can dream right?
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  • By NILS L
    March 20, 2010
    05:37 AM

    Rashômon, with an oedipal element. Tajômaru: Alexander Skarsgård Masayuki Mori: Stellan Skarsgård Machiko Kyô: Isabelle Huppert Philip Seymour Hoffman would of course play the woodcutter.
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  • By Andrew Strauss
    March 20, 2010
    05:58 AM

    Stray Dog Detective Murakami: Tadanobu Asano Detective Sato: Beat Takeshi Harumi Namiki: Nami Tsukamoto Girlie Show Director: Renji Ishibashi Yusa: Show Aikawa
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  • By Dave H.
    March 20, 2010
    10:13 AM

    A remake of Ikiru, set in Russia, with the lovely Julie Christie in the Takashi Shimura role.
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  • By Seth Beatty
    March 20, 2010
    11:50 AM

    Werner Herzog re-doing The Bad Sleep Well starring Christian Bale. Now that would be something...
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  • By Conor Curran
    March 20, 2010
    12:55 PM

    Paul Thomas Anderson directing a remake of Drunken Angel with Thomas Jane, Julliane Moore and Paul Dano
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  • By CNews
    March 20, 2010
    01:35 PM

    Wes Anderson and Wes Craven team re-direct The Seven Samurai with an all over-40 female cast (you know - Glenn Close, Meryl Streep, Judi Dench etc.). The setting would be America in the 1950s. It would be neither comedy or horror and they would not deviate from the original script i.e., the characters would speak Japanese.
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  • By Jason Parker
    March 20, 2010
    02:43 PM

    i would love to see Tarantino take a modernized stab at Yojimbo. seems to fit his style quite well. Sanjuro: Bruce Willis Seibei: Harvey Keitel Orin: Uma Thurman Ushitora: Christoph Waltz Inokichi: Steve Buscemi Unosuke: Eli Roth Gonji: Samuel L. Jackson
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  • By Jason Gardner
    March 20, 2010
    02:53 PM

    RASHOMON Starring: Willem Dafoe as The Bandit Marion Cotillard as The Wife Adrien Brody as The Samurai Ian McShane as The Woodcutter Matthew Goode as The Priest Tim Blake Nelson as The Commoner Sigourney Weaver as The Medium Andy Serkis as The Voice of The Medium
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  • By wes bates
    March 20, 2010
    03:50 PM

    the bad sleep well Kôichi Nishi-billy crudup Masayuki Mori -Daniel day lewis shot in a steam punk style
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  • By Brian Hollendyke
    March 20, 2010
    05:53 PM

    Black Ran(Away)-the modern-day, Hollywood stereotypical King Lear. Lord Hidetora Ichimonji: Eddie Murphy Taro: Eddie Murphy Jiro: Eddie Murphy Saburo: Eddie Murphy Lady Kaede: Eddie Murphy Kyoami: Dave Chappelle Lady Sué: Mariah Carey Tsurumaru: Daryl Mitchell Tango Hirayama: Laurence Fishburne (It would sell. You know it would. And it would win Best Makeup as well.)
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  • By Yarb D
    March 20, 2010
    05:59 PM

    The lead role in my imaginary spaghetti western style re-make of ‘The Hidden Fortress’ would go to: (the part played by Mifune) --1968 era Charles Bronson I’d cast the wandering peasants or in this case leaderless bandits as: (Tahei & Matashichi) -- 1969 Dennis Hopper (Easy Rider) & 1969 Dustin Hoffman (Midnight Cowboy) And the Princess, but in this case the debutant and fortune heiress would be cast as: (Yuki) -- present day Rose McGowan (for her stubbornness) The opposing General now an opposing gun hand: (General Tadokoro) – 1966 Lee Van Cleef And finally the slave girl would go to present day Selma Hayek
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  • By ryan Jeffrey
    March 20, 2010
    06:02 PM

    Rashomon starring Mathew Fox ... bandit Josh Holloway ... samurai Evangeline Lilly ... wife Terry O'Quinn ... priest Naveen Andrews ... woodcutter Jorge Garcia ... medium
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  • By Justin Rice
    March 20, 2010
    09:19 PM

    Ikiru Directed by: Todd Field I think he is one of only a few directors that could make the film fresh while preserving a classic feel. Starring: Watanabe: Bill Murray Kimura: Sally Hawkins There are few things sadder than a sad comedian, and Murray can act with the best of 'em. I defy you to find anyone who could play a sad old man at the end of his rope more poignantly. Furthermore, Sally Hawkins is the only actress out there with life dripping from her every fiber. She is a walking sunny day, but can turn it off at the drop of a hat, and this makes her the most ideal actress for the role. Michael Shannon would need a big supporting role as he may very well be America's best young actor.
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  • By Wren Graves
    March 20, 2010
    11:08 PM

