WOW!!! It's been 2 months and 26 seperate columns now since the start of Euro-AICN and Father Geek just wants to give a hearty thanks to Edgard and Darth Bond for all the hard work they've done to make this experiment the success it has become, and while I'm at it thanks to all you fans, and pros too, that have sent in reports and leads to these guys. It wouldn't have worked without you either. A few of you have turned out to be damn fine reporters yourself, contributing your own mini-columns covering your country's film industry for us. I can foresee a day when Euro-AICN has a major daily spot on the site just like coaxial. And if you all continue the way you have in the last month that day is not too far off. Now to the film news from Europe...
Euro-AICN #8
It's Monday already and it's time for a new "Euro
AICN" !! (James Joyce would say "All Moanday, Tearday,
Wailsday, Thumpsday, Frightday, Shatterday", but what
does he know about AICN ?). Still a lot of news
here... (that means no room for a Euro Pick... but we
will get back with it soon). We will never thank all
of you enough for helping us with this column... And
please send us your comments, ideas, remarks, quotes,
thoughts, dreams, whatever we can use to make
Euro-AICN better at euroaicn@yahoo.com
Edgard
UK
Edgard
UK
* Strange news about a possible sequel of THE TALENTED Mr RIPLEY : Liliana Cavani, the Italian director behind THE NIGHT PORTER who hasn't made a film since 1993, has boarded Fine Line Features' Ripley's Game - an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's classic novel which follows Tom Ripley 25 years after the events portrayed in THE TALENTED Mr. RIPLEY. Cavani is supervising a script rewrite and has agreed to direct the movie which is being overseen by Fine Line's London-based senior vice president of European production Ileen Maisel. Maisel had originally set the project up at Fine Line two years ago through her Baby Productions with Mike Newell and Alan Greenspan of Dogstar Films attached as executive producers. Rupert Everett was attached to star as Jonathan, a terminally ill picture-framer, hired by Ripley to carry out some killings. When Fine Line announced the project at Cannes two years ago, there was speculation that the company would race Miramax Films, itself in pre-production on THE TALENTED Mr. RIPLEY, to theatres. However Fine Line's president Mark Ordesky said that "it's a sequel book and was always envisaged as a sequel film." (source : Screendaily)
* We found this weird news about a "LOCK, STOCK..." TV serie also in Screendaily.. Personally I liked the movie a lot, and I am a bit curious about this follow-up on TV... let's see : Universal Pictures Video (UPV) has picked up UK rights to the TV series of runaway local feature hit LOCK, STOCK & TWO SMOKING BARRELS. The move comes after PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (PFE)'s video campaign for the feature sold more than one million units locally to become the fourth biggest selling British film in the UK after THE FULL MONTY, NOTTING HILL and FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL. UK broadcaster Channel 4 will air a two-hour pilot episode of the Lock, Stock TV series * titled LOCK, STOCK & FOUR STOLEN HOOVES - next month. With the Lock, Stock trademark continuing through the series, the story-line repeats the film's formula of a clutch of British actors playing characters who become involved in a fracas between two rival gangsters. Guy Ritchie, who directed the feature and its forthcoming follow-up SNATCH, co-wrote the pilot. UPV will release the pilot on video in June with an 18 certificate. Episodes one (Lock, Stock & Two Sips) and two (Lock, Stock & A Fist Of Jack & Jills) will go out on one video in June. Episodes three (Lock, Stock & 200 Kalashnikovs), four (Lock, Stock & Spaghetti Sauce), five (Lock, Stock & One Big Bullock) and six (Lock, Stock & A Good Slopping Out) go out in July. Just by reading the titles it almost sounds like a joke...
* Hilary Heath's recently formed London-based production outfit Blackjack is to produce WAH WAH, directed by UK actor Richard E Grant (seen lately in, erm, SPICE WORLD). The project, currently in advanced development, is the autobiographical story of growing up in the 60s in South-Africa.
* If you go to Cardiff (Wales) and you look for a hotel to stay, try "The Big Sleep". John Malkovich just bought it with two friends as a way to invest money. Don't know yet if you will have access to his head through the rooms (okay, that one was easy... I know).
* Some news from British film company FilmFour :
- Andie MacDowell is to star in FilmFour's UK comedy SAD FUCKERS CLUB (working title) alongside Imelda Staunton (seen in SHAKESPEAR IN LOVE, SENSE & SENSIBILITY) and Anna Chancellor (FOUR WEDDINGS & A FUNERAL). The film is the story of three female friends behaving badly. Newcomer John McKay, who has made a mark through shorts such as "Doom & Gloom" and "Wet & Dry", is to direct from his own script. The film is to start shooting in June.
