Thanks to StudioCanal UK for the heads up on the trailer release! Additional information: The highly anticipated tale of war, ambition, love, murder and betrayal, directed by Justin Kurzel (Snowtown) and starring Academy-Award nominee Michael Fassbender (Twelve Years A Slave, Shame, Hunger) and Academy-Award winner Marion Cotillard (Two Days, One Night, La Vie En Rose) will see a UK release on OCTOBER 2nd. Macbeth is the story of a fearless warrior and inspiring leader brought low by ambition and desire. A thrilling interpretation of the dramatic realities of the times and a reimagining of what wartime must have been like for one of literature’s most famous and compelling characters, a story of all-consuming passion and ambition set in war torn Scotland. MACBETH is from the producers of The King’s Speech and Shame. MACBETH also stars Paddy Considine (The Bourne Ultimatum), David Thewlis (the Harry Potter series), Sean Harris (Prometheus), Jack Reynor (What Richard Did) and Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby). --- Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard look brilliant in this fascinating nearly 2 minute clip.
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The Macbeth Official Trailer!
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TGIF 6.5.15
This is a portrait of Michael Fassbender at Cannes from Scott Gries. He really captures the depth of Michael's blue eyes, and the delicate wispy ginger whiskers of his perfectly handsome, chiseled face. I always look forward to the TGiFassy image because oftentimes, it's an image that I think embodies the highlight of the end of a Fassbender week. And as all the Cannes chatter winds down, and the Macbeth official trailer out, I just love this image.
I was complaining on Twitter earlier today that I was disappointed in the lack of Fassbender/Macbeth coverage in The Hollywood Reporter (THR) and Entertainment Weekly, both of which I have a print subscription to. For the past three issues, THR covered Cannes, but they couldn't be arsed to have one picture of Michael. They did print his name in a brief article in passing, along with a bunch of other celebrities that attended AmFar, but that's it! I'm biased, obviously, but Macbeth is a film event, and it stars two of the best performers of their generation: Michael, and Marion Cotillard. Alas, there are many stars vying for the same attention so I guess the ones with the loudest PR team wins. To conclude Fassy Cannes 2015, there is a new interview video with Michael, Marion, and Justin Kurzel, the director, posted up at Daily Motion.
This weekend, for a second year in a row, I start my volunteer work at the Cinetopia Film Festival here in Ann Arbor and Detroit. I'm a Venue Manager Supervisor. I'll oversee all the volunteers and box office at a Detroit venue where my two screenings will show (one of ten theaters for the entire festival). Michael's 'Slow West' will screen this Sunday evening at a different Detroit theater, and next Saturday in Ann Arbor. Because I have several other volunteer roles through the week, I'm saving my screening for the movie for next Saturday, after the end of my last volunteer shift. This is the fourth year of this new regional film festival and we have expanded it from four days, to ten this year. As much as I love movies and film festivals, it's great to be a part of a hometown film festival that attracts some high quality films and talent.
If you're interested in viewing my photo album for my Killarney and London holiday, visit my Flickr.
TGiFassy!
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TGIF 6.12.15
Michael Fassbender must feel like a juggler in a circus right now because he's been everywhere and conducting a lot of business in support of completed and pre-production filming projects; in both actor and producer modes. One minute he's in Montreal, the next afternoon he's in New York, then the next day he's spotted in London. In all instances, he was mixing business with pleasure. And as my local film festival winds down this weekend after I volunteer for 20 hours, I get to see Slow West Saturday night (it's opening in Canada on Friday). I feel now more than ever it's a great time to show the support that I have had for Michael since 2007 - more about that after the page jump.
TGiFassy!
I feel now is the time to comment on the alarming debate about Michael's personal life with his co-star Alicia Vikander.
We've been through this before - every time Michael has a new gal pal, some people (they are not fans) amp up their participation on message boards where there are discussion threads on Michael Fassbender to express their opinionated outrage. They then use those forums to write mean-spirited ramblings about his personal dating life. Other people hijack the forums to overindulge in adoringly analyzing and promoting the relationship. However, I have not seen it this bad. I have a degree in psychology from a top university, but it still alarms me to observe the amount of passionate obsession some people have invested in dissecting and judging Michael's personal life, and the woman he is hanging out with at the moment.
