I started a new thread about this here because while I do have ideas, they're almost all Westerns or crime movies. Anyhow:

HOMBRE. A personal favorite of mine that I always thought needed one more pass at the script and a bit bigger budget to really work.

UN FLIC. Saw this on the big screen early in the year, and thought it was great, for the most part. It's hobbled, though, by a miniscule budget -- the big setpiece action scene suffers for it. Again a bigger budget would really help this work.

the Matt Helm movies. The silly stuff put on screen by Dean Martin has no relationship to the violent, rather sad hero of the books. A long time dream of mine, actually, is to see a good adaptation of these books.

I've yet to see a version of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO that I'm really happy with. I have seen the French mini-series on dvd, with Depardieu, and that's close, but even they changed things around too much. Plus, I really like Depardieu, but he just looked wrong for the part.

I have nothing at all against remakes; I just think they've been remaking the wrong ones. The world doesn't need new versions of THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE or THE LADYKILLERS or ALFIE. But it could stand a sharp version of UN FLIC.

doug

Regarding the Matt Helm movies, I'm continually surprised Hollywood hasn't brushed off one of the 60s spy franchises to make an American competitor to Bond(actually I guess Mission: Impossible is that, but you'd think they'd try more). Man From U.N.C.L.E. and The Prisoner get mentioned occasionally, but it sounds like they're mired in development hell.

My modern spy film remake dream would be Danger: Diabolik starring Jude Law. The resemblance is remarkable. He could be John Phillip Law's son! I was surprised to find out he wasn't. It's fate, I tell ya!

If studio bosses aren't sick to death of Jude Law, and are willing to back him following the disappointing box office of his last genre outing, I would LOVE to see him in a remake of DANGER DIABOLIK with Charlise Theron as his lady friend. Although to be honest it is doubtful that an actor chasing an Oscar as agressively as Jude Law will be willing to take a role in a Diabolik remake. What we'll probably wind up with is a husband/wife collaboration between Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards (which might possibly be the single campiest cast ever), and directed by one of the Odenkirks.
I'd love to see a remake of THE FRIENDS OF EDDY COYLE, and then see the rest of the George V. Higgins books adapted (especially DIGGER'S GAME). I say this with the opinion that the original is one of my favorite films of the 70s, and that Mitchum's performance in this was on par with NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, and deserved an Oscar nomination. But, the original was low key enough that in the right hands it could be improved upon. After the recent success of MYSTIC RIVER, I can see studios backing another shot at capitolizing on the historic Boston crime syndicates, with a franchise possibility. I also think it could be intersesting to see a rejiggle of CHARLY VARRICK, which is a cool gritty low key film, and not a directing tour-de-force, but in a post Tarantino world, there are so many opportunities to blow this, that it might be better unattempted. I have always been hoping that Quentin would remake THE INGLORIUOS BASTARDS, though.

Speaking of Seventies-era crime movies, I've always liked WHO'LL STOP THE RAIN -- which boasts some truly inspired casting -- but á remake might be worthwhile.

doug

In a semi-recent column in the Wall Street Journal, Jonathon Lippman looked into the Jude Law phenomenon, and discovered he's so prevalent lately because of several factors, the main two being his agents are pushing him hard with their A list directors(something like 7 of the last 10 directors he worked with were on his agency's A List), and all the studio chiefs are personal friends with him(apparantly he's a very nice friendly guy). Luckily he is a talented actor, otherwise I'd be sick of him. in any case, I don't think he's through yet(I wonder how well he does overseas, maybe he's the next Brad Pitt, mostly failing in the US but succeeding overseas). Hopefully the rest of America catches up at some point. Charlize Theron as Eva would be a good choice, but after the Oscar(and Theron's upcoming debut as an action star) they'd need to beef up her character quite a bit(not for the movie's sake, but ego).

I'd like to see a remake of JAMAICA INN. I think there's a fun movie to be found in there somewhere.