Hollywood ≠ Originality

Unfortunately, it's a seemingly well-known penchant of (American) studio execs or unimaginative screenwriters to just re-cycle ideas or movies. Who cares that original content exists out there among a plethora artists/authors and their stories, screenplays, or novels (if they would bother to look or nurture). It must be cheaper (meaning profitable) and less risky for the lot of them to develop dreck and sell the movie/DVD rights. It has to be--why else do they just keep doing it? What other reason would there be for the Harlan Coben bestseller, Tell No One, being made into film...by the French? More than two years ago! All the while we get primed and suckered into more remakes like this one coming our way:

Think this is original? Well, you might if you're in the young male (16-30 years) age range (the likely target audience of the studio's marketers). I'm sure they count on the fact that few in that group were old enough to have seen or heard of this 1975 gem by Walter Hill:

Sure, they updated and produced it with higher production values. But, the essential fact is that it's been done (and likely done better), years ago. Although to be fair, I think Terrence Howard (who is one terrific actor) in the James Coburn original role might work well. However, who among you think Channing Tatum compares well or is anywhere close to Hard Times' Charles Bronson? Not me. I sure hope Hill got handsome compensation for them re-making his early film--and not mentioning it to the moviegoers. Sheesh!