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| Michael and Alicia at Grand Prix of Monaco. |
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TGIF 6.19.15
A really interesting interview article with Michael Fassbender was posted earlier this week at Independent.ie where he speaks about the Slow West filming (my review after the jump), and how he considers the media a distraction. I like his attitude about not paying too close attention to what is written in the media about him and his work because it's human nature to take to heart most of what is written about the individual, good or bad. So the less newspapers he reads, and the less Internet static that he is exposed to, the more balanced and focused he is on his work and life. Michael also admitted that he gets a little depressed when he's preparing for roles in his really dark films, like 12 Years a Slave. As the sensitive and compassionate man that we know Michael to be, this comes as no surprise. Heck, being the viewer of some of his dark films is a depressing experience (I still refuse to watch Eden Lake again). Michael reveals that he doesn't understand why he's considered a sex symbol (look in the mirror brother), and admits that he's a complicated person. Complicated is good, he's no simpleton or a push over.
The upcoming weeks should give us our second heavy dose this year of Michael as he continues to work on X-Men in Montreal and doing pre-production work for Assassin's Creed, which will be filmed in London starting in September.
TGiFassy!
After volunteering 25 hours for the Cinetopia Film Festival in the past week, I was able to watch six films, and one of them was Slow West.
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| My snapshot of the theater screen before Slow West started at Cinetopia |
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| Silas is deadly but he has a deeply buried heart that yearns for a better life. |
Michael gives a great performance as Silas and I would love to see him be directed by Clint Eastwood in another Western.
Rating: 4/5 Very Good
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Michael is in London Days Before Slow West Opens
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| I look forward to adding Slow West to my Blu-ray collection. |
I was interacting with someone on Twitter yesterday after I tweeted about how some
Michael is not obligated to have a social media presence to be pestered by his fanbase, just because some of them are obsessed to the point where they make up stuff about him just to bicker with one another. All one needs to do is refer to Tom Hiddleson's greatly diminished twitter presence to see that for some celebrities, having a twitter account can do more harm to one's PR than good. Every time that man tweeted something, some deranged dingbats would write rude comments. Frankly, there are just too many unstable people out there in the world, and celebrities take a risk by creating a social media presence, and thereby, indirectly invite these questionable people into their lives. The overwhelming majority of Michael Fassbender fans are good, normal people - it's just the few rotten apples that he has to protect himself from. I've lost count of how many celebrities I read about who had to delete their twitter accounts due to the horrible behavior by supposed fans. I don't want Michael Fassbender to be one of them.
As much as I consider myself a social media professional and enjoy interacting with family, friends, and my worldwide audience - having a Facebook, Instagram or Twitter account is not for everyone, or for every celebrity. We already know that Michael claims to be not so on top of technology - not that he's a technophobe either, but it's obvious that he just doesn't need twitter and for that, I'm very happy.
Lastly, to address a casting rumor regarding Assassin's Creed, it has been confirmed that Michael's gal pal Alicia Vikander will not be in the film, which is scheduled to start filming in London in September. Instead, she'll be in the next Bourne film starring Matt Damon. I love those Bourne movies!
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TGIF 6.26.15
The thing I love about Michael Fassbender is that when he is dressed for a special occasion, he looks absolutely handsome and dashing. And when he's just walking the streets of London in jeans he wore three days in a row, a t-shirt, and sexy-messy wavy short auburn hair, I love it even more because he still looks damn good. He looks real, approachable, and down to earth. If you haven't had the opportunity to meet Michael Fassbender up close, trust me when I say that photos don't often do him justice. Some folk forget that Michael is a human being just like the rest of us and sometimes he looks tired. In the real world, this is called being normal. So to those of you expecting a plastic ass Ken doll actor 24/7/365, move along, Fassy is not for you! Flaws and all, he's perfect just the way he is!
TGiFassy!
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Five Film Remakes That Should be Considered for Michael Fassbender
When I was a kid growing up in the 70s, I used movies to escape and daydream from the mundane of my youth. So it’s no surprise that I would idolize select celebrities over the years and wind up placing my focus on one particular actor these days. Every summer, Hollywood gives us a rehash of an awesome classic movie or a film we didn’t even like back in the day, and this summer is no different. With the success and brilliance of Tom Hardy in Mad Max: Fury Road, it got me to thinking about what films would I like to see Michael Fassbender star in a remake of.
