As the London Film Festival continues, directors, movie moguls and stars continue to descend on the capital to showcase their latest movies.
But as veteran actor Michael Caine reveals, his new film almost didn't make it out of the cutting room. The Quiet American was nearly shelved, he says, in the wake of the September 11 attacks because it was considered unpatriotic. Based on a Graham Greene novel and directed by Australian Phillip Noyce, the film follows US involvement in Vietnam. Michael had to plead with powerful producer Harvey Weinstein to give the film the all clear.
"I rang him and said I think this could be an Oscar-nominated film," he said as the film finally screened in London. "By the time the Oscars are on I'll be 70. Now how many more chances am I going to have to get nominated for an Oscar?"
The two-week festival also provided a rare opportunity to see reclusive Oscar-winner Daniel Day-Lewis as he stepped out with his wife, actress/director Rebecca Miller, for the premiere of her new film, Personal Velocity. With his head shaved, the star – who'll be coming to the big screen soon in Scorsese's long-awaited Gangs Of New York – was virtually unrecognisable.
Easier to spot was Martine McCutcheon who had paired up with actor/musician Max Beesley for the premiere of his comedy Anita And Me.
The movies keep rolling till November 21.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
