Cool News
They’re Remaking THE SWEENEY For The Bigscreen?!?
Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here.
I’ve just recently started to get into this series, thanks to a DVD release of the first series and my fascination with LIFE ON MARS, and I’m digging it. I’ve seen a lot of ‘70s cop television from America, but bloody little of it from the UK, and it’s got a whole different vibe.
Great stuff, and if they’re really making a movie of it, I hope they take care to make sure it’s great. It certainly has the potential:
I can't blame you for missing this news because we seem to have missed it over here.. I only found it myself after reading the SWEENEY TODD article on this site!
This is big news on our side of the pond. I suppose I'd better do the publicity department’s job for them...
Currently in production is a movie remake of the revolutionary 1970s British cop show THE SWEENEY, starring Ray Winstone (! thank you god!) as the Jack Regan character immortalised by John Thaw (later known for INSPECTOR MORSE) directed by Nick Love (FOOTBALL FACTORY, THE BUSINESS, OUTLAW) and written by one of the original series creators Ian Kennedy Martin.
THE SWEENEY brought a level of grit, violence and immorality to British TV that arguably not been seen before or since. The most recent export British tv export, LIFE ON MARS, owes almost it's entire premise to the contrast between the modern world and that of the raw and seedy 70s crime scene depicted in THE SWEENEY.
Jack Regan and the Metropolitan Police Flying Squad, so named because their original high speed pursuit vehicles were post war RAF cars ('The Sweeney' = 'Sweeney Todd' !! it's rhyming slang mate!!) tackle the worst and most mobile organised crime across the various police boroughs of London without worrying too much about who they annoy in the process. The original tv series ran to four seasons and was popular enough to spawn two spin off movies, the second of which, SWEENEY 2, is good enough to bare some comparison to LONG GOOD FRIDAY and SEXY BEAST
It is not known if this new version is a period 70s movie or a modern reboot but if it's half as good as it could be this could really propel Mr Winstone, still hot after his great exit scene in THE DEPARTED, to superstar status.
Final thought - have they started casting MINDER yet?
Call me HORSEFLESH
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+ Expand All
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Sound cool.
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DE DE DE DE DAHHHH DE DE DE DAH!!!!
I wonder if Dennis Waterman will have a cameo & then Sing the Feem Toon? -
ray winstone really needs propelling. what with beowulf and indiana jones? yeah, its him in the sweeney that the world's going to go mad for
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This had better not be some weak out crap.I hope they don't mess up the music http://tinyurl.com/24okkw.I expect a certian standard with this film,Nil By Mouth language x10 and much coarsness and bleak reality.The Sweeney was quality,I hope they don't ruin it..
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Get yer trousers on, you're nicked! Phil Cornwell should partner Winstone.
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in this day and age, there is no way that they would even dare try recreating the original - by the current standards it is far too politically incorrect. i reccomend you all seek out the original 5 TV series of it, as well as the two films they made in the 70's.
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Gotta love those Brits.
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Detectives on the verge of a nervous breakdown is still the best homage to 70's UK cop shows.
SHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT ITTTTTTTTTTTTT! -
to stay true to the original.
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Stay away from The Professionals, though.
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...think of the cardboard boxes!
The poor cardboard boxes! -
It would make no sense today, as Life on Mars pointed out, policework in 07 is so boring you'd rather jump off a roof than sit through another meeting...
I loved the Sweeny as a kid, if the movie is set in the 70s and is as politicaly incorrect as the original then cool, otherwise, please don't bother... -
John Thaw was great as Regan. A real gray area character if there ever was one. He was pally with his bosses yet pissed them off often enough. He wasn't corrupt but he didn't mind cutting corners. In the movie there was a touching scene when he tried to bust one of the bank robbers who blew his own head off with a shotcut with his girls panties on the end, Regan cried after that which really showed well that despite being a hard bastard he had a heart.
Classic theme tune too. Usually i get really weary about the re casting of classics like this but Ray Winstone is just about perfect. Can't wait. -
Shut it you CAAAAANT!
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Aug 05, 2007 5:04:48 AM CDT
Oi, Detective. Why don't you detective me up a biscuit?
by the equalizer
Fantastic news! Now only if they can cast Philip Glenister in some kind of role?
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Aug 05, 2007 5:11:11 AM CDT
Ray Winstone actually appeared in the original series!!
by the equalizer
I'm getting more and more excited every minute! This film is gonna rock!
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Nick Love is getting worse film by film. OUTLAW was a piece of thuggish rubbish. That being said, Winstone is inspired casting for this, even if this is getting close to self-parody for him if he's not too careful. Using Ian Kennedy Martin for the script is great news, though. And yep, of the two original movie spinoffs, SWEENEY 2 is stronger and more cinematic (SWEENEY feels like an extended TV episode), and has some of the vibe of other 70s Brit thrillers like LONG GOOD FRIDAY and VILLAIN (Richard Burton is awesome in that).
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http://tinyurl.com/yupmae - though nothing more than a logo as yet, it seems.
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... I was dubious enough about the whole idea of a remake but Nick fucking Love directing? Who keeps giving this talentless fucknut work? And I'm guessing it'll be Danny fucking Dyer as Carter? Jesus, makes me wanna puke my feet up. I probably won't though.
