46 May 2008/Bealtaine 2008 THE IRISH HERALD/THE NEW IRISH GAEL • F ILM & ENTERTAINMENT• Irish Movie News From Hollywood And Beyond by James Bartlett in Los Angeles T WAS THE NEWS THAT SET Irish the big leagues; she will star hearts-a-flutter; Hollywood alongside Helen Mirren (The Iheartthrob George Clooney Queen), Christopher Plummer could be coming to the Emerald (Closing the Ring), Paul Isle this summer, and he’ll be Giamatti (Sideways) and James traveling around the county on McAvoy (Atonement) in direc- two wheels, negotiating the tor Michael Hoffman’s biopic of twisting country roads and free- Leo Tolstoy (writer of novels ways alike on his motorbike. “War and Peace” and “Anna Irish-American actor Karenina”). Clooney seems to have heard Based on Jay Parini’s 1990 the call of the Old Country, and novel, “The Last Station” he let slip about his upcoming depicts the final year in the life vacation plans during an inter- of the Russian writer and view with a Dublin radio sta- philosopher and his troubled tion during interviews at the relationship with his wife Sofya. London premiere of his current Duff plays their daughter Sasha, screwball comedy movie and the $20,000,000 drama will Leatherheads: shoot in Germany and Russia. “I am doing a motorbike ride Oscar winning screenwriter in Ireland this summer. I hear it William Monahan (The rains a lot but I’ve got the per- Departed) has begun a screen fect outfit!” adaptation of Irish novelist Ken It’s hardly major news that Bruen’s crime drama “London an Irish-American wants to visit Boulevard.” Born in Galway, Ken his ancestral home, but making Bruen is known for his crime the trip by motorbike is a rela- noir novels including “The tively new phenomenon, and Guards” and the 2008 Edgar General Manager Grace Poutch Allen Poe Award nominated of Motorcycle Rental Ireland in “The Dramatist and Priest.” Naas, County Kildare, was Monahan is planning to already looking forward to make his directorial debut with maybe getting a call—or even a London Boulevard, a story that visit—from Clooney: follows a South London ex-con “More and more people are trying to go straight life by hopping off the plane and then working as a handyman for a onto the back of a bike, reclusive young actress. although Ireland has very dif- Malcolm McDowell in ‘Red Roses and Petrol’ Monahan is a busy man; he is ferent roads to the ones they’re also adapting Cormac used to. The odd one will think complex dynamics of love, life, an autographed Red Roses and Emerald City”, with the film McCarthy’s novel “Blood they can tour Ireland pretty and the loss of a family mem- Petrol poster and a copy of the script penned by Brian Meridian,” the screenplay for much in a day or three, because ber with black humor and a few official shooting script signed Helgeland (LA Confidential, “Jurassic Park IV” and a re-make it looks so small. surprises along the way, it stars by all the cast members. Mystic River). of Korean film “The Chaser.” I have to explain to them legendary actor Malcolm Even in the age of YouTube The drama focuses on the Moving across the country that it’s really not like that.” McDowell (best know for his this is an unusual marketing contradictions and differences to New York, a screenplay writ- There are other differences roles in A Clockwork Orange tool for the movie and Paul between the Green Zone, where ten by Irish screenwriter Terry too; road signs will be kph and If…). Hancock, CEO of producers troops are housed, and the McMahon (Irish television soap (kilometer per hour) and not Director Tamar Simon Hoffs World Wide Motion Pictures streets of Baghdad after the “Fair City”) and producer Bart the usual mph (miles per hour), (whose daughter Susanna Hoffs notes that McDowell was a overthrow of Saddam Hussein. Daly has beaten off the chal- and of course you have to drive is a member of 80’s cult band large reason why: Gleeson will play an American lenge from almost 500 admis- on the opposite side of the The Bangles and contributed to “Because we have received so soldier, and his supporting cast sions and has been chosen to road, although most bikers the movie soundtrack) got a much interest in the film, large- includes Greg Kinnear (Little participate in the Tribeca Film manage this safely and without tour-de-force performance from ly because of Malcolm’s Miss Sunshine), Amy Ryan Festival’s All Access program. any major problems. That was- McDowell and the ensemble involvement, we felt that reach- (Gone Baby Gone) and Jason The program ran at the recent n’t quite the case for Clooney cast that includes Max Beesley ing out to the vast internet Isaacs (Brotherhood). film festival and is aimed at fos- last year though: a car hit him (Hotel Babylon), Heather audience would not only help Starring alongside Gleeson in tering connections between and his girlfriend Sarah Larson Juergensen (Kissing Jessica get the word out about this the aforementioned In Bruges film industry executives and while they were riding in New Stein), Greg Ellis (Pirates Of The wonderful little film, but also was Colin Farrell, and it was filmmakers from traditionally Jersey, and he suffered a broken Caribbean), Susan Lynch provide a rare opportunity for recently announced that he’d underrepresented communities rib while she hobbled away (Waking Ned Devine) and long-time fans of Malcolm join Spanish actress Paz Vega in the USA. with two broken toes. Olivia Tracey (Lucky You). McDowell to interact personally (Spanglish) and screen legend The untitled screenplay, On his hopefully accident- The story is based around with this award-winning actor.” Christopher Lee (The Lord of which tells the story of injustice free trip Clooney can take some the family of Enda Doyle With his shock of white hair the Rings, Star Wars) in Triage, towards American Indians in of the most popular tour runs (McDowell), who have gathered and distinctive British accent, the latest movie from award the 1870s, was one of 37 pro- through Waterford and Cork, in Dublin for his wake and to McDowell is one of the most winning filmmaker Danis jects selected from the open and maybe even ride up to the celebrate the rascally old man. recognizable and recognized UK Tanovic (Best Foreign Film call, and Daly was delighted: famous Giant’s Causeway, Amidst the smoke and beers, actors working in Tinsel Town. Oscar for 2002’s No Man’s “It is a great honor to be although that’s apparently Enda’s legacy is revealed to He is just as busy now as he was Land). Shooting has already chosen to participate in the more for those with tougher include a trail of unresolved when he first rose to fame in started at Ciudad de la Luz stu- Tribeca All Access film. This behinds and a more adventur- issues, a dysfunctional family, the late 1960s, and although he dios in Alicante, Spain, and story needs to be told because it ous spirit. and a disturbing mystery. will probably always be best they will also be on the streets addresses a very important time The former “ER” star appar- This may sound like almost known for his performance in on Dublin for three weeks too. in American history, which is ently has roots in County Cork, every Irish wake, and the pro- Stanley Kubrick’s infamous Farrell, who is also an execu- often forgotten about. The the rebel county, and if he heads ducers of the movie came up 1971 classic, he more recently tive producer, stars as Mark, a inclusion of our script at there he can kiss the Blarney with an unusual and exciting has appeared in reoccurring photojournalist returning home Tribeca is good timing for us as stone for luck (“Please let me win idea to promote the movie— roles on NBC’s “Heroes” and from a dangerous assignment. in January this year we raised another Oscar this year?”), and possibly unearth some of HBO’s “Entourage”, and took When his colleague and best half of the film budget and the although there are bound to be the hottest new talent around. on the role of the late Donald friend fails to return home, momentum of Tribeca has plenty of willing Irish ladies Fans and aspiring directors Pleasance in the recent remake, Mark’s girlfriend, Elena (Vega), already generated industry ready to take the stone’s place if were asked to create short Rob Zombie’s Halloween must find the clues to the mys- interest in America.” Based on a the line is too long! videos (no longer than five (2007). Later this year he will be tery that’s slowly killing her true story, the script centers on Perhaps with a mind to that minutes) expressing how much featured in television mini- boyfriend. The movie is adapt- Chief Standing Bear of the idea, Poutch has already tried to they appreciate McDowell’s series “War and Peace” and ed from Scott Anderson's novel Ponca Nation, who is now rec- contact Clooney’s agent to offer extensive body of work (he’s “Coco Chanel.” of the same name, and Irish ognized as one of the first civil their services: “If he’s coming been on screen since the late Elsewhere in Hollywood, producer Alan Moloney noted: rights leaders in America, and over he can have it for free, 1960s remember) and then actor Brendan Gleeson (fresh “Danis has written a power- follows the events that unfold especially if he takes me out to upload and post them on from his successes in Beowulf ful and moving script with a when a Ponca Indian chief is lunch or better, puts me on the YouTube at and Irish movie In Bruges) will universal appeal. The prospect arrested in an attempt to return back of it.” http://www.youtube.com/group join Matt Damon (The Bourne of himself and Colin Farrell to his homeland to bury the Elsewhere in the world of /redrosesandpetrol Identity) in a new thriller working together alongside the bones of his murdered child. the silver screen, a new Irish By the time you read this the directed by Paul Greengrass beauty and talent of Paz Vega The movie has the endorsement movie called Red Roses and contest will have ended, and (Bloody Sunday, United 93). and an icon of cinema like of the Ponca Nation, and will Petrol—based on the play by you can view the winning entry The as-yet-untitled film is cur- Christopher Lee is very exciting be directed by Valerie Red- Joseph O’Connor—is due to hit online. The lucky winner’s prize rently filming in Spain, and is for us all.” Horse. Fingers crosses that they screens on Friday, June 13. A includes a private, 10-minute based on Rajiv Chanrasekaran’s IFTA winning actress Anne get the final funding and we see dark comedy that explores the telephone chat with McDowell, book “Imperial Life in the Marie Duff has moved up into this story on our screens soon!