And 5 That Sucked...
5. Joel Cranston - Fame (2009)
MGMIn my
Pierce Brosnan profile back in March, I compiled a short list of remakes which are often held up as being as good as, if not better than, the originals. But while the likes of Nosferatu, Little Shop of Horrors and The Thomas Crown Affair all brought something new to the table, the recent remake of Fame did not. Instead it was a blatant attempt to reappropriate an 1980s classic for the High School Musical crowd, and in doing so set the bar for Grammer's bad performances. Loosely reworking the Alan Parker original, Fame follows a group of students through their four years at a New York City performing arts college. Over the course of their time, we see various students growing to specialise as actors, singers, dancers etc. under the guiding hand of various teachers, including Grammer's Joel Cranston. The film eventually builds to most of the characters graduating, with original cast member Debbie Allen returning to play the principal of the school. While the original film had something of an edgy quality to it, particularly in the fates of its female characters, the remake of Fame is about as edgy as a stick of candy floss. Most of the actors are too old to be convincing as students, the storytelling and editing is choppy, and the story as a whole feels completely stake-free. Grammer seems disinterested for the most part, making the least of his lines and trying to get his scenes over and done with as soon as possible. Whether due to miscasting or an awareness on his part of the inferior product, it's a very forgettably bad performance.