- Title: USA: MAKERS OF THE NEW COMEDY 'JACK' SPEAK ABOUT THEIR FILM
- Date: 14th July 1996
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (RECENT) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) ROBIN WILLIAMS SAYING A 10-YEAR-OLD IS VULNERABLE. THERE'S A PART OF MYSELF THAT IS VERY QUIET. WHEN YOU SEE ME IN A BOOK STORE SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY "HE MUST BE MEDICATED, IN THE PROZAC AMATEUR OPEN, HE'S NOT GRABBING THINGS AND TALKING ABOUT HIS PENIS...." (ENGLISH) ADAM ZOLOTIN SAYING THEY HAD A SPECIAL
- Embargoed: 29th July 1996 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES AND FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA7XFFQHYH42ATW70ZFV2J2X7JF
- Story Text: Veteran Hollywood actor Robin Williams enters his second childhood to play a child trapped in the body of a 40-year-old man in Francis Ford Coppola's new comedy drama "Jack".
Williams plays Jack Powell, a 10-year-old who has a rare medical condition that causes his body to age at four times the normal rate.
Jack's sheltered existence changes dramatically when he enrolls in the fifth grade and faces a class full of other 10-year-olds.
He makes friends with Louis, played by young newcomer Adam Zolotin, develops a crush on his teacher Miss Marquez -- played by Jennifer Lopez -- and has a flirtatious encounter with Louis' divorced mother, Dolores, played by Fran Drescher.
Diane Lane and Brian Kerwin play Jack's parents and Bill Cosby plays Lawrence Woodruff, Jack's tutor.
Jack's isolation in the film has a personal significance for Coppola. In 1949, when he was aged nine, the director was stricken with polio and confined to his bedroom for a year.
For the five-times Academy Award winner, the project offered a chance to work with his friend and business partner Wiliams - the pair are business partners in a San Francisco restaurant called Rubicon.
Prior to filming, Coppola held an intensive three-week rehearsal at his ranch in order to explore the grown-up child's character and allow actors to bond with each other.
Williams also received help from a real 10-year-old who went through the scenes beforehand to give the Hollywood actor an insight into the role.
Coppola's groundbreaking films include "The Godfather" trilogy, "Apocalypse Now" and "The Cotton Club." This is the second film collaboration for Williams and Fran Drescher. The two also worked together in the comedy "Cadillac Man". Her other credits include "This is Spinal Tap" and the hit television comedy "The Nanny", for which she was recently nominated for an Emmy Award.
Diane Lane has appeared in "The Cotton Club," "Chaplin," and "Judge Dredd," while Jennifer Lopez's credits include "The Money Train" and "Mi Familia," which Coppola executive produced.
"Jack" premiered in the United States on July 30 will be released across the U.K. and Europe in October. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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