While I'm always a bit surprised when a director chooses to remake their own film - particularly when the remake comes relatively close to the original - it's not hard to see why Gela Babluani would be interested in helming the US remake of his cult hit 13 Tzameti. An edgy, intense thriller about a young man caught up in a gambling ring that bets on group games of Russian roulette - the players culled from the lower classes, desperate for cash by any means - Babluani made his reputation with the original and shot only one film in his native country (Georgia) before taking the reins on the English version, titled simply 13.
Why would he do it? Simple. Resources. Resources to push the visuals out to their maximum, of course, but more importantly resources to land one of the most impressive casts I've ever seen on one screen. Mickey Rourke. Ray Winstone. Jason Statham, getting a rare chance to actually be an actor. Control's Sam Riley. Alexander Skarsgaard. Ben Gazzara. Michael Shannon. Go ahead and say whatever you want about the practice of remaking films but, as far as I'm concerned, any chance you have to assemble a cast like this is a chance that should not be allowed to slip away. Yes, it's got 50 Cent in it, too, and he sticks out like a sore thumb but DAMN it's Michael Shannon in a movie with Mickey Rourke!
While the US release is not set yet, the film is coming out in Russia soon and the Russian trailer for the film - so, yes, it's dubbed - has released and the visuals are great. Check it below.
Why would he do it? Simple. Resources. Resources to push the visuals out to their maximum, of course, but more importantly resources to land one of the most impressive casts I've ever seen on one screen. Mickey Rourke. Ray Winstone. Jason Statham, getting a rare chance to actually be an actor. Control's Sam Riley. Alexander Skarsgaard. Ben Gazzara. Michael Shannon. Go ahead and say whatever you want about the practice of remaking films but, as far as I'm concerned, any chance you have to assemble a cast like this is a chance that should not be allowed to slip away. Yes, it's got 50 Cent in it, too, and he sticks out like a sore thumb but DAMN it's Michael Shannon in a movie with Mickey Rourke!
While the US release is not set yet, the film is coming out in Russia soon and the Russian trailer for the film - so, yes, it's dubbed - has released and the visuals are great. Check it below.
Ben Gazzara?
I loved 13 TZAMETI, and this cast IS kick ass.
Bring it.
I've never been a pro-remake from any country (despite freak accidents like John Carpenter's The Thing being better than the original) like Todd is, but if it's going to happen, at least it's by the same director, so I'd give it a chance. Then I see 50 Cent plastered on this and being force-fed to us again. What are they going to do next, remake Casino and cast Paris Hilton as Sharon Stone's Ginger? How about remaking The Wrestler and casting that New Jersey Shore guy with that stupid name as Mickey Rourke's Ram? Am I exaggerating? I can't be too far off here.
Babluani the director himself, is remaking it, so it's okay i think.
Tzameti had some structurel plot problems.
Babluani himself said, the remake is going to be very different.
So we get not a shot by shot remake, which clearly is copieing,
but a different take on the story.It just can be better i suppose.
So, looking at the cast I see Babluani is turning his tense, sparse, thoughtful drama into an action movie? The inclusion of "50 Cents" makes it only more tragic...
jwalk415 might be onto something there...although I don't see much difference between Sharon Stone and Paris Hilton, personally.
Uhm... 50 cent playing Russian Roulette?
Is the running gag going to be that he loses every round but still survives into the final?
I was just wondering what happened to this. This was scheduled to premiere at SXSW last March, but got pulled due to some conflicts between producers or something. This has obviously been done for almost a year yet it is been sitting around. This can't bode well for quality.
Sorry, but i'm not interested. I rather watch, you know, new films instead of another rehash.
I can't wait for this. I love seeing how much work Michael Shannon is starting to get.