- FilmFour has also confirmed that Gillian Armstrong has signed to direct Ecosse Films' CHARLOTTE GRAY, for which Cate Blanchett has now signed to star. The love story is adapted by Jeremy Brock from Sebastian Faulks' best-selling novel.
- Additionally, Tobey Maguire and Harvey Keitel are attached to play the lead roles in another FilmFour-backed production, JACK SHEPPARD AND JONATHAN WILD. Ben Ross is directing the bawdy 18th Century story of London's infamous Thief Taker General and a young jailbreaker.
* Holly Martins from Netribution(http://www.netribution.co.uk) comes back with tons of news :
- Scribe Charlie Martin has take over the reigns from John Wolstenhome on BLUE 17 for DNA films. It tells the tale of a school called Branfield Hall where Internet soft porn, murder and revenge killings suddenly find their way onto the syllabus. Andrew Macdonald (TRAINSPOTTING, THE BEACH) and Duncan Kenworthy (NOTTING HILL) will produce.
- Also on the DNA slate is THE PAROLE OFFICER (formerly known as the "Probation Officer"), written by two of TV¹s funniest writers: Steve Coogan and Henry Normal. Steve Coogan, a.k.a Alan Partridge is set to star.
- Peter Hewitt (THE BORROWERS, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HAROLD SMITH) is to direct THE BOY WHO DEALT IT for Dragon Pictures. The film (written by Phillip Hughes) tells the story of an 11 year old boy, considered a loser by friends and family, who discovers he has a special talent for farting. Can't wait!
- The legendary Werner Herzog is to direct Tim Roth and Jouko Ahola in INVINCIBLE - a co-production between Film Four and a number of German production companies. Invincible is based on a true stroy about a blond Jewish strongman who performs in 1930s Berlin as Siegfried, an Aryan hero.
- Hot on the heels of UK success AN IDEAL HUSBAND, director Oliver Parker is to shoot FADE TO BLACK from a script by John Sayles. The film - backed by the European Commission's MEDIA II programme is a hard-boiled detective thriller with the ambitous aims of combining "the operatic personality of Orson Welles with Italian post-war neo-realist cinema". Best of luck Oli.
- Meanwhile, producer of AN IDEAL HUSBAND(and SPICE WORLD), Barnaby Thomson, is to bring to the screen Peter Catteano's long awaited follow up to THE FULL MONTY. OUR LUCKY BREAK, backed by Film Four, is about a prison escape planned by inmates under the guise of putting on a musical. Sort of STIR CRAZY meets STILL CRAZY.
- John Malkovich is also to direct Lolafilms UK's THE DANCER UPSTAIRS, a romantic thriller based on the life story of the Shining Path revolutionary leader. Shooting starts in May.
- Lock Stock¹s Nick Moran and Alan Bates are to lead in ZOUCH ! an adaptation of Anthoney Powell's "From A View To A Death". PRIDE AND PREJUDICE scribe Andrew Davies is to rewrite the 1930s black comedy for Friday Productions.
- One project that's keeping the lid tight on all details is Hugh Hudson's HOPEFUL MONSTERS. With a script by the UK's answer to David Mamet, Tom Stopard (SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE and some fantastic plays) and produced by Hollywood uber-moguls Kathleen Kenedey and Frank Marshall, buzz is understandably high, though no-one yet has been told what exactly it's about.
- Lasse Hallstrom is in pre-production for J&M Entertainment's SEBASTIAN'S LOVE, which stars the supernaturally old for his age Haley Joel Osment.
- Jonescompany has bought the rights to legendary cannabis smuggler Howard Marks¹ HIGH TIMES. Billed as a comedy, Eitan Arrusi will write and direct the story of Marks¹ struggles with the law as becomes one of the world¹s most powerful weed dealers. Marks has yet to be cast, although the dealer is understood to be wanting to play himself.
- Antonia Bird (FACE, RAVENOUS) is to shoot PRIMROSE HILL next summer for Litmus productions. The film is an adaptation of Helen Falconer¹s novel about three teenagers¹ battle to preserve the summer of love in NW1.
