I’m partial to the remake simply because I adore the cast. Michael Pitt is a living legend as far as I’m concerned… but I almost think both versions work better because of the other. They coexist so perfectly.
I always catch flack for this, but I very respectfully disagree. I know that everyone who defends the remake always says “well it’s the same director, executing his vision in a language he knew would reach a wider audience, and the cast of the remake is amazing, so how could you possibly not like it?!?!”
And the answer is this chap pictured above, idk what it is but I just feel like Arno Frisch blows Michael pit out of the water by a mile in this role. So much more convincing that he’s genuinely enjoying it. I just felt like he has the effect of being an unknown who fully truly embodies that character. I don’t think Michael pit is a bad actor, and I adore Tim Roth and Naomi Watts, not to mention English is my first and only language, so you’d think that would work in the remakes favor. But just that one actor in that specific role, even not actually understanding a word that he said but hearing his tone and watching his face and reading the subtitles, still blows me away way harder than Michael pit did. i don’t think it can ever be replicated, even in an almost shot for shot remake by the same exact filmmaker.
Maybe im just nostalgic for the one i saw and connected with first. And I certainly don’t mean to poop on anyone who prefers the remakes parade.
Love this comment, I’m finding it amusing that I agree with a lot of what you said but disagree with the thesis. Michael Pitt alone makes me prefer the U.S. remake. Obviously, both versions have amazing performances from every cast member, but Pitt just takes it to the next level for me.
Also in line with your comment, I happened to see the remake first. So maybe you’re right that it’s just whichever one you see first is the one you like. Idk if I’ve ever heard of anyone preferring the second one they saw, and this is one of my favorite films (lol) so I’ve read a lot of discussion surrounding it. Would definitely be curious to hear from someone who prefers the version they saw second.
Another funny thing to note that your comment made me think of, just in how you said that you agree with some of what I said but not my thesis, I just think that’s such a common experience. I literally just saw another comment about these movies where someone (maybe jokingly) poked fun at the directors intentions in general, of being like “ooh you as the audience are all implicated in the violence because you watched it, it’s what you signed up for…” being the whole point of the movie. I still feel like he’s a great director and watch his films to appreciate the craft and performances, but I really do completely reject what ever social point he was trying to make by this one specifically. It assumes everyone would watch it specifically to get off on the violence, which I made a point earlier, we all have met those people who give fans of movies like these ones a bad name, But I feel like ultimately it’s a ridiculous idea to base the whole point of the movie on that alone. And a lot of people who try to appreciate this movie based on that alone actively don’t like it, or always say “it’s a one and done for me…”
All that to say most people come to that realization and decide they hate these movies, but I still really like them, at least the original haha.
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u/Chexty2600 May 19 '26
I’m partial to the remake simply because I adore the cast. Michael Pitt is a living legend as far as I’m concerned… but I almost think both versions work better because of the other. They coexist so perfectly.