Anthony Hopkins is getting ready to release a biogrpahy!
The 86-year-old actor has had quite the distinguished career. Best known for his performance as Hannibal Lecter in 1991′s The Silence of the Lambs, Anthony has also starred in notable projects such as Westworld, Nixon, and The Elephant Man.
In a recent interview with People, Anthony revealed that he’s writing a biography, and offered details on how it’s going thus far.
Keep reading to find out more…
“It’s a weird process,” the two-time Oscar winner said. “I realized how I’m blessed with one thing. Maybe it’s my actor’s brain. I do have quite a memory. I remember days of months in the years.”
Anthony also spoke about his wife Stella Arroyave, who is currently working on a documentary about his career.
Regarding the film’s progress, Anthony admitted that he isn’t in the know.
The 86-year-old actor has had quite the distinguished career. Best known for his performance as Hannibal Lecter in 1991′s The Silence of the Lambs, Anthony has also starred in notable projects such as Westworld, Nixon, and The Elephant Man.
In a recent interview with People, Anthony revealed that he’s writing a biography, and offered details on how it’s going thus far.
Keep reading to find out more…
“It’s a weird process,” the two-time Oscar winner said. “I realized how I’m blessed with one thing. Maybe it’s my actor’s brain. I do have quite a memory. I remember days of months in the years.”
Anthony also spoke about his wife Stella Arroyave, who is currently working on a documentary about his career.
Regarding the film’s progress, Anthony admitted that he isn’t in the know.
- 1/23/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Filmmaker Stella Hopkins has opened up on directing her husband, multiple Oscar-winning veteran actor Anthony Hopkins, in the film "Elyse". The debutant director says she found it easy because they mutually respected each other's position within the film unit.
"He respected my position and I respected his, although I recognised that I was working with a man who clearly has 55 years' worth of acting experience from which to draw," Stella said, according to a femalefirst.co.uk report.
There were differences of opinions, of course, and she gives an instance. "For the therapy scene he said, 'I'd like to sit a little bit back in the dark but, at a certain point, when I really need to get her present, I'll lean forward'. I objected, and said, 'It's going to be too dark, and you're going to be in the background!' But it was his choice, and he was right,...
"He respected my position and I respected his, although I recognised that I was working with a man who clearly has 55 years' worth of acting experience from which to draw," Stella said, according to a femalefirst.co.uk report.
There were differences of opinions, of course, and she gives an instance. "For the therapy scene he said, 'I'd like to sit a little bit back in the dark but, at a certain point, when I really need to get her present, I'll lean forward'. I objected, and said, 'It's going to be too dark, and you're going to be in the background!' But it was his choice, and he was right,...
- 5/31/2021
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Stella Hopkins directs her husband – but struggles to get the best out of her cast – in this uneven psychological drama
This peculiar, freakishly uneven but far from meritless psychological drama stars Lisa Pepper as the title character, a soigné but very intense woman in early middle age who seems both on the verge of nervous breakdown and under the influence of some kind of emotional malady. Elyse is married to Stephen Bridges (Aaron Tucker), a successful lawyer, and they have a young son (Griffin Thomas Hollander); the boy is largely looked after by the family’s housekeeper Julia (Julieta Ortiz) while Elyse drifts about through her day, browsing at bookshops, stroking donuts she doesn’t eat, all the while carrying a camera she barely uses even though she’s meant to be a photographer of some sort.
But the placid surface of this Los Angeleno style-magazine existence is suddenly broken...
This peculiar, freakishly uneven but far from meritless psychological drama stars Lisa Pepper as the title character, a soigné but very intense woman in early middle age who seems both on the verge of nervous breakdown and under the influence of some kind of emotional malady. Elyse is married to Stephen Bridges (Aaron Tucker), a successful lawyer, and they have a young son (Griffin Thomas Hollander); the boy is largely looked after by the family’s housekeeper Julia (Julieta Ortiz) while Elyse drifts about through her day, browsing at bookshops, stroking donuts she doesn’t eat, all the while carrying a camera she barely uses even though she’s meant to be a photographer of some sort.
But the placid surface of this Los Angeleno style-magazine existence is suddenly broken...
