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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
James Franco-Starrer ‘Hey Joe' Acquired for U.S. Release by Glass House Distribution
'Hey Joe,' an Italian drama in which James Franco plays a U.S. Navy sailor stationed in post-World War II Naples, has been picked up by Glass House Distribution which is planning a North American release via both theatrical and digital platforms. The gritty film, directed by Claudio Giovannesi ('Gomorrah' TV series, 'Piranhas'), was sold to Glass House by Italy's Vision Distribution during the Marché du Film in Cannes. More from Variety 'I Only Rest in the Storm' Review: A Sprawling Narrative That Demands Patience and Attention 'Girl on Edge' Review: A Mother and Daughter Hit Thin Ice in Zhou Jinghao's Alluring but Unsatisfactory Skating Drama 'Mama' Review: A Housemaid Abroad Gets an Unpleasant Homecoming in an Intriguing Character Study That Veers Into Melodrama Franco, who has been struggling to fully reenter Hollywood after facing sexual misconduct allegations that he discussed with Variety when 'Hey Joe' premiered in Italy, recently attended the amfAR Cannes gala and donated a painting to the auction. In 'Hey Joe,' Franco plays Dean Barry, an American sailor who in 1944, at age 23, disembarks in war-torn Naples. He falls in love with a young, very poor, local woman named Lucia. A couple of years later, Dean is forced to leave Lucia, alone and pregnant, to go back to New Jersey. He eventually returns to Naples to find the woman and her son, Enzo — but the city has changed a lot and Dean must navigate these challenges leading up to a surprise finale. Franco speaks both English and Italian in the film. 'We were captivated by 'Hey Joe' from the first screening,' said Tom Malloy, president of Glass House Distribution in a statement. 'It's a rare blend of American and Italian storytelling, grounded by an emotionally resonant performance from James Franco. We believe this film will resonate strongly with audiences and critics alike during awards season,' he added. The statement noted that Glass House plans to release 'Hey Joe' in late 2025 'during the heart of awards season' targeting both theatrical and digital platforms. 'Hey Joe' is produced by Italy's Palomar in tandem with RAI Cinema and Vision Distribution which released the film in Italy to meager box office results following its Rome Film Festival launch last year. Screen International was first to report this news Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz
The Guardian
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘People raised hell': why shouldn't Scarlett Johansson and James Franco play queer characters?
Justin Kelly and I first met in 2008 when I was sent to Los Angeles to interview Gus Van Sant. I breezed into the screening room where Van Sant was viewing a rough cut of his film Milk, and promptly tripped over the film-maker's Australian shepherd Milo, who was snoozing in the dark. Kelly was minding the dog that morning, so in some small but unshakable way I will always blame him for my spectacular stumble. Kelly was the editorial assistant on Milk, which starred Sean Penn as the assassinated San Francisco politician Harvey Milk, and James Franco as his lover. Kelly then went on to direct Franco on two occasions as gay characters based on real people: activist Michael Glatze, who renounces his former life after finding religion in I Am Michael; and the escort, porn producer and convicted murderer Joe Kerekes in King Cobra. Consequently, Kelly has had a ringside seat for the whole 'queerbait' argument over whether straight or apparently straight actors should play LGBTQ+ roles. 'I never saw James's performances as him 'pretending' to be gay,' he tells me from among the jaunty cushions in his mother's guest bedroom in Prescott, Arizona, where he has stopped off during a road trip. 'I just saw him as being interested in playing all kinds of characters. He knew he could help these cool queer movies get made and give someone like me a chance to direct. When we were doing press, journalists would throw him some shade, and I'd be like, 'He's bringing these incredible queer stories to the screen, so what's the problem?'' The term 'queerbaiting' wasn't in circulation when I Am Michael opened in 2015. 'Once it started floating around, I became very irritated by it,' Kelly says. 