Edward Norton in Leaves of Grass

[GreenScar]

Here's an early look at the two characters Norton is playing in Leaves of Grass:



Norton stars in Leaves of Grass as two different brothers. One is a college professor, the other is his identical twin, a hedonistic, pot smoking career criminal. The professor heads home to Oklahoma and ends up wrapped up in a doomed scheme involving the local drug lord.

I'm really not sure how this is even going to be pulled off, but I'm very curious to see it. Edward Norton vs Edward Norton?! We sort of got that in Fight Club - now we'll actually get to see it!

Leaves of Grass is both written and directed by fellow actor Tim Blake Nelson, who directed Eye of God and The Grey Zone previously. In addition to Norton, Tim Blake Nelson will play a best friend, Susan Sarandon will play the eccentric mother of the two brothers, Keri Russell will play a love interest, and Richard Dreyfuss will play the local drug lord. Honestly, this whole concept sounds crazy enough to actually work. I'll definitely be waiting to hear a lot more about this. Maybe it'll show up at Sundance next January? Currently the film is scheduled to hit theaters sometime in 2010.

Source

[JUDGEMENT 4400]

Looks unique

[vegeta88]

Edward Norton is an awesome actor so I hope this ends up working. Movies have attempted this before with some failures in my opinion (6th Day and Replicant come to mind).

I have faith in Edward though, so I look foreward to this.

[tbizzle]

Richard Dreyfuss as a drug lord?! Sounds crazy and awesome at the same time, can't wait to see this. I'm a big fan of Norton

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by tbizzle

Richard Dreyfuss as a drug lord?! Sounds crazy and awesome at the same time, can't wait to see this. I'm a big fan of Norton

[voiceover] It happens sometimes. Drug lords come in and out of our lives like busboys in a restaurant.

[Heart&Soul]

He doesn't look like Walt Whitman.

[quexos]

Norton has been my favorite actor ever since American History X.
I'll be sure to see this one when it comes here.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by quexos

Norton has been my favorite actor ever since American History X.
I'll be sure to see this one when it comes here.

No doubt, I loved him in American History X, but I saw Primal Fear first and that is what really made me blown away by his abilities, than came AHX and I couldn't believe again how fantastic he is, and I've seen every thing he's done since than, so this will be no different.

[GreenScar]

There's a great interview with both Nelson and Norton about this film over at FirstShowing.net. Go check it out. This film has some good buzz coming out of the Toronto Film Fest.

The last interview I did up in Toronto was with two of my own favorite actors - Tim Blake Nelson and Edward Norton. By now you've probably heard about their new film Leaves of Grass (read my review), that Nelson directed and Norton stars in as two brothers, one a stoner the other a professor. I caught up with the two of them the morning after the premiere of their film, so both were in high spirits. We talked about developing the story in Leaves of Grass, figuring out the distinctions between the two brothers, shooting Norton twice in scenes, balancing the humor and action, and maybe even a little about the Hulk.

This interview was so long that it was split into two parts. There is an equal amount of discussion in each video, so I suggest watching both, or at least start with the first one and then see if you want to continue.

This interview was shot using my Flip Mino camera, so apologies for the rough audio. Other interviews I did up in Toronto include Steven Soderbergh and Jennifer's Body director Karyn Kusama with Jason Reitman.

It was a true delight to talk with Tim and Edward - thank you to Cynthia for arranging this. I interviewed Norton last year about Pride and Glory, but it was much more exciting to talk to him about Leaves of Grass this time, especially because he plays two different brothers in dual roles, making it tricky at times to shoot. As you can tell, co-interviews (with two people) always turn out much better, as I mentioned when I ran the Kusama/Reitman interview. Hearing both Nelson and Norton talk about improv together, especially in that second video, was just great to listen to. Leaves of Grass is still looking for a US distributor

[GreenScar]

I had to watch it twice and Norton as Brady had me laughing. This is going to be pretty good methinks.

If last year's Moon taught us anything (other than the fact that studios become quite stupid around Oscar season), it was that getting the same actor twice for the price of one is awesome, particularly if the roles are polar opposites that allow said actor to show their range in one two hour sitting. Hence Leaves of Grass sounds fantastic.