- 5/25/2021
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
Early on while watching Elyse, you may find yourself wondering why on earth Anthony Hopkins agreed to appear in such a wan, amateurish drama. The answer becomes apparent when one examines the credits — the film marks the directorial debut of Stella Hopkins, and if you think the last name is a coincidence, it’s not. The director/co-screenwriter is the actor’s spouse, to whom he here demonstrates an admirable level of spousal support, if not much good judgment.
Hopkins (Anthony, that is) assumes only a supporting role in the film, which revolves around the title character, played emphatically, if not ...
Hopkins (Anthony, that is) assumes only a supporting role in the film, which revolves around the title character, played emphatically, if not ...
- 12/2/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Early on while watching Elyse, you may find yourself wondering why on earth Anthony Hopkins agreed to appear in such a wan, amateurish drama. The answer becomes apparent when one examines the credits — the film marks the directorial debut of Stella Hopkins, and if you think the last name is a coincidence, it’s not. The director/co-screenwriter is the actor’s spouse, to whom he here demonstrates an admirable level of spousal support, if not much good judgment.
Hopkins (Anthony, that is) assumes only a supporting role in the film, which revolves around the title character, played emphatically, if not ...
Hopkins (Anthony, that is) assumes only a supporting role in the film, which revolves around the title character, played emphatically, if not ...
- 12/2/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"The wayward heart is just a wild animal... beast that needs to be tamed." Gravitas Ventures has released an official trailer for the indie psychological thriller / drama of sorts called Elyse, the first feature made by Anthony Hopkins' Colombian wife named Stella Hopkins. She also co-wrote the screenplay. Memory and hallucination intertwine to expose a history of trauma, revealing Elyse is Catatonic and institutionalized in a State Hospital. Her recovery is reliant on the dissolution of her marriage, the restoration of the relationship with her mother, and the mutual absolution with the nanny's daughter, Carmen. It's the care from Dr. Lewis and the unconditional love from her nurse, David, that promise Elyse a new life. The film stars Anthony Hopkins, Lisa Pepper as Elyse, as well as Aaron Tucker, Tara Arroyave, Fran Tucker, Anthony Apel, Julieta Oritiz, and Danny Jacobs. I'm not sure why they need to blatantly reveal in the synopsis that she's catatonic,...
- 10/29/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
For her directorial debut, Stella Hopkins zeroed in on a pretty impressive star: her own husband, Oscar winner Sir Anthony Hopkins. That casting only seems fitting for something as close to her heart as “Elyse,” a drama that the Colombian filmmaker said was inspired by her own family life.
Per the film’s official synopsis: “The drama follows the titular character (Lisa Pepper) who, in a psychotic blackout, commits vehicular manslaughter of her son and his nanny. Memory and hallucination intertwine to expose a history of trauma, revealing the truth: Elyse is catatonic and institutionalized in a State Hospital. Her recovery is reliant on the dissolution of her marriage, the restoration of the relationship with her mother, and a mutual absolution with the nanny’s daughter, Carmen. It’s the care from Dr. Lewis (Anthony Hopkins) and the unconditional love from her nurse, David, that promise Elyse a new life.
Per the film’s official synopsis: “The drama follows the titular character (Lisa Pepper) who, in a psychotic blackout, commits vehicular manslaughter of her son and his nanny. Memory and hallucination intertwine to expose a history of trauma, revealing the truth: Elyse is catatonic and institutionalized in a State Hospital. Her recovery is reliant on the dissolution of her marriage, the restoration of the relationship with her mother, and a mutual absolution with the nanny’s daughter, Carmen. It’s the care from Dr. Lewis (Anthony Hopkins) and the unconditional love from her nurse, David, that promise Elyse a new life.
- 10/29/2020
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Gravitas Ventures has secured the North American rights to distribute Elyse, the directorial debut drama from Stella Hopkins starring her husband, Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins. Lisa Pepper, Aaron Tucker, Tara Arroyave, Fran Tucker, Anthony Apel, Julieta Oritiz, and Danny Jacobs also star in the film, which will get a theatrical and on-demand release on December 4.
