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Clint Eastwood Film: Death Has a French Connection

Roger Friedman
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Clint Eastwood Film: Death Has a French Connection

Hereafter, Clint Eastwood’s new film, called “Hereafter” will be discussed for the director’s ability to make the most from the least.

Even though “Hereafter” is written by Peter Morgan, it feels like Eastwood didn’t get the best material from this master tailor.

Morgan wrote “Frost/Nixon,” “The Queen,” and “The Last King of Scotland.” He’s a Hollywood darling at the moment. But those screenplays moved. They had energy and focus. “Hereafter” is like an episode of the “The Ghost Whisperer.” It meanders and plotzes. It settles down in odd places and takes up residence when it should be sallying forth.

Eastwood, a master craftsman, makes the most of what he’s been delivered. He intertwines three main stories: one concerns Matt Damon, who has psychic abilities; another centers on a beautiful French TV broadcaster who survives the Indonesian tsunami and becomes psychic; the third is about a pair of 12 year British twins whose mum is a heroin addict.

Preposterously you know all or some of these people who live nowhere near each other will meet. Magical things will happen in the overlap. It’s “Babel” with a crystal ball. Matt Damon’s character tells everyone he meets that he doesn’t do meetings with the dead anymore. But each time he caves in after a whiny plea. It gets comical. You expect him to say, “Every time I try to leave, they pull me back in!”

You have to give Clint credit. First he made a whole movie in Japanese and in black and white. “Letters from Iwo Jima” was a tour de force. Now “Hereafter” is at least one third in French, with subtitles. That section features two actors unknown to Americans. The woman, Cecile de France, is channeling Julie Christie circa 1981. It’s amazing. She’s so attractive that Clint has trouble cutting away from her. We get it.

There are also a couple of memorable off beat moments. Richard Kind is spot on as a man who’s lost his wife and comes to Matt for a reading. You get his sadness and guilt succinctly. And then these two boys–brothers in real life Frankie and George McLaren–are so deeply searing that their section could easily have been made into a film on its own with Damon’s character supporting. But that would have taken a rewrite.

And what about Matt Damon? He’s good in everything he does. This is his second film in a row with Eastwood. He was nominated for an Oscar with “Invictus.” It’s not likely to happen here but that’s ok. My guess is he has plenty of charm to sell “Hereafter” to audiences abdundantly.

Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem: No Parties for Old Men

Roger Friedman
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Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem: No Parties for Old Men

The Toronto Film Festival is all about parties. And the best parties are at the temporary Soho House that’s been set up over night in an empty location right in the middle of town.

Every night, as the invdividual movies’ dinners and studio cocktail parties dwindle to a close, the stars head for this venue set with an unmarked entrance down a long alley. It’s very clever.

Friday night found Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem, buddies from “No Country for Old Men” holding forth on a sofa on the side of the room while the place buzzed with industry types and starlets.

“How is True Grit?” I asked Josh about his upcoming Coen Brothers movie.

“I hear the star is no good,” said Javier facetiously in his deep Spanish accent.

“Oh, I’m not the star,” Josh said, getting the joke. “I’m only in toward the end. Matt Damon is the star. He’s amazing.”

Javier lit up when he heard Brolin only comes in during the movie’s last third. “At the premiere of “Eat Pray Love,” guess who walks out just as I’m coming on the screen?” he said. “He sat through the first two parts, but when I come on, he gets up, waves to me and leaves!”

Josh: “I had to go give an award.”

Javier: “Now, I wait until the third part of True Grit, and guess what?”

Brolin is still laughing.

Saturday night at Soho House, more stars, in fact, every British actor in town was there from Gemma Arterton to James McAvoy, Lucy Punch, and the new Spider Man, Andrew Garfield. And no: he tells me he hasn’t even tried on Spidey’s suit yet. But Garfield is in the new Fox Searchlight film. “Never Let Me Go” with Carey Mulligan that’s getting raves everywhere. It may be the sleeper hit of the festival.

Kevin Kline Reuniting with “Big Chill” Filmmaker

Roger Friedman
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Kevin Kline Reuniting with “Big Chill” Filmmaker

Kevin Kline’s made five films already with writer-director Lawrence Kasdan, including true modern classics like “The Big Chill” and “Silverado.” But Kasdan’s been MIA the last few years.