- One production I¹m really looking forward to is Tiger Lily and Kismut Films¹ STONES IN HIS POCKETS, an adaptation of the wickedly funny play of the same name by Marie Jones. It tells the story of two extras working on the set of a big-budget Hollywood feature in rural Ireland. In the play the actors playing the two extras also play every other part, from the Julia Roberts-esque leading lady and overweight director, to the officous cocaine-snorting 1st AD and a fellow extra whose claim to fame is being the last surviving extra from John Ford/Waynes¹ The Quiet Man.
- Despite the box office heart seizure of LOVE, HONOUR AND OBEY and FINAL CUT, there¹s lots of films in development at Jude Law¹s and Johny Lee Miller¹s Natural Nylon. Mike Newell (DONNIE BRASCO, FOUR WEDDINGS...)is to direct Kevin Elyot¹s adaptation of Guy De Maupassant¹s novel "Bel Ami". Jude Law, meanwhile, is set to star as Beatles manager Brian Epstein in EPSTEIN, currently being written by Philip Norman. Also in pre-production at Nylon is Jake Scott¹s follow-up to the disastrous PLUNKETT AND MACLEANE - DISTURBIA. The film is a contemporary thriller set between the hours of dusk and dawn in the streets of London. Johnny lee Miller and Sean Pertwee will star.
- Sky Pictures and Oxford Pictures are midway through production on KISS KISS (BANG BANG), a comedy about a hitman who has to look after a grown man called Bubba who¹s not left his house in 35 years. Stewart Sugg writes and directs, while Chris Penn, Stellan Starsgard and former Eastender Martine McCutcheon head the cast.
- Simon Perry is producing Michael Radford¹s (IL POSTINO) THE ELIXIR, an action adventure backed by the European script fund about an alchemist and a dwarf¹s search for an Elixir, which takes them through low-life London to war-torn Europe and Prague.
- The insanely funny Steven Fry (WILDE), is to write and star in Brian Gilbert¹s Imax comedy cum documentary "London".
- Terry Bedford¹s BALLYSHANNON has secured Martin Sheen to take the lead. The film is set in post-peace-treaty Ireland and is a drama along the themes of conflict and forgiveness. The production company is The Producers who have done very well in securing American stars for their slate of features. These include Geena Davis for Michael Radford¹s feature version of brilliant TV series, "The Politician¹s Wife"; and Linda Fiorentino for KILLING ME, a psychological thriller set in London and France.
IRELAND
Back from popular demand here's the great Ozymandias with tons of news...
* Latest from Dublin suggests that Neil Jordan's favourite actor Stephen Rea is about to step behind the camera for the first time. Jordan and producer Steven Wooley are set to invest money into NO MAN'S LAND - set in the Irish Civil War in the 1920's.
* Empire Online reports on HARRY POTTER : The casting director for the Harry Potter film spoke today of the mammoth response she had in the search for a British boy to play the lead role in the movie. ''We've had a wonderful response...incredible,' said Susie Figgis. In truth, the response has overwhelmed the casting agent. 'We've had more than 40,000 letters,' explains Figgis, 'and we don't want any more people to write to us because we can't quite honestly deal with any more.'Meanwhile Figgis is quietly confident of finding her lead character. 'I think we'll have Harry within the next two to three weeks,' she told Empire Online.
* In Irish cinemagoing it was in the papers here that 7 films here have grossed more than £2m (about $2.3m) - not bad for a nation of about 3,500,000 people or so! Even more impressive when you consider that 1.2m of us went to the movies here in the month of March!
* Well gang if you liked what you saw of Jonathan Rhys Myers in VELVET GOLDMINE and that bit where he shoots Michael Collins then this may be of interest to ya: Irish actor Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, last seen gracing the British small screen in GORMENGHAST, has nabbed two choice roles in Hollywood. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rhys-Meyers has signed up for two boyfriend roles, requiring him to play the love interests of Christina Ricci and Rachael Leigh Cook in PROZAC NATION and CONSPIRACY OF WEEDS respectively. Unfortunately, Rhys-Meyers' bad boy persona as honed to perfection in Ang Lee's RIDE WITH THE DEVIL and GORMENGHAST looks set to be his stock in trade as both roles show his character cheating on his girlfriend... (source : Empire)
* Patrick Bergin's (SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY, PATRIOT GAMES) next project is a biopic of the photographer son of Errol Flynn
* And finally for the moment filming on Pierce Brosnan's new movie was postponed here today (Tuesday 25th April) as a result of the injuries sustained to Brosnan's son in a car crash last week. He was due to start filming the interiors on John Boorman's TAILOR OF PANAMA at Ardmore Studios this morning but that's now been postponed indefinitely.