Written by Stella, the drama follows the titular character (Pepper) who, in a psychotic blackout, commits vehicular manslaughter of her son and his nanny. Memory and hallucination intertwine to expose a history of trauma, revealing the truth: Elyse is Catatonic and institutionalized in a State Hospital. Her recovery is reliant on the dissolution of her marriage, the restoration of the relationship with her mother, and the mutual absolution with the nanny’s daughter, Carmen. It’s the care from Dr. Lewis (Anthony Hopkins) and the unconditional love from her nurse, David, that promise Elyse a new life.
Written by Stella, the drama follows the titular character (Pepper) who, in a psychotic blackout, commits vehicular manslaughter of her son and his nanny. Memory and hallucination intertwine to expose a history of trauma, revealing the truth: Elyse is Catatonic and institutionalized in a State Hospital. Her recovery is reliant on the dissolution of her marriage, the restoration of the relationship with her mother, and the mutual absolution with the nanny’s daughter, Carmen. It’s the care from Dr. Lewis (Anthony Hopkins) and the unconditional love from her nurse, David, that promise Elyse a new life.
- 10/14/2020
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Sir Anthony Hopkins has put in an offer to buy his childhood house. The 'Hitchcock' actor surprised the owners of the house, Chris Trainor and his wife Carly Culver, in Port Talbot, South Wales, when he turned up with his wife Stella Arroyave, on their way back to London from Pembrokeshire after the famous couple renewed their wedding vows at St David's Cathedral. After Anthony, 74, and Stella, 57, toured the property in Wern Road and the Hollywood star reminisced in the room where he was born, Stella asked Chris and Carly if they would consider selling the £180,000 semi-detached home. Chris told WalesOnline.co.uk: 'I looked out of the window and caught sight of a chauffeur who I know personally.
- 1/7/2013
- Monsters and Critics
Sir Anthony Hopkins has put in an offer to buy his childhood house. The 'Hitchcock' actor surprised the owners of the house, Chris Trainor and his wife Carly Culver, in Port Talbot, South Wales, when he turned up with his wife Stella Arroyave, on their way back to London from Pembrokeshire after the famous couple renewed their wedding vows at St David's Cathedral. After Anthony, 74, and Stella, 57, toured the property in Wern Road and the Hollywood star reminisced in the room where he was born, Stella asked Chris and Carly if they would consider selling the £180,000 semi-detached home. Chris told...
- 1/7/2013
- Virgin Media - Celebrity
Amy Adams attends The Muppets Los Angeles Premiere. Photo copyright Jonathan Shensa / PR Photos. Rashida Jones attends The Muppets Los Angeles Premiere. Photo copyright Jonathan Shensa / PR Photos. Anthony Hopkins and Stella Arroyave attend The Muppets Los Angeles Premiere. Photo copyright Jonathan Shensa / PR Photos. Cristian de la Fuente attends The Muppets Los Angeles Premiere. Photo copyright Jonathan Shensa / PR Photos. Jennifer Morrison attends The Muppets Los Angeles Premiere. Photo copyright Jonathan Shensa / PR Photos. 11/12/2011 - Teri Polo - "The Muppets" Los Angeles Premiere - Arrivals - El Capitan Theatre - Hollywood, CA, USA © Jonathan Shensa / PR Photos 11/12/2011 - Katie Leclerc - "The Muppets" Los Angeles Premiere - Arrivals - El...
- 11/14/2011
- by M&C
- Monsters and Critics
Sir Anthony Hopkins has credited his wife with turning his life around as she pulled him out of a dark depression when they met 10 years ago.
The Silence of the Lambs actor, 73, married 54-year-old Colombian born antiques dealer Stella Arroyave in 2003.
Hopkins has now revealed he was in a terrible state when he was first introduced to Arroyave, but her positive attitude helped him beat his demons.
He tells Britain's Seven magazine, "She met me 10 years ago when I was shut down. Shut down for some years. I didn't feel shut down at the time. I felt I was quite happy. But I was dealing with slight depression. Not trusting anyone. Certainly not trusting women.
"Everyday she wakes up happy. She's very positive about everything. I learned from her just to take life as it comes. So I live my life in non-expectation."...
The Silence of the Lambs actor, 73, married 54-year-old Colombian born antiques dealer Stella Arroyave in 2003.
Hopkins has now revealed he was in a terrible state when he was first introduced to Arroyave, but her positive attitude helped him beat his demons.
