It was only a few months ago that rumours began circulating that shots of Colin Farrell's manhood had to be trimmed (ouch) from the upcoming drama A Home at the End of the World because its sheer massiveness was distracting viewers from the sensitive events happening elsewhere in the frame.
Now, in further Farrell sex news, we hear that Oliver Stone's Alexander has been delayed because there is a little too much same-sex action between the Castleknock lothario and one Francisco Bosch, who plays some sort of Persian eunuch. Warner Brothers denies the story: "Any speculation that the studio is trying to cut scenes from Alexander based on their depiction of the sexual relationships of the lead character is false," production chief Jeff Robinov thundered.
Big-screen beckons Binchy
Despite single-handedly keeping airport bookshops in the black for several decades, Maeve Binchy, one of this newspaper's most distinguished alumni, has not been particularly well served by the movies. Of the three films made of her novels, only Pat O'Connor's twinkly Circle of Friends (1995) made any serious noise. So it is cheering to hear that Noel Pearson's Ferndale Films is due to begin shooting a major adaptation of Binchy's Tara Road next week.
Directed by the distinguished Scot Gillies MacKinnon, the picture, which concerns an American and an Irish woman who swap homes, stars Andie McDowell, Ruby Wax and Stephen Rea. Filming will take place in Dublin and South Africa.
When slackers sue
In a case that could have worrying ramifications for just about every young writer embarking on a first novel or screenplay, some of the individuals on whom director Richard Linklater based the characters in his priceless 1993 slacker comedy Dazed and Confused are suing Universal Pictures because they have had to endure ridicule, discrimination and humiliation daily, and because people look at them oddly from time to time.
In an unrelated and entirely fictional incident, Bob Dylan is taking the creators of The Magic Roundabout to court for portraying him as a lazy, confused rabbit.
The choice is still yours
Readers still have a few days to register their votes in the People's Choice section of the AIB Irish Film and Television Awards, which will take place on October 30th. The relevant categories are Best International Actor, Best International Actress, Best International Irish Film, Best Irish Film and TV Personality of the year. The closing date is either October 18th or 22nd, depending on the award; full details of how to cast your vote can be found at www.iftn.ie/awards.
Reel News was deeply disappointed not to find UTV's fabulous Julian Simmons among the nominees and was forced to seek solace by staring longingly at a tiny photo of Grainne Seoige.
Dead funny
What a pleasure to see the wonderful British zom-rom-com Shaun of the Dead sitting comfortably in the US top 10. The picture, which grossed more last week than its big-budget zombie rival Resident Evil: Apocalypse, even managed to win over George Romero, director of the original Dawn of the Dead.
"He kind of actually saw a proper movie and was flattered and liked it," Shaun's star and writer, Simon Pegg, says. "He said it was his favorite-ever zombie film aside from his own. It's the best praise we ever got."
dclarke@irish-times.ie
