Reply With QuoteFranny...you have been a busy bee today locating all sorts of interesting stuff!
Red West's new film gets rave review: Red West's new film is 'Goodbye Solo' and has been receiving rave reviews. Film critic Roger Ebert has posted the following. . .. . (Right:Red West and Souleymane Sy Savane)
>>"Two actors. One from Africa. The other who was a bodyguard for Elvis. Who but Director Ramin Bahrani would find these men and pair them in a story of heartbreaking depth and power? Bahrani is the new great American director. He never steps wrong. In "Goodbye Solo," he begins with a situation that might unfold in a dozen different ways and makes of it something original and profound. It is about the desire to help and the desire to not be helped.
Now look at these actors. They aren't playing themselves, but they evoke their characters so fully that they might as well be. Red West plays William, the white man. West's face is a map of hard living.He was a Marine and a boxer. He became a friend of Elvis in high school. He was his bodyguard and driver from 1955 -- a charter member of the "Memphis Mafia." He split with Elvis after breaking the foot of the cousin who was bringing Elvis drugs, and telling him he would work his way up to his face.
Souleymane Sy Savane plays Solo, the taxi driver. He is from the Ivory Coast, although the character is from Senegal. Savane was a flight attendant for Air Afrique. Solo is studying for just such a job. Solo lives in Winston-Salem, is married to a Mexican-American woman, adores the woman's young daughter, acts as her father. William's face was made to look pissed off. Solo's face was made to smile. We are not speaking of an odd couple here. We're speaking of human nature. You can't learn acting like this. Bahrani worked with the actors for months. Savane drove a taxi in Winston-Salem. Red West spent a lifetime rehearsing William (although in real life, he is said to be kind and friendly). Bahrani and his cinematographer, Michael Simmonds, discussed every shot.
Although this is an independent film in its heart and soul, it is a classical film in its style. It is as pure as something by John Ford. A film like this makes me wonder if we are coming to the end of the facile, snarky indie films. We live in desperate times. Wherever you live, when this film opens, it will be the best film in town."
(News, Source;EIN/SanjaM)
Franny...you have been a busy bee today locating all sorts of interesting stuff!
Thank you, Rosanne.Originally Posted by utmom2008
Franny...you have been a busy bee today locating all sorts of interesting stuff!
franny
I saw this film reviewed myself and saw a couple of clips of it.
I thought it looked real promising and I have to say Red seemed to really be this old depressed man. His acting (what little I saw) was great.
Work in Progress!
Red West has actually become the most successful Memphis mafia member
He's a very good actor, I liked his performances in the Rainmaker and Glory Road. two very good films.
it's great he finally gets to play the lead in a film
Thanks alot for this very nice detailed review. It looks a fantastic movie.
Bahrani is an Iranian screenwriter and film maker. Some more info about him :
Ramin Bahrani (born 20 March 1975 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.) [1] is an Iranian-American screenwriter and filmmaker.
After receiving his BA from Columbia University in New York City, Bahrani moved to his parents' homeland of Iran for three years where he made his student thesis film, Strangers (2000). Bahrani then spent some time in Paris before returning to the United States to begin work on his first feature film, Man Push Cart (2005), which premiered at The Venice Film Festival (2005) and screened at The Sundance Film Festival (2006). The film won over 10 international prizes, was released theatrically around the world, and was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards.
Bahrani's second film Chop Shop (2007) premiered at the 2007 Director's Fortnight of the Cannes International Film Festival, and then screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (2007) and the Berlin International Film Festival (2008) before being released theatrically to wide and universal critical acclaim. Bahrani was awarded the prestigious 2007 Someone to Watch Independent Spirit Award. In 2008 he was nominated for Best Director Independent Spirit Award[2].
Goodbye Solo, Bahrani's third feature film, premiered as an official selection of the Venice Film Festival (2008) where it won the international film critic's FIPRESCI award for best film[3], and later had its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (2008)
He was the firstest with the mostest.
I've been following this movie for a couple of months online in updates here and there and I'm anxious to see it. In this area we won't get it in the theater though, we never get indy stuff here so it'll have to be on DVD. People have mixed opinions on Red, but I personally think his heart was in the right place and I have no ill will towards him.
JD
Red is indeed a fine actor and deserves a good role
I agree, I think Red actually loved Elvis very much, was sorry for his part in EWH and was badly affected by his death.
Thanks for the article Franny, I would be interested in seeing this movie.
Diane
Thanks for the links franny!
elvislady
You're welcome, everyone.
franny
Click here to YouTube clipMarty Lacker responds to yesterday's article about RED WEST's new film 'Goodbye Solo'...
>>>: It is heartening to see this fantastic review of Red's new movie because for too long Red has gone without the reviews of his really good natural acting. His previous portrayals of characters in his movies like the silent father in The Rainmaker, were absolutely brilliant and many of the stars that he acted with wondered why he was not getting the attention in Hollywood that he deserved.
In this new movie, "Goodbye Solo", Red excels once again and along with Solo is the main character. To see clips of this new movie that the critics are hailing as being the next big movie like Slumdog..
Red called me this morning from California and he's really proud of this movie and to let me know that one of the southern premieres will be here in Memphis on May 15th and asked me to be there. I'm really happy for him that at last he's getting the recognition as an actor he should have had years ago. I hope you'll go see it when it comes to your city. - Thanks, Marty.
(News, Source;EIN)
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5IGC59Q9y8"]YouTube - Goodbye Solo theatrical trailer[/ame]
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