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Here are five films from the 70s, 80s, and 90s that I think would be fantastic if they were re-made with Michael as the lead actor:
Fatal Attraction (1987)
This sexy thriller starring Michael Douglas (Dan Gallagher), give us a glimpse into the dangers of a weekend bootie call with a dangerous colleague. Michael Fassbender is the perfect age to play a rising star lawyer in NYC with a pretty wife and cute kid, a dog and… a rabbit. In the remake, I would love to see a woman of color as either Michael’s wife, or better yet, the crazy mistress played by Glenn Close (Alex). In a 2015 version, with social media and the internet controlling our lives, we can only imagine how the pissed off mistress can seek revenge on Dan through SM after rebuffing her. Co-star suggestion: Zoe Saldana
Taxi Driver (1976)
Films in the 70s were a lot bolder than films are today in this PC society we live in, so I don’t know if Hollywood has the guts to remake this. Also, since it’s such a great classic, and played by the brilliant Robert DeNiro as Travis Bickle, would anyone dare to remake it without fear of it failing spectacularly because no one could top DeNiro’s disturbed loner taxi driver in NYC? In today’s adaptation, Michael Fassbender could perhaps play an Uber driver (no, seriously) who suffers from insomnia and is available at all hours of the day, driving around, and watching all the filth and greed that takes place all around him, until he becomes attracted to one of his riders who also happens to work in the campaign offices of a political figure. Toss in a teenage rising star as a teen prostitute for someone for Travis to save and redeem him, and he’ll appear more like the cool anti-hero that films are lacking today. How about it Hollywood, can’t we consider Taxi or Uber Driver?
The Crying Game (1992)
Set in Ireland – check. Use of an Irish accent – check. Michael’s history of playing a character associated with the IRA – check. The Crying Game is the youngest of my remake requests, but it’s a classic like Taxi Driver that I fear will never get remade, because it’s brilliant as it is. However, when I recently watched this film, I imagined Michael as Ferguson (Stephen Rea’s character), and David Oyelowo as Jodie (Forrest Whittaker). Who would play Dil, I don’t know, but with transgender folk out, loud, and proud these days, the actor for this part could be found. This is a love story with a twist and crazy politics that still ring true today, and Michael could knock this performance out the park with the right script.
Three Men and a Baby (1987)
When this movie came out, it was crazy popular, and I still love it to this day, even though I haven’t seen it in a while. And with that said, it says a lot how this film resonated with me to make it to my top five remake choices. This would be a great comedic adventure for Michael, and I see him playing the role that Tom Selleck played. It will still be set in NYC (yes, this is the third NY based film), and Michael would be the alpha-male architect who reluctantly becomes enchanted with a baby girl who was left at the door of the townhouse he shares with his roommates, with one of them being the father. Co-star considerations: James McAvoy in the Steve Guttenberg role, and Bradley Cooper in the Ted Danson role. Now with these three guys, who in the hell wouldn’t want to see this funny film?
Dirty Harry (1971)
My favorite potential remake of all films, Dirty Harry has Michael Fassbender written all over it! An Irish cop with a bad attitude in San Francisco is confronted with the task of drawing out a completely sadistic psychopath (co-star suggestion: Paul Dano) who is on the loose causing havoc in the city. In order to take this guy out by any means necessary, the mayor needs Dirty Harry. Michael has already confessed that he’s a “complicated” person, so he could understand and empathize with Harry in his no holds barred way of dealing with scum and “punks” on the street. Update the film with current popular drugs and how the killer would use social media to threaten the city and its citizens, and we have Dirty Harry 2020.
These are just a few of the dozens upon dozens of films from these eras that could benefit from a brilliant remake. I don’t like films to be remade just for the hell of it, only when technology and modern themes can be used to reinvigorate these classics for a newer generation, and for fans of the original to enjoy both. So, what do you think of these suggestions? What films do you have in mind that you would like to see be remade with Michael Fassbender in the lead, or co-star in?
