Matt's Blog

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 10 December 2013

I wasn’t a big fan of One Chance (review is here) but I can remember advice given to me by a cinema owner long ago – “no matter how much you don’t like a film, there is always going to be someone out there who does like it.”  The film has pulled in $1.2m in its first 2 weeks at the Australian box-office so it clearly has its supporters.  I therefore thought it was an opportune time to chat to director David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada) and get his perspective…

Matt:  Where did the idea come from of taking this 2007 reality show contestant and turning it into a movie?

David:  I fell in love with Paul Potts when I saw a clip from the show on Youtube.  I was deeply moved from watching a 2 minute clip.  It never occurred to me that it’d be a movie until about a year later when I got the screenplay that had been developed at Paramount Studios.  It turns out that the Youtube clip was just the very end of the story and that Paul’s journey up until that point was compelling and romantic and funny.  It deserved the big screen treatment.

Matt:  How does the copyright work on a story like this?  Who owns it?  Is it the company behind Britain’s Got Talent?  Do you have to get their permission to be able to make a movie like this?

David:  Yeah.  We had to get the rights from Paul Potts himself and also the rights from Freemantle Television who produce Britain’s Got Talent.  We also had to get the participation of Simon Cowell.  There were a lot of people involved but it all came together last year.

Matt:  Do you know Paul has thought of the film?  I realise you have to a little poetic licence and condense it into a 2 hour running time.  Is he happy with the representation?

David:  Yes, I think he’s very pleased with how the movie turned out.  Of course, it’s surreal to see your life on the big screen but one thing that he was most gratified about is the fact it’s a comedy and that there are so many good laughs in the movie.  His life that has been a roller coaster of challenges, illnesses, accidents and twists of fate… and to be able to look back and laugh is something that he’s thrilled to be able to convey through the movie.

Matt:  You’ve gone with James Corden in the leading role who certainly has similar physical characteristics to the real Paul Potts but I notice you’ve used the real Paul’s voice instead of James’s during the signing sequences.  What was behind that decision?

David:  Yeah.  James is a brilliant comedic actor and a talented dramatic actor and I couldn’t imagine more perfect casting to play Paul.  However, signing opera is a very special skill that takes years, if not decades, of training.  James gave it a shot.  Last summer he took some opera lessons and realised pretty quickly that while he had a beautiful singing voice, he couldn’t train to the point of being able to perform some of these demanding arias.

Matt:  So was that the hope when you started out?  You wanted to find an actor who could do the signing themselves during the movie?

David:  Actually, my goal was to do what we did – to have Paul do all the signing.  I thought that would be a treat for the audience – “You’ve seen the Youtube video where he sings 2 minutes of Nessun Dorma but guess what?  You get to hear a lot more during the movie.”  It was James who wanted to give it a shot to help round out his performance.  I think it took a lot of skill to make it look like he was performing opera and so I salute every effort that he made.

Matt:  With the finale, I notice that you’ve interwoven footage of James Corden on stage with the real reaction shots of the audience and the judges, including Simon Cowell.  Can you talk us through your creative decision to blend reality and fiction there together?

David:  I thought those reactions were so special.  The shock and amazement when they saw this pudgy man with bad teeth bring the house down by signing opera.  The reactions were so priceless from Simon and Amanda and Piers that I didn’t want to risk trying to duplicate them.  It was a technical challenge trying to include the original shots but I hope we pulled it off.

Matt:  The world premiere of your film was at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival back in September.  What was that like?  Given the largely North American audience, did a lot of people already know the story of Paul Potts?

David:  In contrast to screening it in the UK, where a lot of people are familiar with Paul, we found that most people weren’t familiar with him at Toronto.  When they saw James Corden, I had some say that they thought they were watching the real Paul Potts until they got home and clicked on Youtube.

That made the experience as satisfying as anything as we were able to bring the story new and fresh to audiences who don’t know anything about it and aren’t necessarily opera fans.  They can come to the movie and laugh a lot and also find themselves tearing up because they’re so moved.

