A Frearful experience

After slinging back a double shift last night to cover the floods, I had today off and conducted my phone interview with Stephen Frears (above) from home this afternoon. The acclaimed British director is the master behind such films as The Deal, Dirty Pretty Things, High Fidelity, Dangerous Liaisons, The Queen, Cheri and, most recently, Tamara Drewe (which I review below). Besides having been up for two best director Oscars himself, his actors have also scored countless nominations for their work in his films and Helen Mirren famously picked up the gong for her role in The Queen.

He’s an accomplished filmmaker and someone who’s work I admire, so I was quite excited to chat to him. Unfortunately he wasn’t so excited to chat to me, as trying to get any sort of insightful or substantial response from Frears was like trying to get Miley Cyrus to wear pants. It’s not that he was rude outright, more that he was just abrupt and clearly uninterested in the whole interview process. Anywho, I will do my best to salvage a feature article from this, but here is my interview with Stephen Frears in full. Enjoy, I certainly didn’t.

Movie Mazzupial: Hi Stephen, it’s lovely to talk to you.

Stephen Frears: Are you all right up there?

MM: Yes, thanks. For once it’s just missed us and we’re staying dry today since it’s sunny.

SF: I don’t understand why it came through everywhere expect you.

MM: (Laughs) Definitely, we’re all feeling pretty lucky. Now you’re in Sydney at the moment after a screening of Tamara Drewe last night. Is this your first time in Australia?

SF: In Sydney, yes. It’s my first visit here (in Australia). I stayed with a friend on the coast and now I’m doing this work thing so I’m not really allowed to do the tourist things.

MM: Well, that’s a shame, I hope you get some time afterwards. Now, I loved the Posy Simmonds graphic novel, what was it about it that made you think `you know what, I want this to be my next film?’

SF: It was very funny and very fresh – not like everything else. I thought it would make a good film.

MM: There are some major differences in the film, like the decision to keep Jody alive, what made you opt for that lighter ending?

SF: Yes, I don’t know why she died in the end. I don’t know why she did that, it was inexplicable.

MM: It definitely makes a better film keeping her on in the end.

SF: Yes, I think so.

MM: And what a cast! Besides Gemma Arterton (above) leading the charge, you had Dominic Cooper, Tamsin Grieg, Jessica Barden who were all highlights. What was it like working with them?

SF: They’re all very, very good actors. British actors can do all sorts of that stuff.

MM: You’ve worked with some incredibly British actors, like Helen Mirren and Michael Sheen, as well as some great American actors like John Cusack and Michelle Pheiffer, no cast must seem like a big deal to you anymore?

SF: The real thing is when you work with actors who aren’t good. But most of the time, they’re incredible, incredible people.

MM: And Gemma Arterton, what made you think she was the perfect Tamara Drewe?

SF: It’s not just the combination of the actor and the character. She was also clearly gorgeous and very likable.

MM: The book has some strong messages about beauty on the outside not equating to happiness on the inside, is that something you made a conscious effort to get across in the film as well?

SF: I’m not sure I wanted to get any message across but when you say it like that it’s quite clear. It’s pretty obvious what goes on underneath is more interesting and not as beautiful as what’s on the surface.

MM: Now, it’s coming up to the Oscars next month. You’ve been nominated for a best director gong twice, do you think we’ll ever get to see you take one home?

SF: No. I doubt I ever will.

MM: Have you got any tips or ideas on who you think will win?

SF: Surely Colin will win. That’s what everyone seems to think. I’m not really too good at guessing those sorts of things.

MM: High Fidelity and The Queen are personal favourites of mine, do you have a favourite film of yours?

SF: A little Irish film called The Snapper.

MM: Now Michael Sheen (below) has played Tony Blair for you twice, what has that experience been like working with him?

SF: Well, he’s a very, very good actor and he’s a wonderful friend of mine now.

MM: You too must obviously have a shared passion for bringing significant British political moments to screen?

