Tag: Casino Jack

SLIFF 2010: An Evening With CASINO JACK & Kevin Spacey

On Thursday, the St. Louis International Film Festival Opening Night Gala was the special screening of CASINO JACK. The tribute to St. Louisan & filmmaker George Hickenlooper happened at the Tivoli prior to the screening of his film CASINO JACK.

George was a previous Cinema St. Louis Award winner. Several people from George’s professional and personal life spoke along with clips from his work being shown. CASINO JACK actor Spencer Garrett (Tom DeLay in the film) and George’s producing partner Michael Beugg (“Up in the Air,” “Little Miss Sunshine”) were two of the speakers at the Tribute. Others speaking included Sue Gummersbach (George’s aunt), who read statements from his mom and dad; Joe Schulte (SLUH teacher of George’s); Art Holliday (KSDK-TV news anchor whose documentary “Johnnie Be Good” was being Executive Produced by George); and Bill Boll (SLUH classmate and composer of score for several of George’s early films).

Cliff Froehlich: Executive Director of Cinema St. Louis and MC of the Evening

Sue Gummersbach: George Hickenlooper’s Aunt

Joe Schulte: George Hickenlooper’s Teacher At SLUH (Saint Louis University High)

Art Holliday

Bill Boll

Michael Beugg

Spencer Garrett

What could have been a somber evening was turned into a warm celebration of the life and work of George Hickenlooper thanks to some great stories from his family and friends and a wonderful surprise appearance by Kevin Spacey. The audience response to CASINO JACK was very enthusiastic to George’s final and, perhaps, best directorial work.

Kevin Spacey

After the film, Spacey and Garett conducted a Q & A with the audience. Everyone was impressed on how lovingly both actors spoke about the film and Hickenlooper, how Spacey had to put all projects on the back-burner to promote the film for George, and how as professionals both of these actors were able to put aside personal opinions for the roles.

Kevin Spacey and Spencer Garrett Q & A

Both Spacey and Garrett joked on how fellow actor, Jon Lovitz, stole every scene he was in. Every question from the audience was answered and it was so endearing to hear from Hickenlooper’s family & friends. It was a wonderful beginning to SLIFF 2010!

Kevin Spacey, Melissa From WAMG , Spencer Garrett

Have a look at more of our pictures from Thursday evening. Enjoy!

Tribute to George Hickenlooper will open the 19th Annual Stella Artois St. Louis International Film Festival

This came to us on Thursday from Cinema St. Louis.

CASINO JACK to follow Hickenlooper tribute

Because of the tragic, unexpected death of native St. Louisan George Hickenlooper on Oct. 30, the 19th Annual Stella Artois St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF), held Nov. 11-21, is altering its plans and mounting a tribute to the filmmaker.

The festival is slated to open with the St. Louis premiere of “Casino Jack,” directed by Hickenlooper. Featuring a buzz-generating performance by two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, the film chronicles the rise and fall of disgraced super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

The “Casino Jack” screening – at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, at the Tivoli Theatre, 6350 Delmar Blvd. – will continue as planned. But SLIFF is cancelling the cocktail party that was to precede the film and is instead devoting a tribute program to Hickenlooper, a former Cinema St. Louis Award winner.

The tribute will take place from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Tivoli. All “Casino Jack” ticket-holders are welcome to attend the tribute. Seating will start at 6 p.m. and continue throughout the program until the 8 p.m. start of the film. Everyone who attends the tribute must have a “Casino Jack” ticket.

The program will feature a clip reel of career highlights, including excerpts from Hickenlooper’s early 8mm shorts and such key professional work as “Hearts of Darkness,” “The Low Life,” “Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade,” “The Big Brass Ring,” “The Man From Elysian Fields,” “Mayor of Sunset Strip,” and “Factory Girl.” Family members, friends, and professional colleagues – including “Casino Jack” actor Spencer Garrett – will speak on Hickenlooper’s life and work. “Casino Jack” will then screen immediately following the tribute.

Tickets for “Casino Jack” and the tribute are $12, $10 for Cinema St. Louis members and students with valid IDs. They can be purchased in advance at the Tivoli box office or online at tickets.landmarktheatres.com.

