Sundance: Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Keaton Movies Premiere Without Either Actor in Attendance
At the second night of the year’s Sundance Film Festival, two high profile dramas premiered to packed houses in the Eccles Theater — but neither of these had a chair reserved for their direct actors.
“Ironbark,” a historical drama about a mild-mannered businessman turned spy for the British authorities during the Cold War, did not have its celebrity Benedict Cumberbatch in presence.
“Worth,” the story of an attorney responsible for the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, was also missing its top man Michael Keaton.
Both celebrities are abroad filming different jobs during Sundance. But they sent word via two unique mediums.
Cumberbatch, who’s in New Zealand shooting Jane Campion’s movie”The Power of the Dog,” listed a brief movie that played his film. “I’ve always wanted to go to Sundance,” he said from the message, taken against the background of green shrubs. “I hope you like’Ironbark.’ Know that my thoughts are with you.”
COPYRIGHT_BP: Published on https://bingepost.com/sundance-benedict-cumberbatch-michael-keaton-movies-premiere-without-either-actor-in-attendance/11261/ by Cecilia Jones on 2020-01-25T08:37:58.000Z
Keaton, who’s at Romania creating the action film”The Asset,” requested his”Worth” co-star Amy Ryan to see prepared remarks ahead of their movie screened. “This picture usually means a lot to me personally,” Keaton said through Ryan, with a reminder about how the nation came together from the days following the Sept. 11 strikes. “Here is the story of exactly what easy decency can seem like”
Keaton added:”Love the movie. Love Sundance. Go easy on the swag. Peace.”
The two films, that can be based on true stories, are available on the Sundance marketplace, and they’re anchored by powerful lead performances. Cumberbatch moved to amazing lengths to shed weight, working with a nurse and restricting his food consumption, to depict Greville Wynne, a guy who played a critical role in supplying wisdom which ended the Cuban Missile Crisis. And after”Birdman” and”Spotlight,” Keaton continues his series of recent powerful onscreen endings as Kenneth Feinberg, the Special Master of the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund.
Producers usually attempt wrangle ability to the snowy mountains of Utah, so that they could appeal audiences — and buyers — at post-screening Q&As. By doing this, the conventional wisdom holdsthey could convince prospective vendors their indies have exactly what it takes to conquer the box office. It is too early to know who will bid “Ironbark” or even”Worth.”
Despite a quieter Friday night, there’ll be some celebrity power hiking throughout the Park City snow. The guest list for this year’s festival includes Hillary Clinton (the topic of a four-hour Hulu docuseries), Taylor Swift (who opened her Netflix opening-night documentary”Miss Americana” on Thursday), Andy Samberg (“Palm Springs”) and Kerry Washington (who made the documentary”The Fight”).