'I think it's fucking bullshit. Since before Stonewall, gay people have been asking the straight world to accept us and not treat us differently. And now we finally have these huge names – actors, musicians – telling the world that not only should you not be homophobic but that maybe it's fucking cool to be gay … and people are mad? I'm like, 'What is wrong with you?'' He is laughing and spluttering. 'That's what we've been asking for all this time!' Such complaints may be guided partly by the misapprehension that work is being snatched away from LGBTQ+ talent. 'Dare I veer into a controversial example?' asks Kelly. 'Scarlett Johansson was going to play a trans character, then people raised hell, so she dropped out.' He is referring to the still unmade Rub & Tug, for which Johansson was cast as the real-life trans male gangster Dante 'Tex' Gill, before she stepped down from the film in 2018. 'It would have been a great story to get out there. Who knows how many people it would have inspired? But it fell apart. And now that movie is gone. I think queer people should feel bummed about that. I mean, imagine ScarJo at the Oscars for playing a trans man: that would've been major. The important thing to remember is – guess what? – famous actors get indie queer films financed. And we need visibility.' After twice working with Franco, who spent more than a decade teasing the world that he might be gay, Kelly directed Kristen Stewart in JT LeRoy, about a notorious real-life literary hoax. Until Stewart came along – and came out – no other modern performer of comparable calibre and status had expressed queer sexuality so emphatically through their choices of roles. In JT LeRoy, she stars as Savannah Knoop, a non-binary artist who agreed to pose as the (male) author of a brace of queer novels that were in fact the work of Knoop's older sister-in-law. Stewart has also been revelatory as a diffident night-school teacher pined over by a timid student in Kelly Reichardt's Certain Women, and as a queer, steroid-pushing gym boss in Rose Glass's lurid B-movie-style romp Love Lies Bleeding. Much of the frisson in her two films with Olivier Assayas – Clouds of Sils Maria and Personal Shopper – derives from the effect of her being not quite tangible, or just out of reach. In both, Stewart is a peripheral or ephemeral figure: a curious position for one of the world's most photographed faces. Personal Shopper, JT LeRoy and Spencer, in which she plays Princess Diana, all provide Stewart with fastidious scenes of dressing and undressing that hint at the divestiture or cultivation of layers, defences and secrets. The sense is that the actor is exposing some unseen inner dimension, expressing her own queerness through a series of masks. Attaching Stewart to JT LeRoy was nothing short of a coup. She came out publicly on Saturday Night Live in 2017, being greeted with cheers after describing herself as 'like, so gay'. Kelly had met her a few years earlier to discuss the script, which he and Knoop adapted from Knoop's book Girl Boy Girl: How I Became JT LeRoy. 'Kristen made it clear that she'd brought her girlfriend with her,' he says, 'and I remember thinking, 'Ooh, I know she's gay and no one else does!'' It took several years to secure financing. So why did Stewart hang on? 'She was very connected to the material. I brought it up one time when we were shooting in Winnipeg. We would go to this small-town gay bar where everyone would stare and send over drinks. I told Kristen, 'Part of me was wondering if you were gonna get 5,000 other great offers and bail.' And she said, 'I would have done this movie at any point. I was afraid it might never happen because it's such a cool story that it could have been too cool for people to put money into, or to understand.'' The timing couldn't have been better. 'Since she wasn't officially out when she signed up, she jumped at the opportunity to play Sav, who was not just a lesbian but a queer woman who now identifies as non-binary – but at that time did not. There are already non-binary aspects to the character in the movie, though, in all the going back-and-forth between being a boy and a girl.' Stewart worked closely with Knoop. 'Kristen and Sav really hit it off. Sav's a true artist: their whole style, their clothing. They wear the weirdest shit, it's fucking incredible. Kristen was so into them as a person. One of the things she brought, I think, came from not being out at that point. Sav, the character, was pretending to be JT while also in the closet about being potentially trans and potentially non-binary, and not knowing how to put that out into the world. And Kristen was going through a similar thing: at that level of fame, you're potentially gonna get attacked or ostracised for coming out. That idea of hiding part of one's identity was something she wove into the character so beautifully in these very quiet ways. You can see in a lot of her roles that she's dealing with identity. As Princess Diana, she's trying to figure out who she is as someone who doesn't want to be that famous.' Her performance in Love Lies Bleeding, though, is the one that Kelly maintains is the closest to the Kristen Stewart he knows. 