Matt:  You’ve been pretty busy of late because Hope Springs came out last year and now you have One Chance this year.  What have you got in the works?  What productions are we going to see from you next?

David:  I’m hoping to do another movie with Harvey Weinstein.  He’s a great collaborator, a remarkable man and someone who is so important to the movie business worldwide.  He has a great eye for storytelling and for talent.  It’s been a great collaboration this past year and I’m hoping to repeat it.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 03 December 2013

here) and while I was impressed with his golfing prowess, little did I know that he would go on and become a world number 1 and a two time major champion.

At a cocktail function following the thrilling 2013 Emirates Australian Open climax last weekend, I had the chance to speak with Rory and yep, he remembered our game from 8 years ago!  I said something of the lines of "hey Rory, you probably won't remember but I played with you and Oliver Fisher when you first came out to Australia to 2005."  Rory was quick to respond - not only recalling the round but also remembering the name of the course. 

It was a very cool moment – one that I won’t ever forget. Rory is a great guy, a terrific golfer and I’ll continue to follow his career with great interest. I feel for Adam Scott (who just missed out on the victory) but it’s great to see Rory’s name added to the list of Australian Open champions.

It was the first time that I’d attended the full week at the Australian Open and I thought I’d share a few photos taken with my iPhone to show what an amazing experience it was at Royal Sydney. Those that haven’t attended before should give it some serious thought next year!

My hands on the Claret Jug – the trophy for The Open Championship!  It was on display as the top 3 players in the Australian Open (who hadn’t already qualified) would receive an invitation the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.

I’ve followed him on Twitter for years and I’m a big fan of his golf writing and commentary.  Was nice to finally meet Luke Elvy face-to-face.

Players are very accessible during the practice rounds and I was able to get a photo on the Wednesday with new World Cup champion Jason Day.

Chatting to journalists in the press room. :)

Players and officials were driven to and from the course in Volvos throughout the week and when I had a quick chat to a few of the drivers, they were able to share some nice stories.

Hard to believe this is the crowd before 9am on Thursday but with Adam Scott birding his first 6 holes, the word got out.  He finished the day with a course record 62.

A real fan moment for me.  Was great to see Scotty after his course record 62 on Thursday.

5-time British Open champion Peter Thompson was a special guest at the Australian Open and it was great to hear his thoughts on the game and the young players of today.

There were a few interesting outfits in the crowd but huge points go to these three guys who I bumped into during the second round on Friday.

It was Rory McIlroy’s chance to charge on Friday with a round of 65 to jump into second place.  He was a fan favourite with huge galleries looking to see him action.

The weather was pretty good for the week… well, except for a few hours on Friday afternoon.  It’s hard to get photos to demonstrate the strength of the wind and rain but I think this shot of amateur Brady Watt and his caddy says it all.

I was lucky enough to be invited to lunch by Golf Australia on Saturday and it was hard to fault the Royal Sydney experience when you saw our table and its view of the 1st tee.

The opening hole at Royal Sydney is a terrific drivable par 4 with the tee box up on a man-made balcony (there’s actually a café below).  Makes for some great views.  Here’s Rory McIlroy off the 1st on Saturday.

After a terrific day of golf on Saturday with roughly 16,000 spectators in attendance, Adam Scott left the 18th green with a 4 shot lead over Rory McIlroy.

An amazing effort this week from 15-year-old amateur Ryan Ruffles.  He was 7 over after 6 holes in the first round but fought back to make the cut and finish 3 under for the tournament!  Big crowds followed him over the last 2 days.

The final round produced an epic battle between Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy and the crowds were getting right behind both players.  Scotty struggled to make putts down the stretch but a birdie on the 9th saw him take 1 shot lead into the back nine.

Scotty held the lead all the way until the 18th but after hitting it through the back of the green and making bogey, Rory pounced with a great birdie and 1 shot victory.  It was Rory’s first victory of 2013 and it’s great to see him back in the winner’s circle.

