Paul Schrader had been originally asked to direct David Mamet’s JFK assassination film. Schrader passed on the offer, and hinted that it might have been because of Mamet’s toxic reputation in the industry — he’s a Trump supporter.
Regardless, Oscar-winning director Barry Levinson stepped in to direct the film, reuniting with Al Pacino for their fourth collaboration together, after “You Don’t Know Jack,” “Paterno,” and “The Humbling.” Shia LaBoeuf, John Travolta and Viggo Mortensen were originally attached to star, but are no longer part of the project.
Deadline is now reporting that Jessica Chastain, Bryan Cranston and Brendan Fraser have joined Pacino in the film. That’s a hell of a cast. I’m not surprised either. A few months ago, a producer who got a hold of Mamet’s script told me it was one of the best things they’d read in years.
“Assassination” is a drama about how notorious Chicago mobster Sam Giancana arranged the assassination of President John F. Kennedy as revenge for trying to bring down organized crime, this after the mob helped put JFK in the White House.
The cinematographer is also none other than the ultra-talented Robert Elswitt (“There Will Be Blood,” “Punch Drunk-Love,” “Magnolia,” “Michael Clayton,” “Nightcrawler”).
Too bad the Pulitzer prize winning Mamet isn’t directing, he hasn’t helmed a film since 2008’s underrated “Red Belt”; his credits include “Glengary Glen Ross,” “The Verdict,” “The Untouchables,” “Wag the Dog,” “House of Games,” “Homicide,” and “The Spanish Prisoner.”
Levinson, 80, was all the rage in the ‘80s and ‘90s, a go-to filmmaker for smart, adult-oriented Oscar contenders. He’s been on a dry spell for the better part of two decades now. With that said, his résumé is honestly one of the more underrated in Hollywood: “Diner,” “The Natural”, “Good Morning Vietnam”, “Bugsy”, “Sleepers”, “Rain Man”, “Wag the Dog” and many more.
Levinson also has “Wise Guys,” starring Robert De Niro, in post-production. I hear that one is not good, and is being dumped by Warner Bros, possibly on Max, in early 2025.
Nobody expected a 55-year-old NC-17 movie to be one of the surprise box office stories of the fall. Yet here we are, and this absolutely puts a smile on my face.