THE FRONT RUNNER

[jo]

Media tour interview with Hugh --


af11.wordpress.com/2018/10/25/hugh-jackman-interview-the-front-runner/

[jo]

www.nytimes.com/2018/10/26/movies/hugh-jackman-gary-hart-front-runner.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Hugh Jackman Breaks the Movie Star Rules and Doesn’t Care
Posted 6:21 p.m. yesterday


By Kathryn Shattuck, New York Times

Some celebrities revel in the spotlight; others, not so much. Hugh Jackman falls into the first category, as witnessed when he recently settled into a well-positioned banquette in a West Village restaurant and faced his dining audience, the better to disarm and dazzle.

But his latest character — former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart of Colorado — is definitely not a fan of the limelight. In “The Front Runner,” opening Election Day, Nov. 6, director Jason Reitman chronicles the three weeks in 1987 when the presidential candidacy of Hart, a Democrat who was considered the man to beat, imploded after journalists caught the scent of a supposed extramarital tryst with Donna Rice. It didn’t take long before that infamous photo of Rice sitting on Hart’s lap near the Monkey Business yacht was splashed across the National Enquirer. “Gary is a private person by nature but also a believer that there should be a separation” between the public and private lives of politicians, said Jackman. “And what I love about the movie is it does not give any easy answers on that. We’re all human, we’ve all got flaws, but what level of flaws would you accept? It’s actually Gary’s line: ‘In public life, some things are interesting; it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re important.'”

Jackman, on the other hand, seems to have no obvious shortcomings: His off-screen persona is that of a happy husband to Australian actress Deborra-lee Furness and a doting father to their teenagers, Oscar and Ava, who sings in the shower and makes his best decisions while tap dancing.

On the day before his 50th birthday — which he would celebrate with his wife’s ricotta hot cakes before heading to the set of “Bad Education,” about an embezzlement scandal in a Long Island school district — Jackman talked about politics and privacy, what’s next for “The Greatest Showman” and why his life just keeps getting better.



Here are edited excerpts from the conversation.


Q: What was it like being cast as Gary Hart?

A:It produced a little anxiety in the right kind of way. I mean, nerve-racking for many reasons — (Gary) is mysterious, hard to pin down, closed off. Even he said, “People call me cold and aloof, but if I start winning, they’ll call me enigmatic.” Then of course I’ve never played someone who’s alive. But I feel very strongly that our stories are one of the most valuable things to people. How we’re seen in the world, potentially how we’re remembered. And I wanted him to know that I took that very seriously.


Q: Before Hart, presidents had affairs but the news media mostly left them alone. What changed?

A: This was really a key turning point, particularly in the relationship between press and politicians, and also politics and personality. Once the private life became a really important indicator of character, and something that voters and press could latch onto to describe their worthiness to lead, then the floodgates opened. It’s the most important job in the world, arguably, and you are making a decision about the character of someone in terms of what they say they’re going to do. For me, how they conduct their marriage is not that important.


Q: In 2017, with “Logan,” you retracted your Wolverine claws after 17 years, a decision which you credited to Jerry Seinfeld.

A:I was asking him about the end of “Seinfeld,” and he said: “I’m a firm believer that it’s very important for your creative self not to run your self ragged. Leave before you’re completely worn out on something because it catapults into the next thing.” As he was telling me the story, I just knew in my gut it was time.


Q: After which you made your passion project, “The Greatest Showman,” about P.T. Barnum, which became a box-office smash. Will there be a Broadway version?

A: I don’t know. It’s not definitive at all. There’s a lot of people working on what a live version of that would be. Is it something that’s on the West End or in Vegas? Is it a touring tent show? Is it an arena spectacular? All I know is when we were in the room during those workshops, you get a really keen sense if it’s going to work in a theater. And I know it will work. I just know the power. I’ve seen Keala (Settle) standing in the center of a room singing “This Is Me,” and there was not a dry eye in the house.


Q: Or maybe a film sequel?

A: I’m sure there are pitches being done but I have no idea what’s going on.



Q: What is 50 like?

A:For me, life feels better and better. People talk a lot about the arrogance of youth and how the world is at your feet, and I didn’t really relate to that. I felt more insecure certainly than I do now. But a bit of insecurity is good. It makes you work harder.


Q: Is there anything you’d like to do that you’re not ready for yet?

A: Hmm, no. Maybe I am arrogant. Because I’m promoting this movie, people are like, “Wow, are you going to run for prime minister (of Australia)?” (Laughs) And I’m like, “No, that’s not happening.” Any job where the day you sign up literally 60 percent of the country hates you, I don’t know if I’d be able to cope with that.


Q: It’s hard to imagine 60 percent of any country hating you. After all, 20.8 million followers enjoy watching you make fun of yourself on Instagram.

