Tuesday... soooooo Father Geek is posting up Tamsin's 22nd report for our AICN Downunder Column... more awards are being heaped on films from the far away land's film industry, and we have lots of other cool news to boot... Now, here's our lovely downunder editor Tamsin with the current scuddlebutt...
Here is my latest report...
DOWNUNDER REPORT #22
AWARDS:
. BAFTAS: New Zealander, Russell Crowe has won the best actor award at the BAFTAs for his work on A BEAUTIFUL MIND. LOTR:FOTR has won five awards including best film, best director, special visual effects, and makeup and hair. MOULIN ROUGE won three awards including Best Supporting Actor (Jim Broadbent), Best Music, and Best Sound.
. LANTANA won best film, best actor (Kerry Armstrong), best actor (Anthony LaPaglia), best supporting actress (Daniella Farinacci), and best adapted screenplay (Andrew Bovell) at the Film Critics Circle of Australia awards. Baz Luhrmann was named best director for MOULIN ROUGE and Don McAlpine, best cinematographer.
Other winners included ONE NIGHT THE MOON for best music score, and special award for director Rachel Perkins for the 'film's unique achievement in the combination of sound, image and music." MULLET won best original screenplay and supporting actor and THE BANK for editing. FACING THE MUSIC and MY MOTHER INDIA won for best documentary, THE BIG HOUSE, best short film, and AMELIE, best foreign language film, and TRAFFIC the best foreign English language film. A special acknowledgement was awarded to cinematographer Russell Boyd.
NEWS FROM CLINT AT MOVIEHOLE
I had the opportunity to chat to Sean Astin today - about his work in the forthcoming Lord of the rings : two towers and even the impending Goonies 2.
"The final chapter promises to be the best, because of the awesome changes that all of the characters experience", explains Astin. There's a little more work needed on the film until the public will get to witness the further adventures of our heroes. "Peter and Fran have told me they want to put more heart into 2 Towers and that Sam is the key to that...so I suppose I will be heading to NZ for more work", adds Astin.
Astin also tells me about the status of The Goonies 2. "Spielberg told me that he's almost happy with the script that's being developed. I'm sure it will happen at some point. And all of the Goonies are interested in returning...I just hope they capture the right tone in the script". One such treatment of the sequel is rumored to involve the offspring of the original Goonies going on a similar adventure to their 1980's counterparts. "I told Steven that I had an epiphany about the sequel and wanted to share my thoughts with him. But, he seems protective of the process. My fear is that they will try to have the Goonies "Kids" involved, which for my money misses the mark", says Sean. Sans Goonies, Astin tells me there are a couple of movies he wish he could go over; but thinks Goonies is the only film he's interested in following up.
The future's looking even more promising for Sean Astin - and it will be almost unfeasible to miss him on a Cineplex in the near future. But as the industry goes, the next job could be just a phone call away or it could be five years down the track. "Although I've got some irons in the fire, I'm not sure what's next", says a hopeful Sean.
The full interview is here : www.moviehole.net/interviewastin.html
Thanks Clint!
. TAKE AWAY
Filming has begun on TAKE AWAY, a Melbourne production about warring fish and chip shops who put aside their differences to fight a larger chain which enters the area. Starring Vince Colosimo (LANTANA) and Stephen Curry (THE CASTLE) and written by comedians Dave O'Neil and Mark O'Toole.
. HEATH LEDGER NEWS
Heath Ledger is set to star in Oliver Stone's version, ALEXANDER.
The Pacifica/IMF production is set to begin filming Oct. 16 in India. The film will be distributed worldwide by Intermedia, and produced by James Skotchdopole and Thomas Schuhly.
Apparently also in development is the Peter Buchman and Christopher McQuarrie's script, about Alexander the Great, also called ALEXANDER. Martin Scorsese was originally signed on to direct with Leonardo DiCaprio starring; and producer Dino De Laurentiis,.
. ANTHONY LAPAGLIA NEWS
LANTANA star Anthony LaPaglia is apparently onboard to play a detective investigating the case of a missing woman in the new Jerry Bruckheimer-produced CBS drama pilot VANISHED.
. FILM REVIEW: AUSTRALIAN RULES
The release of the new Australian film, AUSTRALIAN RULES has been the centre of controversy. The film has is facing opposition to its screening a range of groups including "The Coalition Against Deadly Unna". Animosity towards the film has been transferred directly from opposition to the book on which it was based - DEADLY, UNNA by Philip Gwynne. The book takes elements of a true story, the killing of two Aboriginal boys, to explore the torrid relationship between a boy and his father amidst a background of a small, racist Australian town. Contrary to rumours and the efforts of pressure groups, the film will still screen at the 2002 Adelaide Festival which was involved in the funding of the project. The film is presented as a work of fiction, based in a fictional town, with fictional people. The main character is a white boy growing up within a mixed community. It follows his close relationship with an Aboriginal boy and explores the questions and criticisms with which he, as a young boy, has been confronted - questions regarding the terrible acts of racism the adults in the community perform every day. It is an engrossing story, with extremely high production values and outstanding performances from a young cast. The film is far from controversial in comparison with other films, and the controversy reflects the difficult time in which we are living, with regards to racial relations here in Australia. Perhaps if we had a stronger leader who could bring himself to apologise for the actions of white Australia, films such as AUSTRALIAN RULES would be recognised for its frank reflection, and call for change, of the deep problem which still exists. It will be extremely disappointing if this film isn't seen, especially by those it was made for, the youth of Australia who are the only ones who can truly change the relationship between black and white in this country.
AUSSIE FILM WEB SITE
You can check out the web site for the new indie Aussie zombie movie 'UNDEAD at
www.undeadmovie.com
That's it for this week.
Tamsin
Tamsin@aintitcoolmail.com
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