    In the same way that HIGH AND LOW held a mirror up to Japan's budding capitalist economy, a remake could start a conversation about America's current system, broken and bloated as it has become. Julianne Moore in the part Mifune played, Philip Seymour Hoffman as the kidnapper. Finish it off with John C. Reilly as the detective, and let's make a film about why and how to get ahead in business, and the responsibility those corporate institutions have to their employees.
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  • By Ezra Littlewood
    March 20, 2010
    11:31 PM

    Modern Stray Dog remake in shady los angeles area young unknown actor in the lead
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  • By Ezra Littlewood
    March 20, 2010
    11:31 PM

    Modern Stray Dog remake in shady los angeles area young unknown actor in the lead
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  • By Justin Morgan
    March 21, 2010
    02:41 AM

    Film: Rashomon I would prefer to have a vague, "on verge of war" setting, perhaps during an unknown/undisclosed time, as the focus of the film would be strictly character driven, and before I can cast such a film. We need to worry about the backbone: the crew. I would hire... ...Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse (Star Trek, ABC's Lost) to write the film, as they are excellent at acquiring a distinct sense of mystery and intrigue for extremely character driven pieces. ...Julian Schnabel (Before Night Falls, the Diving Bell and the Butterfly) to direct, as he is able to capture a uniquely realistic performances with such courageous character arcs. ...Roger Deakins (No Country for Old Men, Revolutionary Road) as the cinematographer, as he captures the most beautiful scenes I have ever seen, which are always fitting to the mood required. ...Thelma Schoonmaker (Raging Bull, the Departed) as the editor, as she always creates consistent and accurate pacing throughout the projects in hand. Now, as for the actors, I would hire... Kevin Spacey as The Woodcutter Daniel Day-Lewis as The Priest Morgan Freeman as The Commoner Casey Affleck as The Bandit Rachel Weisz as The Wife Viggo Mortensen as The Samurai My original idea would be flesh out the piece with young blood, which is why I chose relatively fresh blood in the creation aspect of the film. So I went with that aspect in a different way. They would recreate a great sense of excitement needed in the picture. As far as actors, I know I chose a pretty star-filled cast; however, I like the idea of mostly middle-aged men in the foreground of the film, especially considering the topic we're discussing here. Rachel Weisz as the wife because why beautiful, she's not overly attractive, distractingly attractive. I think Jessica Alba is gorgeous, but she wouldn't be fitting in this version of the film. I feel every actor listed above will provide the impact needed, and they were not chosen to drawl in a specific audience or else I would have cast some young teens from Twilight, along with big A-listers, like Brad Pitt and/or Matt Damon. I am intrigued with every actor listed above and feel they would work great as an ensemble piece. Now, the titles of the characters would correlate with the war idea i have noted, and since I have American actors mostly and the film does not take places in Feudal Japan, we probably would have the Samaurai become the Soldier, and so on. The hardest part of remaking a film is respecting the original while still having to change scenes, so not only is my goal to create something fresh for people too lazy to watch a Japanese film that's black and white with subtitles (no disrespect, but most people actually do complain about this), we make a film for the people who love Rashomon so very deeply. The films has to be a film for those people, for the true lovers of cinema, and I feel like all of the cast and crew listed that a great, truly respectable film can be made.
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  • By JJ
    March 21, 2010
    12:50 PM

    Clint Eastwood as Yojimbo! But wait! I think that's been done!
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  • By Alexander Miller
    March 21, 2010
    02:00 PM

    Since so many of his films have ALREADY been remade (Magnificent Seven, Fistful, Star wars etc.) or are Shakespeare renditions I would have to go with Either Drunken Angel, or Stray Dog.... Since Stray Dog has Johnnie To's P.T.U. I'm gonna go with Drunken Angel. So instead of Postwar Japan we'll put them in let's say......The bombed out slums of Afghanistan? So filling in for Takashi Shimura will be.....Sean Connery! And instead of a Handsome Japanese hoodlum we'll throw Christian Bale in there as a former soldier who suffers from P.T.S.D.. He can't deal with civilian life so he stays in the "Only place he feel's is home" and drowns his sorrows in booze while he stumbles about the bombed out rubble he feel's responsible for (Like Albert Finney in Under the Volcano). So after some type of fatal diagnosis (Cirrohsis maybe?) from the doc. he goes off the deep end. And the finishing act will be a stand off between him and some local whose family member died as a result of something he did while in combat. Not bad eh? Film it in Arizona, get two days of shooting time with Sir Sean,(all the scenes with the Dr. will be interior shots, save a lot of money that way) and some extra's who can speak Dari and we could bang this movie out in two weeks!
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  • By David Hollingsworth
    March 21, 2010
    03:47 PM

