Reel Life #8
*One of the best modern examples of Hollywood art imitating life imitating art was Colin Firth appearing as himself in the book Bridget Jones’ Diary, and then being cast as the love interest Mark Darcy in the movie adaptation.
Something similar is happening right now regarding British journalist Emma Forrest’s chronicle of her battle with mental illness, Your Voice in My Head.
The 2011 memoir is being lined up for a movie adaptation, with Harry Potter alum Emma Watson in talks to play Forrest.
However, it’s not certain who will play her lover in the book known only as ‘Gypsy Husband’ (or ‘GH’), or even how prominent a part he’ll get.
That’s because ‘GH’ is widely believed to be based on Forrest’s ex-boyfriend, Irish actor Colin Farrell.
The Dubliner has never publicly commented on the book, or the speculation around it. But seeing as ‘GH’ is a key element in the core part of the story, it’s hard to see how any movie adaptation could avoid using him in the narrative.
How mad would it be if Farrell ended up playing the part in the adaptation? Or, to get even more Charlie Kaufman on it, if a younger Irish actor played a version of Farrell? Reel Life will be keeping a close eye on this one.
*Casting its gaze over the reviews of films playing in the Berlin Film Festival, Reel Life is most intrigued about Iron Sky, a German sci-fi satire about a group of Nazis who have been hiding out on a secret moon base since 1945 and are now planning to return to power on Earth in the year 2018.
The best part about Iron Sky’s success is that discussing it allows Reel Life the chance to use its all-time favourite German expression, one that’s used to describe the bigger historical and cultural process of Germany coming to terms with its past: ‘Vergangenheitsbewältigung’. Say that ten times real fast.
*Fans of Nicholas Evans’ mega-selling book – and Robert Redford’s 1998 movie adaptation of – The Horse Whisperer should keep an eye out for the forthcoming documentary Buck, which focuses on Buck Brannaman, the real life equine counsellor who inspired the original story. Buck trots in cinemas in these parts in April.
*Lastly, it’s Oscar weekend, and though it’s shaping up to be an eye-gougingly boring and predictable affair, with every pre-Oscar award-snatching frontrunner more or less guaranteed a win, Reel Life is determined to create drama and excitement where there is none.
So for what they’re worth, here are Reel Life’s last minute, no-guts-no-glory tips for Oscar surprises on Sunday night:
I predict that The Help’s Viola Davis will snatch the Best Actress gong from under the prosthetic nose of Meryl Streep’s Maggie Thatcher in The Iron Lady.
I’m also betting on Bridesmaids’ scene-stealer Melissa McCarthy pulling off an upset by winning Best Supporting Actress ahead of sure-thing Octavia Spencer.
Lastly, I see Terence Malick coming from nowhere to bag the Best Director prize for The Tree of Life. My reasoning? If the Academy made that much of an effort to nominate him in the first place, Malick must have support amongst voters.
*I’ll be live Tweeting (Twitter code for ‘being a sarcastic smartarse about’) the Oscars from 1am on Sunday night/Monday morning if you care to follow me @Tweet_Dec
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