The fest schedule and a complete list of films (with descriptions) are available at the Cinema St. Louis Web site (http://www.cinemastlouis.org/). For more information, the public should visit the CSL Web site or call 314-289-4150.

Please read Jim Batts’ heartfelt tribute here and watch the trailer for CASINO JACK.

Cinema St. Louis Announces Lineup for 19th Annual Stella Artois St. Louis International Film Festival (Nov. 11-21, 2010)

The stars are getting ready to shine at the 19th Annual Stella Artois St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) next month – November 11th throught the 21st. SLIFF will screen nearly 340 films: 200 shorts, 90 features and 48 documentaries. This year’s festival features a record 162 programs, with 44 countries represented. The fest will host more than 100 filmmakers and related guests.

The festival opens with the St. Louis premiere of CASINO JACK, directed by native son George Hickenlooper, a former Cinema St. Louis Award winner. Featuring a buzz-generating performance by two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, the film chronicles the rise and fall of disgraced super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

 

Other prominent films featured in the festival include:

BLUE VALENTINE

 

THE BLACK SWAN

THE ILLUSIONIST

RABBIT HOLE

ANOTHER YEAR

THE DEBT

MADE IN DAGENHAM

127 HOURS

WINTER’S BONE

The fest schedule and a complete list of films (with descriptions) is now available at the Cinema St. Louis Web site (www.cinemastlouis.org).

Major awards to significant filmmakers:

  • Lifetime Achievement Award: Stacy Keach (star of “Fat City,” “The Long Riders,” “Imbued,” “Mike Hammer”). Sun, Nov 14th at 1:00 PM – Lindenwood U./Young Hall Auditorium AND Sun, Nov 14th at 4:30 PM – Lindenwood U./Young Hall Auditorium
  • Lifetime Achievement Award: Rob Nilsson (director of “Imbued,” “Stroke,” “Northern Lights,” “Heat and Sunlight”). Sat, Nov 13th at 10:30 AM – Webster U./Sverdrup Room 123
  • Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy: Harry Shearer (director of “The Big Uneasy” and star of “This Is Spinal Tap,” “Saturday Night Live,” “The Simpsons”). Fri., Nov. 12 at 9:30pm – Hi Pointe
  • Contemporary Cinema Award: Stanley Nelson (director of “Freedom Riders,” “Wounded Knee”).
  • Charles Guggenheim Cinema St. Louis Award: Jenna Fischer (star of “A Little Help,” “The Office,” “Walk Hard”).

SLIFF’s primary venues are the following theaters:

  • Hi-Pointe Theatre, 1005 McCausland Ave.
  • Tivoli Theatre, 6350 Delmar Blvd.
  • Plaza Frontenac Cinema, Plaza Frontenac, Lindbergh Boulevard and Clayton Road
  • Webster University, Winifred Moore Auditorium, 470 East Lockwood Ave.
  • Washington University, Brown Hall Auditorium, Forsyth and Skinker boulevards

For ticket information click here or visit www.cinemastlouis.org or call 314-289-4150. Follow them on Facebook here.

Watch The New Trailer For CASINO JACK

Here’s the full length trailer for CASINO JACK starring Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey, Barry Pepper and (yea!) Jon Lovitz.

Synopsis:

CASINO JACK stars Kevin Spacey as Jack Abramoff, a man hell-bent on acquiring all that the good life has to offer, resorting to awe-inspiring levels of conning, scheming and fraudulent antics to get what he wants. Inspired by true events that are too over-the-top for even the wildest imaginations to conjure, Jack parlays his clout over some of the world’s most powerful men with the goal of creating a personal empire of wealth and influence. When Jack and his business partner (Barry Pepper) enlist a mob-connected buddy (Jon Lovitz) to help with one of their illegal schemes, they soon find themselves in over their heads, entrenched in a world of mafia assassins, murder and a scandal that spins so out of control that it makes worldwide headlines.

The film also stars Kelly Preston and Rachelle Lefevre, and is directed by George Hickenlooper (FACTORY GIRL, THE MAN FROM ELYSIAN FIELDS).

CASINO JACK will be in theaters on December 29, 2010. Like it on Facebook here.