TORONTO – He may not be the most acclaimed or even busiest actor in Italy, but Michele Morrone is arguably the most followed and adored Italian screen actor outside of his home country. This is of course taking into account the scores of female fans [across all demographics] who circle him at every public appearance like sharks swarming a kill. Morrone rose to fame playing Don Massimo Torricelli, a Sicilian Crime Boss who “courts and seduces” a woman by kidnapping her for 365 days. Following the 50 Shades of Grey act – another book-turned-film about a BDSM affair – Morrone’s 365 film put to rest any doubt that the female gaze is every bit as perverse, or worse, than the male’s.
TORONTO – Soprannominato “picchio” da suo padre quando era bambino, l’attore Pierfrancesco Favino era così innamorato di questo nomignolo che tentò di lanciare la sua carriera sostituendolo con il suo primo nome. Non sorprende che abbia abbandonato quell’idea abbastanza rapidamente, dato quanto sarebbe suonato strano “Picchio” quando veniva chiamato alle audizioni. Non era l’idea più brillante per un nome d’arte, né del tutto commerciabile. Ma perché quel soprannome? …
TORONTO – Nicknamed “Picchio” as a little boy by his father, Actor Pierfrancesco Favino was so enamoured with the moniker that he attempted to launch his career substituting it for his first name. Not surprisingly, he walked that idea back fairly quickly given how odd “Woodpecker” would have sounded being called out at auditions. Not the brightest idea for a stage name, nor entirely marketable. But why the nickname? He was vociferous as a child, given to fits and rages while often stomping on floors and banging walls – hence Picchio. But what his father might have shrugged off as childish petulance, revealed itself as steely determination and grit in his adulthood.
TORONTO – Italian Director Paolo Sorrentino, whose latest movie Parthenope is breaking box office records in Italy, has announced that his next film will be another collaboration (his eighth) with four-time David Di Donatello Winner Toni Servillo. The two famously worked together on the Oscar Winning The Great Beauty, The Hand of God and Il Divo. Sorrentino is not divulging much about the project other than its title – La Grazia – which he says will be a “love story”.
TORONTO – “Anna Magnani è sempre stata un riflesso della sua gente, di dove proveniva. E quindi ci manca una figura come la Magnani: così forte, così autentica, così vera e così professionale” – Attrice Monica Guerritore. Anna Magnani, l’attrice italiana ormai iconica, era una donna matura [secondo gli standard di Hollywood] quando finalmente sfondò con Roma città aperta (1945) di Rossellini…