'In JT LeRoy, she was playing someone so different from herself, even though there was that connection of both having a secret. Whereas I saw more of Kristen in Love Lies Bleeding, more of the real person in terms of being a badass bitch. I think it was a chance for her to do so many things she's always wanted to do. To play a version of herself and to be super-fucking-gay. To have those sex scenes, the stuff about fingering, the 'I wanna spread you' line, licking the protein shake that spills on her girlfriend's body, taking men down. All things that I believe she was dying to put out there.' Looked at from this distance, I Am Michael and JT LeRoy play like cracked mirror images of each other. Both are inspired by real-life identity crises and capitalise on the actors' off-screen baggage. Just as Stewart's experience of being in the spotlight while hiding parts of herself informed JT LeRoy, so Franco's teasing about his own sexuality enhanced I Am Michael, a film that hinges on the sincerity or otherwise of his character's conversion. A formerly gay man trying to convince the world he is now straight was being played by a straight actor who had long hinted that he might be gay. 'I don't think I was conscious of it at the time,' says Kelly. 'But now you bring it up, it probably did help. We're watching this guy question his sexuality. It might also have helped him play the character as well. I don't know whether James is gay or not.' He smiles. 'I mean, everyone's a little bit gay, so …' This is an edited extract from It Used to Be Witches: Under the Spell of Queer Cinema by Ryan Gilbey, published on 5 June by Faber. To support the Guardian, order your copy at Delivery charges may apply. Ryan Gilbey will be in conversation with Dorian Lynskey at Foyles, Charing Cross Road, London, on 4 June, and with Guardian theatre critic Arifa Akbar at the Cinema Museum, London, 15 June.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Adrien Brody and Leonardo DiCaprio spotted at the auction gala of Cannes Film Festival 2025: All from paintings to 16-day staycation that were sold
Going Once! Going Twice! And there goes the Cannes Film Festival to be hailed as iconic! Cannes Film Festival is surely renowned for honouring the art of filmmaking; however, a not-so-popular event is also part of the festival, where the gavel bangs and the highest bid gets the prize! The annual event during the last couple of days of the festival, many celebrities, businessmen, and philanthropists join together for the amfAR Gala at the palatial Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. The raised money is later donated to biomedical research and many other causes. Adrien Brody 's Marilyn Monroe painting According to Variety, this year the event was joined by Leonardo DiCaprio , Adrien Brody, James Franco , Heidi Clum, Colman Domingo , Jeff Bezos and his soon-to-be wife, Lauren Sánchez. The two-time Oscar winner, Adrien Brody, made a painting piece, 'First Love,' about Marilyn Monroe and took the stage to give a speech about his contribution to the Gala, demanding the crowd's attention. 'Please, for a moment, I know it's a big room,' he stated before adding the inspiration behind the significant piece. The painting represents 'what Marilyn's life did not afford her - to live a life fully and to cherish all the moments and the imperfections in life.' 'Women are so often objectified in the media and on social media. They have to look beautiful, and they are beautiful, but what is within them is what's most important in this world. And I want to honour that,' he added. Selling the piece at the auction for $425,000, Brody dabbed Leonardo, who was cuddled up with his girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo James Franco's painting Later, James Franco, who has faced sexual assault allegations and was called as an outstanding human being by the host, contributed to the Gala with his painting, which was sold for $368,000. Other notable items Other items sold at the auctions were a 16-day staycation at the 'Glass Onion' mansion with 11 pools, which was offered by Robin Thicke , and a walk-in role in Spike Lee 's next films, as well as courtside seats to a Knicks game with the filmmaker. Both were sold at $368,000 and $454,000, respectively. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Controversial actors Kevin Spacey and James Franco skip Cannes' amFAR Gala afterparty
