Caffeinated Clint
His first starring role since “Lethal Weapon 4”
The thought-to-be-retired Joe Pesci (though he did do a cameo for his pal Bobby DeNiro in “The Good Shepherd”, and may have rediscovered his love of performance arts then?) will return to the silver screen for “Ranch”, a film that Taylor Hackford is directing with the filmmaker’s wife, actress Helen Mirren, pegged to co-star.
According to Variety, “Ranch” is a drama about a couple who opened the first legal brothel in Nevada and the violence that resulted when their relationship was tested by infidelity.
Hackford said the drama is inspired by the story of Joe and Sally Conforte, proprietors of the Mustang Ranch, the first legalized house of prostitution in Nevada. Boxer Oscar Bonavena was gunned down at the ranch in 1976, suspected of having an affair with the madam Sally.
Hackford and Mirren haven’t worked together since 1985’s “White Nights”.
“I’ve developed this project for a long time, and one of the things that excited me most was the chance to work again with my wife,” Hackford said. “I had to beg; she’s a very busy girl. We’d wanted to work together for some time, but she wouldn’t agree unless it was a great role, and this is a great role.”
Hackford was also glad to coax back Pesci, hasn’t starred in a movie since “Lethal Weapon 4” in 1999.
“Joe didn’t have any desire to work, but he was the first person I had in mind to play the husband, this former cab driver who dreamed of making prostitution legal and carved out a tiny county and convinced the local politicians,” Hackford said. “He’s playing the godfather of legalized prostitution, and it convinced Joe to jump back into the fire.”
Hackford is working hard to find an actor to play the boxer, an effort that will be helped by co-producer DiBella, a prominent fight promoter.