Now Kline tells me that he and Kasdan are heading off to the desert soon to to make their sixth film together. It starts shooting in a few weeks, and wow, if this isn’t good news. The film is a contemporary drama co-written by Kasdan and his wife of 30 years, Meg Kasdan.

Kline is featured in Robert Redford’s expertly crafted “The Conspirator,” which opened in Toronto last night to enthusiastic reviews from the audience.  I thought “The Conspirator” was great, an old fashioned historical thriller beautifully shot and elegantly directed. Kline’s is one of several outstanding supporting performances.

But the real acting sensations of “The Conspirator” are Robin Wright as Mary Suratt, mother of John Suratt, who was the real life conspirator of Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth. Evan Rachel Wood is positively glowing as her daughter, and James McAvoy makes another star appearance–he’s terrific and carries the film–as Suratt’s appointed court defender.

It’s so interesting, of course, that Redford  brought “The Conspirator” to Toronto rather than to his own Sundance Film Festival. The film doesn’t have a distributor; it’s truly independent. But it shouldn’t have any trouble finding a home. The look and feel of it are quite unusual, shot in natural light, and in drenched muted colors. If the producers can cut a deal this week, it’s possible that “The Conspirator” can get out before the end of the year. McAvoy and Wright would certainly find themselves on a lot of awards short lists.

PS I think it’s interesting that Americans love to watch British historical dramas like the very fine “King’s Speech.” But for American history, they sort of regard as homework. The story of how the Suratts were tied in the John Wilkes Booth is a great and lost historical gem. It’s a riveting side note to Lincoln’s killing that doesn’t get told in schools.

Colin Firth Gets Best 50th Birthday Gift

Roger Friedman
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Colin Firth Gets Best 50th Birthday Gift

British actor Colin Firth celebrated his 50th birthday here at the Toronto Film Festival last night and got the best gift ever: a standing ovation, thunderous applause, and cheers at the end of his momentous speech as King George VI in “The King’s Speech.”

Firth shared the wild reception with c-star Geoffrey Rush, director Tom Hooper, and of course, a much relieved and relaxed Harvey Weinstein. This team knows they’ve hit a home run. Now the work begins: to keep up the momentum but not overdue it. “The King’s Speech,” like many good films here, has a long road ahead of it through the holidays and then to awards season.

Over at an elegant dinner at the Windsor Arms Hotel. guests like famed director Fred Schepisi lined up to congratulate the King’s court– and Firth on his birthday. Looking at him, it doesn’t seem possible that he’s 50. And yes, we did check for scars or any evidence of a scalpel. Nothing!

And here’s a good story from the filming of “The King’s Speech:” it turns out that the real London building that was used for some key interior scenes — the setting for Rush’s home office, etc–was a building that King George VI had visited back in the day.

 These days, however, the basement level has a different use altogether: it’s a pole dance studio. “There are a bunch of stipper’s poles,” Colin told me. “As the day went on while we were shooting upstairs, there was a much differet clientele passing us in the hallways.”

A very different experience than speech therapy. But perhaps that might have helped old King George even more!

PS See those medals Colin’s wearing in the picture? They’re all he got to keep from the shoot. None of them were for pole dancing, however…

Joaquin Phoenix Is Not in Toronto, Thanks

Roger Friedman
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Joaquin Phoenix Is Not in Toronto, Thanks

Joaquin Phoenix is returning to films. I told you that last March. http://tinyurl.com/24cxujb

But he’s not at the Toronto Film Festival, even though the documentary he made with brother in law Casey Affleck, called “I’m Still Here.” is debuting tonight.

Everyone who’s seen the doc seems to dislike it, anyway. Joaquin did publicity at the Venice Film Festival, and that’s enough.

What about the fake Joaquin who’s doing publicity in Toronto? Phoenix’s publicist, Sue Patricola, tells me “I know as much as you do.” She has nothing to do with it, neither does her client. Patricola’s not even going to the screening. She’s in town with Jeremy Renner, for Ben Affleck’s “The Town.”

I think Joaquin and Casey had some fun putting everyone on. It’s harmless. And still it generates headlines. That’s the funniest part.


Ken Starr Pleads Guilty in $50 Mil Celebrity Swindle

Roger Friedman
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Ken Starr Pleads Guilty in $50 Mil Celebrity Swindle

This morning, very quietly, Ken Starr pleaded guilty to swindling his celebrity clients out of more than $50 million.