James Franco and his girlfriend Izabel Pakzad skipped this year's 'chaotic' amFAR Gala's The After party at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France, during the Cannes Film Festival, which saw celebrity guests forced to queue for hours. On Thursday evening, Franco, 47, was believed to have avoided the 'overcrowded' event at the Domaine La Dilecta, which was attended by scandal-plagued actor Kevin Spacey, with manic scenes forcing police to be called. Since 2017, over 30 men accused Spacey of sexual assault or inappropriate behavior, which led to Netflix axing his role on House Of Cards. He was found not guilty In July 2023 of assaulting four men after a four-week trial in London. A source said of amFAR's event: 'It was absolute chaos and mayhem at the amfAR afterparty at the gate. The organizers weren't checking in guests via a guest list, so the crowd waiting to get in built up and was too much for the security to handle. 'People were literally squashed against one another at the gates for a very long time. Some people didn't get in until 4am and the party went until 7am. The police were called, and there were about three or four cars that were parked outside the venue.' Leaving the amFAR Gala earlier in the evening, Franco looked dapper in a classic black tuxedo while Izabel, 29, stunned in a black lace gown. At an event on Tuesday, Spacey, 65, returned to the spotlight to collect a Lifetime Achievement Award at Cannes after claims he was not welcome at the film festival. The controversial actor took the opportunity to slam 'blacklisting' in Hollywood. Spacey, who made his first visit to Cannes since 2016 to promote his new film The Awakening, was 'recognized not only for his decades of artistic brilliance but also his enduring impact on cinema and the arts', according to a statement.
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Stars Convene for AmfAR Gala to Raise Millions for AIDS Research
Artwork by Adrien Brody and James Franco and a chance to sit courtside at a Knicks game with director Spike Lee were among the starry offerings at the annual amfAR Gala to raise money for AIDS research. Held at the famous Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes on Thursday, the evening attracted scores of celebrities in the area for the Cannes Film Festival. Guests included Brody, Lee, Colman Domingo, Michelle Rodriguez, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, and Heidi Klum, The Associated Press said. This year's top items for sale included a Dodge Charger that featured in 'Fast X,' sold off by Rodriguez, raising 475,000 euros ($536,843). There were also some Chopard pear-shaped, yellow-diamond earrings that reached 400,000 ($452,005) euros in the bidding. During the meal guests were also entertained with musical performances from Ciara, who opened the night, Adam Lambert and headlining the dinner with Duran Duran. Guest shimmied from their tables to the front of the room to stand in front of the stage and sing along to hits like 'Notorious' and 'View to a Kill' (which wouldn't be the only James Bond reference of the night). The sale included artwork from Brody — sold for 375,000 euros ($423,755) with lunch with the star thrown in — and Franco — (sold for 325,000 euros ($367,254) also with a lunch offered with the winning bid. Another highlight was a May 2025 George Condo painting that raised 1.15 million euros ($1.26 million). Lee came to the stage and offered a surprise lot, a walk-on part in his next movie. Part of the way through the bidding he added tickets to sit next to him courtside at a New York Nicks game next season, driving the price up to 400,000 euros ($452,005). The fashion show is a regular feature of the auction curated by Carine Roitfeld, this year was Bond-inspired and saw 27 models turn the middle of the dinning room into a catwalk as they paraded through the room waving at guests they recognized and posing for photos on route. The collection made 450,000 euros ($508,505) for the charity, auctioned off as one complete lot. The Foundation for AIDS Research, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Since 1985, amfAR has raised nearly $950 million (841 million euros) in support of its programs and has awarded more than 3,800 grants to research teams worldwide.
