Curtis Hanson--Confidentially
By
Alex Simon
Curtis Hanson was my first interview with a fellow film buff and film journalist. He was nice enough to sit down with me twice, first at the Rose Cafe in Venice, then at a lunch spot in the Marina, the name of which has been lost to time. He was then kind enough to invite me to the world premiere of "L.A. Confidential" at the Chinese Theater as his guest, my first time on the red carpet at a real-life Hollywood premiere, and called me after this piece ran to thank me personally. A nice man. Hanson, and co-writer Brian Helgeland, would go on to win Best Adapted Screenplay Oscars for "L.A. Confidential."
Years later, I ran into Hanson at a book signing party for Pat York that was held in Westwood. I approached him and reminded him of our interview a decade or so earlier.
By
Alex Simon
Curtis Hanson was my first interview with a fellow film buff and film journalist. He was nice enough to sit down with me twice, first at the Rose Cafe in Venice, then at a lunch spot in the Marina, the name of which has been lost to time. He was then kind enough to invite me to the world premiere of "L.A. Confidential" at the Chinese Theater as his guest, my first time on the red carpet at a real-life Hollywood premiere, and called me after this piece ran to thank me personally. A nice man. Hanson, and co-writer Brian Helgeland, would go on to win Best Adapted Screenplay Oscars for "L.A. Confidential."
Years later, I ran into Hanson at a book signing party for Pat York that was held in Westwood. I approached him and reminded him of our interview a decade or so earlier.
- 9/21/2016
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
Here's another installment featuring Joe Dante's reviews from his stint as a critic for Film Bulletin circa 1969-1974. Our thanks to Video Watchdog and Tim Lucas for his editorial embellishments!
Well done haunted house chiller offers plenty for the shiver‑and‑shock fans. A fitting swan song for [Aip co-founder] Jim Nicholson, this could roll up good grosses in general, ballyhoo, drive‑in markets if Fox gives it an appropriately strong sell. Rating: PG.
"This house... it knows we're here!" Of such ominous dialogue are classic style horror pictures made and The Legend Of Hell House, while no classic, is spookily amusing, sometimes scary stuff with plenty of mass appeal for summer playdates. In fact, this maiden effort from the late James Nicholson's Academy Pictures is slick and entertaining enough to register as one of the season's better attractions, if 20th Century‑Fox capitalizes on its considerable ballyhoo potential.
A...
Well done haunted house chiller offers plenty for the shiver‑and‑shock fans. A fitting swan song for [Aip co-founder] Jim Nicholson, this could roll up good grosses in general, ballyhoo, drive‑in markets if Fox gives it an appropriately strong sell. Rating: PG.
"This house... it knows we're here!" Of such ominous dialogue are classic style horror pictures made and The Legend Of Hell House, while no classic, is spookily amusing, sometimes scary stuff with plenty of mass appeal for summer playdates. In fact, this maiden effort from the late James Nicholson's Academy Pictures is slick and entertaining enough to register as one of the season's better attractions, if 20th Century‑Fox capitalizes on its considerable ballyhoo potential.
A...
- 9/9/2014
- by Joe Dante
- Trailers from Hell
That’s “Spy’s Kid”, not “Spy Kids”. From the sounds of it, the film is a gritty look at the world of espionage and traitors, so it’ll be a curious thing if they stick with the title because it instantly brings up images of the silly Robert Rodriguez franchise about spy kids. Or at least, it did for me. I mean, there were 60 of those movies, after all. In any case, D.J. Caruso is currently in talks to direct “Spy’s Kid”, with Robert De Niro and Shia Labeouf also in talks to play a real-life father-and-son spy duo that sold America’s secrets to its enemies, thus ensuring their family back-to-back wins for “Worst Americans … Ever” Award. The movie will be based on a 6-part article by Bryan Denson that was originally published back in 2011: Jim Nicholson was a 20-year CIA vet who in 1996 was convicted...
- 4/23/2013
- by Nix
- Beyond Hollywood
Director D.J. Caruso is in talks to helm a film for Paramount Pictures called Spy's Kid, which is in no way related to Robert Rodriguez's silly kid franchise. It would reteam the director with Shia Labeouf who worked with him on films such as Eagle Eye and Suburbia. Robert De Niro is also in talks to star in the movie.
The film sounds like it could be amazing! It's described as a Catch Me If You Can-style story set in the world of espionage. It's based on a six-part series of dramatic articles written by Bryan Denson. They were published in The Oregonian in 2011, and it tells the true story of a traitorous spy who enlists his son to continue his work. Here's a description of the crazy story,
Jim Nicholson was a 20-year CIA vet who in 1996 was convicted of spying and sentenced to 23 years in prison,...