SF: Yes, that’s what those films are about.

MM: Now going back to movies, what are some of your all time favourites?

SF: How about you tell me yours?

MM: Really?

SF: Yes.

MM: No one ever asks me that. The New World by Terrence Malick, Brick by Rian Johnson, The Fifth Element, The Dark Knight, The Blob, Jaws, I really could go on forever.

SF: Well there you go, it’s all the same as yours really. If I asked you again in five minutes it would be a different list.

MM: So what are yours?

SF: Mine are the same as yours really except I’m older. The Third Man.

MM: Oh, I love that.

SF: Well, there you go.

MM: Great, well, thanks for talking to me Stephen.

SF: Right, don’t get caught in the rain.

Tamara Drewe opens February 3.

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Exclusive interview with director Michael Hoffman

Forever fascinated by love and relationships, American writer/director Michael Hoffman (above) uses Leo Tolstoy to once again tackle the subject in his latest film The Last Station. I had a chance to talk to the man, behind such films A Midsummer Night's Dream and One Fine Day, a few days ago and he shared some insights on the movie, love and, er, James McAvoy’s marriage. Here is is what he had to say…

Movie Mazzupial: It’s lovely to speak to you Michael.
Michael Hoffman: You’re welcome. Are you calling from Australia?

MM: Yeah, yeah I sure am. Have you been here before?
MH: No, I’ve never been there.

MM: What? I don’t believe that.
MH: No, I always make myself available to go down there, but I still haven’t been. I was hoping to come down there for this. And I’m hoping to work there at some stage because there are great opportunities at the moment, and I have friends there.

MM: Well, you will just have to set your next film here so you can visit.
MH: (Laughs) I might do that.

MM: Firstly, what fascinated you about Jay Parini’s novel and made you want to make it into a film?
MH: It first read it in 1990 and I didn’t see what the movie was. But when I re-read it in 2004, then I saw it as a film. By then I had been married for 14-years and saw the impossibilities of love, living with love and the fear of living without love. That really intrigued me. I believe that when you’re making a film you have to be making it about one thing and there needs to be a dramatic concentration.

MM: Right, so was it difficult to get some of the elements in the novel across to the screenplay?
MH: There was so much in the novel and initially I was writing a screenplay that was a battle about the point of view, because the novel is from six different points of view and I couldn’t really figure how to work it. I went down the Bulgakov road because there’s a lot of information the audience needs and he can be educated as the audience is educated. I was really interested in juxtaposing the young love between Masha and Valentin and the older lovers Sofya and Tolstoy. I like the way those two relationships resonated in the film. It was a gradual thinning down process of not making a Tolstoy biopic and making a humorous film about love and marriage instead.
MM: Do you find it easier to direct something that you have written yourself?
MH: I’m a director first and a writer second. When I’m writing the film I’m writing to direct and I have that in my mind as I’m doing it . I do a lot of writing for the actors. I did a lot of acting when I was younger and I can imagine how I want these moments to come across. I want to create an environment where actors can do their best work and present ideas that can be better than mine.

MM: You seem to be really fascinated by the question and substance of love, did you seek to answer the audiences question about it or merely give them the tools to decide for themselves?
MH: Well, I think in the best movies you don’t really have an answer, you have possibilities and that’s one of the big mysteries in life. This thing that should be so simple, but it’s not.