He tells Britain's Seven magazine, "She met me 10 years ago when I was shut down. Shut down for some years. I didn't feel shut down at the time. I felt I was quite happy. But I was dealing with slight depression. Not trusting anyone. Certainly not trusting women.
"Everyday she wakes up happy. She's very positive about everything. I learned from her just to take life as it comes. So I live my life in non-expectation."...
- 1/31/2011
- WENN
Anthony Hopkins gave all his clothes away to charity because they no longer fitted him. The "Silence of the Lambs" actor recently lost 80lbs after putting himself on a strict diet but says his body shape changed so much all of the items in his wardrobe were too big for him.
"I can't get back into my wardrobe. I gave it all away to some mission," he said. "I tried tailoring the pants but they look ridiculous."
The Oscar-winning star credits his wife Stella Arroyave for helping maintain his weight loss, which he achieved by eating just 800 calories a day and going to the gym six times a week. He told the NY Post newspaper, "My wife's no dictator, but she said I must stick to a regimen."
"So I'm in the gym six days a week, I power walk, live on 800 calories a day. No pasta. No seconds. A sandwich occasionally.
"I can't get back into my wardrobe. I gave it all away to some mission," he said. "I tried tailoring the pants but they look ridiculous."
The Oscar-winning star credits his wife Stella Arroyave for helping maintain his weight loss, which he achieved by eating just 800 calories a day and going to the gym six times a week. He told the NY Post newspaper, "My wife's no dictator, but she said I must stick to a regimen."
"So I'm in the gym six days a week, I power walk, live on 800 calories a day. No pasta. No seconds. A sandwich occasionally.
- 9/22/2010
- by celebrity-mania.com
- Celebrity Mania
Ageing Hollywood icon Anthony Hopkins is boasting a new slimmer figure after becoming a "health nut" and dropping a staggering 75 pounds (34 kilograms).
The Silence of the Lambs star enlisted the help of his third wife, Colombian-born Stella Arroyave, in 2008 to help him adopt a healthier lifestyle.
The actor admits he became hooked on fatty foods before embarking on an extreme diet, which is believed to be meat-free.
He says, "I was addicted to bread, cookies, whatnot. I love all the bad stuff."
Hopkins now enjoys a simple life revolving around healthy eating and plenty of exercise - although he admits his initial weightloss was so drastic, it surprised even himself.
Images of a frail-looking Hopkins in 2008 and 2009 sparked fears for his health, but he insists he's currently in the best shape of his life.
The star, 73, tells New York Post columnist Cindy Adams, "My wife's no dictator, but she said I must stick to a regimen. So I'm in the gym six days a week, I power walk, live on 800 calories a day. No pasta. No seconds. A sandwich occasionally. Now I'm a health nut.
"I lost too much, 75 pounds in two years. But I gained a little back in Europe (while shooting Woody Allen's You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger earlier this year)."
His strict new diet means he's no longer able to fit into most of his clothes, so he's donated his larger items to charity.
He says, "I can't get back into my wardrobe. I gave it all away to some mission. I tried tailoring the pants but they look ridiculous."...
The Silence of the Lambs star enlisted the help of his third wife, Colombian-born Stella Arroyave, in 2008 to help him adopt a healthier lifestyle.
The actor admits he became hooked on fatty foods before embarking on an extreme diet, which is believed to be meat-free.
He says, "I was addicted to bread, cookies, whatnot. I love all the bad stuff."
Hopkins now enjoys a simple life revolving around healthy eating and plenty of exercise - although he admits his initial weightloss was so drastic, it surprised even himself.
Images of a frail-looking Hopkins in 2008 and 2009 sparked fears for his health, but he insists he's currently in the best shape of his life.
The star, 73, tells New York Post columnist Cindy Adams, "My wife's no dictator, but she said I must stick to a regimen. So I'm in the gym six days a week, I power walk, live on 800 calories a day. No pasta. No seconds. A sandwich occasionally. Now I'm a health nut.
"I lost too much, 75 pounds in two years. But I gained a little back in Europe (while shooting Woody Allen's You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger earlier this year)."
His strict new diet means he's no longer able to fit into most of his clothes, so he's donated his larger items to charity.
He says, "I can't get back into my wardrobe. I gave it all away to some mission. I tried tailoring the pants but they look ridiculous."...