A:I do try to hold onto the bubbly colloquial Aussie way of not taking things too seriously. I know it’s probably breaking all the movie star rules where you’re supposed to be mysterious and not show who you really are, but I really don’t care that much about it. I prefer to do my pretending on film or on stage.

[jo]

An interview with a journalism major about THE FRONT RUNNER


www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hugh-jackman-front-runner-has-no-heroes-no-villains-1152068?utm_source=twitter

'The Front Runner' Star Hugh Jackman: Gary Hart Campaign Tale Has "No Heroes and No Villains"
7:00 AM PDT 10/26/2018 by Katie Kilkenny

"The connective tissue with today is very strong," says Hugh Jackman of 'The Front Runner.'


The star of Jason Reitman's latest film acknowledges echoes of the #MeToo movement and Trump in the story of Gary Hart's disastrous campaign for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination, but says the film's "not telling you anything or making your mind up."

Before he even landed the part as Gary Hart in Sony's The Front Runner, Hugh Jackman boasted some unique qualifications to bring the former senator to life onscreen. The Australian national hadn't followed Hart's disastrous campaign for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination — Jackman was backpacking through Europe at the time — but his college journalism studies gave him a strong perspective on the media circus around it. Today, his wife often calls him by the nickname "Senator Jackman" because of his diplomatic answers in interviews, he says.

And, as it turned out, 2018's news cycle would offer the actor decent preparation to dive into the frenzy of Hart's campaign for director Jason Reitman. The similarities are uncanny: acrimony between politician and press, a sexual scandal being litigated in public, and a previously anonymous woman thrust into the spotlight.

Ahead of being honored with the Legend of Cinema Award at the 21st annual SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) Savannah Film Festival, Jackman, 50, discussed the film's parallels to current events, his own relationship to the press and his journal­istic roots.



While you were shooting this, were you talking about current events, such as Trump and his relationship to the press?

There were a lot of discussions on set about things that were happening. I'm being careful, a little bit, as someone who is an outsider; I don't vote here, I don't think it's appropriate for me to make too many domestic political comments. But regardless of that, of where you're from, or what your political persuasion is, the movie's not telling you anything or making your mind up — it's actually asking your view: What is important to you?



The film also deals with a politician who acts out sexually and the consequences that has on the women in his life. Did the production coincide with the #MeToo movement?

Matt [Bai]'s book [All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid, which is the basis for the film] appeared four years ago, it was already a Radiolab piece, and we were shooting when [the #MeToo movement was] coming to fruition. So it's astonishing how timely it is, but really a lot of these things have been brewing for a long time. That's what the film brings out — it takes place in 1987, but in many ways you feel like it could be today.


Courtesy of Sony Pictures
The Front Runner


Did you and Jason Reitman ever talk about the film taking a stand on Hart's downfall?

Jason was very, very adamant from the beginning that there were no heroes and no villains — there are a lot of humans in there, and like real life, most of us are flawed. But [also], I think now we are in a time — and I don't just mean here but across the world — where it's very easy for the film, or the message of the film, to be dismissed if people felt it was skewing one way or the other.


Do people seem to get it or have you seen takes that are distilling the film into one argument?

I'm a journalist major from college, so I've always had a great empathy [for journalists]. I've never felt a great animus toward them — no, that's not true, I've felt animus — but for most of them I haven't. I expected there to be a little bit more defensiveness from the media about it, them assuming somehow that [we thought] it was their fault. But I've been really heartened. People have seen what Jason is trying to do, which is to show that campaigns are chaotic.


How involved were you in the arts as a journalism major?

The reason I got into acting was that I ended up spending more time on the university play than my entire major. At one point, while we touring a play out in regional Australia, I was like, "Hmm, I smell a rat here. I'm spending about an hour a day on my thesis and about 15 hours a day on this play — have I made the wrong choice?"



There are some similarities between acting and journalism, in terms of investigating who people are.

It's about human nature, understanding who we are and how we all work together in the world. If you're not interested in people, you're probably not going to be a very good journalist. That is ultimately what acting is: understanding ourselves and people and using stories, as opposed to journalism — [which is always] real stories — to illuminate the world and understand our place in it.


This story first appeared in the Oct. 17 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.

[jo]

I'm a journalist major from college, so I've always had a great empathy [for journalists]. I've never felt a great animus toward them — no, that's not true, I've felt animus — but for most of them I haven't. I expected there to be a little bit more defensiveness from the media about it, them assuming somehow that [we thought] it was their fault. But I've been really heartened. People have seen what Jason is trying to do, which is to show that campaigns are chaotic.

So, the feeling that media might not favor the conclusions from the movie was also their own apprehension. It is the critic/media ( more on the USA side) who may have been a little negative about the movie?