Fandango has posted a new clip from the film that features the first interaction between Bill Kincaid (Edward Norton as Ivy League professor) and Brady Kincaid (Edward Norton as pot dealing hillbilly). While the actor doesn't have a great history in the comedy genre (avoid Death To Smoochy and Keeping the Faith), he has a great cast backing him up here (Susan Sarandon, Tim Blake Nelson, and Richard Dryfuss), and like they say with athletes in a slump, he's due.

Head on over to Fandango to see the clip.

[Darkhawk9587]

Wow, this sure does look unique. I really enjoy Noton's films because I think he can be a very dynamic actor. Seeing him square off against himself is just another reason I believe this. I'll definitely keep my eye on this film. Thanks for the thread OP.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

[voiceover] It happens sometimes. Drug lords come in and out of our lives like busboys in a restaurant.

Hell I forgot how funny I was, those where the days...........

[bingtau]

Another dual role for the Norton. This film looks great and I'm looking forward to it.

[Idioteque...]

Eh Idk how I feel about this. Had it been another actor I'd be turned away from it no doubt about it but because it's Norton I feel obliged to see it. It comes off silly and I hated Keeping the Faith which it seems more on tone with.

And is Tim Blake Nelson a good director? I just don't know. Anyway I'll see it which is supposed to come out this month limited?

I really want to see a preview for Norton's movie with DeNiro, Stone. Curran and Norton proved they're a gem with the simple story of the Painted Veil, they'll do it once again with a thriller.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by Idioteque...

Eh Idk how I feel about this. Had it been another actor I'd be turned away from it no doubt about it but because it's Norton I feel obliged to see it. It comes off silly and I hated Keeping the Faith which it seems more on tone with.

And is Tim Blake Nelson a good director? I just don't know. Anyway I'll see it which is supposed to come out this month limited?

I really want to see a preview for Norton's movie with DeNiro, Stone. Curran and Norton proved they're a gem with the simple story of the Painted Veil, they'll do it once again with a thriller.

If you question Tim Blake Nelson's talent behind the camera, go rent The Grey Zone. That will silence any apprehension you should have about his directing ability.

[jjbsn5192]

Originally Posted by GreenScar

Here's an early look at the two characters Norton is playing in Leaves of Grass:



Norton stars in Leaves of Grass as two different brothers. One is a college professor, the other is his identical twin, a hedonistic, pot smoking career criminal. The professor heads home to Oklahoma and ends up wrapped up in a doomed scheme involving the local drug lord.

I'm really not sure how this is even going to be pulled off, but I'm very curious to see it. Edward Norton vs Edward Norton?! We sort of got that in Fight Club - now we'll actually get to see it!

Leaves of Grass is both written and directed by fellow actor Tim Blake Nelson, who directed Eye of God and The Grey Zone previously. In addition to Norton, Tim Blake Nelson will play a best friend, Susan Sarandon will play the eccentric mother of the two brothers, Keri Russell will play a love interest, and Richard Dreyfuss will play the local drug lord. Honestly, this whole concept sounds crazy enough to actually work. I'll definitely be waiting to hear a lot more about this. Maybe it'll show up at Sundance next January? Currently the film is scheduled to hit theaters sometime in 2010.

Source

it looks awesome!

[Idioteque...]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

If you question Tim Blake Nelson's talent behind the camera, go rent The Grey Zone. That will silence any apprehension you should have about his directing ability.

Actually I'll do that but he needs to have more than one good film. I'm shocked Arquette (David) is the lead lol.

Was O any good? Othello is a great play but is the movie O itself any good?

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by Idioteque...

Actually I'll do that but he needs to have more than one good film. I'm shocked Arquette (David) is the lead lol.

Was O any good? Othello is a great play but is the movie O itself any good?

O isn't bad for a teen movie, the best thing it has going for it is a strong performance by Hartnett. But in the end it's just an average film.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Idioteque...

Actually I'll do that but he needs to have more than one good film. I'm shocked Arquette (David) is the lead lol.

Was O any good? Othello is a great play but is the movie O itself any good?

I thought "O" was pretty good. I liked Mehki Phifer in it. It is more highschool based but still pretty good in my opinion. Worth a peek anyway. Got Em!!

[Idioteque...]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

O isn't bad for a teen movie, the best thing it has going for it is a strong performance by Hartnett. But in the end it's just an average film.

I have no time for average films and I don't have time for teen movies anymore either. The teen movies that I saw as a teen are the ones that'll stay true to me.