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The Official Steve Jobs Trailer
The Official trailer is here! Michael Fassbender as Steve Jobs has knocked this out of the park!
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TGIF 7.3.15
Have a Happy 4th of July weekend! I'll be laying low dealing with ear infection problems due to evil allergies from the rain soaked hells of Michigan living. Meanwhile, if you see comments on the Internet from non-thespians complaining that Michael's accent in the Steve Jobs trailer isn't American enough, challenge them to speak with a perfect Irish accent for a full five minutes in front of witnesses, or, STFU! Danke!
TGiFassy!
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TGIF 7.10.15
The X-Men: Apocalypse cast is suppose to make an appearance this weekend at the annual Comic Con in San Diego. The weekend schedule is not up yet, so I have no idea what time and which day (Saturday or Sunday) for the X-Men panel. I anticipate that Michael will be there, but I won't hold my breath. Michael has been seriously MIA this past week, so wherever he is, I hope he has enjoyed his down time to prepare for the craziness of the next 6 months. If you're part of the FF fan community and you plan to attend Comic Con to see Michael and the X-Men, please feel free to share exclusive pics and information with us by emailing me at simonetvc@gmail.com.
TGiFassy!
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Michael Fassbender and The X-Men at Comic Con!
Michael looked great at the San Diego Comic Con X-Men appearance last night! Here are just select images - the rest are all over internet and at FF@Facebook.
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Here is a 7 minute clip from the Conan O'Brien show at Comic Con yesterday. It's focused on Michael and James' X-Men character's bromance. And apparently the bromance name that won the crowd over is, McBender! :-)
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| Superman Henry Cavil and Magneto - they worked on Blood Creek together! |
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| I love this guy! |
Here is a 7 minute clip from the Conan O'Brien show at Comic Con yesterday. It's focused on Michael and James' X-Men character's bromance. And apparently the bromance name that won the crowd over is, McBender! :-)
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TGIF 7.17.15
This week started off with great excitement of Michael attending Comic Con last weekend, and it's ending with him being on the cover of Entertainment Weekly as Magneto. Did you know that this week's July 24th issue of EW represents the first magazine cover featuring Michael Fassbender this year? Well, before we trip out, his heaviest films are being saved for Oscar season, so expect to see feature articles and him on the cover of some big magazines this Fall. That should make up for the Fassy mainstream media drought of the first nine months of 2015.
Also this week, there was a test screening of Steve Jobs in New York City, and the majority of the feedback was very positive about the film and Michael. In these times when we're so anxious to see the new work of an artist, because we focus so much attention upon them, we can become hasty in wanting to know how good, or bad, a film project is being perceived. Test screenings are developed to gauge audience reactions on a film that has yet to undergo the final editing process. So at this stage, it's important for the director and studio to make note of the constructive criticism, and use the time before the film's world premiere to correct, edit, or even omit problem spots to ensure that the final product is indeed the best representation of the director's vision.
The film that the test screen audience saw on Monday night will not be the one we'll see in October when it's released. So after I read a few complimentary opinions from tweeters Monday night, I had my fill and didn't need to read anymore. I trust that those that matter, are aware of people's thoughts and will confidently make some editorial tweaks so that we can see a brilliant film.
Lost in all the X-Men and Steve Jobs chatter was Macbeth, and that is why I'm using a still from that film this week. I'm really, really looking forward to seeing Macbeth and I have a gut feeling it'll be a double Fassy experience at TIFF in September.
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| On sale Friday! |
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TGIF 7.24.15
In honor of Michael Fassbender doing a live read of the Big Lebowski at Montreal's Just for Laughs today, I found the most dudest looking The Dude photo of Michael! In this highly anticipated live read, directed by Jason Reitman, Michael will be joined by Patton Oswalt and Jennifer Lawrence. I also learned that most of the cast of X-Men will be in the audience to enjoy the show too! I watched the Big Lebowski on Netflix a couple weeks ago and I must say, on this third viewing, I got a few more chuckles out of it, so it would have been a lot of fun to see Michael in this live read.
For more information about the program, go here.
TGiFassy!
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The Dude! (Updated)
Read: Michael Fassbender really pulls the Big Lebowski live read together - The Guardian
Fuck yeah, man, he's the Dude!
Michael Fassbender showed up on stage to a standing ovation (looking hella sexy) dressed in a robe, white shorts and with a white Russian in hand to fill the flip flops as The Dude. (MTV)
Fassbender carried the read with his charm and talent… continuously lighting “cigarettes” on stage — fully engrossed in character, while Jennifer Lawrence sat quietly beside him rolling these stage cigarettes. Gotta love the Magneto and Mystique connection. (MTV)
This must have been so much fun! I was watching the movie on Netflix while they were on stage at Montreal's Just for Laughs. Great job Michael!
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| Michael and Jennifer really need to do a movie together - give Cooper a co-starring break. |
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| A nice full stage, and full Fassy thighs shot! |
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Michael's 'Steve Jobs' say iNo to TIFF! (Updated)
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| TIFF, where the hell is Michael Fassbender? |
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| Steve Jobs would have been revered at TIFF! |
Meanwhile, the overrated, uber exclusive, tucked away in some posh little ski-resort town in Colorado, the Telluride Film Festival, will most likely yawn, then pull out their dick a week before the festival starts on Sept 4th, and nonchalantly announce that they have the world premiere of Steve Jobs at their festival, yawn. I mean, I wouldn't mind attending Telluride one day just to say I went there. The celebrities wear plaid shirts and jeans and it's calm and pretty and stuff. But it's almost like a secret society in how one buy movie passes there (you buy these expensive passes FIRST before having an inkling what will screen there - a true cinephile experience), you have to fly in a private plane to get there, and the producers/studio people who can't be arsed to deal with Canadians go to Telluride instead of Toronto (I'm half serious and half sarcastic).
Realistically speaking, for a film that will be placed under the microscope, and is scheduled to be released in October anyway, I'm thinking that the festival circuit has to be brief for the sake of redundancy and hype fatigue, and to limit pre-release day critical chatter, both good and bad. So, TPTB selected the first North American fall film festival, and the other American festival that is closer to the release date of the film. It's just such an obvious slight to bypass Toronto. I can see skipping Venice, but Toronto... it's right there in between Telluride and New York! Whatever. I'll see the movie with the commoners on October 9th. I just hope in my next update on TIFF, hope remains to see Michael in Toronto. If not, that's ok as he will be very busy filming Assassin's Creed in London.
Future heavy articles on TIFF will be concentrated at my Theatre of Zen blog. So far, it appears that my Michael substitute, Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne, will be at TIFF again for The Danish Girl.
ETA: Here is an interesting article from The Globe which helps explain the behind the scenes competitive drama of film festivals: As Festival Circuit Grows, TIFF Faces Stiff Competition for Film Debuts
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TGIF 7.31.15
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| The font name used for the TGiFassy meme is called, Magneto. How appropriate eh! |
Here is a new still of the lumberjack 80's family man on the down low Magneto from X-Men: Apocalypse. I really enjoy Michael's version of Magneto and I certainly hope that there are more opportunities for him on future X-Men movies. Perhaps a stand alone movie for him, like Hugh Jackman's Wolverine. So while Michael is currently in Montreal working on X-Men, I've been engaged in various discussions about the upcoming fall festival season, and concerned about the lack of no US release date for Macbeth.
I posted a Macbeth debate related link here on the blog from the facebook page of FF on Thursday. However, I removed it a few hours later because there appeared to be some sort of corruption in the embedded facebook code that prompts an advertisement page to pop up when you visit the blog, and that's totally not cool. I've noticed that in the past but I thought it was a glitch in the system, but now I realize it's connected when I add one of my facebook links here to the blog, so, I won't be doing that anymore. Anyway, US fans of Michael's Macbeth film are getting concerned by what we perceive to be the step-child treatment of Macbeth by The Weinstein Company. Here is a film that features Michael Fassbender and Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, in a sexy goth version of Macbeth that's been slightly de-Scottished (a word I just made up but you get my point), and which was filmed in early 2014. It's almost August 2015 and with the European release dates announced by Studio Canal for Macbeth, there has been no word on when Macbeth will be released here in the states. It just gives us pause to ask what the heck's going on, why the delay, why the indifference? One glance at the 'In Theaters and Coming Soon' menu at the Weinstein website and you will scratch your head bald wondering where the hell is Macbeth.
There are August, October, and December release dates of select Weinstein films listed, but Macbeth is not on the release schedule yet. I simply ask, why not? If you visit the Studio Canal webpage, they have the release schedule at the top of the page where you can click on the region of interest, and you will find the Euro release dates of Macbeth. I would appreciate if the Weinstein webpage would at least acknowledge Macbeth and have it listed as, 'coming soon'. There is also the argument that Macbeth will not do well with American audiences, so there is no rush for Weinstein to release it now, especially since he wouldn't want it to interfere with the Oscar chances of his preferred films/performances. Well, why would he spend millions of dollars to buy it just to hide it? You don't buy a movie with Michael and Marion just to sit on it, or do you? If that's the case, just allow it to show at a few fall festivals, and put it in very limited hush hush release in Nov or Dec, and let it be. But obviously, someone, somewhere fears the damage that Macbeth could possibly do to other films in contention, so, let's suppress it for a while and pretend it doesn't exist at the moment. Or perhaps, they'll release it next Feb or March when it's safe and won't cause trouble.
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| Cultured Americans deserve to see the Fassbender/Cotillard Macbeth this year! |
TGiFassy!
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TGIF 8.7.15
Michael's Steve Jobs has been announced to be the closing film at London's BFI Film Festival on October 18th. This is the second fall film festival where Steve Jobs has been officially announced to be screening at. There's still been no confirmation on a possible TIFF screening, and it's well known that Telluride doesn't announce this year's film selections until about two days before the start of the festival on September 4th.
In matters regarding the upcoming award season, I have already started to prepare myself to not get caught up in the hand wringing/pearl clutching, finger pointing drama of the O word: Oscar race. There are far too many Hollywood political parallels and wicked games that come into play in deciding who and what gets nominated, and it really goes back as far as who buys the distribution rights to a film, which really sets the marketing and promotional tone and true support for a film and its performers. I'm reading some tea leaves right now, and let's just say that I will continue to support 110% any recognition Michael Fassbender receives for his hard, dedicated work being an amazing and versatile actor, but I'm going to cheer for him on the sideline, and just watch where the cards strategically fall. Michael will reap the benefits of his talent from the highest echelons of the industry one day - we'll just have to be patient.
I'm having surgery next week to correct nasal problems caused by a lifetime of allergies and sinus suffering. I may post an update on my Instagram post-op for receipts.
TGiFassy!
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New German Interviews with Michael
There are some very interesting things that Michael shares in the interviews: he mentions his recent holiday in Costa Rica and Nicaragua; he likes to keep things simple in his life; he lives a regular non-posh lifestyle (even super cheap hotels); he packs three jeans and seven t-shirts for travel; he's scared to fail in playing a role; and his crazy Irish side permits him to party hard and 'mess up', etc. Some of the things Michael shares in the interviews may sound familiar, but there is a lot of good fresh information too. Michael is honest and forthcoming, and comes across like a healthy, normal, ambitious man in his late 30s. Every time I learn more about what makes Michael tick, I enjoy and admire him and what he offers as an actor and human being even more.
Titles are made up
- Bunte magazine page scan
- Top Career and Great Love - does it work?
- Michael on Karl May movies
- I'm Greedy for an Intense Life
- Michael, When do you Cry?
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Michael with Ridley at Scott's Restaurant in London
It is rare that I update the blog on a Sunday, and it's even rarer that I update it twice! This time we have pictures of Michael Fassbender having dinner with Ridley Scott, his wife Giannina Facio, and Chiwetel Ejiofor at Scott's Restaurant on Saturday, 8 August in London. As news broke last week that Prometheus 2 will start filming in early 2016, surely this dinner discussion focused on particulars about filming. Pics found in tumblr land!
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TGIF 8.14.15
There's nothing to new to update on about Michael as this week comes to a close. TIFF released more film titles for the film festival, but there is no Fassbender film in sight, yet. I'm recovering from surgery so I'll continue to lay low until there is something new to report. I don't smoke or like smoking, but this picture of Michael a few years ago is hot!
TGiFassy!
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