Three amateurs made the cut but it was the super talented Brady Watt who took the low amateur medal with a total of 5 under par.  Another achievement in what has been an incredible 2 years for Brady.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 19 November 2013

My apologies for the lack of an update last week.  I've been extremely busy with work, the Brisbane International Film Festival and commitments with Golf Queensland.  I spent the weekend in Melbourne watching Adam Scott defend the Australian Masters title which was very exciting!

It’s that time of the year where I like to speculate as to which films will earn a best picture nomination at the Academy Awards.  The awards season kicks off on 4 December 2013 when the National Board of Review announces their winners.  What will follow are three intense months of campaigning in the lead up to the Oscars on 2 March 2014 (that’s a week later than usual so as to avoid a clash with the Winter Olympics).

Many of the films in contention have already been released or have popped up at film festivals.  Only a small few remain under wraps since they are yet to be completed (including American Hustle, The Wolf Of Wall Street).  It’s therefore relatively easy to pick which films will be the hunt.  Those with high critical approval and strong box-office success will always find a place on an Oscar forecaster’s list.

Two years ago, I correctly picked all 9 of the nominees with my early November picks.  Last year, I could only manage 7 of the 9 but did pick 3 of the 4 acting winners last year.  I'm not trying to brag (ok, maybe I am a little) but I'm just highlighting the general predictability of the Academy voters.

Having seen a few of the films and sized up the form guides offered by other Oscar bloggers, films already released that will contend this year include Gravity, Captain Phillips, The Butler, Fruitvale Station and Blue Jasmine.  Here’s a look at what we can expect to see over the next few months (with descriptions taken from the IMDB)…

American Hustle
Release Date In Australia: 12 December 2013
Director: David O. Russell  (Silver Linings Playbook, The Fighter)
Starring: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence
Plot Overview Per IMDB: A con man, Irving Rosenfeld, along with his seductive British partner Sydney Prosser is forced to work for a wild FBI agent Richie DiMaso. DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia.

Nebraska
Release Date In Australia: 26 December 2013
Director: Alexander Payne (Sideways, The Descendants)
Starring: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb
Plot Overview Per IMDB: An aging, booze-addled father makes the trip from Montana to Nebraska with his estranged son in order to claim a million dollar Mega Sweepstakes Marketing prize.

Philomena
Release Date In Australia: 26 December 2013
Director: Stephen Frears (The Queen, High Fidelity)
Starring: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Sophie Kennedy Clark
Plot Overview Per IMDB: A world-weary political journalist picks up the story of a woman's search for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent.

August: Osage County
Release Date In Australia: 1 January 2014
Director: John Wells (The Company Men)
Starring: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Juliette Lewis, Ewan McGregor
Plot Overview Per IMDB: A look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them.

Saving Mr Banks
Release Date In Australia: 9 January 2014
Director: John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side)
Starring: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Colin Farrell
Plot Overview Per IMDB: Author P. L. Travers reflects on her difficult childhood while meeting with filmmaker Walt Disney during production for the adaptation of her novel, Mary Poppins.

The Wolf Of Wall Street
Release Date In Australia: 23 January 2014
Director: Martin Scorsese  (The Departed, Hugo)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey, Jonah Hill
Plot Overview Per IMDB: Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.

12 Years A Slave
Release Date In Australia: 30 January 2014
Director: Steve McQueen  (Shame, Hunger)
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael K. Williams, Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt
Plot Overview Per IMDB: In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.

All Is Lost
Release Date In Australia: 20 February 2014
Director: JC Chandor (Margin Call)
Starring: Robert Redford
Plot Overview Per IMDB: After a collision with a shipping container at sea, a resourceful sailor finds himself, despite all efforts to the contrary, staring his mortality in the face.

Inside Llewlyn Davis
Release Date In Australia: 20 February 2014
Director: Ethan Coen & Joel Coen (Fargo, No Country For Old Men)
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, Justin Timberlake
Plot Overview Per IMDB: A week in the life of a young singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961.