MM: You mentioned your acting experience earlier, did this help in getting such amazing performances out of the actors? How did you do it?
MH: It’s more about the fact everyone is recognising these experiences in your life and there’s this constant dialogue between us all. It starts getting enriched through the dialogue, through the screenplay, the actors, what you bring and what they bring, it keeps enriching the story. That’s how you have layers, stories and to me it works better when there’s this constant dialogue.
MM: So were you nervous for Christopher and Helen watching the Oscars?
MH: No, there’s a sort of a momentum beforehand. You sort of new Jeff Bridges would win the Oscar for best actor, but on the other hand when Christophe Waltz was winning all the best supporting actor things, every time they would say his name we would lean forward thinking they were saying Christopher (Plummer). I mean, Helen had won a few years ago so she wasn’t too expectant but the great thing about it was that it introduced a whole group of people to the film who hadn’t heard of it before

MM: They certainly put across some excellent work, how did you get such a great cast together?
MH: You know, this is the only screenplay where every actor I sent it to said yes, they wanted to do it. I think it was the Russianness as well, the tragic comedic tone and the chance to be funny. On another level, audiences have an understanding of what it’s like to be in relationship. How can love, how can this thing that we all say we want, how can it be so difficult? It’s amazing to me and all inspiring. MM: Speaking of love and marriage, what was it like working with James McAvoy and Anne-Marie Duff on set, who are of course married in real life?
MH: (Laughs) It was really interesting and kind of intimating because they have one of the most remarkably happy marriages I’ve ever witnessed. It’s really incredible how these two people relate with each other, they giggle and go off together…because they’re like little kids. It was a little intimidating because I didn’t want my wife to see it (laughs). Everyone brought the relationships they were in to set. Helen talked about the ones that didn’t work for her and Christopher, his three marriages. You don’t want to make the stuffy period movie so you need to find a way to make people interested and connect with the film.

MM: You have made a lot of films with comedic and romantic elements, now what’s next for you?
MH: I’m not positive where I will go next. I know it will have a lot of comedy in it, I can’t imagine a world without a lot of comedy in it, especially when you can take a genre people aren’t expecting to see it in. That’s one of the things about the film people have loved, how much comedy there is in it.

The Last Station opened nationally yesterday and you can read my review here.

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All aboard

Fact and fiction converge in this historical drama based on Jay Parini's novel about Russian author Leo Tolstoy. The Last Station focuses on the marriage between Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer) and his wife Sofya (Helen Mirren) in its final years. Weaved into the story is Valentin Bulgakov (James McAvoy), a young man who works for the couple, and Vladimir Chertkov (Paul Giamatti) an advisor to the writer who fights his wife over financial issues.

The film opens with the quote from Tolstoy "everything I know I know only because I love.'' And that is what the film is about: love. It looks at the complicated love between Tolstoy and Sofya (above), Tolstoy's love for the people, the love within a family and the new love between Bulgakov and the outspoken Masha (Kerry Condon). But for a film about one of the most universal human emotions, it isn't mushy. A genuine sweetness and sincerity underlines it, driven by the Oscar-nominated performances from Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer.

Just as deserving is the always impressive James McAvoy as the bumbling, virtuous and compassionate Bulgakov whose life becomes affected by the significant moments of the people surrounding him, including his idol Tolstoy. He is supported by another consistently brilliant performance from Anne-Marie Duff (his real-life wife and baby mama), after her powerful turn as John Lennon's mother in Nowhere Boy.

The beautiful scenery and intricately designed sets compliment the lush story, which provides a fascinating insight in the complex mind of the legendary author.The only criticism is that it feels like a film in two parts; with a lively, passionate first half and a slower second half that drags towards the end. Written and directed by Michael Hoffman (A Midsummer Night's Dream, One Fine Day) this is his finest film to date.

The Last Station opens this Thursday, April 1.

