Daily Archives: January 24, 2007

Ewan McGregor as Kurt Cobain?

Casting About, Musings

including Virgin.net, are reporting that Ewan McGregor — who memorably launched into song in Moulin Rouge — will likely be tapped to headline an eventual biopic about late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, who committed suicide in 1994 at the age of 27. Cobain’s ex-wife, embattled rocker/actress/rehab-and-courtroom mainstay Courtney Love, has optioned the rights to Charles Cross’ biography, Heavier than Heaven, and is reportedly a big fan of the actor.

Usually I’m various shades of indifferent to casting news, but this strikes me as spot-on. McGregor has just the right deep baby blues and, when harnessed, stare of wounded, moody estrangement. Wipe that smile off his face (above) and slap Cobain’s dyed-blonde ‘do on him, and the mere surface resemblance already seems uncanny, without a word out of his mouth. His casting would actually get me jazzed about a Cobain biopic. The other crucial choice: the right director, one who wouldn’t pander to more prosaic instincts to overly indulge the grunge scene and deify Cobain as a sensitive, misunderstood artist corrupted by events and circumstances beyond his power. Well, that and the script, of course…

Lynch Hosts Inland Empire Via Webcam

Screenings

For those in the Los Angeles area, director David Lynch will appear live via webcam at a special screening of Inland Empire to be held Thursday, January 25, at 7:20 p.m. at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. Lynch will introduce the movie and host a brief Q&A with the audience before the screening. Tickets are $9.25 for general admission, and only $7.50 for AFI members. For directions and more information, click here.

On Letters from Iwo Jima’s Screenplay Oscar Nod

Awards, Irritations

I suppose I can understand the Academy Award nomination for the very deserving Borat in the Best Adapted Screenplay category, on the grounds that the character originated on Da Ali G Show. But can someone explain how/why Letters from Iwo Jima is nominated, alongside Babel, Little Miss Sunshine, Pan’s Labyrinth and The Queen, in the Best Original Screenplay category, even though its credits clearly list the movie as being based upon Picture Letters from Commander in Chief? Is there some deckchair shuffling going on? Or did someone owe Paul Haggis (who receives story credit on the film, and thus would be eligible for an Oscar) a favor?