Dallas Buyers Club
Release Date In Australia: TBA
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée (Café De Flor, C.R.A.Z.Y.)
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Steve Zahn
Plot Overview Per IMDB: The story of Texas electrician Ron Woodroof and his battle with the medical establishment and pharmaceutical companies after being diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1986.

So on that note, my tips (in order) for the best picture Oscar are: 1. Gravity, 2. 12 Years A Slave, 3. The Wolf Of Wall Street, 4. Captain Phillips, 5. Blue Jasmine, 6. Inside Llewyn Davis, 7. American Hustle, 8. Dallas Buyers Club, 9. Saving Mr Banks, 10. August: Osage County.

The best actor prize looks to be a three horse race between Robert Redford (All Is Lost), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave) and Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club).  A tough choice but I’ll lean towards Robert Redford to win his first actor Oscar.

Sandra Bullock has been touted as a contender for best actress but I’ll be putting my house on Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine) to win.  Can’t see her getting beaten.

The best supporting actor category has bloggers divided between Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) and Michael Fassbender (12 Years A Slave).  He’s been on a great run in recent years and my pick is Michael Fassbender.

Last but not least is best supporting actress and two African Americans have taken people’s fancy - Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years A Slave) and Oprah Winfrey (The Butler).  You can’t help but think the power of Oprah Winfrey will help her over the line in what is her first on screen performance in 15 years.

The nominations are announced on 16 January 2014 and as always, I’ll be hoping for a few surprises!
 

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 04 November 2013

I first attended the Brisbane International Film Festival in 1995 and another year is upon us.  It’s a shame that Richard Moore is no longer around as Festival Director – he was always great to speak with during the Festival and was very passionate about the program.  Richard’s contract wasn’t renewed and I’m yet to meet new Festival Director Jennie Hughes who was appointed earlier this year.

I’m often indifferent when it comes to retrospectives but there are two great ones as part of this year’s BIFF.  The first is a tribute to the films of James Ivory and Ismail Merchant.  Films screening include A Room With A View, Howard’s End and The Remains Of The Day.  I’m hoping to make it along to a few of those screenings.  The second is a homage to director Fred Schepisi.  I first met Fred at the Toronto Film Festival back in 2011 and of the films screenings at BIFF this year, I’d can strongly recommend Six Degrees Of Separation and Last Orders.

Two big films have been chosen to open and close this year’s festival.  Things get started with The Railway Man which was shot here in Queensland and stars Colin Firth.  It closes a week and a half later with 12 Years A Slave – the current frontrunner for the best picture Oscar.  Opening night can be a bit pricey for those who don’t drink ($65 inclusive of the after party) but closing night looks much more attractive with a $35 ticket price including its own after party.  Of all the films screening at BIFF, I think 12 Years A Slave is the one I’m most keen to see.  I should mention that tickets to most general sessions are $18.

The Festival doesn’t officially open until Wednesday, November 13 but there are “curtain raisers” in the lead up.  The Monday night (Nov 11) looks like a tricky choice with two intriguing films on offer – Filth (with James McAvoy) and The Past (the latest from the Oscar winning director of A Separation).

Other films high on my list include Don Jon – written by, directed by and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Only Lovers Left Alive – a vampire romance with Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston, Labor Day – the latest from Juno director Jason Reitman, All Is Lost – the follow up from the director of Margin Call, and Blue Is The Warmest Colour – the controversial 3-hour lesbian romance which won the top prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.  As huge fan of director Xavier Dolan’s last film, Laurence Anyways, I’m also keen to catch Tom At The Farm.

I’ll be away for a few days during the middle of the Festival but you’ll be able to hear my thoughts on the films through Twitter (@icestorm77) and through my weekly radio spot with Spencer Howson on Thursday mornings on 612ABC.  The latest radio ratings were released today and I’m thrilled to see Spencer’s program ranked number 1 in Brisbane by a significant margin.  He is damn good at what he does.

Hopefully I’ll see at the Festival!  This year’s venues include the Palace Centro, Palace Barracks, GOMA, Dendy Portside and the Event Myer Centre.  You can see the whole program at www.biff.com.au.