Hey, I said yesterday that I'd love to see a review of the new SPEAK NO EVIL, and then today, here one is! This probably has more to do with "the movie being released this week" rather than "you fulfilling my request", but still - thanks, Scott!
As a Canadian who's super-attuned to the differences between U.S. culture and Canadian culture, I find something very American in the ending of the original movie. Like, the thesis of the movie (see the last line of dialogue) is pretty much, "Well, if you'd just Hulked up and kicked the other guy's ass like a real man, you'd have been fine!", which feels to me...very U.S. I'm wondering, from this review, if that was too subtle for some audiences and if the new one ends with an eagle flying an AK-47 down to the American guy.
Making the victim American and the aggressor British is also kind of a bad sign on this front.
(mild spoiler) Conversely, if they'd just told the kid "we'll get you another bunny" and then found the original one when they got home it would have also worked out. No Hulking out needed. If they'd stayed on the freaking highway at the end, same thing.
Yeah, that's a reasonable read. You're right that "standing up for yourself" does not need to look like "kicking the guy's ass"; it can look like reasonable, polite, "I am leaving now, goodbye." Even Canadians can do that. But thematically, the movie is totally saying, "These people had it coming because they didn't stand up for themselves." Like, obviously that's what the villain is saying, but I believe that's also what the movie is saying. And the "if you're spineless, you deserve what you get" message is...well, it's certainly a point of view.
Hmmm... I didn't get that reading from the original film, but I definitely did from this one, which alters the third act to more of a STRAW DOGS type of thing w/r/t masculinity.
Interesting! I feel like that last line of dialogue in the original is a pretty clear (and indeed, way too on-the-nose) statement of principle where the movie is telling us what to think of the movie - did you feel like the character was speaking for himself there and like the filmmakers aren't endorsing his view?
Yeah back when I watched it, I tried reading up on it and came across a few things saying it was meant to be an indictment of the soft Danish middle class. It seemed to me something that Tucker Carlson could watch and nod along to.
I found the original very frustrating and got quite mad at it. When I saw the trailer for the remake, I thought, wow it's like they've addressed my concerns ... but will that make for a better movie? Or just feel less risky, even though I didn't like the risk the original took? I've also become a parent in the interim so who knows how that will affect my perspective, though I don't think it would make me like the original more. I'm curious if the language barrier issue (with the babysitter) also vanishes since it's a US/UK pairing now. Great cast, though, with the lady from The Nightingale and a Halt And Catch Fire reunion!
“Speak No Evil (2024) opens in theaters everywhere tonight. Speak No Evil (2022) is streaming on Shudder and AMC+, can be rented anywhere, and is much better.”
My main issue with the SPEAK NO EVIL remake is that no matter how much I enjoyed their friendship, Cameron Howe and Gordon Clark being married is too much to handle.
Me would watch Aubrey Plaza in anything, but especially since she seem to consistently pick good projects. This movie looks delightful, and me can't wait to see it.
The original Speak No Evil was one of my favorites of its year. I really value a movie that can spark such a strong emotional reaction in me, even if it leaves me feeling as awful as did that film. I’ve been wondering if a Hollywood remake would be brave enough to keep that ending. I’m not surprised to hear they weren’t. Can’t wait until more people see this within the next few days so that I can read about the changes made. There’s certainly no way in hell I’ll be watching the film myself.
So I just watched MY OLD ASS and couldn’t agree more with your review, Keith. I found myself initially charmed by Maisy Stella’s lead performance, then wondering how Aubrey Plaza’s older version would be woven into the story after a fun “meet-cute”. I ended quite emotionally taken by the film as it pulls at the heart strings. But, I relished that feeling and enjoyed the film tremendously. The film reminded of BIG in many ways but hit me harder than that movie.
I still get emotional thinking about the end of that movie a couple of weeks later. Which is embarrassing only because if anyone asks me what movies affected me the most in 2024 I'll have to say, "My Old Ass."
The general concept of “My Old Ass” is something I’ve been playing around with for several decades now. My obsession with it was apparently inspired by an episode of a TV show I saw while visiting relatives in England many years ago. Found out later that that show was “Timeslip” and eventually saw the whole thing on DVD. My one piece of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” fan-fiction focused on Willow meeting an older woman who was in town for a few days as a traveling musician. They spend time together and have a brief fling. Although it’s not explicitly mentioned in the story, the older woman is Willow 25 years in the future. I made it pretty easy to figure out, although Willow doesn’t realize it until well after the woman has left. Of course, it’s meant to be a metaphor for being your own mother, best friend, and lover. This was shortly after Willow had nearly destroyed the world, so she was at a very low point in her life and needed reassurance that she matters. I also had a comic book idea involving a local musician who meets who he was when he was 30 years younger and in a rock band called Public Nuisance. (Jack White was a fan.) And more recently I’ve thought of an idea for a movie that explores this theme as well. I wouldn’t say I’m a one-trick pony, but clearly this is something that’s stuck in my mind!
(spoiler for original SPEAK NO EVIL)
Hey, I said yesterday that I'd love to see a review of the new SPEAK NO EVIL, and then today, here one is! This probably has more to do with "the movie being released this week" rather than "you fulfilling my request", but still - thanks, Scott!