    I can't really imagine 'another' remake of a Kurosawa film. To try to top him would be an absolute travesty, especially when there are so many other remakes that are just draining the life out of film today.
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  • By Nello De Angelis
    March 21, 2010
    04:32 PM

    Ikiru Kanji Watanabe - Zlatko Buric Toyo - Chloe Moretz Watanabe's son - Vincent Gallo
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  • By Tim
    March 21, 2010
    05:20 PM

    Rashomon Bandit - Jackie Earle Haley Wife - Maggie Gyllenhaal Samurai - Willem Dafoe Priest - Harry Dean Stanton Woodcutter - John C. Reilly Commoner - Philip Seymour Hoffman
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  • By SIG
    March 21, 2010
    07:24 PM

    STRAY DOG WITH JOHNNY DEPP IN THE MIFUNE ROLE, RAY WINSTONE IN THE TAKASHI SHIMURA ROLE AND MILA KUNIS AS THE GIRL.
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  • By Jim Williamson
    March 21, 2010
    07:25 PM

    Quentin Tarantino writes and directs a remake of "Seven Samurai" as a crime drama. A group of storekeepers in an unnamed eastern city hire seven "godfatherless" hitmen: Harvey Keitel in the Kambei Shimada role as recruiter and leader. Russell Crowe as second-in-command Gorōbei Katayama. Johnny Depp as Shichirōji, the third samurai. Owen Wilson in the Heihachi Hayashida role. Bradley Cooper in the Katsushirō Okamoto role. Tom Roth as the taciturn Kyūzō. Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Kikuchiyo. The Storekeepers (Villagers): Jack Nicholson as Gisaku, neighborhood patriarch, the "Grandad," who tells the storekeepers to hire displaced hitmen for protection. Gary Oldman in the Manzō role (Shino's father). Scarlett Johansson in the Shino role. Tom Waits as Yohei. Joaquin Phoenix as Rikichi. Reese Witherspoon as Rikichi's Wife. Philip Seymour Hoffman as Mosuke -- his store will have to be torched in order to save the main warehouse, where the final shoot-out takes place. The Primary Gangsters (Bandits) are played by: Mickey Rourke as the leader of the gangsters. Colin Farrell as the gangster second-in command. Clive Owen as the "musket" gangster. Faizon Love as the "roof" gangster.
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  • By ClayB
    March 21, 2010
    09:35 PM

    I'd like to see "Throne of Blood"/ MacBeth redone as the story of a small time criminal group trying to hold their ground in modern day London. Russell (Taketori) and Jennings (Yoshiteru) are up and coming lieutenants in a criminal outfit run by Joeseph Colston. Colston orders the two to take out a rival who has been attempting to push into his territory. The job goes off without a hitch, however the murder is witnessed by an old woman who claims to see a future where either Russell or Jennings have taken control of the organization and extended it's influence well beyond the city's boundaries. Both men agree that the woman is senile and harmless, so they spare her. Russell makes the mistake of telling his girlfriend, Tera, about the hit and about the old woman. (and we know where the story goes from there). Russell - Idris Elba Jennings- Clive Owen Colston- Stellan Skarsgard Tera- Grace Jones ..... just kidding Thandie Newton
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  • By Jacob lewis
    March 21, 2010
    10:10 PM

    I would do Rashomon. The plot would be about a married couple being robbed by a young man late at night in Baltimore. The police would hear the boys side of the story. The wife's side. A witness. And even video evidence that all prove to be contradictory to each other. Think Rashomon with a little bit of Thin Blue Line. Let's fast track this puppy with... Larry Gilliard Jr. as the suspect Naomi Watts as the wife Chris Cooper as the husband and Ellen Burstyn as the witness And MY BOY! Jeffrey Wright as the inspector trying to make sense of the mess.
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  • By Robert Smith
    March 21, 2010
    11:27 PM

    John Hurt would be great in a "remake" of Ikiru. He's got that naturally pained, sad puppy dog look to him that Watanabe does so well. He's perfect for the role.
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  • By Marvin Ortiz
    March 22, 2010
    03:15 AM

    Gene Tierny would play Lady Kaede in this impossible remake of Ran. With Edward G. Robinson secure for the Hidetora Ichimonji role originally played by Tatsuya Nakadai, I would cast Toshiro Mifune as Saburo, Russell Crowe as Taro and Humphrey Bogart (going against type) as Jiro. Woody Allen would play Kyoami the fool and I would get Cillian Murphy for the role of the blind guy. I'm directing, of course!
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  • By Michael Barlow
    March 22, 2010
    08:13 AM