The film sounds like it could be amazing! It's described as a Catch Me If You Can-style story set in the world of espionage. It's based on a six-part series of dramatic articles written by Bryan Denson. They were published in The Oregonian in 2011, and it tells the true story of a traitorous spy who enlists his son to continue his work. Here's a description of the crazy story,
Jim Nicholson was a 20-year CIA vet who in 1996 was convicted of spying and sentenced to 23 years in prison,...
- 4/23/2013
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Shia Labeouf and Robert De Niro are in talks to star in Spy's Kid.
Billed as a "Catch Me If You Can-style story" following a father-son spy duo, the film is set to be directed by DJ Caruso, who previously worked with Labeouf on 2007's Disturbia.
No script has been written and no writer is yet attached. Labeouf and De Niro's involvement will be contingent on their approval of the final script, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Based on a six-part series of articles published in The Oregonian in 2011, the story follows traitorous spy Jim Nicholson (De Niro) who enlists his son Nathan (Labeouf) to continue his work.
In 1997, Jim was sentenced to 23 years in prison for treason, and 14 years later Nathan was convicted of the same offence, but signed a deal agreeing to testify against his father and was therefore only sentenced to probation.
De Niro is currently shooting David O Russell's American Hustle,...
Billed as a "Catch Me If You Can-style story" following a father-son spy duo, the film is set to be directed by DJ Caruso, who previously worked with Labeouf on 2007's Disturbia.
No script has been written and no writer is yet attached. Labeouf and De Niro's involvement will be contingent on their approval of the final script, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Based on a six-part series of articles published in The Oregonian in 2011, the story follows traitorous spy Jim Nicholson (De Niro) who enlists his son Nathan (Labeouf) to continue his work.
In 1997, Jim was sentenced to 23 years in prison for treason, and 14 years later Nathan was convicted of the same offence, but signed a deal agreeing to testify against his father and was therefore only sentenced to probation.
De Niro is currently shooting David O Russell's American Hustle,...
- 4/23/2013
- Digital Spy
Paramount Pictures has picked up the espionage thriller "Spy's Kid" which has "Disturbia" director D.J. Caruso and actors Shia Labeouf and Robert De Niro attached.
The story is based on Bryan Denson's six-part article series detailing the true story of a traitorous spy who enlists his son to continue his work.
Jim Nicholson was a twenty-year CIA veteran who in 1996 was convicted of spying and sentenced to 23 years in an Oregon federal prison.
In 2004, his depressed youngest son, Nathan Nicholson, began to seek solace and advice from his father who coached him in spycraft and essentially began to use his son as a courier.
Over eighteen months, Nathan traveled the world selling secrets to the Russians and getting deeper and deeper over his head.
The rights deal is done, Caruso is in negotiations, Labeouf and De Niro are in talks pending script approval.
No writer is attached at present. Raymond...
The story is based on Bryan Denson's six-part article series detailing the true story of a traitorous spy who enlists his son to continue his work.
Jim Nicholson was a twenty-year CIA veteran who in 1996 was convicted of spying and sentenced to 23 years in an Oregon federal prison.
In 2004, his depressed youngest son, Nathan Nicholson, began to seek solace and advice from his father who coached him in spycraft and essentially began to use his son as a courier.
Over eighteen months, Nathan traveled the world selling secrets to the Russians and getting deeper and deeper over his head.
The rights deal is done, Caruso is in negotiations, Labeouf and De Niro are in talks pending script approval.
No writer is attached at present. Raymond...
- 4/23/2013
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
The Hollywood Reporter says that Robert De Niro and Shia Labeouf are in talks to work together on a Father/Son spy story called Spy’s Kid based upon a series of articles written By Bryan Denson for The Oregonian.
Here’s an excerpt from the story:
In 2009, the FBI announced the arrest of 24-year-old Nathan Nicholson.
The Oregon college student was accused of carrying secrets to the Russians. What was even more extraordinary about the case: He turned out to be the son of Jim Nicholson, the highest-ranking CIA officer convicted of espionage.
The father and son were working together, the FBI claimed.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the final involvement of De Niro and Labeouf in the picture will depend upon the script.
Labeouf recently worked with Robert Redford on The Company You Keep, now he could potentially work with another acting legend. Not bad.
The film is...
Here’s an excerpt from the story:
In 2009, the FBI announced the arrest of 24-year-old Nathan Nicholson.
The Oregon college student was accused of carrying secrets to the Russians. What was even more extraordinary about the case: He turned out to be the son of Jim Nicholson, the highest-ranking CIA officer convicted of espionage.
The father and son were working together, the FBI claimed.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the final involvement of De Niro and Labeouf in the picture will depend upon the script.
