Why remake Alfie?

I’m a big fan of Michael Caine, and believe he’s the best cinema actor of our time. MC manages to be exactly convincing in each film, whether playing the old fogey in Seconhand Lions or the officer in Zulu. Alfie catapulted him to fame back in 1966, changing his life forever, to such as extent that he titled his autobiography What’s it all about, a line from the film’s theme song. I highly recommend the book, btw.

I watched MC’s Alfie for the first time a few years ago, and it’s a fascinating movie with great impact. Nearly all of the impact comes from MC himself, who is seductive and unpleasant while playing a completely amoral character who was not likeable. The movie was perfect in every way.

So why bother remaking it? Reading the review, it sounds like I’d rather wait until it’s out on DVD. Watching the previews on TV, Jude Law looks just too pretty in a male Carrie Bradshaw sort of way. Surely Hollywood must be able to summon up a new, interesting script without having to remake classics?