All the great masters crib ideas from others: “Casablanca” was adapted from a failed play, “Hamlet” from a Norse work called “Ur-Hamlet” (subtle work with the title there, Shakespeare), but could Michel Gondry have stolen the idea for “Be Kind, Rewind” from…Amanda Bynes?
That’s the rumor going around today after an 8-year-old clip from her eponymous Nickelodeon comedy show began circulating around the interwebs. The two-minute clip basically shows Amanda working behind a video store counter, repeatedly telling customers that their versions of rented movies (which she has sweded with her brother) are “better” than the originals. So yeah, it’s got a video store, shabby looking remade movies by the staff, and some complaining customers.
Which all adds up to…nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Look, here’s the deal. I swear on everything I hold sacred that I came up with the idea for “The Amazing Race” before Jerry Bruckheimer. I was at a train station with a friend in Salzburg, Austria when it hit me. I wrote it down. This actually happened.
It doesn’t mean I should sue CBS. Some ideas are just out there, independently striking those willing to be inspired. Within months of each other, there were two meteors hitting the Earth movies for goodness sakes. Right now, there are two competing films moving forward on Leonard Chess. And, before I interviewed one of the stars, I had never even HEARD of Leonard Chess.
But there’s more: an idea is only as good as it’s presented anyway. We don’t read “Ur-Hamlet” now and do you know why? Because it sucked.
Remaking movies with a low budget? In the hands of Amanda Bynes? Ok, sorta cute and funny. But in the hands of Michel Gondry? Much, much more.
But what do you think? Should Miss Bynes start collecting royalties? Is Michel a thief? Sound off below.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:03 pm
I doubt Goundry copied off of Bynes, if this is Amanda Bynes attempt to be a legit actor by saying someone actually watched her show, I’m sorry, I don’t by it. All this does is hype the film and put Bynes is the headlines, since her last disaster film tanked. “Be Kind, Rewind” was funny, Amanda’s show was a disaster. As a kid, I stayed away from it, I’m sure Goundry is not a thief.
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:52 am
I do find it utterly strange that movies come in twos so often, however, independent inspiration exists, and having a similar plot just isn’t a big deal anymore.
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:38 am
Further proof of the comedic genius that is Amanda Bynes.
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:53 am
“if this is Amanda Bynes attempt to be a legit actor by saying someone actually watched her show, I’m sorry, I don’t by it.” This has got to be one of the dumbest comments anyone’s ever posted. What possible reason would you have to think that Bynes has anything to do with this YouTube clip, or even knows about it? Even if Gondry did rip off the idea, it would be the producers and writers of the show that he’s stealing from, not the actors.
February 23rd, 2008 at 4:47 pm
There’s something fundamentally different, as if the Amanda Show is reinforcing the idea that the plastic-wrapped top-down culture of the studios is better and people do not want Sweded films.
There’s a hostility to the DIY films on the Amanda Show. Sure, Gondry’s Sweded films are supposed to be from Sweden, but the otherness of the Blockblister films is unsubtly demonstrated with foreign accents and angry American customers.
It seems like making fun of the kid in hand-made clothes, not realizing the value in artistry and DIY ethic.