- Title: USA: Edward Norton's latest film "Stone" premieres in New York
- Date: 7th October 2010
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 5, 2010) (REUTERS) WIDE VIEW OF RED CARPET OF "STONE" POSTER OF "STONE"
- Embargoed: 22nd October 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA6K0A85TOVY5P7H3D96BXBTJPM
- Story Text: Cast and crew of "Stone," the latest movie thriller by director John Curran, hit the red carpet for its New York premiere on Tuesday (October 5). The film stars big name actors such as Oscar nominated Edward Norton and Academy Award winner Robert De Niro, and tells the story of a seasoned corrections officer and a prison inmate, their lives dangerously intertwined.
Norton, who plays the volatile inmate Gerald "Stone" Creeson, says he came on board because of the solid story.
"The film had a quality that was similar to drew me films like 'American History X' or 'Fight Club.' It was very - it's about things that are going on right now, and it's about things that I think people will recognize in the landscape of the United States right now."
The movie weaves the story of a life journey of two men together. Both are grappling with dark impulses. Jack Marby is a parole officer who is about to retire, and Stone, who got jailed for covering up the murder of his grandparents with a fire, is eligible for early release. Stone needs to convince Jack that he has changed, but when he brings in his attractive wife Lucetta into the scene to manipulate Jack, it has unexpected consequences as the line between lawbreaker and lawman becomes thin.
Mila Jovovich who previously starred in "The Fifth Element," takes on the role of Lucetta, while Jack is portrayed by veteran actor De Niro. Jovovich said that playing against De Niro was a great challenge and an opportunity for her, as he would push her acting skills to new limits. For instance, during the taping of a scene where Lucetta calls up Jack with the intention of seducing him, De Niro would simply hang up the phone when he thought Jovovich's acting was not strong enough.
"He (Robert De Niro) just didn't believe it," Jovovich told Reuters. "So finally after the fourth time he hung up on me, John, the director called me, John Curran, he said: 'What's going on? What's happening?'" Jovovich added. "(I said) John, let me try it a different way, and this time I completely changed the way I did the scene, and I kept him on the phone. Because I was crying, and literally just going, 'Please don't hang up on me.' And he didn't and I was just so proud because I was, wow, here is the dance," Jovovich said.
According to Curran, all the main characters have their flaws, and it is the gray area between right and wrong that he wanted to underline in the film. According to Curran, the cast members did a phenomenal job in catching the essence of the story.
"The idea was to make it authentic - to try to give them each - all the actors brought a lot to it. It wasn't like I had to teach these guys to do their own research. They are pretty engaged. And I think they found their own way into the character, and the flaws of the character."
Norton also got a new hairstyle for his role as troubled inmate Stone.
"I think we only had to put them in only once, maybe twice," he said about his corn rows. "Your hair looks pretty funny when you take out corn rows. I looked like Gene Wilder in 'Young Frankenstein," he said.
Other stars came out to see the movie as well.
"My brother Christian invited me. He was invited, and I finished working a week ago, so I am just taking a break," said actress Neve Campbell.
Musician Steven van Zandt said that he wanted to have a good time and enjoy the movie. When asked if he had a clear definition of right and wrong, van Zandt said: "If you get away with it, it's right." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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