If you work in the Irish film biz and have any tidbits you'd like to pass on mail, mail me at: ozymandias@ireland.com
Ozymandias also reported on this interview of godlike veteran screenwriter William Goldman (ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN; BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID) published in the new issue of British film magazine Empire (you can also read parts of it on their website, and there's also a nice interview of Ewan McGregor who denies any involvement in an ALFIE project). Here's a few choice words about some of today's talents and what Goldman's working on at the moment:
On SAVING PRIVATE RYAN - 'A detestable piece of shit. But with brilliant stuff in. I think the last hour, once they find Private Ryan is as bad as a movie can be...the first 24 minutes tells you all the awfulness of war...The last hour and a half gives the lie to all that... I think it's a shockingly bad movie. And shockingly easy patriotism.'
Whether Roberto Begnini deserved that Oscar - 'the worst performance in the history of the Academy Awards. I thought it was putrid. I thought he was phoney. His performance, not the movie. I just hated it.'
About the rumour that he wrote GOOD WILL HUNTING - 'It's horseshit. I met with [Damon and Affleck] for one day*But because people hate them they can't believe they wrote it.'
Aside from these and other frank comments, Goldman revealed some details about his current project - working on a screenplay of Stephen King's novel "Hearts in Atlantis" - a collection of five stories of childhood set against the Vietnam War. 'I'm essentially done with it and fiddling,' he told Empire. 'So far it's gone fairly well, but one never knows.'
FRANCE
* If you like Yugoslavian director Emir Kusturica (ARIZONA DREAM, UNDERGROUND), and especially if you liked the music in his movie BLACK CAT, WHITE CAT, read this : you will get the chance to see him on stage with his rock band "No Smoking Orchestra" (Zabranjeno Pusenje) in May and June across France. Kusturica is the bass player of this group, his son, Stribor, is the drummer; and Nenod Jankovis (also known as Dr Nelle Karajlic) is the singer and composer. Thanks to Kusturica's spirit, be sure that this will be much more than just a concert. The tour starts in Rennes on May 23rd to finish in Toulouse on June 3rd (with a stop at the Olympia of Paris on May 31st).
* A "Euro AICN" news would not be the same without some update on the Cannes Festival, so here it is : the section Directors' Fortnight has unveiled its 32nd edition last week. Highlights in the section, which takes place 11 - 21 May, are expected to be Karen Kusama's GIRLFIGHT, which wowed critics and buyers alike at its Sundance premiere; Silvio Soldini's BREAD AND TULIPS, which cleaned up at last week's David Di Donatelli awards in its native Italy; and Oskar Roehler's DIE UNBERUEHRBAR. From the Asia-Pacific region come three pictures: Korean director Lee Chang-Dong's PEPPERMINT CANDY; Japanese director Masahiro Kobayashi's KOROSHI; and, from Australia, Vincent Garrusso's MALLBOY. Since the absorption of the Cinemas En France section last year, France is particularly heavily represented in the section. There are five wholly French plus a further five Franco-international co-productions. Germany's growing importance as a source of production financing manifests itself in the section, which, in addition to the Roehler picture, boasts two German co-productions: Bela Tarr's German-Hungarian WERCKMEISTER HARMONIAK; and Nana Djordjadze's German-Georgian SUMMER (Or 27 Missing Kisses). The sidebar is the only one to find much room for the films of the British revival. Slots go to Simon Cellan-Jones' SOME VOICES, Mark Herman's comedy-drama PURELY BELTER (formerly Season Ticket) and Stephen Daldry's coming of age drama, DANCER. Alongside Girlfight, Elias Merhige's SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE and Edo Bertoglio's DOWNTOWN 81 represent the US. To complete the Bergman feel of this year's festival there is also a special screening of "Malou Meets Ingmar Berman And Erland Josephson". The interview with Bergman and his partner screened recently on Swedish TV channel TV4.
* Lloyd Kaufman, the creator of the Toxic Avenger and the president of Troma, the oldest indépendant film studio in America, will be attending the Cannes Film Festival with forty public-minded supporters. While other studios attend the festival for blatant self-promotion and crass commercial reasons, Troma brings only its high-principles, striving for the spiritual advancement of mankind. This year the Troma Team will be bestowing the *All the Love You Cannes* campaign for the betterment of the Riviera. As part of its *All the Love You Cannes* gift to humanity, Troma will be offering some new movies from its company-owned library of over 700 films. Lloyd Kaufman has been coming to Cannes since 1971 and feels that love must be returned to the good people of Southern France. Check also : http://www.troma.com/cannes2000-1/index.html
YUGOSLAVIA
Dima's back with a new report from Yugoslavia.