Of course, the story is not over, not by a long shot. I’m told his wife, Diane Passage, described everywhere as a “former stripper” and pole dancer, will likely file for divorce now. Passage told me some time ago that she was in the dark the whole time Starr was stealing from his clients.

It’s no surprise really that Starr took this way out rather than have a trial. His dealings over the last twenty years involved a lot of famous financial people and attorneys who knew what was going on. They’d have been exposed in court. It wouldn’t have been a pretty scene.

We’re still not sure what happened to Andy Stein, the former NYC Public Advocate who arrested on the same day as Starr.

And off the hook, it looks like, is Marvin Rosen, Starr’s best buddy. In the indictment, Starr was funneling money through an LLC he’d started with Rosen called Marose. The word is that Rosen’s daughter and Passage may start a clothing line.

Other players who won’t get their witness stand time are the family of Keith Barish, of Planet Hollywood fame (pictured here with Starr). Keith and his son Chris were involved with Starr in many deals including a 2009 settlement with the family of the late Joan Stanton. Both Starr and Barish settled with the Stanton family. But then it was Jane Stanton Hitchcock who alerted the District Attorney’s office to Starr’s misbehavior.

Ken Starr will likely be sentenced to around 10 years, which means he’ll get out in less than seven. The legal case may be nearly over, but the story isn’t. Not by a long shot.

Mad Men’s Joan Joins Drive; Weinstein PR Team Takes Films to ID

Roger Friedman
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Mad Men’s Joan Joins Drive; Weinstein PR Team Takes Films to ID

Christina Hendricks, our “Joan” from “Mad Men,” has joined what has become kind of an all star cast of the film “Drive.” The other day I told you that Oscar Isaac was added to the cast that’s led by Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan, Albert Brooks and Bryan Cranston. Who else is left? This movie hasn’t even been made and I feel like I’ve seen it. But I’m sure there will be some surprises…Meantime, rent the original version of “The Hitcher.”

…I told you a couple of weeks ago that Dani Weinstein was going to leave the Weinstein Company after 12 years of hard time. She’s taking Sara Serlen to ID PR, one of my favorite boutique agencies. The pair will handle TWC films from there, which makes sense. TWC has a heavy awards season, with “The King’s Speech,” “Nowhere Boy,” “Miral,” and “The Company Men” at least all generating heat. TWC will still have in house staff. But this does explain why IDPR’s Cari Ross was at the “King’s Speech” screening Tuesday night with her staff…

…Oy, Madonna. Her daughter with actor/trainer Carlos Leon got into the “Fame” high school, Fiorello LaGuardia. We have no idea whaty Lourdes’s talents are, or what her audition was to get into the school. But sources say Carlos also went to LaGuardia. Believe me, if Lourdes has acting genes, they come from Carlos, who’s been in many TV shows and films, not Madonna, provably one of the worst actresses in Hollywood history. Dare we mention “Who’s That Girl,” “Evita,” “Swept Away,” and the startling 1986 epic “Shanghai Surprise”?

James Franco Sells His “SNL” Doc, Heads to Toronto

Roger Friedman
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James Franco Sells His “SNL” Doc, Heads to Toronto

James Franco is the entertainer of the year.

Let’s see: he’s heading to the Toronto Film Festival where he stars in Danny Boyle‘s “127 Hours.” There’s Oscar talk, of course. Then he’s off to Yale to start work on his post-graduate writing program. He’s got a book coming out this fall. During the summer, he curated a weird art show in New York. And filmed a prequel to “Planet of the Apes.”

Today, Oscilloscope announced that it’s picked up the documentary Franco showcased last spring at South by Southwest about  “Saturday Night Live.”  Oscilloscope is Adam Yauch‘s great little film company that currently has “A Film Unfinished” in theaters. In a couple of weeks they’re released “Howl” with Franco playing Alan Ginsberg. Of the doc, Franco says: “It’s pretty cool. I shot it last spring.”

Between “Howl” and “127 Hours” and several short films, and now this, Franco’s going to get some kind of award this winter. They may have to make one up for him.

Oh right: I forgot about his long, inexplicable stint on “General Hospital.” And the trenchant New York magazine piece that ran on him this summer. James Franco is living the movie “Phenomenon.”

I asked him today what else is coming? An opera? Has he learned to make haggis? Will he start an international think tank?

