The Red Circle Remake.

[Lord_Stewie]

Hey,

Don't blame me but it is a remake.

Anyways, I saw the film and I recommend it to you guys. You will find it on Netflix if interested.

Jean-Pierre Melville’s film Le Cercle Rouge (aka The Red Circle) has been possible remake fodder for years. John Woo had his eye on it at one time (he’s long been a Melville devotee) and over the last couple of years it looked like Johnnie To was going to direct his own version. (Which was an idea that thrilled me, frankly.) Now John Hillcoat is being pursued as the latest director, and is actually talking about the project, at least in cautious terms.

Talking to Vulture last week, Hillcoat said that in addition to The Revenant, he’s has “another contemporary thriller, crime thriller, set in Hong Kong and Macao.” Then The Playlist poked through the latest issue of Production Weekly and found Hillcoat’s name attached to the remake of Le Cercle Rouge that Media Asia has been trying to put together for years. An offer has been put to Hillcoat to direct.

Melville’s original film features Alain Delon (also of Melville’s amazing Le Samourai) with Yves Montand and Gian Maria Volonté as an odd trio joined together in robbery; their efforts culminate in a wonderful 20-minute+ heist sequence that rivals the famous robbery in Rififi. A brief synopsis of the film:

Master thief Corey (Alain Delon) is fresh out of prison. But instead of toeing the line of law-abiding freedom, he finds his steps leading back to the shadowy world of crime, crossing paths with a notorious escapee (Gian Maria Volonté) and an alcoholic ex-cop (Yves Montand). As the unlikely trio plots a heist against impossible odds, their trail is pursued by a relentless inspector (André Bourvil), and fate begins to seal their destinies.

Would this still be based on Eastern Promises writer Steve Knight’s screenplay, which was what Johnnie To was working from? We don’t know that, but Hillcoat is certainly a great choice for the deliberately paced and madly tense burn of Le Cercle Rouge. The original is all about cool, detached atmosphere, and Hillcoat’s own style could well distinguish the remake from the original, while still keeping a handle on the machinations that are so important to the plot.

To’s version at one point had Orlando Bloom set to star as Alain Delon’s character, with Delon actually appearing in the film as well. Chow Yun-Fat, Liam Neeson and Tim Rothwere all names attached, too, but we don’t know if any are still part of the film.

Film is available to stream Via Netflix:

Le Cercle Rouge.

Enjoy.

[Belloche]

Le Cercle Rouge is a great heist film and I second the recommendation. As for a remake, Hillcoat has talent and taken as it's own entity it could be interesting.

[audiris]

I really don't see the point of remaking Melville's best film.

On top of that I think John Hillcoat is a really bad choice. Melville was someone who took a scene that was flat on paper and turned it into something riveting on screen by virtue of his mise-en-scène. Hillcoat on the other hand has no idea about staging, he merely covers scenes from different angles and cuts them together afterwards with no visible purpose or thought behind.