Pastimes in Hard Times

The board game Monopoly came to prominence during the Great Depression when, it's always seemed to me, people enjoyed the fantasy of being real estate moguls. Now that we see to be entering into hard times again, the franchise seems to be getting a new lease on life. Monopoly is on track to come to the movies, and it's set to be directed by Ridley Scott. According to The Hollywood Reporter, that decision has been made "with an eye toward giving it a futuristic sheen along the lines of his iconic 'Blade Runner.'" Certainly that's what Monopoly's been missing all these decades. We're going to find out that Boardwalk is overrun by replicants, and only the top-hatted Mr. Pennybags can go after them to send them to jail. But does one replicant have a "Get Out of Jail Free" card?

It looks to be riveting. We can only pray that Rutger Hauer's schedule is free to play the landlord of Marvin Gardens.