Directing a modern-day playboy
Director Charles Shyer puts a fresh face on 1966's 'Alfie'
By Stephanie Snipes
CNN
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- In the new "Alfie," Jude Law plays a scandalously charming, devastatingly sexy, emotionally barren Brit who despite his commitment-phobic ways has women flocking to him -- ready and willing.
Considered risky when first filmed in 1966, for touching on topics ranging from bed-hopping to abortion, the remake has tempered its Alfie -- a cold-hearted cad in Michael Caine's portrayal -- with a little sensitivity and understanding.
But he still speaks directly to the audience (as in the original), and offers some hard-to-swallow relationship truths women aren't eager to hear.
Such as: "She doesn't have enough of the superficial things that really matter." Or: "You deserve to be appreciated" -- as Alfie, turning to the camera, adds, "While she's in her prime."
Law's "Alfie" delves into the reasons behind the lifestyle, and at his core finds a man who simply "can't let the love in."
"It's his downfall. It's what gets him at the end, that he won't let the love in. He's incapable of it," said director Charles Shyer.
Shyer, who with one-time writing partner Nancy Meyers wrote the hit "Father of the Bride" movies, "Baby Boom" and "Irreconcilable Differences," teamed up with writer Elaine Pope ("Seinfeld," "Murphy Brown") to breathe new life to the story of sex with no consequences.
They started by exploring the past -- watching the movie (only one time for Law, according to Shyer) and reading the Bill Naughton play. Through the original works they found character arcs that weren't prevalent in the original film.
'A bit of an outsider'
Shyer, speaking in a suite at the Four Seasons hotel in Atlanta, was laid back, with his feet propped up on the table, as he described his desire to bring a "retro futurism" and "visual panache" to the remake.
He admitted the first step to fulfilling that challenge was to change the story's setting from London to New York. He felt throwing an Englishman into the big fishbowl of Manhattan would provide a new and interesting twist on Alfie's commentary to the audience.
 Charles Shyer's past films include both "Father of the Bride" films, "Baby Boom" and "Irreconcilable Differences." |  |
"We wanted to amplify [Alfie's] philosophizing and we felt it would be better if he were a bit of a stranger in this land. A bit of an outsider. And we thought a European commenting on American culture would be interesting. And put him a little bit as they say, 'A fish out of water' with American women," said Shyer.
"It just seemed like a small move to me that reaches much further as a movie. [Acting like a playboy] is an international disease."
Casting two-time Academy Award nominee Law ("The Talented Mr. Ripley," "Cold Mountain") in the title role turned out to be one of the best decisions he made, said Shyer.
"I could say to you that it was the best experience I've ever had in my life but I'd sound like I'm on a press junket" -- which he is -- "because 'everybody loves everybody' blah blah blah blah blah. Most of the time it's not true -- this time it's true," said Shyer.
Shyer described Law as his partner on the film, and along with Pope the trio were able to establish the perfect collaborative effort.
"It was the best experience I've ever had. He is a complete artist and a total gentleman and a real friend," said Shyer.
Alfie's women are played by Susan Sarandon, Marisa Tomei, Sienna Miller, Nia Long and Jane Krakowski.
'Have you ever met Keith Richards?'
An experience Shyer describes as one of the "favorite parts of my life" was working on the soundtrack with Rolling Stones' legendary front man Mick Jagger.
Although Shyer had met Jagger socially on several occasions, he had never worked with him -- and Shyer was nervous for two reasons. For one thing, Shyer thought Jagger's voice was too recognizable and it would take the audience out of the film.
Moreover, because Jagger is such a workhorse, Shyer thought he might come in and take over.
|  Mick Jagger and Dave Stewart recorded the "Alfie" soundtrack in the famed Abbey Road studios. |
So Shyer told Jagger where things stood -- in some rather ambiguous terms.
"I said, 'It's gotta be my movie. I've got to be in charge. It has to be a collaboration,' " he said.
Jagger had no problem going along with Shyer's style.
"He looked at me and said, 'Have you ever met Keith Richards?' and I said 'No,' and he said, 'If I can work with him, I can work with anybody.' "
Jagger, along with Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame, wrote the theme music and three songs for the film.
"Mick and Dave, they've been on the movie a year and a half. Before we even started shooting they were on it. Through the dailies, Dave was on the set ... He'd show [the cut footage] to Mick and what evolved was lines like 'There's a sadness grinding in your bones' that I don't think you write in 10 minutes," said Shyer.
Of all the films he's done, Shyer feels "Alfie" is the truest representation of his directing talents.
"I finally feel, after six or eight, I don't know how many movies I've directed, I know what I'm doing. I really know how to direct a movie now, and I really feel confident. It's such an empowering feeling," said Shyer. "Someone once said to me that every director wants their first movie to be their fifth because you learn so much along the way and I finally feel I've put it together."
