Irish Eye on Hollywood: Brosnan in Polanski's 'Ghost Writer'

The 1980s were very good to director John Landis and actor Dan Aykroyd. Landis directed a string of blockbuster comedies, from National Lampoon’s Animal House and The Blues Brothers to Trading Places and Coming to America. (Landis was even tapped to direct the iconic “Thriller” video by the late Michael Jackson.) Aykroyd, meanwhile, starred in several of those Landis flicks, as well as Ghostbusters and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Now, Landis and Aykroyd are teaming up to bring a tale of Irish immigrants and murder to the big screen. The film, set to begin filming soon, is tentatively entitled Burke and Hare, and explores two Irishmen in 19th-century Scotland who made a fortune digging up bodies and selling them to doctors for research. Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Run Fatboy Run) and David Tennant are also slated to star in Burke and Hare.

Irish short films may be represented at the 82nd annual Academy Awards in March. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently announced that Ireland’s Brown Bag Films will be among those considered for nomination for their short film Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty, directed by Nicky Phelan and produced by Darragh O’Connell. Short films undergo an extended nomination process, with nearly 40 films eventually being narrowed down to the five final nominees, which will be announced on February 2.

Ken Bruen (The Guards) wrote the novel. William Monahan (The Departed) wrote the screenplay. And Colin Farrell is starring in it. So London Boulevard, currently filming, should be a treat for Irish movie fans. Also starring Kiera Knightley, London Boulevard is a kind of updated version of the film classic Sunset Boulevard. Bruen’s novel revolves around an ex-convict whose only job prospect after prison is to work as muscle for a loan shark. But when he meets a beautiful woman, and also lands work fixing things up around the house of a rich actress, he figures his luck might finally turn around. Of course, it doesn’t, which becomes abundantly clear when his past catches up with him. Look for London Boulevard to hit screens later this year.

​
Nster.com