
The 75-year-old Hoffman went behind the camera for "Quartet," starring Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly and Pauline Collins as aging British opera divas at a retirement home for musicians who put aside past differences for a reunion concert.
Hoffman always wanted to direct, optioning stories, working on scripts, developing projects. He even started out to direct the 1978 ex-convict drama "Straight business calss airline ticket prices Time," in which he also was starring. Hoffman cast the film, worked on the script with several writers and said he "even got myself secreted into San Quentin which is another story in a convict's outfit for about five hours before I got found out."
Clearly, it was Hoffman's passion project, but as he began watching dailies of the footage he had shot, he lost confidence and "fired myself" as director. business calss airline ticket prices Hoffman turned to old friend Ulu Grosbard, who had directed him in "Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?", to finish "Straight Time," but it wound up being an acrimonious shoot as Hoffman continued to try to co-direct and their friendship chilled.
"People will say, `Well, you didn't do too badly, but nevertheless, we all would like to go back. I mean, it just goes under the heading of, I should have done this a long time ago. ... I should have, should have, should business calss airline ticket prices have. I should not have gone into acting. I should have stayed and become a jazz pianist and worked at it until I was good enough. That's the thing I most regret.
After "Straight business calss airline ticket prices Time," it took more than 30 years for Hoffman, a two-time Academy Award winner for "Kramer business calss airline ticket prices vs. Kramer" and "Rain Man," to try directing again. After finishing production on the 2008 romance "Last Chance Harvey" in London, Hoffman told cinematographer John de Borman business calss airline ticket prices to let him know if any interesting scripts came his way for the actor to direct. Soon after, de Borman called Hoffman about "Quartet," which had been adapted by screenwriter Ronald Harwood from his stage play.
Hoffman read it on the plane flying home and was hooked. While his lead players are actors, Hoffman filled up the retirement home with real aging opera singers, "people who had performed in places like La Scala, but no one has rang their phone or knocked on their door in 20 years," he said.
"They're a special breed of people. Everything is heightened. I do think they're business calss airline ticket prices superhuman," Hoffman said. "They're like an exaggeration, kind of, of actors. I mean, we're all horny bastards but they're off the charts. And they're detached from themselves. `How are you doing today, Maurice?' He says, `The voice isn't good.' Not my voice. It's THE voice."
Just like his aging opera stars, Hoffman has found his acting choices diminishing as he ages. A stage star in his 20s, Hoffman hit it big in Hollywood at age 30 with "The Graduate" and had a solid run of leading roles well into his 50s.
"I think supporting roles by definition are two-dimensional. You can't put the third dimension on it, you don't have the screen time to go home and see what their life is like," Hoffman said. "They're supporting the three-dimensional characters, and yes, I guess you do miss that, because you got used to trying to peel that onion in terms of those lead characters that you played."
The exception to losing out on lead roles as actors age "would be people that carry the gun. The people that hold the gun have a longer lifespan," Hoffman said. "John Wayne hung in there, Sean Connery hung in there. If you're business calss airline ticket prices an action star, the gun is a phallic symbol. It's the last thing to age."
Socialite and fashion designer Nicky Hilton made an appearance at The Pool After Dark at Harrah's Resort Atlantic City on Jan. 19. While at the Pool, Nicky hung out with her boyfriend James Rothschild and a few friends as they enjoyed Grey Goose cocktails. Celebrity Photos: January 2013
Octavia Spencer stopped by the TR Suites at Sundance business calss airline ticket prices in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 18 to pick up a pair of Monster DNA headphones as well as listen to DJ's such as Danny Masterson at the Monster DNA DJ Booth.
Butter actress Jennifer Garner picked up daughter Violet from school and took her to Menchies for some frozen yogurt in Brentwood, Calif., on Jan. 14. Violet's dad, Ben Affleck, just won two Golden Globes for his movie Argo. Celebrity Photos: January 2013
Jennifer Connelly filmed scenes for her new movie Winter's Tale in New York City on Jan. 14. After filming, she went for a stroll with her daughter Agnes (pictured here). Celebrity Photos: January 2013
TV's soon-to-be new it girl AnnaSophia Robb stopped by Sirius Radio in New York City to promote The Carrie Diaries, in which she plays the role of a young Carrie Bradshaw. Celebrity Photos: January 2013
Gabrielle Union stopped by Target in Miami Beach, Fla., on Jan. 14 to pick up fresh flowers and the new Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Flexible Hold Hairspray. Looking good, Gabrielle! Celebrity Photos: January 2013
Hugh Jackman, Deborra Lee Furness, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban attend he 2013 G' Day USA Los Angeles Gala held at The JW Marriott at LA Live in Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan. 12. Celebrity Photos: January 2013
Pregnant Kim Kardashian and boyfriend Kanye West went for a romantic stroll in Paris, France on Jan. 11. Kim seemed to be starting to show off a baby bump as she walked in a small white dress. Celebrity Photos: January 2013
Taylor Swift made her first post-breakup appearance as she visited a friend's house in Pacific Palisades, Calif., on Jan. 8. She recently split with boyfriend, Harry Styles. Celebrity Photos: business calss airline ticket prices January 2013
Julianne Hough rocked a pair of short shorts as she enjoyed the day in sunny St. Barts on Jan. 3. The Dancing with the Stars pro and actress did some shopping before taking a short boat trip. Celebrity Photos: January 2013
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A long overdue directing debut. A pity, though, he couldn't get any good actors to be in his movie. He must've business calss airline ticket prices worked very hard trying to drag good performances out of these nobodies. business calss airline ticket prices Why didn't he get some really good actors, like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Zac Efron?
asked if there was anyone he particularly, wanted to sit with (or something like that). He gave his wife a little squeeze and said 'right here', with that twinkle in his eyes and a smile on his face.
Dustin Hoffman, one of just a handful of great American actors still around. Rainman, The Graduate, Ratso Rizzo, Tootsie. Give this guy a lead dramatic role already business calss airline ticket prices people, who cares if he's 75. Hollywood casting agents...what do they know?
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