In all fairness, based on what the article states, this project doesn't sound much like a sequel really, but a new movie altogether that somehow incorporates the original Bullitt character. I'll reserve judgement, but I do wish Spielberg would stop watching AMC.
A Thought: Should one of the 'Moderators' (GORTS?) combine the thread started yesterday with this previously-existing about the same subject? Two threads of the same thing aren't actually needed are they? Just a thought.
Also requires a bad guy as cosmically oleaginous as Robert Vaughan was. Undermining your Man from U.N.C.L.E. persona took some nerve!
I love the original film. Since I am a classic car guy among other things, I am not so sure seeing a current Mustang chasing a current Dodge Charger will have the same thrill for me. The original film had a scene with a 1968 Lincoln Continental, and Lincoln only makes SUVs now, so that will be a disappointment, for me anyway. I do immensely like Bradley Cooper, but it will be hard to erase McQueen in my mind.
The shot when McQueen's car appears in the assassin's rear view mirror, thereby precipitating the chase, is one of the the all time great moments in Cinema. Movies. Films. Any Projected Media!
People complaining. I doubt most of todays movie audience has any memory of this movie. I would add a couple of spaceships to the car chase.
The only reason that Frank Bullit was interesting was because it was super cool Steve McQueen. Apart from that, there was nothing much to the actual character - just a cop (who could drive really well). Not much there for a sequel. If Tarantino was doing it, with a Once Upon A Time In Hollywood vibe, I'd be more excited. Still, Spielberg can come up with the goods so wait and see.
What are the odds of a 'car chase' in a new version of BULLITT where the cars are actually being pulled around on a trailer instead of actually driving on roads at high rates of speed? That would be my guess of a 'modern car chase'. If Mr. Spielberg is seeking a cheaply-obtained 'period' car for his "Bullitt" production I have my Falcon ready to loan out. Nothing like a turquoise Falcon parked in the background of a scene or two or twelve to make it look better.
Outside of UNCLE, for which I have possibly misplaced fond memories more intune with nostalgia for me being a kid and getting the gun, badge and suitcase, I think he rarely had a role in a film of this quality - The Bridge at Remagen, Magnificent Seven, The Hustle and especially Washington Behind Closed Doors are the exceptions. And Demon Seed and maybe The American Side. He's also good as Casca in Julius Caesar, but the film's not great.
One of my top ten movies of all time. I will avoid this. The worst news since the Ocean’s 11 franchise..
Why? They would be more successful in making a sequel to Drive or Gone In 60 Seconds. I still want them to make my movie idea where it's Jaws, but instead of the shark sneaking up on people, Chuck Norris is sneaking up and attacking sharks.
He was good in the Bridge of Remagen. That was an incredible movie. Those battle scenes were fantastic. They were going to destroy the city anyway, so they let Hollywood do it.
Actually got an an Oscar Nom for his 1st role in The Young Philadelphians. UNCLE was the best and worst thing that ever happened to him as an actor. In any event, he and McQueen really had the 'anti-chemistry' the film needed, as they were both cool characters. Neither of them yelled or blew up. But both were relentless in what they wanted. I mentioned in another thread that even if you edited out the car chase, Bullitt is a superb police procedural. The acclaim for the car chase kind of overshadows what a solid movie it is in total. A bit complex, but fathomable if you pay attention. So I hope they pay attention to the story. Maybe get someone like David Mamet to write it
I like BULLITT a lot. I've seen it some 25 times. I'd still like it a lot even if it didn't have a car chase -or- even if the chase were shorter. My favorite scene is the one in the police station where the evidence is kept and McQueen and Gordon are going through the pink luggage belonging to the murder victim at the hotel ('Dorothy Simmons' but really 'Dorothy Rennick'). "Now what went wrong, Lieutenant?" "Who else knew where he was?"
All bad choices. Pine, maybe. They found the right actor in Bradley Cooper. All bad choices. Bradley Cooper is a good choice for Frank Bullitt. Gosling is a light-weight with a high-soft voice. He's been doing a Steve McQueen impression his entire career and not getting any better at it. Gosling failed to convince me he was doing anything more than posturing, but DRIVE was as lightweight a story as he is an actor. On the other hand, Ryan O'Neal was a boxer and a genuine tough guy with real acting chops when he was offered a challenge. It's not about the car. It's not about the car. It's not about the car. It's not about the car. Cooper is a good choice for the sequel but I agree Steve McQueen is a tough act to follow. Zero tolerance for Tarantino. If Tarantino were involved I'd avoid this film like the plague. Robert L. Pike wrote several police / detective / crime novels in the 1950s and 1960s. They are all good stories and they are all worth adapting into movies. Some of Pike's novels have recurring police detectives. I forget what the detective was called in Mute Witness, but Frank Bullitt is definitely a better name. Only the premise of Mute Witness remains in Bullitt. Everything else is changed. Maybe the new film will draw on another one of Pike's novels. I think Frank Bullitt will be a comfortable fit in the 2020's. The real question is, who will they get to replace Jacqueline Bisset, the world's most beautiful woman?
Spielberg can make any film he wants to. If it interests him, I'm all in to see what is the result. I liked the first 2/3 or so of his West Side Story, but the final third lost momentum for me. To be clear, I have the same opinion of the original. JohnK
The ending of any new version of BULLITT would have to be very different; back when "Bullitt" was filmed the bad guy carried his gun on to the airplane in his coat pocket so that's not a likely occurrence in 2022. If you recall Pat Renella (Johnny Ross) was shown with his gun on the plane and then jumped off the airplane and tried to use McQueen as •target practice• on the air field.
And Pay phones, newspaper vending box, the handset coupler facsimile machine, and my favorite, the heating element for his instant coffee…
