Today is a day full of mixed emotions! On the one hand I am ready to beat the crap out of my wall and on the other hand I’m as happy as a clam. Why, you ask? Because Paul Haggis (Crash) is remaking one of my favorite foreign films that I watched in 2010, a Spanish prison drama entitled Celda 211 (which I reviewed here). Hit the jump to find out more details about the acquisition and why it makes me happy and super pissed off.
According to Deadline, Paul Haggis is in talks to adapt the film and possibly even direct it. He will also produced the film under his Hwy 61 production company.
CBS Films is the company looking to acquire the remake rights for the film, the one which took home multiple Goya Awards last year. The Goya Awards are the Spanish Oscars for those of you that don’t know, so it’s a big deal. Additionally, the remake would be entitled Cell 211, which is the exact translation of the title.
The film itself is about a newly hired prison guard that decides to go check out the facilities in order to make a good impression of his bosses, leaving his pregnant wife at home. That day a prison riot occurs and the guard is knocked unconscious and has to assume the role of an inmate if he plans on surviving the riot. He must play the role of inmate alongside one of Spain’s most notorious killers while trying to defuse the riot situation with help from the outside and before anyone realizes that he is a guard, not a prisoner.
As for my thoughts, I’m happy on the one hand because Haggis is both a respectable writer and director. He is responsible for directing films like Crash and The Next Three Days while penning great films like Letters from Iwo Jima and Casino Royale. At least they are taking this remake seriously by having a solid man working behind the scenes.
On the other hand, films like this deserve to be recognized, not necessarily remade. Hollywood should find a different story to adapt rather than take a great Spanish film and risk its reputation by throwing an American spin on it. If they don’t give director Daniel Monzon credit I’ll be pissed. I’m curious as to what his thoughts are on the matter.
What do you all think about the remake?
Here is the trailer to the original film
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