- 9/22/2010
- WENN
London - Better known for his creativity on the screen, Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins has extended his artistic talent to the canvas, unveiling 50 acrylic and ink paintings in London this week.Jonathan Poole, exhibition organizer, said the Oscar-winning actor was encouraged to pursue his talent by his third wife, Stella Arroyave, and paints every day in a studio at his Malibu home."His wife Stella saw some of his drawings on his scripts and then pointed out to him that these are rather good and why don't you take it up, obviously not professionally but properly and he did. And therefore he is in full force now, painting away," Poole told Reuters Television.A limited edition print of a painting inspired by his wife is on display and can be bought for 1,150 pounds ($1,802) with the actual canvas hanging in Hopkins' home.Bold and colorful in style, many of the pieces...
- 2/18/2010
- backstage.com
On Tuesday, February 9, ArcLight Cinemas in California was packed with the cast and crew of "The Wolfman". The film, which is scheduled to open wide in U.S. theaters on February 12, rolled out red carpet in front of the building where the movie held its Los Angeles premiere.
Starring in the film, Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt and Anthony Hopkins also joined forces to promote the movie as they were all pictured attending the event. That night, Blunt came to the special screening with the companion of her actor fiance John Krasinski, while Hopkins was joined by his wife Stella Arroyave.
Their co-stars, Hugo Weaving and Rick Baker, were also photographed among the attendees. Moreover, producers Rick Yorn, Scott Stuber and Sean Daniel as well as director Joe Johnston also did not miss the event. Meanwhile, among the celebrity guests that night were rapper Common, dancer Derek Hough, and actress Kristen Ruhlin.
Starring in the film, Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt and Anthony Hopkins also joined forces to promote the movie as they were all pictured attending the event. That night, Blunt came to the special screening with the companion of her actor fiance John Krasinski, while Hopkins was joined by his wife Stella Arroyave.
Their co-stars, Hugo Weaving and Rick Baker, were also photographed among the attendees. Moreover, producers Rick Yorn, Scott Stuber and Sean Daniel as well as director Joe Johnston also did not miss the event. Meanwhile, among the celebrity guests that night were rapper Common, dancer Derek Hough, and actress Kristen Ruhlin.
- 2/10/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
This review was written for the festival screening of "Slipstream".PARK CITY -- Introducing "Slipstream" at its first screening at Sundance, writer, director, star and composer Anthony Hopkins said of his film, "I did it as a creative joke". That's not a bad description of this playful melange of surreal imagery, Hollywood in-jokes, random archival footage and a space and time jumble.
Hopkins, the Academy Award-winning actor who has directed two feature-length pieces before, doesn't have the experience or, in all probability, the desire to create a truly masterful work of surrealism. He just wants to have fun. It's a bloody joke, mate, so don't get your snobbish knickers in a twist, you can almost hear him say.
Taken that way, "Slipstream" is amusing cinematic buffoonery by a man poking fun at movie conventions and the movie business itself. If you look deeper, you'll find only shallow. The audiences for this are those who will turn out to watch Anthony Hopkins pretending to be an experimental filmmaker. Which is not a large audience for a movie that reportedly cost nearly $10 million. What did he spend it on?
Perhaps on people, as the talent behind and in front of the camera is impressive. Press notes brag that cast and crew have accumulated over 70 major awards and over 200 nominations altogether. But you assume these people turned out because Tony flattered them with a personal plea, not for the payday.
At that, they did have hard work, as much of the film takes place in California's Mojave Desert during killer heat on a decaying film set built 25 years ago for a Dennis Hopper movie.
The movie takes place in the mind of a screenwriter (Hopkins) of a murder mystery that has apparently fallen apart during production. The director (Gavin Grazer) and star (Christian Slater) have lost their marbles, so he is rushed to the set for rewrites. Only the characters in his script begin to appear in his life ... or perhaps he is appearing in his own script.
This does produce a few funny bits, such as when Michael Clark Duncan appears before him with a bullet hole in his head to demand to know why his character was killed off earlier than he was scheduled to die according to the shooting script. Or when the film's producer (John Turturro) somehow appears in the hard drive of the writer's computer and through the monitor watches his writer snooze.
