Review of Fail Safe (2000) by Fredrick R — 25 Feb 2011
The novelty of a live tv drama, basically a filmed stage play (that had not been attempted since the 60s) wears off with the pointlessness of a shot for shot, almost word for word remake (remember the folly of the Psycho remake?) of the chilling 1964 original. Some scenes are removed to fit the 2 hour broadcast time.
Key scenes about Colonel Cassios past and going crazy in the war room are deleted, adding a lot less depth to the character.
Richard Dreyfuss is solid as the President, but hell if Henry Fonda ran for president in 1964 he would have won.
Harvey Keitel's General Black is less self righteous.
The only one who added any color or something new to their role was Sam Elliots colorful Texan as the Congressman.
The trick is you probably have to see he 2000 nremake first before you see the 1964 original because you will fall in the trap that I did..you keep on comparing the original to the remake, and the remake cannot compare.
This review of Fail Safe (2000) was written by Fredrick R on 25 Feb 2011.
Fail Safe has generally received positive reviews.
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