Vincent D’Onofrio To Play Harvey Weinstein In Adaptation Of Peter Biskind Book?
Sometimes a trade headline catches my eye and I can do nothing but stare at it for a few moments in disbelief. This is one of those times.Peter Biskind, the rabble-rousing chronicler of Hollywood, spilled a lot of secrets about the 1990s American indie film scene inDown and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance and the Rise of Independent Film. (‘Chronicler’ is being generous, according to some who claim that Biskind fabricates or selectively reports facts and events.)
Now the book is, improbably, becoming the basis for a film calledDown and Dirty, for whichVincent D’onofriohas been tapped to star as Miramax co-founderHarvey Weinstein. What I’d give to hear any phone call between the mogul and actor discussing this project.
The project was announced some time ago, butScreen Dailyreported the casting news, and doesn’t give many more details aside from basics about the picture’s production company. (Yamani Pictures, the same company behind the upcoming Richard Pryor biopic.)
Down and Dirty Picturesis a tremendously entertaining book, whether or not it is quite as factually accurate as Biskind would like us to believe. It focuses on Miramax as the poster child of the ’90s indie scene, and, as this Publisher’s Weekly quote mentions, paints many of the participants in unflattering light.
In a trade report that has D’onofrio playing Harvey Weinsten, here’s the weirdest bit: “BesidesDown And Dirty, other titles on Yamani’s 2010-11 production slate include Bill Condon’s Richard Pryor filmIs It Something I Saidstarring Eddie Murphy.” Guessing that Eddie Murphy mention is a mistake on Screen Daily’s part right now, so don’t pay it much mind.