As Hopkins flutters back and forth in time and space, it's as if he is searching among the various alternative unrealities to see which he likes best. For the most part, the movie follows a dream-like logic where people, objects and events connect in a haphazard pattern. Scenes repeat themselves. A car changes colors in mid-scene. Veteran actor Kevin McCarthy turns up when someone mentions his most famous film, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". Then there are nonsensical intrusions -- random shots of Hitler, Nixon and FDR.
The ending is a letdown only if you've taken any of the film seriously. Indeed most viewers will beat Hopkins to the punch by anticipating the film's rather prosaic "explanation."
Technical credits are outstanding as cinematographer Dante Spinoti, editor Michael R. Miller and costume designer Julie Weiss seem to enjoy following Sir Anthony's lead into this wonderland of nonsense.
SLIPSTREAM
Samson Films
Credits:
Screenwriter-director-music: Anthony Hopkins
Producers: Stella Arroyave, Robert Katz
Director of photography: Dante Spinotti
Production designer: Ismael Cardenas
Costume designer: Julie Weiss
Editor: Michael R. Miller
Cast:
Felix Bonhoffer: Anthony Hopkins
Harvey Brickman: John Turturro
Ray/Matt Dobbs: Christian Slater
Gina: Stella Arroyave
Barbara: Camryn Manheim
Tracy/ nurse: Lisa Pepper
Gavin/ambulance driver: Gavin Grazer
Big Mickey: Michael Lerner
Betty: Fionnula Flanagan
Running time -- 110 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Hopkins, the Academy Award-winning actor who has directed two feature-length pieces before, doesn't have the experience or, in all probability, the desire to create a truly masterful work of surrealism. He just wants to have fun. It's a bloody joke, mate, so don't get your snobbish knickers in a twist, you can almost hear him say.
Taken that way, "Slipstream" is amusing cinematic buffoonery by a man poking fun at movie conventions and the movie business itself. If you look deeper, you'll find only shallow. The audiences for this are those who will turn out to watch Anthony Hopkins pretending to be an experimental filmmaker. Which is not a large audience for a movie that reportedly cost nearly $10 million. What did he spend it on?
Perhaps on people, as the talent behind and in front of the camera is impressive. Press notes brag that cast and crew have accumulated over 70 major awards and over 200 nominations altogether. But you assume these people turned out because Tony flattered them with a personal plea, not for the payday.
At that, they did have hard work, as much of the film takes place in California's Mojave Desert during killer heat on a decaying film set built 25 years ago for a Dennis Hopper movie.
The movie takes place in the mind of a screenwriter (Hopkins) of a murder mystery that has apparently fallen apart during production. The director (Gavin Grazer) and star (Christian Slater) have lost their marbles, so he is rushed to the set for rewrites. Only the characters in his script begin to appear in his life ... or perhaps he is appearing in his own script.
This does produce a few funny bits, such as when Michael Clark Duncan appears before him with a bullet hole in his head to demand to know why his character was killed off earlier than he was scheduled to die according to the shooting script. Or when the film's producer (John Turturro) somehow appears in the hard drive of the writer's computer and through the monitor watches his writer snooze.
As Hopkins flutters back and forth in time and space, it's as if he is searching among the various alternative unrealities to see which he likes best. For the most part, the movie follows a dream-like logic where people, objects and events connect in a haphazard pattern. Scenes repeat themselves. A car changes colors in mid-scene. Veteran actor Kevin McCarthy turns up when someone mentions his most famous film, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". Then there are nonsensical intrusions -- random shots of Hitler, Nixon and FDR.
The ending is a letdown only if you've taken any of the film seriously. Indeed most viewers will beat Hopkins to the punch by anticipating the film's rather prosaic "explanation."
Technical credits are outstanding as cinematographer Dante Spinoti, editor Michael R. Miller and costume designer Julie Weiss seem to enjoy following Sir Anthony's lead into this wonderland of nonsense.
