Hollywood Déjà Vu

“Hollywood lacks creativity” is about as much of a truism as “politicians are dishonest,” but earlier this week cultural critic and movie reviewer Joe Queenan asked a relatively novel question about cinematic originality: Why does Hollywood keep making the same movie twice?

Mr Queenan—importantly—was not taking a wearied swipe at the growing, seemingly endless column of remakes and sequels marching into cinemas (and filling executive’s pockets) each weekend. No, Mr Queenan had a different tale to tell:

“A few weeks back, I felt a burning desire to see a movie about a person with deep psychological problems who is sometimes given to violent episodes, whose marriage is a complete disaster, and who has trouble finding the right medication to deal with these assorted personality disorders...

Unfortunately, I arrived at the multiplex too late to see Bradley Cooper weave his special magic in Silver Linings Playbook. So instead I caught Side Effects, in which Rooney Mara plays a person with deep psychological problems who is sometimes given to violent episodes, whose marriage is a complete disaster and who has trouble finding the right medication to deal with her assorted personality disorders.”

He also listed a couple of other instances where screenwriters seemed to be comparing notes: when the CIA won the day in Argo and Zero Dark Thirty, when Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone did what they've always been doing—except they're older now—in The Last Stand and Bullet to the Head.

Mr Queenan admitted he didn’t have an explanation for this phenomenon, though he did allude to the “small, incestuous and generally unimaginative” culture that is the movie industry. However, he really seems to be onto something...

Now we ask you: what did YOU think of some of these movies that seem to have been cut from the same red velvet?

2013: Silver Linings Playbook and Side Effects