Over the weekend I had dinner with some friends (yeah, I don’t live in the internet; crazy, right?) and the topic of the Toni Erdmann remake came up, which led to brainstorming which writers and directors might be perfect for taking on a three-hour German father-daughter relationship comedy (Sarah Polley) — and which ones will likely wind up with the job (someone like Larry Charles or Paul Feig, I bet). And while Jack Nicholson emerging from retirement is super exciting, one friend suggested that, since the film doesn’t even have a script or director yet, Nicholson will back out at the last minute and the role will go to Bill Murray. As it turns out, what really happened was sort of the reverse.
While many were a little perturbed at the idea of an American remake of last year’s award-winning German-Austrian comedy Toni Erdmann, and that it’s happening so soon after the original was released, we have some extremely good news today: Jack Nicholson, whose last starring role was in 2010, has been set to star in our Toni Erdmann.
The last time was saw Jack Nicholson on the big screen was 2010, in James L. Brooks’ middling dramedy How Do You Know. He played a weaselly white-collar crook who asks his son to take the rap for a crime he committed, in a performance characterized by the usual Nicholsonian deviousness. The movie didn’t make too much of a splash, forgotten after a few weeks taking up space in cineplexes. That film may take on an unexpected tragic air in light of the breaking news that it may contain Nicholson’s swan song.
Today The Shining is hailed as one of the greatest horror movies ever made. But did you know Stephen King, the man who wrote the novel The Shining is based on, is not a fan of the movie? He told Playboy he was “deeply disappointed in the end result” in 1983. That’s just one of The Shining facts featured in the newest episode of You Think You Know Movies!
Merciful Zeus, if you thought Eddie Murphy returning to ‘SNL’ after 31 years for the 40th anniversary special on February 15 was big enough, wait until you get a load of the full roster. Rivaling turnout for the Emmys and Oscars combined, the upcoming ‘SNL’ reunion will feature everyone from legendary alumni like Bill Murray, Tina Fey and Chevy Chase, to favorite hosts like Alec Baldwin, and even Taylor Swift, why not!