From Variety.com:
Coens speak 'Yiddish' for Columbia
Rudin producing adaptation of Chabon's 'Union'
By MICHAEL FLEMING
For their next collaboration, the "No Country for Old Men" team of Joel and Ethan Coen and producer Scott Rudin will transfer another Pulitzer Prize-winning author's work into a film.
Columbia Pictures has acquired screen rights to the bestselling Michael Chabon novel "The Yiddish Policemen's Union," with the Coens writing, directing and producing with Rudin.
Chabon sets up a contemporary scenario where Jewish settlers are about to be displaced by U.S. government's plans to turn the frozen locale of Sitka, Alaska, over to Alaskan natives. Against this backdrop is a noir-style murder mystery in which a rogue cop investigates the killing of a heroin-addicted chess prodigy who might be the messiah.
The Coens will turn their attention to the book after they shoot "A Serious Man" for Working Title and Focus.
"No Country" has become the highest-grossing film for the brothers, and the pic is nominated for eight Oscars. The Coens are up for four of them, and their trophy haul so far includes WGA, SAG, DGA, PGA and BAFTA awards.
"Yiddish" is the third Chabon novel that Rudin is translating to the screen. The first was "Wonder Boys," and Rudin is developing a Paramount-based adaptation of Chabon's Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay," which Chabon scripted.
The anticipatory saliva has already begun to pool in my mouth.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Oh My.
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4 comments:
I've been meaning to read one of his novels for a long time now.
Should I start with The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, or Yiddish Policemens...?
couldn't agree more. the greatest writers/directors/producers of the 21st century, hands down!
o brother where art thou is pure unbridled genius! #1 all-time!
Cappie: That's a tough choice. I think "Kavalier & Clay" is the better book, but I'd hate for you to start with it and then feel like "Yiddish Policemen's Union" is a letdown. You should probably just flip a coin or see whichever one is available at your local public library. They're both fantastic books, simply because Chabon has such a distinct literary style.
Brad: The Coens are geniuses, indeed, especially when paired with fabulous material, as we saw with "No Country for Old Men." Though "The Yiddish Policemen's Union" is completely different tonally. Still, I know that their personal goal as filmmakers is to make something completely different every time they go to production. And they've never made a bad picture, so... all signs point to "Awesome."
Agreed, they are the Baskin Robbins of filmmaking, putting out a different flavor for every film, and they all are fantastic.
I loved "No Country", though I disagree with the advertising claiming that "the John Ford style western has returned." It's nothing like a Ford at all, but it's still great.
I think the film industry has become accustomed to eagerly awaiting the next Coen picture, even though most of the industry fears going where they go.
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