Update - July 29:
Peter's next film is Main Line, directed by Rich Cowan (The
Basket), produced by Millennium Films, with a script by Matt Holloway and Art Marcum.
Cast members include James Spader, Aidan Quinn, Matt Davis and Robin Tunney. Main Line
tells the story of a man (Davis) who goes to a powerful attorney (Spader) seeking his
help in covering up an accidental death. What he gets is a blackmailer that uses the
situation to his every advantage. Filming began this month.
Northfork, created by the Polish brothers, opened in a limited release on
July 11 and quickly received a volume of praise. Roger Ebert gave it four stars, claiming,
"There has never been a movie quite like Northfork... It has the desolate
open spaces of the first, the angels of the second, and the feeling in both of deep
sadness and pity. The movie is visionary and elegiac, more a fable than a story, and frame
by frame, it looks like a portfolio of spaces so wide, so open, that men must wonder if
they have a role beneath such indifferent skies." Peter has the role of Eddie, one of
six slick, black-suited, sales-types hired by the state to "persuade" the
residents of Northfork, Montana, to leave their homes without incident. It's 1955 and this
little town is about to disappear under the waves of a new reservoir.

"The experience of seeing Northfork is a bit like
being inside a dream." ...Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
"A hynotic masterpiece, it grabs hold and won't let go until
you've fallen under its spell." ...Larry Carroll, Filmstew.com
"One of the most hauntingly beautiful films ever made."
...Annlee Ellingson, Boxoffice Magazine
"The movie elegantly mingles drama, comedy, and low-key
spiritual resonance." ...David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor
"You may resist Northfork, but I doubt you'll be
able to forget it." ...Ty Burr, Boston Globe
"Possesses an undeniable haunting grandeur." ...Ann
Hornaday, Washington Post
"Remarkable love letter to the disappearance of the American
frontier." ...Lou Luminick, New York Post
The DVD and video of Purpose hit the shelves on July 22. Purpose
follows the life of John Elias (John Light), the key player in a booming late-1990s
dot.com business. As Elias becomes more and more successful, he's blinded by his newfound
wealth. Can he stay in the business without selling his soul? Peter plays John's father,
and Mia Farrow, Hal Holbrook, and Paul Reiser round out the supporting cast. Businessman
Ronnie Apteker came up with the concept for Purpose having worked in IT himself.
Apteker founded Internet Solutions, and later sent the idea for Purpose to his
friend Alan Lazar, a songwriter with a degree in computer science (among others). Lazar is
well known for his association with SA talent Mango Groove, and he soon became the
director of Aptekers dream concept. The two allegedly broke all Hollywood protocol
merely because they were unaware of the norms, and they are said to have phoned the actors
personally in connection with their roles.
Update - July 2:
Back in January, WorldLink TV launched a new monthly series called "The
Active Opposition" to be hosted by Peter, who would interview celebrities,
public figures, politicians, journalists and other guests who have becomely actively
involved in critical national and international issues. Last month the subject was - The
Nuclear Lullaby: What We Are Not Being Told. For decades, the American public has been
inadequately informed regarding the U.S. nuclear weapon policies and programs, nuclear
testing, and the effects of radiation on human health and the environment. Peter affirmed
that "it's time to end the nuclear lullaby before a deluding sleep leads to very real
nightmares." To view a streaming video of this show, click here. For more
information on this series, read the June 30th article from
the San Francisco Chronicle:
Peter has added a new link for this site under the Archives section. It's called the Ruth Group, which provides regular
News & Links, a Blog and a Forum with one purpose: to give you facts, opinions, and
information about the patterns of behavior in the world that are threatening the peace and
security of us all. Their intent is to help you go out amongst others and engage in
discussion and argument, to challenge, persuade and change - wherever you can - such
behavior and support for it. You'll find other links to groups you can join or contribute
to.
The California Arts Council and its new Arts Marketing Institute (AMI), a project funded
by the Wallace-Readers Digest Funds, held its debut conference, "Building
Participation in the Arts," from June 30-July 1 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel
in Sacramento. Peter, one of the keynote speakers, discussed the current crisis in arts
funding, and why, to a large degree, the arts community has brought it upon itself. Back
in 1975, California Governor Jerry Brown appointed him chairman of the Council, and for
the next eight years, Peter fostered artistic activity, brought arts to the common man,
and radically altered how the arts were funded in the state.
This spring Peter returned to France to make another French movie. You may remember Bon
Voyage premiered with good reviews back in April. This latest movie is a comedy drama
called Le Grand Role, directed by Steve Suissa. Peter has the
role of movie director Rudolph Grichenberg. It's a story of five Jewish actors in Paris
who read that Grichenberg (think Spielberg) is coming to Paris to atone for all his
blockbusters by making The Merchant of Venice in Yiddish. Maurice, one of the
actors, has a great shot at the role; however, he's presently making his living by dubbing
films and is having some trouble with his wife. When he is told he has the part, he
returns home to share the good news, but before he can speak, his wife tells him she's
just been diagnosed with cancer. More bad news arrives when he gets a call from his agent
telling him a major Hollywood star got the role. Rather than disappoint his wife, he and
his friends conspire to fake his role in this film and, as you can expect, this leads them
into all kinds of trouble, including kidnapping the director.
Update - June 1:
NORTHFORK opening in New York & Los Angeles
on July 11! |
Originally scheduled to open June 20, Northfork
will now be released three weeks later. It is expected to open in other cities at a later
date. This is the latest installment from the Polish Brothers, who previously won acclaim
for Twin Falls, Idaho and Jackpot, the first two films in a series about
Americas Heartland, and the country's shifting dreams and visions. The film is
directed by Michael Polish and written and produced by Mark Polish and Michael Polish.
Besides Peter, the ensemble cast includes Nick Nolte, Daryl Hannah, James Woods, Anthony
Edwards, Claire Forlani, and Kyle MacLachlan. (Die-hard fans should be able to remember
another film Coyote starred in with Kyle MacLachlan, and also one with Daryl Hannah)
After premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January, it received
wonderful reviews - read exerpts below. And be sure to check out the movie trailer. It's awesome!
"Hats off to Michael Polish for his
otherworldly slants on the barren expanse of this far-out Americana essay." ...Duane
Byrge, Hollywood Reporter
"One of the most hauntingly beautiful films ever made." Annlee
Ellingson, Box Office Magazine
"A masterpiece. A visionary epic." ...Roger Ebert
"Beautifully crafted." ...Harlan Jacobson, USA Today
"Mesmerizing, enchanting and visually stunning." ...Rachel Markus,
Filmfestivals.com
"Let me be the first to say that Northfork is not for
everyone. But a movie buff will not want to miss this visionary and difficult bit of
inventiveness." ...Jules Brenner, Filmcritic.com
"Like the best work of David Lynch, Northfork is that
rare movie that draws you in more at precisely those moments when you least understand
it." ...Scott Foundas, Variety |
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