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Get played

Yeah, yeah I know everyone is frothing at the mouth for the new Star Trek movie (courtesy of JJ Abrams) which comes out tomorrow. However, I’m amped for this time in three weeks when one of the top five movies I’m most looking forward to in `09 is released. Which one is that you ask? And why do I continue to make such superfluous lists? The flick is called State Of Play and no doubt you’ve heard a bit about it since Russel Crowe has made the bold move of playing a journalist on screen, even though he despises them in real life. Adapted from the BBC mini-series of the same name, Brad Pitt was originally cast in the lead role but politely dropped out due to creative differences. Luckily major up and coming director Kevin Macdonald (The Last King Of Scotland, Touching The Void) had his heart set on Crowe for the role and just days after sending him the script and flying to Oz for a chat, Macdonald was able to secure the deal. State Of Play is about Washington Globe reporter Cal McAffrey who works alongside a police detective to try to solve the murder of a congressman's mistress. The always admirable Ben Affleck plays said congressman and Rachel McAdams makes another strong career move as an online reporter working with McAffrey on the story. Throw in dramatic heavy weights Helen Mirren as Washington Globe editor and Robin Wright Penn as the congressman’s wife (plus Jason Bateman for good measure) and you have a hell of a cast. And the plot! Developing the critically applauded mini-series in to a feature film was said to be impossible given the intricate plot turns, conspiracies and outright complicated nature but Crowe himself said the script is nothing short of brilliant. In an interview with The Weekend Australian, Crowe said this about the script and why he choose to do the movie; “I have a basic rule: if I read something and I have a physical reaction to it – goosebumps, or a tear in my eye – then I do that film.” Script brilliance? Check. Stellar cast? Check check. I have my own basic rule and that’s if I see a trailer and I have a physical reaction to it – goosebumps, or a tear in my eye, spontaneously self-combusting – then I see that film. End of discussion. Let me just say, the State Of Play trailer gave me major goosebumps (like, blind people could read them braille-style goosebumps). View the trailer here. Films about journalism are few and far between yet most of them are superb. State Of Play looks no different and you can bet you’re bottom dollar I will be at the front of the queue come May 28. Plus, you have to dig the tagline (find the truth) and All The Presidents Men-esque poster.

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The Power of Levitt-ation

Upon request last month I compiled a tribute to the always fabulous Rose McGowan, which received plenty of feedback from you faithful readers out there. So this time I’m going to pay tribute to my favourite up and coming actor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and his cinematic career so far. Odds are you’ll probably recognise him as the kid from the tv shows Third Rock From The Sun and Roseanne . Since then he’s appeared in several films and worked as a camera operator. The 27-year-old’s first big break came playing one of four leads in the teenage comedy 10 Things I Hate About You alongside Heath Ledger. Since then he has progressed to bigger and better things by dodging the nerdy, white kid role he could have so easily been type cast in after 10 Things. Below is a list of my top three favourite Joseph Gordon-Levitt performances and some notable mentions.

3. Mysterious Skin (2005)

Absolutely haunting. That’s the description I would use to describe his portrayal of a teenager still scarred from being molested by his baseball coach at the age of eight. Gordon-Levitt plays Neil McCormick in this spine-tingling drama which stays with you long after the credits have rolled. The fact anyone would have felt comfortable enough with their own sexuality and acting ability to take on a role like this is amazing. What’s more, this film is very explicit showing and talking about homosexuality, rape, molestation, nudity, AIDS and so forth. There’s a saying in Hollywood which goes something along the lines of if you play a gay or mentally handicapped person you win an Oscar, as long as you don’t go too far. Gordon-Levitt goes far, waaaaay far. This film and his portrayal of Neil is so powerful, Mysterious Skin is now screened to paedophiles in American prisons and rehabilitation clinics to show them how the victims are affected years after the incident. A must see.
Best line:
Wendy: "Where normal people have a heart, Neil McCormick has a bottomless black hole. And if you don't watch out, you can fall in and get lost forever."

