Now this is an exciting pairing. You might remember that I’m pretty crazy about “Il Divo,” Paolo Sorrentino’s blazing political biopic-thriller that took a well-deserved Jury Prize at last year’s Cannes fest. (Seriously, check it out when you have a chance.)
Between that triumph and his intricate, super-stylish 2001 noir “The Consequences of Love,” Sorrentino has shown a kinetic narrative sense and visual dynamism that seemed a virtual siren-call to Hollywood, so it’s no surprise to hear that he’ll be making his English-language debut with his next feature.
Variety reports that Sean Penn — who, coincidentally or not, headed the jury that was so impressed by “Il Divo” last year — is set to star in “This Must Be the Place,” which will see Sorrentino teaming up with his regular producers once more. The thriller-ish pitch runs as follows:
Penn would play a wealthy rock star who becomes bored in his retirement and takes on the quest of finding his father’s executioner, an ex-Nazi war criminal who is a refugee in the U.S.
Penn strikes me as a good trans-Atlantic match for Sorrentino, both men having a muscular, showy approach to their respective crafts. I’m not sure what to make of the premise on paper; it seems to allow for quite a pulpy, heightened treatment, but there’s so little to go on. For now, the names alone have me hooked.
Comments
2 responses to “Sean Penn to headline new Sorrentino pic”
I don’t know if that makes me happy or not. As much as I want Sorrentino to be successful and more widely acclaimed, I think that many European (and Asian) directors don’t do themselves a favour by taking on English language projects.
Meanwhile -the comfort-zone generally and
creatively and morally bankrupt Hollywood particularly continue to conceal their ongoing
‘relationship’ with the heirs of the most
awesome genocidal regime in world history
—just across the Pacific!
70,000,000 murders -in peacetime -all in
the name of ‘people’s social justice–‘.
Don’t pretend you don’t know where!
70,000,000 and still climbing
-especially in its neighboring client states
of North Korea and Tibet.
Keep suckin’ on those credit line
-and those mass market dreams!
-And continue to suck-up those
enabling WWII moral alibis.
—-mmmm