Pleasant weather has never been friendly to movie distributors in Yugoslavia. The summer season is considered to be the dead season for local cinemas. Most people go to the seaside and there the cinemas are on a low level. For example in a local seaside cinema during the summer of `98 you had a chance to see `THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS` while `ARMAGGEDON` busted box-offices in the U.S. The only vital cinema activity on the seaside are mainstream festivals of Yugoslav movies. Those festivals are competitive and they provide the audience with the complete national movie slate. Attendance is high on those festivals. This is why summer slate usually includes bottom-of-the-barrel studio assets and no domestic releases. This year the summer slate will be just the same as before. The last high-profile releases in Yugoslavia will be the May release of Ridley Scott`s GLADIATOR and the release of one domestic project. That pic is yet to be named. Promotional abbreviation has something to do with memories(`Senke uspomena` or `The Shadows of Memories` in English).It is a story about an old burnt-out actor who made his name in state-funded war epic-movies. It is the feature-length debut for director Predrag Velinovic who graduated from film school 12 years ago with a fine story in the three-part omnibus named `Sta radis veceras`. This means that he waited for 12 years to make the debut and it is a sad example how political and economic isolation hurt the Yugoslav cinema. This movie was also a difficult shoot and it took two years to complete this picture due to some budget problems. So, by now this year's festival slate has six confirmed domestic entries. On the bootleg video scene I must express our utter disappointment in `THE SKULLS`. It seems that Rob Cohen and John Pogue made a bunch of bad moves on this one. Question is, how the hell this movie ended up on the major studio's slate? `RULES OF ENGAGEMENT` is well accepted because the subject is close to our reality and Friedkin has a solid fan base in Yugoslavia. The fan base is consisted of movie buffs and Film School students and teachers. Editors are his most devoted fans because they still look up to his chase scene in `THE FRENCH CONNECTION`. Next time you'll have a full scoop on our upcoming domestic releases. God bless
Dima
POLAND
* Last week, we mentioned a new QUO VADIS in production, we found more on that one : Jerzy Hoffman, the director of last year's runaway Polish hit WITH FIRE AND SWORD, is to start shooting next month on the country's biggest production to date, the $12m QUO VADIS. The project, based on the Nobel Prize-winning book by Henryk Sienkiewicz, is scheduled to go into production on May 8. The plot follows the development of early Christianity during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero. Chronos Film is producing, with co-producers including Telewizja Polska(TVP); HBO; Kredyt Bank; the Kadr film studio; Agencja Produkcji Filmowej and WFDiF. The $8m FIRE AND SWORD took more than $25m at the local box office. QUO VADIS is set for release in September 2001.
* Hollywood new infant prodigy Haley Joel Osment (beware the Macaulay Culkin syndrome) will join Willem Dafoe on EDGE OF THE LORD, which starts shooting this May in Poland. Written and directed by Polish director Yureck Bogayevicz (THREE OF HEARTS with William Baldwin and Kelly Linch), EDGE OF THE LORD tells the story of a 12 years old Jewish kid forced to hide with a catholic family during WWII. Dafoe will be the eccentric priest who helps the kids to survive in this trouble period.
RUSSIA
* Alexei German's KHRUSTALYOV, MY CAR hit open road at the Russian Oscars after the event was snubbed by leading Russian directors Nikita Mikhalkov and Alexander Sukorov, who refused to allow their films to compete. KHRUSTALYOV, a black and white film which screened in competition in Cannes two years ago, received five prizes including best film at the 13th edition of the annual film awards of the Russian Academy of Motion Picture Arts. The story of a doctor living during the Stalin period also won prizes for best director, cinematography, costumes and design. With the absence of Mikhalkov's BARBER OF SIBERIA and Sukorov's MOLOKH leaving room in the spotlight for other titles, Valery Ogorodnikov's BARAK also came to the fore. Nina Usatova won best actress for her part in the film, which portrays the hardships of army families during World War II. Additionally, BARAK's Leonid Yarmolnik won best supporting actor. Best actor went to Mikhail Ulyanov for his role in Stanislav Gororukhin's THE SHARPSHOOTER, while best screenplay went to Valery Priyemykhov for WHO, IF NOT US ?
