A good movie can make you feel happy and sad, all at once. And sometimes even news of a movie can affect you in similar ways; A story in today’s Risky Biz blog relates the wonderful news that Mr. Anthony Hopkins, an actor of sublime and almost peerless gifts, is ‘loosely connected’ to an upcoming movie recounting the life of the great Earnest Hemingway. His co-star – and certainly no stranger to talent himself – is due to be Andy Garcia.
Now the bad news: Mr. Garcia is also scheduled to write and direct.
The movie is reported to focus on the bond between the fabled author and his enduring friend and fishing-boat Captain, Gregorio Fuentes, to be played by Mr. Garcia. Given the iconic stature of the central character, and with a cast that’s said to also include Annette Benning as Hemingway’s wife, the movie has superb credentials and could easily be a cultured celebration of one of the most talented writers this country ever created. Then the studio has to sour the pot by agreeing to an Actor’s need for an unfettered ego parade.
A wise man, whose name I sadly cannot recall, once said that the words, “Written and Directed by…” can only be followed by one of two names: The great Orson Welles, or some egocentric pretender.
In admiration for Mr. Hopkins, I defer to no-one. But Mr. Garcia is decidedly not Orson Welles.
Anthony Hopkins is one of the veteran actors in Hollywood who should be given a lifetime achievement award.