Frank Darabont is one of those guys we're always rooting for. Any guy who's got both the touchy-feeliness of "The Shawshank Redemption" AND the utter blackness of "The Mist" in him is alright by us. Well, pity poor Frank today, because his passion project, the long in-development film of "Fahrenheit 451" is once again without a leading man. Tom Hanks is out, Darabont revealed to MTV News exclusively.
Only months ago, Darabont told us Hanks was his Guy Montag. Now it's not to be. "Mr. Hanks sadly and regretfully had to back out," he said. "I was really looking forward to working with him again but his other commitments just precluded it. He had to take a step back." Read more...
A few days ago, we gave you a review of "The Great Buck Howard" from our colleague Rachel Josue. Today, fellow blogger Josh Horowitz weighs in with his own thoughts.
On the Line: I'm attending a press screening at Sundance as opposed to a public one. All that means is the people I'm sitting with are allowed to eat in their seats and are more likely to make snarky comments about Robert Redford. I've heard about this flick for a while. Colin Hanks, John Malkovich, and even a little Tom Hanks. Doesn't sound too Sundance-y but I'm game. Read more...
On the Line: I didn't read a single word before arriving at the theater. In fact, I hadn't even decided I would attend the screening for sure until 60 minutes before it started. So, I did no research and smiled along with the rest of the press when we were told the movie is a mere 84 minutes long.
In The Theater: It's smart, funny, sweet and thoroughly enjoyable. I was curious to to see how Colin Hanks would do in a film with his father. He did not disappoint. I liked that Tom's role was minimal and the focus was not diverted from his son. Oh, and John Malkovich? Hilarious.
The Verdict: It is quite possible I will only see one film while at the festival this year, and I'm satisfied that it is this one.
See our complete coverage of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival -- including breaking news, celebrity interviews, red carpet photos, movie clips and tons more.
It's a special night when you do something that causes Tom Hanks to say "You're creeping me out," but then you've never seen me act like an imbecile on a star-studded red carpet. If you're like me, your mind boggles at the insipid red carpet reporters who fawn over celebs (Nancy O'Dell, I am looking at you!), so it seemed like an NYC event for "Charlie Wilson's War" was a great opportunity to jibber jabber like the village idiot in front of the likes of Hanks and Philip Seymour Hoffman (please note how far he stands from me and anguished he looks at the decision to stop and chat).
Enjoy. Cringe. Do what comes naturally.
Frank Darabont has made a career out of turning treasured books into even more treasured movies, but to bring "Fahrenheit 451” to the big-screen he's gonna need the help of some old friends.
Luckily, he's found his Guy.
"[Tom Hanks] has stated his intention to do the movie. I'm hoping that stays on track," Darabont enthused, confirming recent rumors that Hanks would suit up as Guy Montag, a freethinking "fireman" who begins the classic novel as a state-appointed book burner. "It's not a for-certain thing, but all indications are looking very, very good right now. I would love to work with him again. He'd be perfection."
Hanks, who previously worked with Darabont on 1999's "The Green Mile," is "the perfect embodiment of the regular guy," the director said.
"He's a movie star wrapped in a regular guy's body. I love his intelligence onscreen," Darabont declared. "I love his empathetic quality, his accessibility. I don't want Montag to be the extraordinary hero. I think he's much more interesting if he's not the movie hero but a real guy." Read more...
Aside from the occasional role as something like "male page" in "That Thing You Do!," 29-year-old Colin Hanks has tried his best to launch a career completely independent of his double-Oscar dad. But after making a name for himself in movies like "King Kong," the offspring of Tom recently decided that it was time for an on-camera family reunion.
"He worked two days on the movie - it was a bit of a trip," Colin said of his father's recently-filmed role in "The Great Buck Howard." "[Tom] just really wanted to capture on film a father yelling at his son, so we've got that forever on film. Now, he never has to yell at me - he can just put the tape in and press play."
The script behind the scream tells the "Prestige"-like story of a desperate illusionist (played by John Malkovich) whose career is bottoming out when a fresh-faced apprentice (Hanks) gives him the inspiration to pull some new tricks out of the proverbial hat. The duo's partnership angers the young man's father (the older Hanks), who wants his son to choose a more traditional career. Read more...