SLIPSTREAM
Samson Films
Credits:
Screenwriter-director-music: Anthony Hopkins
Producers: Stella Arroyave, Robert Katz
Director of photography: Dante Spinotti
Production designer: Ismael Cardenas
Costume designer: Julie Weiss
Editor: Michael R. Miller
Cast:
Felix Bonhoffer: Anthony Hopkins
Harvey Brickman: John Turturro
Ray/Matt Dobbs: Christian Slater
Gina: Stella Arroyave
Barbara: Camryn Manheim
Tracy/ nurse: Lisa Pepper
Gavin/ambulance driver: Gavin Grazer
Big Mickey: Michael Lerner
Betty: Fionnula Flanagan
Running time -- 110 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 1/21/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
PARK CITY -- Introducing Slipstream at its first screening at Sundance, writer, director, star and composer Anthony Hopkins said of his film, I did it as a creative joke. That's not a bad description of this playful melange of surreal imagery, Hollywood in-jokes, random archival footage and a space and time jumble.
Hopkins, the Academy Award-winning actor who has directed two feature-length pieces before, doesn't have the experience or, in all probability, the desire to create a truly masterful work of surrealism. He just wants to have fun. It's a bloody joke, mate, so don't get your snobbish knickers in a twist, you can almost hear him say.
Taken that way, Slipstream is amusing cinematic buffoonery by a man poking fun at movie conventions and the movie business itself. If you look deeper, you'll find only shallow. The audiences for this are those who will turn out to watch Anthony Hopkins pretending to be an experimental filmmaker. Which is not a large audience for a movie that reportedly cost nearly $10 million. What did he spend it on?
Perhaps on people, as the talent behind and in front of the camera is impressive. Press notes brag that cast and crew have accumulated over 70 major awards and over 200 nominations altogether. But you assume these people turned out because Tony flattered them with a personal plea, not for the payday.
At that, they did have hard work, as much of the film takes place in California's Mojave Desert during killer heat on a decaying film set built 25 years ago for a Dennis Hopper movie.
The movie takes place in the mind of a screenwriter (Hopkins) of a murder mystery that has apparently fallen apart during production. The director (Gavin Grazer) and star (Christian Slater) have lost their marbles, so he is rushed to the set for rewrites. Only the characters in his script begin to appear in his life ... or perhaps he is appearing in his own script.
This does produce a few funny bits, such as when Michael Clark Duncan appears before him with a bullet hole in his head to demand to know why his character was killed off earlier than he was scheduled to die according to the shooting script. Or when the film's producer (John Turturro) somehow appears in the hard drive of the writer's computer and through the monitor watches his writer snooze.
As Hopkins flutters back and forth in time and space, it's as if he is searching among the various alternative unrealities to see which he likes best. For the most part, the movie follows a dream-like logic where people, objects and events connect in a haphazard pattern. Scenes repeat themselves. A car changes colors in mid-scene. Veteran actor Kevin McCarthy turns up when someone mentions his most famous film, Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Then there are nonsensical intrusions -- random shots of Hitler, Nixon and FDR.
The ending is a letdown only if you've taken any of the film seriously. Indeed most viewers will beat Hopkins to the punch by anticipating the film's rather prosaic "explanation."
Technical credits are outstanding as cinematographer Dante Spinoti, editor Michael R. Miller and costume designer Julie Weiss seem to enjoy following Sir Anthony's lead into this wonderland of nonsense.
Slipstream
Samson Films
Credits: Writer/director/music: Anthony Hopkins; Producer: Stella Arroyave,
Robert Katz; Director of photography: Dante Spinotti; Production designer:
Ismael Cardenas; Costume designer: Julie Weiss; Editor: Michael R. Miller.
Cast: Felix Bonhoffer: Anthony Hopkins; Harvey Brickman: John Turturro;
Ray/Matt Dobbs: Christian Slater; Gina: Stella Arroyave; Barbara: Camryn
Manhelm; Tracy/ nurse: Lisa Pepper; Gavin/ambulance driver: Gavin Grazer;
Big Mickey: Michael Lerner; Betty: Lionnula Flanagan.
No MPAA rating, running time 110 minutes.
Hopkins, the Academy Award-winning actor who has directed two feature-length pieces before, doesn't have the experience or, in all probability, the desire to create a truly masterful work of surrealism. He just wants to have fun. It's a bloody joke, mate, so don't get your snobbish knickers in a twist, you can almost hear him say.
