Playing Chet Baker: Filmstew Interview.

[Jocasta]

I think I posted most of this stuff on the old board but I just read it again and thought it was worth a repost.

Hartnett Aims to Stay Cool

Following a seven-month boxing regimen for the upcoming James Ellroy noir The Black Dahlia, the actor gets ready to immerse himself in the ways of the trumpet, Chet Baker-style.
Even though you might not guess it at first, actor Josh Hartnett has been listening to jazz since he was a little kid. But because his tastes run more in the Charles Mingus, Miles Davis and John Coltrane direction, he has had to recently educate himself about the music of Chet Baker for his upcoming role in the 2007 biopic The Prince of Cool.

“I never really listened to Chet,” admits Hartnett, who can currently be seen in Lucky Number Slevin, during a recent interview with FilmStew in New York. “This is like a new thing for me. But both of my little brothers are jazz musicians; one of them plays the sax and the other one plays the drums, and they've been doing it since they were just tiny and they are incredible.”
“We all went up to the Newport Jazz Festival a couple of years ago,” he continues. “We saw Herbie Hanc0ck. It was the 75th anniversary at Newport or whatever it was, and it was Brian Blade, Christian McBride and a couple of other people, all up there together for the final set. It was just astounding. It was legendary and it blew me away.”

And although Hartnett's 2006 thriller The Black Dahlia, which co-stars Scarlett Johansson, Hilary Swank and Rose McGowan, won’t be out from Universal until September 26th, Hartnett says moviegoers should get ready for a unique visual experience, courtesy of veteran filmmaker Brian De Palma. “I've never seen a film look this stunning,” Harnett insists. “It’s beautiful; it’s unreal. It's like you can't quite describe it."

"Dante Ferretti did the sets; Jenny Beavan did the costumes, and so everything is like, visually, perfect," he adds. "Brian obviously set up these amazing shots, and the script is amazing. So if those two get married correctly [on the screen], you're looking at a movie that could really go places. But I haven't seen the full thing together yet.”

But for now, it’s off to trumpet lessons for the 27-year-old San Francisco native. “I'm not going to be able to play trumpet like Chet Baker,” the actor says sheepishly. “But I'm going to be able to learn at least how to play a tune. I'm going to spend a few months getting into that.” That, and squeezing in Resurrecting the Champ, his other upcoming 2007 project, directed by Rod Lurie and co-starring Samuel L. Jackson.

Source.

Thanks Kate.

I was just thinking the other day that, as admirable as it is for Josh to do smaller films that he feels personally fulfilled by, he could benefit from an occasional big, glitsy film. I think The Black Dahlia may just be that film with a huge box office draw. Five excrutiatingly long months to wait.

I am really proud of the kudos that Josh received for his acting in LNS. He really seems to have turned a lot of people around to his talent that weren't necessarily "fans" before. The majority of LNS reviews I have read have been positive about Josh. Some even admit to being quite surprised at what a good job he did in this film. For me, I already "get" Josh's talent, so when I see his performances I just think, "Well, there ya go! I told you so."

I am so excited about Josh's two new film projects. I'm already trying to picture Josh in my head playing the trumpet. I hope he continues to enjoy what he does because we want him to be around for a long, long time.

[Tcup4jdh]

I always thought Josh would be in and out of the business quick. Not because of any lack of talent or skills, but of aggrevation. That the way they do things in Hollywood would just be too much and get on his nerves. So I was always prepared for his latest project to be his last. But with these last interviews, in print and on shows like the Early Show, it's nice to know he's planning on sticking around for the long haul.

[Jocasta]

Yes, things seem to be finally going as Josh had hoped; making the kind of films he wants, films to be proud of; having some control of those projects and even getting involved in the theatre again.

He's also getting great reviews, not just for Slevin but for the Whale too... and I can't imagine two more differing personalities to portray, than Slevin and Donald.
Versatility and talent!

[Kashie]

Originally Posted by olive

For me, I already "get" Josh's talent, so when I see his performances I just think, "Well, there ya go! I told you so."

Yeah