Why It's Awful: Despite roping in a brilliant cast including Aaron Eckhart, Scarlett Johansson, Hilary Swank, Mia Kirshner and, well, Josh Hartnett, De Palma's promising late-career work is also one of his most boring and by-the-book. Even with the fascinating central murder mystery, De Palma renders it boring by focusing too much on the dull personal lives of the central characters, and the resolution is both extremely unsatisfying and unintentionally hilarious. The Remake: Tone down the goofy romantic narratives involving the central characters and focus more on the murder investigation itself. Though the atmosphere and style are fine, it simply needs to be sexier and more like L.A. Confidential, which it is already clearly trying to ape. Also, scrap the entire third act and opt for something a little more restrained and less like a third-rate off-Broadway play. And obviously, get a director who, unlike De Palma, has actually made a great (or even good) film noir in the last 20 years.
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
