Here’s What Helen Mirren & Tom Hanks Are Like to Work With

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As a cinephile with a penchant for delving into the lives of filmmakers and their craft, I must admit that conversations with the likes of Marc Forster are always a delight. His latest offering, “White Bird,” showcases not only his exceptional talent as a director but also offers an insightful peek into the camaraderie and chemistry he shares with some of Hollywood’s most esteemed actors.

I recently had a conversation with renowned director Marc Forster (known for movies like ‘Finding Neverland’, ‘Quantum of Solace’, and ‘Monster’s Ball’) during the premiere of his latest film, ‘White Bird’. This World War II-based drama acts as both a sequel and prequel to the 2017 hit movie ‘Wonder’, starring Jacob Tremblay. In this continuation, Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren portrays a Holocaust survivor who shares her experiences of escaping Nazis at a young age with her grandson Julian (played by Bryce Gheisar, who previously appeared in ‘Wonder’). Reports about Mirren being delightful to work with are indeed accurate, and Forster attested to this during our chat — even sharing that Mirren’s real-life humor greatly enhanced her performance as the grandmotherly figure in ‘White Bird’. Forster shared with MovieWeb that:

She infuses her work with a unique charm, showing exceptional talent. What makes her stand out is not just her lengthy career and numerous awards, but also her ability to excel at her job. This longevity and recognition bring a wealth of wisdom, yet she manages to maintain a lighthearted approach, injecting humor into her work. Simultaneously, she upholds the importance of the roles she plays, while subtly conveying a playful spark in her eyes. Truly, she embodies this blend of experience, expertise, and a touch of whimsy.

Forster went on to praise Mirren’s performance in “White Bird”, stating that she greatly assisted her co-star, Bryce, by making him more confident and comfortable during filming due to her presence as an Academy Award-winning actress with a long and distinguished career. In turn, this ease extended to the entire crew, making it all the more impressive.

Tom Hanks Is the Only Person Marc Forster Has Seen Do This

In addition to collaborating with another esteemed Oscar winner, Tom Hanks, who is known for his exceptional charm, Forster shared, “Everyone always says he’s the kindest, most remarkable man in Hollywood.” During their work together on “A Man Called Otto“, Forster mentioned that Hanks continues to astound daily. It’s fascinating to observe such a talented and admired actor who consistently arrives at 8:00 am and remains on set with the crew until wrapping, never retreating to his trailer – a behavior I’ve never witnessed before in anyone. His everyday display of respect, kindness, intelligence, and humility consistently takes me by surprise.

Additionally, Forster clarified his reasons behind creating the Hanks movie, a version in the English language based on the successful Swedish comedy-drama.

We found the book and the film “A Man Called Ove” delightful, and we commented that this new movie is akin to Shakespeare’s works – it could be made anywhere since its themes resonate universally. People everywhere can relate to an Otto or an Ove because such characters are familiar in many families.

Moving forward, Forster – known for his diverse filmmaking career – shared with us that he’s eager to explore both a science-fiction film and a musical. Meanwhile, “White Bird” is currently showing in cinemas, brought to you by Lionsgate.

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2024-10-08 03:05