His emailed answer: “All those things are coming.”

Look out. He means it.

Madonna’s Movie May Suffer from “King’s Speech” Comparison

Roger Friedman
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Madonna’s Movie May Suffer from “King’s Speech” Comparison

There’s room in history for lots of different interpretations. But there’s rarely room in Hollywood for two movies on the same topic at the same time.

Madonna is still shooting a feature film for which she reportedly put up big bucks of her own. “W.E.” centers around the lives of the Duke and Duchess of Winsdor, juxtaposed with a modern American couple. The wife in the modern couple is named Wally, and she’s obsessed with Wallis Simpson. Call it “Wally and Wallis” after “Julie and Julia.”

Now, however, we have Tom Hooper‘s “The King’s Speech,” which is largely concerned with the abdication from the throne of King Edward–the Duke of Windsor–and his relationship with Mrs. Simpson.

Unlike the gauzy romantic view of the Duke and Duchess in “W.E.,” the couple don’t fare so well in “The King’s Speech.” That’s because the latter film sticks to history. The couple were Nazi sympathizers, and not too bright. Edward was only interested in Mrs. Simpson, not in the British public. In “The King’s Speech” he is being led around by the nose by Mrs. Simpson, who is described as promiscuous. “She shares her favors with others,” is how it’s delicately worded. Theirs is not a great romance, but a big mess.

One of the best moments in “The King’s Speech,” is when Prince Albert–soon to be King George VI–and the soon to be Queen Mum attend a wild party thrown by Edward and Mrs. Simpson at Buckingham Palace. Albert (Colin Firth) asks Edward (Guy Pearce) what he’s been doing on the throne. Edward thinks about it. “King-ing.” he replies vacantly.

Lucky for Madonna, “The King’s Speech” will be just about done with its run next spring before “W.E.” is ready to be seen.

It’s Colin Firth’s Turn for the Oscar as “King’s Speech” Triumphs

Roger Friedman
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It’s Colin Firth’s Turn for the Oscar as “King’s Speech” Triumphs

I wish I could be in Toronto on Friday night when “The King’s Speech” is met with thunderous applause and standing ovations. (I don’t arrive until late Friday night.)

Tom Hooper‘s movie about King George VI, father of the current Queen of England, and his speech therapist, is going to rock the festival, just as it has Telluride It’s one of those Best Picture nominees that is just perfect in every way. Stars Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, and Geoffrey Rush–not to mention Timothy Spall, Jennifer Ehle, and Guy Pearce–just take your breath away individually and as an ensemble.

Hooper is well known for his Emmy award winning work directing mini series for HBO. He was behind “John Adams” and “Elizabeth I” with Helen Mirren. Last year Hooper made his first feature, “The Damned United.” It was a good film but it didn’t foreshadow at all what Hooper had in mind. “The King’s Speech” is a fascinating hybrid of old fashioned film making done on the cutting edge. And the nice part is, you won’t have to see it three times to figure out what happened.

The story is simple: King George (Michael Gambon)– that’s Elizabeth’s grandfather–is dying. He will be succeeded by his son, Edward (known in the family as David.) But Edward is in love with an American divorcee, Mrs. Wallis Simpson. When the king dies, Edward takes the crown. But in short time he abdicates to be with her. Next in line is Edward’s brother, “Bertie,” Elizabeth’s father. Bertie is married to another Elizabeth, whom we came to know as the Queen Mother.

Helena Bonham Carter has made so many movies with Tim Burton that you kind of forget how good she is not being crazy, evil, or possessed. She is sublime as the Queen Mum, almost a revelation. She is there to support and guide her husband, who stammers ferociously and has deep seated fears about communicating with his public. That’s where Geoffrey Rush comes in, as the real life speech therapist Lionel Logue. The scenes with three of these actors in them–Firth, Rush, and Bonham-Carter–are the actors’ scenes to beat in this awards season.

So it’s a relief to report on “The King’s Speech.” There’s none of that usual last minute gasping and wondering that has accompanied  Oscar level films in the last few years. It’s the first week of September, and there’s some great to look forward to for holiday release. For the Weinstein Company, “The King’s Speech” is the much needed hit–commercially and artistically– to lift them back into the winners’ circle.

And for Colin Firth, who came close last season with “A Single Man,” it looks like 2010 is really his year.

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