    Hakuchi (the idiot) a 265min version how kurosawa wanted, but make it a Anime and get Hayao Miyazaki to write/direct
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  • By M. SEAL
    March 22, 2010
    10:04 AM

    'Ran' by Lars von Trier. Hidetora - Max von Sydow Taro - Michelle Yeoh Jiro - Ziyi Zhang Saburo - Zoe Bell Kyoami - Zero Mostel Kaede - Ed Norton Kurogane - Lino Ventura If anyone wants to invest in the project, give me a call; we'll get the ball rolling.
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  • By Mike L
    March 22, 2010
    10:50 AM

    Yojimbo: Mel Gibson as The Samurai Edward Norton as Unosuke
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  • By Tobin G
    March 22, 2010
    12:26 PM

    YOJIMBO: Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville Starring: Charles Bronson - The Samurai Alain Delon - Unosuke Orson Welles and Max von Sydow - The Two Bosses Monica Vitti - Nui
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  • By Andrew Bacon
    March 22, 2010
    12:33 PM

    Scandal Carey Grant -- Ichiro Aoye Grace Kelly -- Miyako Saijo James Stewart -- Masako Hiruta And Frank Capra would direct, because I think Scandal is already very "Caprian," with the news paper headlines, the little guy fighting the big guy, and the Christmas setting without being a "Christmas movie." I just watched Scandal and couldn't help but notice similarities.
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  • By John
    March 22, 2010
    01:19 PM

    A remake of "Dodes'ka-den" set in the outer limits of a modern city would be interesting -- for some reason I'm thinking of something like the weird hippie commune outside of Portland from the beginning of "Wendy and Lucy." And that leads me to my first casting choice: Will Oldham as the homeless father. He plays the soulful, shaggy drifter well, but this role -- and especially the presence of a son in need -- would give him a chance to branch out past the inebriated bum. Because there are so many more misfits in this one, I'll focus on some of the memorable roles that might get top billing for the poster. Jermaine Crawford (who played Duquan on "The Wire") could play the trolley boy, although I'm hoping he's not too old for the role now; Mo'Nique could make a nice post-Oscar return as the mother. The pair of spouse-swapping couples? Would Natalie Portman, Casey Affleck, Rebecca Hall and Steve Zahn be funny if they got drunk together?
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  • By Thomas Brewer
    March 22, 2010
    02:28 PM

    I would like to see the Seven Samurai remake using several of today’s biggest stars from Asia. Seeing Jackie Chan playing Kambei Shimada the leader at his age is perfect. Chan is at the age where he could play the war-weary samurai. Andy Lau as Gorōbei Katayama the second in command of the seven samurai. Tony Leung Chiu Wai as Shichirōji, and Takeshi Kaneshiro as the youngest of the samurai Katsushirō Okamoto. Leon Lai is perfect as the cheerful samurai Heihachi Hayashida. Kyūzō the skilled samurai would be best played by Donnie Yan. Only Jet Li could play Kikuchiyo. Could you see this film it could only be directed by John Woo! WOW just thinking about this film with these actors really gets me pumped!
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  • By Jason Van Cleave
    March 22, 2010
    02:37 PM

    The blizzard sequence from "Dreams" starring Danny Trejo and set in a sandstorm. "Yojimbo" starring Woody Harrelson. "Ikiru" starring Bill Murray.
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  • By Brian Eggert
    March 22, 2010
    02:53 PM

    I'd love to see a remake of 'Drunken Angel' by Martin Scorsese, only because it would have to be a director of Scorsese's caliber to do justice to the original yet innovate enough to make it his own. Much like how Kurosawa used his two most frequent leading men, Mifune and Shimura, Scorsese could cast De Niro as the doctor and DiCaprio in the Mifune role. It would make a wonderful parallel between these filmmakers, their styles, and their repeated use of the same talented performers.
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  • By Mark Hendrix
    March 22, 2010
    03:30 PM

    Ikiru - Hal Holbrooks in the lead. I can't imagine anyone doing the part better. The rest of the cast doesn't really matter, but how about Jeff Bridges as his son who doesn't get it, Catherine Keener as his daughter-in-law and Zooey Deschanel as the girl from his office who helps him understand how to live. Oh, and Paul Rudd as the guy he meets in the tavern that takes him out for a night on the town.
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  • By Matthias Galvin
    March 22, 2010
    04:57 PM

    Nicely done, Alex!
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