INTERVIEW.
3
' a. "_ I
Legendary writer and director John Sayles tells of the inspiration for his new film Honeydipper
‘Some of the plot of Honeydripper comes from this rock’n’roll legend called Guitar Slim who was a New Orleans guitar player in the early 19505. He had a huge hit with a song called ‘The Things That I Used to Do’ which was arranged by Ray Charles when he was 18 years-old. In those days there was no rock videos or TV or even album covers so Guitar Slim was only known by face in the Orleans area. He was famous for two things: one was missing his gigs because he partied too hard and he wouldn’t show up and two, he would go out, with a very long extension cord, on to the streets and up to the doors of other clubs and do this pied piper thing and bring people back in to the club with him.’
‘Some of what I wanted this film to be about can be found in the lyrics of ‘Music Keeps Rollin’ On’, the final song in the film, which I wrote the words for. Here’s Tyrone, this bankrupt bar owner and musician played by Danny Glover who is 50 in 1950. He grew up with the music, he was a kid when the blues started, he was there in Orleans for the ‘King’ Buddy Bolden jazz period, he was around for the Ma Rainey period in the 1930s, he was there for swing in the 1940s and now he is playing rhythm and blues. But can he make that next step? Can he move with the music? Which is going to move on without him whether he is ready to play it or not.’
‘I read a lot of musician biographies as research for this film and l tracked down a jukebox play list from Mississippi in 1950, which was just incredible. There was such a broad mix stuff on there, everything from blues and gospel to country and rockabilly.’
‘Ultimately I think Honeydripper is about a community rather than any one hero. Although you’ve got to get to know the protagonist I make sure that you also have to spend time with the other characters, because you need to understand what he’s going to lose. Tyrone is this African American guy in 1950s Alabama who lies, cheats and even steals from his daughter who has a heart condition [laughs] but you still end up rooting for him because everyone in the community wants to be like him because he is his own boss.’ (Interview by Paul Dale)
I Honeydripper is on selected release from Fri 7 6 May. See review, page 57.
54 THE LIST 8-22 May 2008
DRAMA ' HEARTBEAT DETECTOR
(12A) 135min 0”.
Visually spare, leisurely in pace, wordy and featuring an eclectic. occasionally jarring soundtrack, this French corporate thriller is demanding and rewarding in equal measure. Adapted from Francois Emmanuel's novel La Question Humaine by writing-directing team Nicolas Klotz and Elisabeth Perceval, it stars Mathieu Amalric as the psychologist of a German-French petrochemical company who‘s asked to discretely assess the mental state of the Paris office's CEO (played by Michael Lonsdale).
As Almaric's emotionally reticent Simon conducts his covert investigation, the effects of it begin to take their toll on him, partly because his subject appears to be the victim of a corporate coup and partly because of the disturbing historical links he uncovers between his firm and the Nazis during the last years of World War II.
The chilling analogy the film makes between modern capitalism and 19th century fascism is an intriguing one. and Klotz and Perceval underscore it throughout in various subtle ways. such as how language is employed to dehumanise individuals. It's a beautifully executed and horribly convincing film. (Miles Fielder)
I Cameo, Edinburgh and selected release from Fri 76 May. See interview, page 49.
DRAMA THE LAST MISTRESS (15) 114min 00.0
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What Happens in Vegas . . . (12A) 98min 0. Taking its lead from Britney Spears and Jason Alexander or maybe Chris Evans and Billie Piper, this underwhelming romantic comedy details the love trajectory of Vegas gamblers Joy (Cameron Diaz) and Jack (Ashton Kutcher), who wake up one morning to find they are married and have also hit the jackpot on the tables. Cue farcical attempts to cheat each other out of the money, while falling in love. This dumb but watchable movie is really just a bit of a waste of time. You would be better off holding out for the very similar forthcoming French romantic comedy Priceless starring Audrey Tautou. General release from Fri 9 May.
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (12A) 113min 0
RJ Stevens (Martin Lawrence) is a Hollywood self-help sensation whose success has earned him a reality television star fiancee (Joy Bryant) and an alienated son from a previous relationship. After a nine-year absence, RJ decides to go to see his family in Georgia to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of his parents (James Earl Jones and Margaret Avery). Little does he know that nonchalant siblings. competitive cousins and a childhood sweetheart have been awaiting his return for a while. Another year another non-stellar Lawrence vehicle. An uneven. unfunny and mean-spirited family comedy. General release from Fri 76 May. Shutter (15) 84min .0
Lame English language remake of 2004 Thai horror about a photographer who discovers mysterious shadows on his snaps after witnessing a horrific accident. B-listers Joshua Jackson (as seen in Dawson's Creek and Bobby) and Rachael Taylor star while Japanese TV director Masayuki Ochiai dons the director's hat. General release from Fri 76 May.
Despite suffering a cerebral haemorrhage in 2004, the French filmmaker Catherine Breillat has returned with her most entertaining and accessible work to date. Based on the 19th century novel by the controversial writer Jules—Amedee Barbey d'Aurevilly. the sumptuously shot The Last Mistress begins in 1835 Paris, where the dashing and dissolute Ryno de Marigny (impressive newcomer Fu'ad Ait Aattou) is engaged to be married to the virginal heiress Hermangarde (Roxane Mesquida). The groom however is still embroiled in a tempestuous 10-year liaison with a scandalous Spanish courtesan Vellini (Asia Argento), the illegitimate daughter of a bullfighter and an Italian princess. Will Ryno really be able to free himself of what one of his friends calls this ‘haughty and heartless creature?‘
Breillat here overthrows the weary proprieties of traditional costume dramas. focussing on the sexually charged relationship between Byno and Vellini. Flamboyantly played by Argento, this femme fatale is dressed in an array of exotic outfits and hairstyles, and at times she favours a boldly androgynous look: ‘I hate anything feminine.‘ her character declares. ‘except in young men.‘
There's a sadistic streak to her desires: she licks the blood of her partner's duelling wound. and cuts his face with a knife. No wonder that the pale. polite Hermengarde seems slightly dull in comparison. And this being a Breillat film, don't be surprised that it's only the orgasmic cries of Vellini that we hear during the film's explicit sex scenes. the most haunting of which takes place in front of her child's funeral pyre in Algeria. (Tom Dawson)
I Fi/mhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 9—Thu 75 May.