Have you ever directed a play that stars your significant other and suddenly found yourself obsessed with one of your actors until you slowly think you're losing your mind? Such is the story of The Letter (formerly The Stare), which stars Winona Ryder as the director in question and James Franco is the actor with questionable motives.
The thriller is directed by Jay Anania (Shadows and Lies), who was Franco's former teacher and an instructor at NYU, and a new trailer is now online for the movie, likely to promote the movie's premiere at the Cincinnati Film Festival next month. Lionsgate is also set to release the movie, likely via VOD, but currently there's no release date, so enjoy the synopsis in the mean time.
Martine Jamison (Ryder) is a NY theatre director beginning rehearsals for a new play starring her boyfriend Raymond (Josh Hamilton) opposite a young beauty. They are joined by an unknown newcomer, Tyrone (Franco), who develops a peculiar fascination with Martine and is openly hostile to all others. As rehearsals continue, Martine has periods of disorientation that quickly deteriorate into vivid hallucinations as she becomes convinced someone is trying to poison her. As Martine's mental state devolves she begins to rewrite her play...and art and life become inseparable.
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Actor James Franco has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments since his notable performance as Daniel Desario in Freaks and Geeks, most recently winning an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his role as Scott Smith in Milk. With disarming charm and the acting chops for anything from drama to comedy to action pics, Franco pretty much has his pick of roles.
Before heading off to Ireland to star opposite his Pineapple Express co-star Danny McBride in Your Highness, Franco will star in the indie film In Praise of Shadows, written and directed by Jay Anania, head of the directing program at NYU, where Franco just completed his first year of graduate school. Franco is also producing the film through his Rabbit Bandini Prods. banner. Said Anania about Franco:
In Praise of Shadows tells the tale of William Vincent (Franco), a man who returns to New York City after years in exile to rescue the woman he loves from mobsters. The budget for the film is less than $10 million.
Posted 06.10.09 by BrentJS