Blog The pros and cons of David Mamet helming Disney's Anne Frank

David Mamet, dramatic master of con jobs and profanity, has been chosen to spearhead Disney Studios' new version of The Diary Of Anne Frank, according to Variety. With acclaimed films like Glengarry Glen Ross (adapted from his Pulitzer-winning play) and The Untouchables under the Chicagoan's belt, Mamet might seem like a qualified candidate for retelling the iconic memoir, but his track record suggests a more head-scratching alliance. That in mind, The A.V. Club looks at three different Mamet works to see what they reveal about Disney's, well, unorthodox decision.

The Revenge Of The Space Pandas Or Binkey Rudich And The Two-Speed Clock (1978)

Mamet's self-professed favorite play of his is the story of Binkey and his friends (including an anthropomorphic sheep named Bob) getting accidentally transported to a planet of space pandas and evil despots. It's also one of the few children's plays he has penned.

Why it suggests he's capable of Disney magic: Unusually for Mamet, there are no profanities here. Not a single "shit," "fuck," or even "bitch" in sight. It also shows that Mamet can write to the demographic Disney likely has in mind with Anne Frank.

On the other hand: Mamet can write out of his comfort zone, but can he write a tragic drama set during the Holocaust that will still appeal to families? He hasn't attempted anything like this before, so it's anyone's guess.

Oleanna (1992)

A two-person show about a university professor and the female student who stands in the way of his tenure is a tense examination of sexual politics. Mamet has been both criticized and lauded for the character of Carol, who alternates between strong feminist and petulant child while accusing her professor of sexual exploitation.

Why it suggests he's capable of Disney magic: If Disney is indeed envisioning this new Anne Frank as a young girl's coming-of-age rather than a Nazi drama, Mamet has shown that he can write women impeccably. While she's not the most sympathetic of characters, Carol has an understanding of injustice and prejudice—topics Anne Frank wrote about in great detail.

On the other hand:

The Wicked Son: Anti-Semitism, Self-Hatred, And The Jews (2006)

Mamet's collection of essays examines the history of anti-Semitism and how it has manifested as self-hatred in modern Jews. 

Why it suggests he's capable of Disney magic: Mamet has shown a rich knowledge of Jewish history that would be essential in finding the heart of an Anne Frank film, and has written at length about Jewish persecution and prejudice. Sounds like a good match.

On the other hand: Mamet was heavily criticized for claiming in Wicked Son that Jews who don't practice are self-hating, even making a crack about those Jews "whose favorite Jew is Anne Frank." Also, his pessimist "the world will always hate Jews" stance probably isn't what Disney is going for.