• On the language, cult following and press-shyness of reclusive “True Grit” author Charles Portis. [Speakeasy]
• Mike Leigh discusses “Another Year” and why he’ll never make a superhero movie. [Movieline]
• “Avatar” tops list of 2010’s most pirated movies. [New York Post]
• Steve Pond chats with “Casino Jack” star Kevin Spacey. [The Odds]
• Rebecca Keegan writes up the hairy task of creating Rapunzel in “Tangled.” [24 Frames]
• Marc Lee thinks it’s looking up for Britain at the Oscars this year. [Daily Telegraph]
About a year ago I took to examining the 2009 Best Actor race. The frontrunners for five slots seemed to be, in order, George Clooney, Colin Firth, Jeremy Renner, Morgan Freeman, Daniel Day-Lewis, Viggo Mortensen and Robert De Niro.
A day later press members received their first invites to “Crazy Heart” screenings and were notified that the film would be released in 2009. Jeff Bridges hit the ground running and never let off the gas until he was past the finish line.
A year earlier we were looking at a pair of politico-biopic portrayals, either one of which would make a handsome winner: Frank Langella and Sean Penn. But we were fairly sure the latter would be on his way to the podium one more time.
But soon after, Mickey Rourke’s festival buzz caught serious fire and forged an atmosphere of doubt. The season’s narrative seemed to be changing, and yet the early buzz carried through and brought Penn his Oscar.
So that’s two drastically different directions – in as many years – that a lead actor race can take. Given the mid-October fulcrum shared here, let’s consider our perspective on the Best Actor category right now.
Already announced, this year’s AFI Fest will be bookended by “Love & Other Drugs” and “Black Swan.” Today, more news. The press release, in part:
AFI FEST 2010 presented by Audi today announced its Centerpiece Galas, featuring ABEL (DIR Diego Luna), BARNEY’S VERSION (DIR Richard J. Lewis), BLUE VALENTINE (DIR Derek Cianfrance), CASINO JACK (DIR George Hickenlooper), THE COMPANY MEN (DIR John Wells) and an ensemble Tribute to THE KING’S SPEECH with director Tom Hooper and actors Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush.
Also announced today are the films that will be presented as Special Screenings: The U.S. premiere of AMIGO (DIR John Sayles), CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS (DIR Werner Herzog) in 3-D, MADE IN DAGENHAM (DIR Nigel Cole) and RABBIT HOLE (DIR John Cameron Mitchell).
The festival will take place at the historic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the Mann Chinese 6 theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel from November 4-11. The fest will also once again offer free tickets to all films, including Galas and Special Screenings Learn more here.
[Photo: The Weinstein Company]
Back when it looked like the film might be called “Bagman,” a sharp trailer was released for the film (which is still called “Casino Jack”). Now that ATO Pictures has acquired domestic rights, naturally, a new trailer has emerged. Check it out via Apple by clicking the image below or watch an embed after the jump.
• Ben Affleck discusses “The Town” across the pond. [Daily Telegraph]
• The Best Picture race begins to take shape for Sasha Stone. [Awards Daily]
• Michael Cieply talks to Kevin Spacey about his work as “Casino Jack” and his involvement with “The Social Network.” [New York Times]
Mike Fleming reported at Deadline yesterday that George Hickenlooper’s “Bagman” (formerly “Casino Jack,” or maybe it still is, who knows), which debuted at Sundance and could be a power play for lead actor Kevin Spacey if it’s ever picked up, is being shopped around town after a distribution deal with Metropolitan fell through. So I guess it’s a good time to toss up the trailer, which I stumbled across at Hollywood Elsewhere: