LAFF kicks off with Jeff Daniels and ‘Paper Man’
Taking a 180 degree turn from the attention getting fluff of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, programmers for the LA Film Festival have announced that the opening night film will be the world premiere of Paper Man starring Jeff Daniels.
It’s an honest-to-god indie from first-time filmmakers Michele and Kieran Mulroney about a middle-aged writer (Daniels) “caught between the pressures of deadlines, the expectations of his wife (Lisa Kudrow), and the constant presence of the superhero (Ryan Reynolds) who’s lived inside his head since 2nd Grade. And then he meets a girl – a Long Island teenager (Emma Stone) whose friendship shows him that no matter how much it hurts, it’s never too late to grow up ”
The Mulroneys (Kieran is Dermot’s younger brother) are currently listed as co-screenwriters on the upcoming DC superhero adaptation Justice League: Mortal.
Passes are on sale now for the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival, which runs from June 18 to June 28.
Being our hometown festival, LiC will be there bringing you the scoop on what’s what so stay tuned.
Filed under: Film Festivals
Tags: Emma Stone, Jeff Daniels, Kieran Mulroney, LAFF, Lisa Kudrow, Los Angeles Film Festival, Michele Mulroney, Paper Man, Ryan Reynolds
I love Jeff Daniels. I hope this is an indication that this is actually really good, and not just that the film has the best publicity team.
I second the Jeff Daniels love. He’s very underrated, in my opinion.
Happy birthday, jennybee! And to hubby!
Oh, thanks, but it’s not until next weekend. I just meant in the WF that I may choose to save Up for my birthday. It’s nice to have something to look forward to on that day.
i actually LOVE Jeff Daniels
I like Ryan Reynolds too when he’s in something good.
This is certainly more interesting than Wanted which opened the festival last year and more in line with Talk to Me which was the opener in 2007.
That Paper Man synopsis isn’t exactly blowing my skirt up. I’m tired of superheroes (post-modern included) and coming of age family dramas, combining the two doesn’t sound promising.
Wanted was literally unwatchable (I think I threw in the towel around minute 25). Talk to Me was well-meaning, and I mean that to be derogatory.
To end this on an up note, I also love Jeff Daniels, and I really like Ryan Reynolds.
I can’t say the idea behind it leaps off the page for me either, but I like the cast and it’ll be better than a Michael Bay movie.