For a guy who is pals with Roman Polanski, is housemates with James Toback, has produced documentaries on John Cazale and Woody Allen and is a great lover of cinema, Brett Ratner‘s oeuvre has been ridiculously milquetoast. But then again, making movies that are About Things and have even a whiff of artistry, don’t allow you to hang with Paris Hilton and publish books of tasteful nude photography. But since he’s producing the Oscars this year, we suppose he’s feeling it’s about time to direct a movie that has a possibility of getting nominated for one.
Deadline reports that Ann Peacock (“The First Grader,” “Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe“) has been tasked to Ratner-ize (ie. write) “Hunting Eichmann” for the mastermind behind the deep and rich mythology of the “Rush Hour” trilogy of films.
The story is actually ripe for a solid thriller, with the premise centering around Israeli agents who tracked down Adolf Eichmann in Argentina, two decades after the end of World War II, where he was working as a foreman at a Mercedes Benz factory. Some of the Mossad agents on the case were actual Holocaust survivors themselves and had to battle pro-Nazi officials to get him out of the country. They even had to drug Eichmann to make him appear drunk to get him on a plane, and get him back on a flight to Israel where he faced trial and was hanged for his war crimes.
So just to circle back, Brett Ratner wants to direct this. We don’t really see this happening unless Chris Tucker shows up as a sassy sidekick. For all his success, which is hard to deny, Ratner’s directorial voice is not having a voice at all. That might work for “Rush Hour” movies but for stuff like “Hunting Eichmann”? Not so much. The best he can hope for is that it gets some kids laid.