Netflix Recommendations Thread 3.0

Even if the film was a grittier, more pared-back affair, there’s an argument that The Wages of Fear / Sorcerer simply don’t work when relocated to a modern context, where technology has evolved to the point where the basic premise seems increasingly ridiculous. It’d almost have to be a period piece. Which just leads back to there being two extremely well made - dare I say classic / canonical - films based on the material - either of which anyone would be better off watching than an over-polished nothingburger.

I don’t think it’s impossible by any stretch, just seems to me the premise becomes more stretched in a deeply interconnected world with all kinds of basic safety technology now the norm. Not to say there aren’t extremely dangerous journeys / parts of the world or anything like that, but I dunno just feels like you’d need more and more caveats these days. Sorcerer gets away with it despite it also requiring a suspension of disbelief as the film’s so relentlessly cynical. Those guys are so ‘expendable’ in the view of their wealthy bosses (who do fly in by helicopter at one point IIRC?) that the outrageously dangerous mission they’re sent on is clearly just to save a few quid. That could be replicated in a modern day take, but not sure any modern director would nail that brutal cynicism the way Friedkin did. Either way, agreed this film looks like utter crap.

As for the Kaufman film, he briefly mentioned it when he visited Dublin last year. IIRC he mentioned he was fairly hands off with the project - in that he submitted it ages ago and other people went off and made a film out of it after a while. Still, very interested to see how his unique writing sensibilities translate - or don’t, as the case may be - to more mainstream fare. Reviews seem to be generally positive, which is encouraging, with the suggestion there’s definitely at least some Kaufman flourishes to separate it from the norm.