Labeouf recently worked with Robert Redford on The Company You Keep, now he could potentially work with another acting legend. Not bad.
The film is...
- 4/23/2013
- by Alex Corey
- LRMonline.com
What is Casting Couch? Your daily dose of casting news. Today we’ve got a new job for Viola Davis as well as word on who the next actor to mutate for Bryan Singer’s X-Men: Days of Future Past will be. According to Heat Vision, Robert De Niro and Shia Labeouf are both in negotiations to take the starring roles in an upcoming espionage thriller called Spy’s Kid. That’s, Spy’s Kid, not Spy Kids, which is something totally different. What’s this one about? It’s based on the true story of a CIA operative named Jim Nicholson who was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 23 years in prison, but who kept the family business alive by teaching his son how to ply his trade from jail. Shady deals with Russian operatives followed. Alongside De Niro and Labeouf negotiating to star, Labeouf’s Disturbia director DJ Caruso is also negotiating to direct, and...
- 4/22/2013
- by Nathan Adams
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Paramount has picked up rights to Spy's Kid, a story set in the world of espionage with Shia Labeouf and Robert De Niro in talks to play a father and son spy duo. Now just when you are hoping to hear Robert Rodriguez's name right now, which would be a genius move for this sure-to-be-comedy-gold, the studio is also in talks with D.J. Caruso to direct.According to THR, the movie will be based on a dramatic six-part series of articles by Bryan Denson that were published in The Oregonian in 2011 and told the true story of a traitorous spy who enlists his son to continue his work.Jim Nicholson was a 20-year CIA vet who in 1996 was convicted of spying and sentenced to 23 years...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 4/22/2013
- Screen Anarchy
A father arrested for spying against his own country, who teaches his son the art of espionage from behind bars? Believe it or not, that's a true story, one that will become fiction via Spy’s Kid, a new film that could star Robert De Niro and Shia Labeouf.Labeouf’s Disturbia/Eagle Eye director DJ Caruso is part of the package that Paramount has lined up to adapt the story. There’s no writer attached yet, but whoever works on the film will adapt a series of articles in The Oregonian written by Bryan Denson.Jim Nicholson was a veteran CIA officer who in 1996 was convicted of treason and sent to prison for 23 years, the highest-ranking officer ever to be so convicted. His son Nathan, dealing with depression and a failed Army career, began visiting Jim in prison, seeking advice to get his life back on track.While Nicholson Sr.
- 4/22/2013
- EmpireOnline
Right now audiences can see Shia Labeouf as an intrepid reporter exposing the alleged shady past of Robert Redford in The Company You Keep, but soon they'll be able to see the Transformers franchise star teamed up with another legendary actor. Heat Vision has word that Labeouf is currently attached to Spy's Kid, a thriller that would see him playing the son of a traitorous CIA spy played by Robert De Niro, trained to continue his father's legacy. The title is a little weak, but the film would reunite the actor with director D.J. Caruso (Eagle Eye, Disturbia) and continue their Hitchcockian collaborative trend. Read on! The story described as having flares of Catch Me If You Can is based on a six-part series of articles from The Oregonian which chronicled the life of Jim Nicholson, a CIA spy who worked at the agency for 20 years and was convicted of...
- 4/22/2013
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
Photograph by Olaf Blecker
An Information Hound: Mullen grabs a few minutes to read the newspaper in his Pentagon office. | Photo: Olaf Blecker
Admiral Mike Mullen says the sea was his business. Now, as America's top military officer, he's reshaping strategy for a world in which economics and security are intertwined.
On the evening of January 6, Admiral Mike Mullen got into his armored SUV and girded himself for the last meeting of his day. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff had been up since well before dawn -- he'd gone to the gym at 4:30 that morning. A bad cold was making him feel as if his head were stuffed with gauze. And his aides? Slave drivers! He'd wanted to cancel his appearance on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, but he had done that once before, and they thought it would be bad form to back out again.
An Information Hound: Mullen grabs a few minutes to read the newspaper in his Pentagon office. | Photo: Olaf Blecker
Admiral Mike Mullen says the sea was his business. Now, as America's top military officer, he's reshaping strategy for a world in which economics and security are intertwined.
On the evening of January 6, Admiral Mike Mullen got into his armored SUV and girded himself for the last meeting of his day. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff had been up since well before dawn -- he'd gone to the gym at 4:30 that morning. A bad cold was making him feel as if his head were stuffed with gauze. And his aides? Slave drivers! He'd wanted to cancel his appearance on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, but he had done that once before, and they thought it would be bad form to back out again.
- 4/16/2010
- by Jeff Chu
- Fast Company
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