2. The Lookout (2007)

One of my favourite films of last year. It’s truly a shame this only ever a got a straight to DVD release in Australia. Gordon-Levitt is enthralling as a once promising high school athlete Chris Pratt who is now handicapped in a devastating car accident. He is truly brilliant as this young man struggling to live with brain damage similar to that of Guy Pearce’s character in Memento. Working as a janitor at a local bank he finds himself caught up in a planned heist. It’s hard to pigeon hole the genre of this film. I guess crime, thriller, noir, drama would suffice and undoubtedly Gordon-Levitt is the glue which holds this complicated web of a movie together. With a weaker lead actor this could have spiralled in to a B-grade slosh of a film. Instead, his sincerity and fragility makes this character truly believable and, quite simply, captivating to watch.
Best line:
Lewis: "You know, here I am, sitting at home alone every night while you're out getting blown and God knows what else by Luvlee something, who probably has a friend, and what, you don't introduce me?"
Chris: "Lemons. That's what it is."
Lewis: "That's what what is?"
Chris: "That's her last name."
Lewis: "Luvlee Lemons? That's her name?"
Chris: "Well, it's her stage name. She's a performer. Or she was."
Lewis: "Ah, and by stage I'm assuming you mean the kind with a pole?"
Chirs: "What do you mean?"

Lewis: "Let's move on."

1. Brick (2006)

Perhaps I’m a little biased because yet again this another one of my favourite movies (I realise that’s a long list). Brick tells the tale of high school outsider Brendan Frye, Gordon-Levitt, as he investigates the death of his ex-girlfriend played by Aussie actress Emile De Ravin who also appeared in The Hills Have Eyes. Essentially this is a noir, detective story reminiscent of a Humphrey Boggart film or The Maltese Falcon but in a high school setting. The script is superb, the dialogue is sharp and the performances from the young cast are excellent. However, it’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the lead who not only steals the show but carries the whole the film. His portrayal of this intelligent outsider who deals with the death of the women he still loves by taking on the local drug ring is to date one of my favourite performances of all time. How he manages to pull of the quiet strength of Brendan’s character and put up with getting beaten (literally) again and again is worth the 110 minute running time and then some. If you can only ever see one of Gordon-Levitt’s movies then this is it.
Best line: This movie is built on incredibly good lines and I have to say it’s too hard to pick just one. However, two favourites would be:
Brendan: "Come on at me, if you want, Hash-head. I've got all five senses and I slept last night, that puts me six up against the lot of you."
Assistant VP Gary: "You've helped this office out before."
Brendan: "No, I gave you Jerr to see him eaten, not to see you fed." Assistant VP Gary: "Fine. And very well put."
Brendan: "Accelerated English, with Mrs. Kasprzyk."Assistant VP Gary: "Tough teacher?" Brendan: "Tough but fair."

Notable Mentions

In 2005 Gordon-Levitt proved he can not only play a raging queer and male prostitute in Mysterious Skin, but he can also hold his own amongst a star studded cast of veteran Oscar winners in Shadowboxer. The film stars Helen Mirren as a female assassin with terminal cancer, Cuba Gooding Jnr, Macy Gray, Vanessa Ferlito and our Gordon-Levitt as Dr. Don. In 2006 he had a supporting role in Havoc alongside Anne Hathaway, Bijou Phillips, Channing Tatum and Freddy Rodriguez. Although he doesn’t get as much camera time as the other films mentioned here, his interpretation of Sam, a wannabe nigga or wigga (white-nigga) is completely new ground for him. More recently he played Tommy Burgess who’s emotionally scared after serving with the American army in the critically acclaimed Stop-Loss. He stars alongside Channing Tatum again in this movie too.

Coming Up

His latest film is a project called Killshot which is to be released later this year. It’s about a couple placed in the Federal Witness Protection program after witnessing a mob hit. They’re then targeted by an experienced hitman played by Mickey Rourke and a psychopathic young upstart killer played by Gordon Levitt. Diane Lane and Rosario Dawson also star and just quietly this film looks awesome! My heart was pumping overtime just watching the trailer which you can view here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By23zDhB_-8: In 2009 he will once again appear alongside buddy-ol-pal Channing Tatum in the film adaptation of G.I Joe titled G.I Joe: Rise of the Cobra. He’s also set to try his hand at romantic comedies in 500 Days of Summer where he plays a man who falls for a woman who doesn’t believe in love, played by the always kooky Zooey Deschanel.

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