February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Movie hunk Christian Slater has stepped into the role of Tom, while “Sweet Home Alabama” cutie Josh Lucas will play the Gentleman Caller. Also in the cast are Jessica Lange, as the steely Southern belle, Amanda Wingfield, and Sarah Paulson as the fragile, dreamy Laura.
Former and — sorry, Pierce — forever Bond Sean Connery may be one of the sexiest men alive, but that doesn’t mean you’d want to live next door to him. Or to any who belong to him, for that matter.
According to Dr. Burton Sultan, whose expensive New York apartment borders the one owned by the Connery family, the Scots’ ongoing construction has produced “deafening noise, fumes, dripping water, cracked walls and an infestation of rats.”
Now, to most of us, that sounds like just another day in the evil lair of [name your favorite Bond villain]. But this is real life, as opposed to reel life, and the doctor didn’t pay $2 million for his flat to partake in some homemade special effects.
And if the noise, water, rats and fumes weren’t bad enough, when the good doctor went upstairs to complain, he was appalled by the actor’s appearance — to say nothing of his demeanor.
The London tabloid The Sun reports that Dr. Sultan’s visit found Connery “in his bathrobe, unkempt and disheveled.” The suave screen sleuth was apparently unmoved by his neighbor’s complaints. So things, naturally, got a little heated.
“Connery’s behavior was that of a rude, foul-mouthed, fat old man,” Sultan sniffed to the Sun. To which Sir Connery growled, “Ridiculous.”
Speaking of things Bond and coarse, the news out of the 007 camp is that the next film in the series will show the supersleuth at the beginning of his career — back when he had just attained double-O rank and was still wet behind the ears.
Martin Campbell who will direct the 21st Bond film, “Casino Royale,” told the New York Daily News that his aim is “to put a bit of the dash back in Bond.” That means skipping the lion’s share of special effects and going for a more plot-driven film, which is closer to Ian Fleming’s original vision.
“By the end of the movie, the character will have been forged into the wiser, harder Bond we know,” he said. But audiences will see another dimension to the famous hard man.
“The door is open for Bond emotionally,” Campbell said. “I’m looking to humanize him a bit.”
Currently on the short list to fill the famous wing tips: “Nip/Tuck” star Julain McMahon and Oscar nominee Clive Owen.
Most actresses enjoy wearing expensive, borrowed baubles to movie premieres. But then, most actresses are not Kiera Knightley.
The British ing