Interesting quote from him about feeling animus towards some of them He has always appeared gracious ( and candid) with the press when he does interviews - even on the red carpet or man-on-the-street type of inquiry. Even with the paparazzi, he seems to develop some form of détente?


Jo

[jo]

Great photo - brilliant smile ( Ben Watts)!

Brown suits him -- and t-shirts are his iconic wear ( on stage)


Check out the full photo from the above Twitter link or the NYTimes link in the previous post.


www.nytimes.com/2018/10/26/movies/hugh-jackman-gary-hart-front-runner.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[jo]

Another nice photo, accompanying the interview with The Hollywood Reporter --

[jo]

Which one is Hugh's as Gary Hart

http://instagram.com/p/Bpafo1NH5b3

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[jo]

At the Savannah Film Festival, where Hugh was honored for his film work --

[jo]

http://instagram.com/p/BpfyK8anQiO

LOL - they love him as LOGAN!

[jo]

Check out the video clip ( also summarized in the article below) -- with Hugh and Jason.

www.savannahnow.com/entertainmentlife/20181028/scad-savannah-film-fest-hugh-jackman-jason-reitman-premiere-locally-filmed-the-front-runner

They did film in Savannah for a part of the movie!


EDIT: It has been uploaded on YTube --

[jo]

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Wolverine fans are forever!

[jo]

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He retells the tale of his initial confusion between wolves and wolverines

[jo]

On the way to becoming a true legend -- for his talent and versatility in the performing arts!


www.wsav.com/scad-savannah-film-fest/scad-honors-actor-hugh-jackman-with-legend-of-cinema-award-ahead-of-the-front-runner-screening/1559493111

[jo]

Jason Reitman is literally laughing behind his back : "Showoff!!"

[jo]

Jeff Wells of HOLLYWOOD ELSEWHERE covers the Savannah Festival screening and discussion of THE FRONT RUNNER.


hollywood-elsewhere.com/2018/10/a-system-that-favors-the-shameless/

He cites the discussions with Jason Reitman as particularly insightful.




Interesting exchange between one of his readers and himself --

JoeS • 11 hours ago
I know Wells is championing this one (and I am intrigued), but, FRONT RUNNER stands at a pretty weak 43% with Top Critics on RT.
This Front-Runner appears to be more of an underdog


Jeffrey Wells Mod JoeS • 7 hours ago
The critics are insane to be giving The Front Runner a 43%....INSANE. I can understand a "good, not great" reaction, but failing grades for something as well thought through and well finessed and well acted as Reitman's film are just crazy.

[jo]

In this article, media looks at the reasons why the movie is relevant today...and why different standards are applied not just because of the era involved...but also to the kind of person the truth test is being applied to. It looks like Jason Reitman's intent to make the movie a mirror on which the public is engaged to debate the issue may be reaching its audience?


www.thedailybeast.com/lucas-hedges-hollywoods-busiest-actor-on-his-sexuality-boy-erased-and-broadway?ref=scroll

[jo]

[jo]

From a report from Italian media --

Translation by Google :

It will be the political drama The Front Runner to open the festival of the Torino Film Festival this year, scheduled in the capital of Piedmont from November 23 until December 1. The film written and directed by Jason Reitman has already been presented at Telluride and at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Inspired by the journal Matt Bai's "The Truth Is Out: The Wek Politics Went Tabloid", Thr Front Runner recounts the rise and fall of Democratic candidate Gary Hart (Hugh Jackman) in 1988, forced to make the presidential nomination of the United States of America after a sex scandal involving him and model Donna Rice Hughes.

In the cast, in addition to the Australian protagonist, also Vera Farmiga, J.K. Simmons and Alfred Molina ..

The same director and screenwriter will be present at the opening of the Piedmontese kermesse. The Front Runner will arrive in Italian theaters starting on February 21st with Warner Bros. Entertainment Italia.

Also, on Twitter --

Torino Film Festival
@torinofilmfest

THE FRONT RUNNER diretto da @jasonreitman con @realhughjackman, @verafarmiga, il premio Oscar® J.K. Simmons, Alfred Molina, aprirà il prossimo @torinofilmfest presentato dal regista! #TFF36 #opening in sala dal 21 febbraio 2019 distribuito da @warnerbrosita

Translated from Italian by
Microsoft
The FRONT RUNNER directed by @jasonreitman Con @realhughjackman, @verafarmiga the Oscar ® J.K. Simmons Award, Alfred Molina, will open the next @torinofilmfest presented by the Director! #TFF36 #opening in the room from 21 February 2019 distributed by @warnerbrosita

Is this the first foray into Continental Europe for the movie?






Jo

[jo]

Great photo gallery of Hugh ( and Jason and moderator) during the Q&A for the Savannah film festival --




www.savannahnow.com/photogallery/GA/20181029/NEWS/102909990/PH/1