I really wanted to watch this movie, but I couldn't help it... I got distracted by Jamie Dornan and his hottiness all along! Sorry, shame on me... They should have picked someone else for his role though, he has such a magnetic gaze...
I find it amazing how Sacha was able to make this movie for his friend Herve.. after all this time. It's a homage for him, essentially.
Oh Peter Dinklage I expected soooooo much more. It was so obvious that you didn’t want to do this. Why did you do this?
Well, that was a surprise. I almost want to accept this as HBO’s apology for their Fahrenheit 451 adaptation earlier this year. Almost. That film still really sucks.
Writer/director Sacha Gervais recounts the story of the night he spent with iconic French actor Hervé Villechaize while working on an article that never got published. As the story goes Gervasi promised Villechaize that he would tell his absolutely fascinating life story to the world and now 25 years on HBO has produced this film detailing why that promise was made.
If Gervasi’s screenplay is accurate (which it appears to be for the most part) then Villechaize’s life certainly was far more interesting and tragic than I had first presumed. The screenplay never really holds back on the details of the story which helps present a more rounded view of the actor’s life. This can also lead to the film at points feeling more like someone reading a Wikipedia article.
Peter Dinklage is absolutely fantastic, completely disappearing into his role blurring the line between himself and the real Villechaize. His delivery of the iconic line “the plane, the plane” is almost pitch perfect. In a way Dinklage reminded me of David Bradley’s performance as William Hartnell in several Doctor Who projects. Dinklage’s non Game of Thrones performances keep continue to showcase why he was so instantly loved as soon as the first season aired. Given that the GOT cast does not have a reputation for quality outside of the show Dinklage has certainly managed to separate himself from the show in way many of his cast mates have not.
The closing shot is more than a little cheesy and the over emphasis on ensuring that every fact is given can make the film drag, however this does help make the overall sentiment feel more genuine.
I have nothing but respect for Gervasi for finally telling this story as well as for HBO for allowing him to do so. If you have access via HBO Go or Sky Q or anywhere else it is showing definitely check it out.
Fascinating account of the pint-sized actors last days as depicted through the last interview he ever gave. An interesting story, especially for people like me who grew up watching Hervé on Fantasy Island.
Shout by Greg EnslenVIP 6BlockedParent2019-06-27T03:35:06Z
An excellent film with a moving, bravura performance from Peter Dinklage as the haunted "Fantasy Island" actor Herve Villechaize. Surprising, heart-wrenching, and moving. The film centers around a journalist's interview of the actor, which grows from a simple bio fluff piece and develops into something much deeper: a confession.