Empire Falls

I suppose I should report that HBO is almost done making this into a film.

Without seeing the final product, they’ve already done a bunch of stuff right. Like: Russo, the author, got to write the entire screenplay. Filming was done entirely in Maine, using app. 2600 Maine extras. They managed to not piss off the locals by minimizing the impact on regular life in the three towns where they filmed. They got some serious starpower: Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Ed Harris, Helen Hunt, Aidan Quinn (who was arrested for drunk driving here during filming), Dennis Farina, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Robin Wright Penn. And the state says the production brought in about $250,000 a day, which is badly needed at the moment.

All in all, the movie could end up stinking worse than old haddock in the sun, but that’s besides the point to Mainers. We’ll see if it stays on HBO or if it will be a wide release thing.

Posted by k-pho at November 13, 2003 8:34 AM