Robert DeNiro is so happy about reuniting with Harvey Keitel in “Little Fockers” but their meeting is brief, and funny. The pair are associated in people’s minds from early Martin Scorsese movies.
So now DeNiro is really happy because he says Scorsese is putting together “The Irishman,” with him. Keitel, Joe Pesci and Al Pacino. Steve Zaillian has written the script, based on the novel., “I Heard You Paint Houses.”
DeNiro lit up when he was telling me about it last night at the Roseland Ballroom at the “Little Fockers” party. “We’re going to do it,” he insisted. Indeed, Scorsese is finishing up “Hugo Cabret.” This may be his next outing. As for his last one, “Shutter Island,” DeNiro is an unabashed fan. “It’s a very good film,” he said. And underrated.
Meanwhile, everyone from Universal and Paramount was fairly pleased with the out come of “Little Fockers.” Directed by Paul Weitz, with a script by John Hamburg, “Little Fockers” is very funny, and the perfect ending to the lucrative Fockers trilogy.It also lets DeNiro really send himself up with a running gag about “The GodFocker.” DeNiro, of course, played the real Godfather, young Don Corleone, and won an Oscar for his work in “The Godfather Pt. 2.”
Something really interesting about “Fockers,” Star Ben Stiller shot it right after finishing Noah Baumbach‘s “Greenberg.” Somewhere in there his acting style didn’t so much change put it picked up a new texture. He’s different. In “Fockers,” he seems more mature and grounded, less jokey and more centered. Rent “Greenberg” and see what I mean.
Also featured in “Fockers:” Ben’s talented actress sister, Amy Stiller, who has a nice little part. Like Ben, she’s a chip off the Stiller and Meara block.
Last night’s party for “Fockers” raised $750,000 for the Tribeca Film Institute. As Jane Rosenthal said, “Now we can pay our overheard for the next year.” Bravo!
At the party: the whole cast–Stiller, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Dustin Hoffman, etc– except for Streisand, who was accepting an award in California.Plus Susannah Hoffs, of the Bangles, married for a long time to one of the film’s producers Jay Roach (director of “Meet the Parents” and “Meet the Fockers”). She’s a doll.
The night’s revelation: Jessica Alba, who does a superb comic turn as Stiller’s business associate. It’s a new Jessica Alba, who told me she’s been busy at home with her two and a half year old daughter. “Fockers” was the right move.
