Alan Rickman, 67, at the CBGB: The Movie premiere in NYC: would you hit it?
Here are some lovely photos of Alan Rickman last night at the premiere of CBGB: The Movie at the CBGB Music & Film Festival 2013 in NYC. Alan is actually the star of the movie – he plays Hilly Kristal, the man who founded CBGB and helped launch the careers of The Ramones, Blondie, etc. In the film, Alan wore a giant wig and he looked scuzzy and wonderful – here’s the trailer:
All-star cast. And Ashley Greene. HA. I’m actually including a photo of Ashley at the premiere last night. Anyway, I just thought you guys would love to see these photos of Alan since he is a long-time Forever Dong for many. He’s got some new interviews too, in which he is absolutely charming. Here’s one from Moviefone:
Moviefone: What made you want to take on this part?
Rickman: I thought he was completely fascinating in the sense that he started a club that was supposed to honor country music [“CBGB” stands for “Country, Bluegrass and Blues”], and he never got to play any country music there. Along came punk and he was smart enough and open enough and generous enough to listen to what their point of view was. In fact, he became a kind of father figure to all these wild young things.
How did you get into character?
Lots of videos you can watch of Hilly and some private ones I was given. I was able to just watch him for hours, really, walking, talking, being. [The real Hilly died in 2007.]
Had you ever been to CBGB’s?
I haven’t, except in its new incarnation as John Varvatos.
Were you a fan of punk music?
Not really, because I was an art student and a drama student in London in the ’70s. When you say “punk music,” I never thought it included people like David Byrne, but now I know that it does. And also The Police. So I’d have been a bit more down that road than The Dead Boys or Television.
So of the punk bands, who’s your favorite?
Well, I’d say Talking Heads, probably.
What was the toughest part of the shoot?
To be honest, it was shooting it in Savannah in the summer and it was 90 to 100 degrees and Hilly Kristal always wore flannel shirts.
You get to sing briefly in this movie, which I don’t think we’ve seen you do since “Sweeney Todd.” Any plans for more singing roles?
I don’t think you’re going to see me headline in Las Vegas. But who knows?
Rupert Grint is in this too. And he even drops his pants at one point! How hard do you think it is for actors from the “Harry Potter” films to be seen in different roles?
It’s as easy or difficult as people make it for them. They’re all three of them [Grint, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson] great people and all three of them very talented actors. If people have enough common sense, they’ll let them have careers, because, why not?
Have you kept up with their films?
I look forward to seeing Daniel’s new film about Ginsberg and I didn’t see Emma’s film, what was it called… “The Bling…?” I haven’t seen that, but no I stay in touch with them. Rupert is rehearsing a play at the moment so he’s going on stage for the first time. Daniel is ever adventurous and Emma’s gone back to finishing her degree at Brown. So they’re a great threesome.
Up next, you’re directing your second film, “A Little Chaos,” in which you also star as Louis XIV.
I’ve shot it. I’m in the editing room. I’ve run away from the editing to come and do press for this.
What’s changed about movies since you directed your first film, “The Winter Guest,” in 1997?
I guess moviegoing habits. It’s a great deal harder to get a film like that financed because people, generally speaking, want to stay at home and watch movies… It’s becoming harder and harder for movies to be anything other than a big action movie or a cartoon.
Alan was also asked about Galaxy Quest and whether they would ever make a sequel to it, but Alan laughed it off, saying they would all need walkers. So, no Galaxy Quest sequel. Sad! Still, I kind of love that Alan just works on these rather random little projects and he’s still creative and interesting and weird at the age of 67. He’s amazing.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmbGpnbIJze8ClmKeXop6wrLnAp5Zvb4%2BWwaDAx56WnJqXl6y1tMSYpKiumZqssb7EpqCeqpWUtq%2BrzbKamK%2Bfqrmlq9iorJigmamsqsCO