As a Canadian who's super-attuned to the differences between U.S. culture and Canadian culture, I find something very American in the ending of the original movie. Like, the thesis of the movie (see the last line of dialogue) is pretty much, "Well, if you'd just Hulked up and kicked the other guy's ass like a real man, you'd have been fine!", which feels to me...very U.S. I'm wondering, from this review, if that was too subtle for some audiences and if the new one ends with an eagle flying an AK-47 down to the American guy.
Making the victim American and the aggressor British is also kind of a bad sign on this front.
(mild spoiler) Conversely, if they'd just told the kid "we'll get you another bunny" and then found the original one when they got home it would have also worked out. No Hulking out needed. If they'd stayed on the freaking highway at the end, same thing.
Yeah, that's a reasonable read. You're right that "standing up for yourself" does not need to look like "kicking the guy's ass"; it can look like reasonable, polite, "I am leaving now, goodbye." Even Canadians can do that. But thematically, the movie is totally saying, "These people had it coming because they didn't stand up for themselves." Like, obviously that's what the villain is saying, but I believe that's also what the movie is saying. And the "if you're spineless, you deserve what you get" message is...well, it's certainly a point of view.
Hmmm... I didn't get that reading from the original film, but I definitely did from this one, which alters the third act to more of a STRAW DOGS type of thing w/r/t masculinity.
Interesting! I feel like that last line of dialogue in the original is a pretty clear (and indeed, way too on-the-nose) statement of principle where the movie is telling us what to think of the movie - did you feel like the character was speaking for himself there and like the filmmakers aren't endorsing his view?
Yeah back when I watched it, I tried reading up on it and came across a few things saying it was meant to be an indictment of the soft Danish middle class. It seemed to me something that Tucker Carlson could watch and nod along to.
I found the original very frustrating and got quite mad at it. When I saw the trailer for the remake, I thought, wow it's like they've addressed my concerns ... but will that make for a better movie? Or just feel less risky, even though I didn't like the risk the original took? I've also become a parent in the interim so who knows how that will affect my perspective, though I don't think it would make me like the original more. I'm curious if the language barrier issue (with the babysitter) also vanishes since it's a US/UK pairing now. Great cast, though, with the lady from The Nightingale and a Halt And Catch Fire reunion!
https://letterboxd.com/stevebikes/film/speak-no-evil-2022/
“Speak No Evil (2024) opens in theaters everywhere tonight. Speak No Evil (2022) is streaming on Shudder and AMC+, can be rented anywhere, and is much better.”
Ouch.
My main issue with the SPEAK NO EVIL remake is that no matter how much I enjoyed their friendship, Cameron Howe and Gordon Clark being married is too much to handle.
Yes, thank you. I'm all for my beloved HACF cast members getting reunited, but not those two as a married couple!
Yes, this pairing is all kinds of wrong! They will always have a place on the couch in my heart, playing Super Mario.
Me would watch Aubrey Plaza in anything, but especially since she seem to consistently pick good projects. This movie looks delightful, and me can't wait to see it.
Came here to say the same! She was killer in Emily The Criminal.
My kingdom for a marquee of a theater with these film titles placed in the same order by a stoned employee.
The original Speak No Evil was one of my favorites of its year. I really value a movie that can spark such a strong emotional reaction in me, even if it leaves me feeling as awful as did that film. I’ve been wondering if a Hollywood remake would be brave enough to keep that ending. I’m not surprised to hear they weren’t. Can’t wait until more people see this within the next few days so that I can read about the changes made. There’s certainly no way in hell I’ll be watching the film myself.
I hate to be the typo police, but if someone's first name is Scoot, you gotta get it right.
Sigh. Fixed.
Me: "I really think it's Scoot, Keith."
Keith: "No, I'm sorry. That's ridiculous. What kind of a name is 'Scoot'?"
Me: "Maybe one of us should double-check."
Keith: "Waste of time."
At least that's how I remember the conversation.
So I just watched MY OLD ASS and couldn’t agree more with your review, Keith. I found myself initially charmed by Maisy Stella’s lead performance, then wondering how Aubrey Plaza’s older version would be woven into the story after a fun “meet-cute”. I ended quite emotionally taken by the film as it pulls at the heart strings. But, I relished that feeling and enjoyed the film tremendously. The film reminded of BIG in many ways but hit me harder than that movie.
I still get emotional thinking about the end of that movie a couple of weeks later. Which is embarrassing only because if anyone asks me what movies affected me the most in 2024 I'll have to say, "My Old Ass."
It’s still resonating with me for sure. I wonder how younger me would feel about this film…
The general concept of “My Old Ass” is something I’ve been playing around with for several decades now. My obsession with it was apparently inspired by an episode of a TV show I saw while visiting relatives in England many years ago. Found out later that that show was “Timeslip” and eventually saw the whole thing on DVD. My one piece of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” fan-fiction focused on Willow meeting an older woman who was in town for a few days as a traveling musician. They spend time together and have a brief fling. Although it’s not explicitly mentioned in the story, the older woman is Willow 25 years in the future. I made it pretty easy to figure out, although Willow doesn’t realize it until well after the woman has left. Of course, it’s meant to be a metaphor for being your own mother, best friend, and lover. This was shortly after Willow had nearly destroyed the world, so she was at a very low point in her life and needed reassurance that she matters. I also had a comic book idea involving a local musician who meets who he was when he was 30 years younger and in a rock band called Public Nuisance. (Jack White was a fan.) And more recently I’ve thought of an idea for a movie that explores this theme as well. I wouldn’t say I’m a one-trick pony, but clearly this is something that’s stuck in my mind!