‘Being Flynn’ Trailer – Robert De Niro And Paul Dano Deal With Another Bullsh*t Night In Suck City
After a promising start that included sweet, gentleAbout a Boy,Paul Weitz’s career hasn’t been doing so well these past few years. His more recent work includeAmerican Dreamz,Cirque du Freak, andLittle Fockers, none of which are exactly creative smashes. But if the moving trailer for his next project,Being Flynn, is any indication, Weitz could be on his way up again.
Based onNick Flynn’s acclaimed memoirAnother Bullshit Night in Suck City,Being Flynncenters around the relationship between a young writer (Paul Dano) and his absentee father (De Niro). The two cross paths one night at a homeless shelter, where the son works and the dad is seeking a room. Watch the trailer after the jump.
[viaThe Playlist]
It’s here that I’ll admit my opinion of the trailer is probably colored by the very effective use of both “Helplessness Blues” by Fleet Foxes and “The Shining” by Badly Drawn Boy (who once provided an excellent soundtrack forAbout a Boy). Still, I don’t think I’m completely imagining what look like two compelling performances from Dano and De Niro. Plus, while we don’t get to see too much of the supporting players,Julianne Moore,Olivia Thirlby,Dale DickeyandLili Taylorare all reliably strong performers.
What worries me more is the tone of the film. In the trailer,Being Flynnseems to strike that sweet spot right between touching and schmaltzy — but it’s also easy to imagine the actual film going too far in the latter direction if Weitz pushes the sentiment too far.
Being Flynnis due for a spring 2012 release, though an exact date has not been announced.
Adapted from Nick Flynn’s 2004 memoir Another Bulls-t Night in Suck City, the new dramatic feature from Academy Award-nominated writer/director Paul Weitz tells the story of a young writer, Nick (portrayed by Paul Dano), who takes a job at a homeless shelter – where one night he discovers his long-absent father Jonathan (two-time Academy Award winner Robert De Niro) seeking a bed. Julianne Moore portrays the writer’s mother Jody; and Olivia Thirlby portrays Denise, a worker at the shelter.