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He's the guy responsible for Danny Dyer's "career" and for that, I hate him.
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Thats been my catchphrase for years! Cool news, indeed!
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why not dig up the cancered corpse of John Thaw cause next they they will eye up a big screen imagining of Inspector Morse.
This is a horrid. the only way this will work is if they offer Waterman a role has the head of the met. ITs too late to say dont bother cause it seems to be in production. I dont think thaw would have cared either way. He wasnt a very nice person. I read the book about him and his wife. Recently Sheila his wife said that she regretted not putting more into the book about his domestic abuse and alcohlism. The appeared to be a very happy couple. At home it was a much darker picture. -
dont work. Especially in comedies. look at the mauling League of gentlemen's apocalypse got . a movie so awful(i did see it, that is why I no longer rate Jonathan Ross who said I laughed untill a little bit of wee came out) I dont think it has been released in the states three/fours after it was made. Ray Winstone is a an actor who has a very limited range. Gangsters, bent coppers and that is all he can play. I kept turning off the awful Henry VIII which he starred in. All london gangsters kind of look the same to me, especially the ones Made by Jude Law and company from the end of the 1990s. Damn you Guy richie!
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...was never intended to be released to cinemas in the US. The LEAGUE are working on new material now, so expect something from them in 2008...
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but then Why doesnt Winstone try comedy. I only see Winstone in two types of roles. Cop dramas and Gangster roles. He should broaden his range a little.
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have disbanded. the log member who was in that dr who episode, recently, one about the scientist who twists his Dna so he can live forever and turns into this scorpion creature, was aksed about the log and said that it was finished, the movie was not a happy writing experience and so they have disbanded. That is what I heard.
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I am sure I remember a scrap between the Sweeney and some hard cases in a tenement building. The police resolved it by sticking one of said bad guys in a shopping trolley and pushing him down the stairs. "Your nicked my son !!!"
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yet...
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...and have them learning about their feelings and tolerance of misunderstood criminals or some other hippy shit like that, foisted upon them by an equality and diversity advisor. I'll be genuinely surprised if we get a balls to the wall British cop flick.
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giving it verbals, gotta have that theme tune too! ;-)
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You, put yer knickers on and make me a cuppa tea...
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Oh yes!!! The fast Shows version with "John Actor in a tough, uncompromising drama..." about a detective (or a Vet?!!!). Look out for the sequel "All Monkfish Great and Small"!
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http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=n0JpTthRpmI
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http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=k4_vSuF_v3E The Fast Show never fails to raise a smile.
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If your'e not familar with him, he's made THE FOOTBALL FACTORY, THE BUSINESS and OUTLAW. He is a very good young director. I really like him.He does get some stick I don't reallt know why. OUTLAW has only got a rating 0f 5.7 on IMDb...WTF?!?!?!
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I seriously cannot wait for this - what a brilliant idea, one of the best directors in the UK doing a movie of the best cop dramas in the UK EVER!! Sod yer CSI's and TJ Hookers (only joking, William Shatner rocks lol!!), I grew up spoon-fed The Sweeney, the Professionals and the New Avengers. Majorly happy now!!
P.S. - is Love Regular Frank Harper gonna have a part? I also suggest Motorhead do a revision of the theme tune and you have the classic Ford Consul in it if it isn't going to set directly in the '70's. -
And no nonsense tough Brit cops! "I'm going to smash your fucking nose in with my foot after I have my cup of tea, if you don't mind, slag!"
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Except he doesn't write the tune, or sing the tune...
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Winston has got range. For example: The Proposition and Nil by Mouth (and even Sexy Beast) are far removed from what you are referring to.Nick Love, however, is a cunt. The Outlaw was awful and he has declined in quality ever since. Sort of like the British Eli Roth.
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on dvd. God I loved that show. They never repeat it either.
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like they were done on the cheap. All this film needs is ross kemp as an eastend hard man/thug. I heard that Mike Ried was making a film when he died and I cant think of anyone better to have starred in a movie remake of the Sweeney. What do you take me for some kind of Lemon? we will miss you mike reid...
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The thing about Nick Love, the over riding thing about him, is that he is a total cunt ! Watch the docos on the Outlaw DVD and if you don't want to smack the muppet then give him a fucking good shoe-ing then you are a better man than I. He is exactly the type of gobby fuckwit who thinks they are the shit in the boozer, right up until you wrap a pool cue round their heads. He holidays in Tenerife, for sure !
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fucking hell. I thought that sort of stupidity was contained. Tenerife may be a bit classy for him- I bet he is in Torremolinos
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i watched it on DVD. It looked stunning and Nick cave has great future as a screenwriter but Everyone dies in it. I do realise the movie is set in Australia and the outback(or outbeck as they say in australia) was lawless and tough at that time, I felt the movie was overly harsh and little too brutal . Nil by mouff despite all the acting talent involved remains just to depressing and belongs in that category of film I call too tough to watch I also include The magdalene sisters and the War zone.
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It's the Kiwis that say "outbeck" (or even the South Efricens), not us. Our 'A's are pretty straight ahead. That's not a slight on anyone, by the way.
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All set to watch it this weekend. Don't you know Aussies don't watch their own movies on first release?!
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"I've just 'ad me breakfast."
Classic. Can't wait for the R rated update of "Bergarac". -
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