25 March 2010
Exclusive: Forest Whitaker Talks Satchmo
What A Wonderful Life to shoot in 2011

http://www.empireonline.c...?NID=27401

Fresh from chopping, lopping and punching his way through sci-fi actioner Repo Men, Forest Whitaker dusted himself off to share an update on his recently revitalised biopic of jazz great Louis Armstrong, What A Wonderful Life.

The movie, which will have Whitaker on both sides of the camera, spans the charismatic trumpeter's life from his birth into poverty in New Orleans to his death in New York in 1971, taking in a goodly amount of toe-tapping and big band brilliance along the way.

"I feel much better about it," Whitaker told us. "We'll start shooting in April next year hopefully. I met with my producers in Paris two days ago and was worried because my budget was so high [but] they assured me it was ok."

Don't expect a conventional Ray-style musical biopic though. Whitaker points to a more elliptical take on Armstrong's life and career, contrasting public perceptions of the man with the behind-closed-doors reality. "It covers his whole life but more from a myth point of view - it's told as two different myths of the same person."

"I didn't know anything about Louis Armstrong's life until I started working on the piece. I just knew some of his songs - mostly his pop songs [because] in a way he became a pop star. Going into his life has been a really interesting journey - going into this guy who connects the world because people like him all over the world."

Whitaker's take on Charlie Parker in Bird was something special - don't be surprised if his second jazz biopic repeats the trick.

Phil de Semlyen

P.S. I know some here have issues with the movie Bird I haven't watched it yet so I can't comment.
[Edited 3/26/10 7:23am]

My only complaint about Bird is that it focused too much on drugs and not enough on music. But, overall, I liked the film.


As for this project, I can't wait!

I love Forest, but he doesn't give me "Louis."

I think Charles S. Dutton may be a better fit.

I wanna know how he got so dang skinny so quick! I hope he didn't do gastric bypass.

next, Benny Goodman?

I actually like Tracy Morgan for Louis Armstrong.

It's got to be hard to do him and not as a comedy routine (no disrespect to Armstrong intended)

NDRU said:

Yeah, but Louis could be pretty rough offstage, from what I've heard.
[Edited 3/28/10 20:43pm]

SCNDLS said:

I don't know, but I hope he puts it back on. He doesn't look well.

PDogz said:

That's why I'm thinking gastric bypass. You can kinda tell.

This sounds like great casting!




Whitaker forever has a place in my heart because of Good Morning, Vietnam.

SCNDLS said:

Yeah I was about to say that it looks to be like he actually did the gastric bypass, but in his defense, he's about the best looking celebrity who has done the surgery. Star Jones looked far better fat than she does now, and Carnie Wilson gained back pretty much half (or more) of what she lost in the first place. I think Forest looks pretty good.

missfee said:

He looks aight but his skin is hanging on his face which gives him an unhealthy look. Like the sudden weight loss was due to illness or something.

Now, if he can just do something about that eye.

SCNDLS said:

The sudden weight loss definitely "appears" to be due to illness (...or God forbid: substance abuse). For me, Forest is just one of those brothers that looks better with a little extra weight. But his eye, in my humble opinion, is part of his character (...and appeal), and actually draws me into him. Besides, there's nothing that could be done for that short of plastic surgery, and that could have a potentially adverse effect.

.
[edited to correct the spelling of his name]
[Edited 3/28/10 3:04am]

PDogz said:

I'm not gonna assume he's sick cuz gastric bypass weight loss often gives the same appearance. But people get lazy eyes fixed ALL the time. He shoulda got that shit done right after Fast Times at Ridgmont High. I love me some Forest but it's a distraction and doesn't add to his acting ability IMO. I keep wanting to ask, "What are you looking at? I'm over HERE!"

who stepped all over his shoes with flour?

Fury said:

His wife is wrong for letting him step out like that.

SCNDLS said:

Whatever has caused his weight loss is certainly none of my business, but if it were due to gastric bypass surgery, it would seem that he'd mention it; instead of suggesting it's due to a vegetarian diet, or an effort to get in shape. Moreover, it didn't seem that he was that morbidly obese in the first place to be an appropriate candidate for such a radical procedure, though I agree that people whom have had gastric bypass surgery often have the same appearance. Nevertheless, I certainly hope he's well & in tip-top condition.

Then I'm assuming his eye condition is due to nerve damage to the lid, and if that's the case, the "fix" involves removing part of the lid, and there's the possibility that the lid can be over-corrected, leaving that eye more wide OPEN than the other. There's more to consider than "just getting it fixed". I only mention that because I'm very close to someone with the same condition, and these were the considerations presented by the neurologist, plastic surgeon, and ophthalmologist, after years of review. The doctors suggested that unless the drooping lid affects the vision, the risk of fixing it might not be worth the possibility of an outcome that's worse than if nothing had been attempted.

I accept that Forest's appearance is a distraction for you, and detracts from his acting ability in your opinion.

.
[Edited 3/28/10 10:12am]

PDogz said:

I didn't EVEN say that shit. I said it does not ADD to it IMO. And LOTS of celebs lie about having gastric bypass or plastic surgery. Star Jones did for YEARS. And I would NOT expect Forest to admit to it because he's always been very private. But I really don't care all that much either way.
[Edited 3/28/10 13:36pm]

NDRU said:

SCNDLS said:

u always fighting with somebody....

Fury said:

Don't start none won't be none

SCNDLS said:

stat-ic...ba da ba ba buh da sta-tic

Fury said:

Lammastide said:

sometimes onstage too...

Stax said:

See... people have TOO much free time these days.

Lammastide said:

so true

Stax said:

Oh my DAMN! I laughed so hard at this madness my fucking asthma flared up:

Fuck Ozzie, Louis was the original Prince of Darkness I kept waiting on his ass to bite the head off a bat or some shit.

SCNDLS said:

Oh, okay I get it now. You see it as a distraction, but it doesn't detract from his acting ability in your opinion. Okay then.

PDogz said:

Okay see now I haven't seen him looking like this!!!! Now I see what you are saying SCNDLS. It does look like he's been ill..I sure hope he's okay.

I'm tried of seeing African Americans in bio pics/true life films.


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[Edited 3/29/10 13:29pm]