Strangers

By: Connor Lenahan

One of my absolute favorite movies in 2014 was Gone Girl. I admit that David Fincher is my favorite working director but after watching Gone Girl again with my buddy Eric Fanning a few nights ago I am still elated about how fun the movie was. It was funny and entertaining while still maintaining the mystery to the plot. It was very well crafter and tomorrow it will probably hear its name called a few times for Oscar nominations.

But news broke yesterday that their is a new film in the works by David Fincher, Gone Girl author/screenwriter Gillian Flynn, and star Ben Affleck. They are going to remake Strangers on a Train for modern times. For those unfamiliar with the Hitchcock classic, here is a look.

The plot of the new movie will deviate a bit from the original while the main concept – strangers agreeing to exchange murders to avoid being caught – remains. From Deadline Hollywood: “This one might be best titled Strangers On A Plane, as Affleck will play a variation of the role played by Farley Granger of a tennis pro who is bored with his marriage and wants to get divorced but instead gets entwined with a wealthy socialite psycho who proposes the notion of exchanging murders. The twist here is a compelling one. Affleck will play a movie star in the middle of a campaign for an Oscar during awards season whose private plane breaks down and is given a ride to LA on another plane by a wealthy stranger. In Fincher’s hands, who knows how that goes, but it sure does seem like fertile ground.”

I need this movie yesterday. The original is terrific and the idea to adapt it for modern times seems brilliant. The story is not bound  by era. Plus making the whole thing modern, and Affleck a movie star, sounds way too enticing to pass on.

Fincher is set to direct a miniseries for HBO while Affleck is in the midst of directing a few films before this project can happen. The wait will be necessary, but the wait will be worth it.