Taken that way, Slipstream is amusing cinematic buffoonery by a man poking fun at movie conventions and the movie business itself. If you look deeper, you'll find only shallow. The audiences for this are those who will turn out to watch Anthony Hopkins pretending to be an experimental filmmaker. Which is not a large audience for a movie that reportedly cost nearly $10 million. What did he spend it on?
Perhaps on people, as the talent behind and in front of the camera is impressive. Press notes brag that cast and crew have accumulated over 70 major awards and over 200 nominations altogether. But you assume these people turned out because Tony flattered them with a personal plea, not for the payday.
At that, they did have hard work, as much of the film takes place in California's Mojave Desert during killer heat on a decaying film set built 25 years ago for a Dennis Hopper movie.
The movie takes place in the mind of a screenwriter (Hopkins) of a murder mystery that has apparently fallen apart during production. The director (Gavin Grazer) and star (Christian Slater) have lost their marbles, so he is rushed to the set for rewrites. Only the characters in his script begin to appear in his life ... or perhaps he is appearing in his own script.
This does produce a few funny bits, such as when Michael Clark Duncan appears before him with a bullet hole in his head to demand to know why his character was killed off earlier than he was scheduled to die according to the shooting script. Or when the film's producer (John Turturro) somehow appears in the hard drive of the writer's computer and through the monitor watches his writer snooze.
As Hopkins flutters back and forth in time and space, it's as if he is searching among the various alternative unrealities to see which he likes best. For the most part, the movie follows a dream-like logic where people, objects and events connect in a haphazard pattern. Scenes repeat themselves. A car changes colors in mid-scene. Veteran actor Kevin McCarthy turns up when someone mentions his most famous film, Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Then there are nonsensical intrusions -- random shots of Hitler, Nixon and FDR.
The ending is a letdown only if you've taken any of the film seriously. Indeed most viewers will beat Hopkins to the punch by anticipating the film's rather prosaic "explanation."
Technical credits are outstanding as cinematographer Dante Spinoti, editor Michael R. Miller and costume designer Julie Weiss seem to enjoy following Sir Anthony's lead into this wonderland of nonsense.
Slipstream
Samson Films
Credits: Writer/director/music: Anthony Hopkins; Producer: Stella Arroyave,
Robert Katz; Director of photography: Dante Spinotti; Production designer:
Ismael Cardenas; Costume designer: Julie Weiss; Editor: Michael R. Miller.
Cast: Felix Bonhoffer: Anthony Hopkins; Harvey Brickman: John Turturro;
Ray/Matt Dobbs: Christian Slater; Gina: Stella Arroyave; Barbara: Camryn
Manhelm; Tracy/ nurse: Lisa Pepper; Gavin/ambulance driver: Gavin Grazer;
Big Mickey: Michael Lerner; Betty: Lionnula Flanagan.
No MPAA rating, running time 110 minutes.
- 1/21/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
John Turturro, Camryn Manheim, Jeffrey Tambor, S. Epatha Merkerson, Fionnula Flanagan, Christopher Lawford and Michael Clarke Duncan have joined the ensemble cast of the Anthony Hopkins-helmed indie Slipstream. Hopkins, Christian Slater, Stella Arroyave, Lisa Pepper, Kevin McCarthy, Gavin Grazer, Aaron Tucker and Lana Antonova already have joined the cast. Penned by Hopkins, Slipstream is a noir comedy about an actor and would-be screenwriter who, at the very moment of his meeting with fate, comes to discover that life is random and fortune is sightless as he is thrown into a vortex where time, dreams and reality collide in an increasingly whirling slipstream. The story is described as a complex, surreal and dreamlike tale of one man's journey.
- 6/14/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sir Anthony Hopkins' ex-wife is bemused at the actor's desire to be an American citizen - because he's always been championed by awards bosses and the media in his native Britain. Jenni Lynton - who was married to the Oscar-winning star for 29 years - believes the Silence Of The Lambs star was keen to distance himself from Britain in an attempt to gain credibility as an American citizen. Lynton says, "He was given every honor going and very rarely had anything critical or derogatory written about him as either a person or an actor. The only reason I can come up with is that he wanted some excuse to validate his desire to live a new life as a US citizen. But who knows, maybe those things will change one day." Hopkins is now married to antiques dealer Stella Arroyave, whom he wed in March 2003.
- 4/13/2004
- WENN
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