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« Almost There: John Cazale in "Dog Day Afternoon" | Main | Emmy Review: Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie »
Tuesday
Sep082020

Yes No Maybe So: Rebecca (2020)

I don't have the strength for a full Yes No Maybe So so it's BYO...YNMS  time in the comments!


But briefly, let's say. Yes: Kristin Scott Thomas looks promising (though is that her shouting at the end because that sounds like... too much ; Maybe So: The title font is kind of pretty with its understated flourishes; No: Why? As previously stated.

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Reader Comments (23)

I was one of the few who didn't seem to be totally against this. I'm as tired of remakes as everyone else, but I was optimistic since there's a whole novel that the makers of the new film can draw from to differentiate from the older one, and Ben Wheatley has a distinct enough style that I was willing to give it a chance. But I get more concerned about it the more we see of it. I like the cast, but...meh.

There's no way my curiosity will let me miss it, though.

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered Commenterthefilmjunkie

I've mostly given up on this being good, but the camp/melodrama of this trailer intrigues me. The 50 Shades of Manderlay edit - if this is bad, it might as well be fun.

I've always been a yes because Rebecca is definitely in my top 5 Hitchcocks/I adore Lily James and Kristin Scott Thomas.

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered Commenterchasm301

No thank you

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterAndrew Carden

Overall it's a no for me too, but the trailer sure was pretty.

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterSawyer

I'm a Maybe So: I don't expect this to be as good as the Hitchcock film (because how could it be), but I'm curious to see a version that isn't hampered by the Hays Code and therefore can do a few of the things from the book that they couldn't back then. Also, Kristin Scott Thomas looks terrific!!! And while I get everyone's ambivalence toward Armie Hammer and Lily James (they've been miscast in other things), they've both been terrific (Hammer is amazing in The Social Network and Call Me By Your Name, while I adored Lily James in the second Mamma Mia movie and she made for a pretty good Cinderella), so I'm curious to see what they bring here (even if Hammer''s accent does sound really weird).

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterRichter Scale

It's so weird that I don't like the color saturation here, because often with contemporary films I complain that the look is too dark or too washed out. Now we're finally getting something brighter but it just doesn't look quite right for the material...

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterDave S. in Chicago

I'm a NO but I'll watch it because I'm desperate.

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterPeggy Sue

No. It almost looks like a parody of the original Rebecca.

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterOwen

Good Lord! People declining a new film obviously made for adults based on a trailer !?!?!

Clearly not everyone has been affected as deeply as I by the shuttering of the cinemas and ready to try anything that has decent cinematography, quality actors, and interesting subject matter.

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterJames

I'm only a "yes" if this gets fantastic reviews.

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered Commenterjules

I'm kinda skeptical, but this trailer makes me optimistic about the route Ben Wheatley will take adapting Daphne Du Maurier's book

and can we please stop the useless comparisons with Hitchcock's movie? thank you

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered Commentereduardo

No... a 10000 times NO! and I did not even watch the trailer.

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered Commenterrdf

Is this Oscar eligible? If so Scott Thomas seems almost guaranteed a nomination. Supporting actress seems to have a lack of real contenders so far.

Honestly this trailer reminds me of the one for Death on the Nile. Settings, costumes, even cinematography looks the same.

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterTom G

Has anyone seen the ITV miniseries of Rebecca made in 1997? It's an interesting counterpoint to Hitch's movie. (Available on Hoopla if your library subscribes to it.) Faye Dunaway plays Mrs. van Hopper; that's enough reason to at least to watch the first act.

Anyway, someone else mentioned in the last post about this movie, casting an older (not old) actor as Maxim, e.g. Mads Mikkelsen, makes sense. And, yes, the best thing the ITV adaptation did was make Maxim older. Charles Dance played the part and he must have been about fifty then.

The story makes a lot more sense if Max is older and had presumably been married to Rebecca for a longer time. If R. had only been around for a few years, how had the whole county already fallen in love with her? Also, it gives more credibility to Mrs. Danvers's seething jealousy of the protagonist. If R. had barely unpacked her hope chest before she died, why would Danny care so much about the protagonist taking Rebecca's place at Manderley?

On the other hand, the part of Max--men born to privilege--is what Armie Hammer does best-- the Winklevii, Oliver, that guy in Hotel Mumbai--so we'll see. I'm a maybe so.

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterAmory Blaine

To me it sounded like Ann Dowd shouting at the end rather than KST which makes more sense character wise. I'm cautiously optimistic I don't mind remakes of old properties and the recent version of My Cousin Rachel was quite good.

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterJames D

The opening scenes look pretty and romantic but the sections they show of Manderly seems to bright- the Hitchcock classic is a hard act to follow

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterJaragon

I'm intrigued, because I'm not a fan of Hitchcock's film, but I haven't read the novel, so pretty open for me.

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered Commenterforever1267

Maybe so. I'm more curious than I thought I'd be and the original premise from Du Maurier's novel is very sturdy.

September 8, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterArkaan

It’s a movie right?
Goddman Netflix never seems to be able to differentiate in their marketing either it’s a series or a movie, or is it even a TV movie, or a movie movie?! Like make up your mind!

It’s a yes for KST, No on Lily, Maybe so on Armie

September 9, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterF

Maybe So.
I'm not against remakes, my original objection was against Armie Hammer, and he doesn't really impress me. But Lily James and KST show moments that are promising.
Set decoration crew is crucial - I want lots of atmosphere.

September 9, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterLadyEdith

Is that an, er, English accent that Armie Hammer is trying to do here?

September 9, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterDave in Hollywood

I'm a yes!! This looks gorgeous n v promising!!

September 12, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterClaran

rebecca
A young newlywed moves to her husband's imposing estate, where she must contend with his sinister housekeeper and the haunting shadow of his late wife.
Starring:Lily James,Armie Hammer,Kristin Scott Thomas

please directly add this event to your local calender by clicking below
link: https://calendarcode.net/100012618

October 9, 2020 | Unregistered Commentercalendar code
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