If you've been near a television in the last 12 hours, the chances are very good that you've seen footage of the harrowing Chilean miner rescue. Hell, you're probably watching it right now. And you aren't the only one. Considering the way Hollywood works, it won't be long before this tale of hope, unity and perseverance is transformed into a big screen popcorn movie. In an effort to make things easier for our friends at the studios, Movieline has complied a list of five directors best suited for this material. As usual: You're welcome.
· Danny Boyle
Between Slumdog Millionaire and the upcoming 127 Hours, Danny Boyle has become the go-to director for inspirational tales of overcoming immense (and seemingly unbeatable) odds. Since focusing on 33 miners seems too ambitious though, perhaps Boyle's film can concentrate on Mario Sepulveda, the second miner freed and the one who handed out rocks to rescue workers as souvenirs. He's a Danny Boyle character, if there ever was one.
· Werner Herzog
Just a total duh. Werner Herzog loves detailing the conflicts of man versus nature and he loves confined, underground spaces (see his 3-D documentary, Cave of Forgotten Dreams). Combine those two scenarios, tack on an inspirational score, cast Michael Shannon, Nicolas Cage, Christian Bale and Steve Zahn, and voila!
· Ron Howard
Officials have compared the trapped miners to the plight of the Apollo 13 astronauts, so for that reason alone Ron Howard feels like a natural fit. Just spitballing here, but maybe one of the rescuers can be a miner who was left behind ("That should have been me down there!") and maybe he helps facilitate their freedom. Who knows? Unfortunately, Howard is going to spend the next 20 years working on The Dark Tower, so his schedule might be a bit tight.
· Kathryn Bigelow
With so many moving parts, the rescue effort can be foiled by just one mistake. Who better to film that sort of tension than Kathryn Bigelow? This entire event is like The Hurt Locker, minus the bombs. Jeremy Renner can star, assuming he can find the time.
· Michael Bay
Because something had to explode during the last 69 days.