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Posted: |
Jun 30, 2017 - 3:24 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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In 2009, Day-Lewis starred in the musical NINE, in which famous film director "Guido Contini" (Day-Lewis) struggles to find harmony in his professional and personal lives, as he engages in dramatic relationships with his wife (Marion Cotillard), his mistress (Penelope Cruz), his muse (Nicole Kidman), and his mother (Sophia Loren). The film was based on the Broadway musical "Nine," which had a book by Arthur Kopit and music and lyrics by Maury Yeston.
Judi Dench plays Guido's costume designer in the film. When Dench was cast, her manager (who also manages Daniel Day-Lewis) sent the script to him, and he in turn called up the director Rob Marshall. Marshall stated in an interview that he thinks Day-Lewis is the "best" actor around, and that he never considered offering him the part because he didn't think he would take it. Day-Lewis himself was keen to take a break after his last film, but said he knew that making the film would be an unbelievable experience. Day-Lewis and Judi Dench had previously worked together onstage in a 1989 production of "Hamlet", as Hamlet and Gertrude. Day-Lewis infamously broke down during a scene and abruptly left the stage, never to return. Before filming began for NINE, Day-Lewis sent Dench a note saying, "I promise not to run out on you this time."
Day-Lewis stayed in character off set, even speaking with an Italian accent at all times. Day-Lewis was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical. He lost to Robert Downey Jr. for SHERLOCK HOLMES. The film's soundtrack album was released by Geffen Records.
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Posted: |
Jun 30, 2017 - 4:10 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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In his most recently released film, Daniel Day-Lewis starred as Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg's LINCOLN. The 2012 film focused on the President's struggles with the Civil War's continuing carnage on the battlefield as well as the fight with many inside his own government on the decision to emancipate the slaves.
A 21 August 2005 Parade Magazine item mentioned that Liam Neeson had been signed to star as Abraham Lincoln and that shooting was to begin after Spielberg finished production on MUNICH (2005). In 2008, Spielberg told the German magazine Focus that he wanted to begin principal photography in early 2009, the year of the president's 200th anniversary; however, well into 2010 LINCOLN was stuck in development, but Liam Neeson was still the front runner in playing the title role.
Ultimately, Liam Neeson decided to drop out. According to Neeson, he felt he was too old to play the part after waiting so many years for the project to get the go-ahead. After this news, and ten years of development, Steven Spielberg finally decided he would only "make LINCOLN if Daniel Day-Lewis decided to play him, and I would not make LINCOLN had Daniel decided not to play him."
Daniel Day-Lewis originally turned down the role of Lincoln, sending Steven Spielberg this letter: Dear Steven. It was a real pleasure just to sit and talk with you. I listened very carefully to what you had to say about this compelling history, and I've since read the script and found it - in all the detail of which it describes these monumental events and in the compassionate portraits of all the principle characters - both powerful and moving. I can't account for how at any given moment I feel the need to explore one life as opposed to another. But I do know that I can only do this work if I feel almost as if there's no choice; that a subject coincides inexplicably with a very personal need and a very specific moment in time. In this case, as fascinated as I was by 'Abe,' it was the fascination of a grateful spectator who longed to see a story told rather than that of a participant. That's how I feel now in spite of myself, and though I can't be sure this won't change, I couldn't dream of encouraging you to keep it open on a mere possibility. I do hope this makes sense Steven. I'm glad you're making the film. I wish you the strength for it and I send both my very best wishes and my sincere gratitude to you for having considered me. Daniel.
Despite Daniel Day-Lewis' misgivings, reportedly it was Leonardo DiCaprio who convinced him to take the role after Spielberg told him that Day-Lewis declined. It is unknown how DiCaprio convinced Day-Lewis to take the part. The 20 November 2010 Los Angeles Times reported the casting of Day-Lewis while noting that Liam Neeson had become too old for the part at age fifty-eight. LINCOLN was assassinated at age fifty-six and Day-Lewis was only fifty-three at the time of the article.
Sally Field was so determined to play Mary Todd Lincoln, she begged Spielberg for the chance to screen test alongside Daniel Day-Lewis. Spielberg believed she was too old to play the part, but Field was adamant. She recalled, "I'm ten years older than Daniel and twenty years older than Abraham Lincoln's wife was and Steven told me he didn't see me in the role. But I knew I was right for this part and begged him to let me audition for it. He was kind enough to do that and Daniel is such a sweetheart that he flew over from his home in Ireland to screen test with me. I'll love him forever for that."
Once Daniel Day-Lewis decided on the voice that he would use to portray Lincoln, he sent an audiotape of it to Spielberg in a box with a skull and crossbones on it, so no one but he would hear it first. During production, the part of Abraham Lincoln was listed on the call sheet as being played by Abraham Lincoln, not Daniel Day-Lewis. Taking a cue from his star, during the three and a half months of filming, Steven Spielberg addressed his actors in character: he called Daniel Day-Lewis "Mr. President" and Sally Field "Mrs. Lincoln," or "Molly". Additionally, he wore a suit every day on set: "I think I wanted to get into the role, more than anything else, of being part of that experience - because we were recreating a piece of history. And so I didn't want to look like the schlubby, baseball cap wearing 21st century guy; I wanted to be like the cast."
Afterward, describing his experience playing Abraham Lincoln, Daniel Day-Lewis said, "I never, ever felt that depth of love for another human being that I never met. And that's, I think, probably the effect that Lincoln has on most people that take the time to discover him... I wish he had stayed (with me) forever."
Daniel Day-Lewis announced that if he won his third Academy Award for LINCOLN, he would retire from acting for five years. He did end up winning the award, thus becoming the first actor to receive an Oscar in a film directed by Steven Spielberg. (Mark Rylance would repeat the feat in 2015 for BRIDGE OF SPIES.)
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Ultimately, Liam Neeson decided to drop out. According to Neeson, he felt he was too old to play the part after waiting so many years for the project to get the go-ahead. After this news, and ten years of development, Steven Spielberg finally decided he would only "make LINCOLN if Daniel Day-Lewis decided to play him, and I would not make LINCOLN had Daniel decided not to play him."
That's strange, given that Lincoln always looked ten years older than his age. But Liam would never have obliterated his own persona as DDL did.
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