Caffeinated Clint
“Rush Hour” duo reunite on Sinatra film
Seems someone does like Chris Tucker – and I’m not referring to the guy at the back of the theatre that was flogging his log through the hole in his popcorn bucket whilst watching “Friday” all those years back. I’m referring to Brett Ratner, the only man willing to pay $20 million bucks for the lazy-ass comic’s services.
“Rush Hour” director Ratner has convinced Tucker to cancel his early retirement plans – ‘I told you mother fucker, I’d do one film, one fuckin’ film, get my money, then sip slurpees on the beach with my bitches, yo’! – – what? 40-million?’- and star in a new film about Frank Sinatra’s valet.
Considering how well the last Sinatra-inspired film went, “The Night We Called it a Day”, it’s pretty clear neither of them have paid the ‘Aussie film’ section at Blockbuster a visit over the past couple of years. But whatever the case…
New Line Cinema – who both still seem to think Ratner and Tucker are worth bothering with; must be the chicks they have access to? – has optioned the book “Mr. S: My Life With Frank Sinatra,” which’ll form the basis of the film. The author, William Stadiem, has been asked to pen the screenplay.
According to Variety, the book doesn’t just reveal the secrets of Sinatra but also has tales on Marilyn Monroe, Peter Lawford, the Kennedys, Ava Gardner, Humphrey Bogart, Mia Farrow, Elvis Presley, Swifty Lazar and Marlene Dietrich, among others.
“It’s like a love story between two very unlikely people,” Stadiem said. “Brett is a Rat Pack obsessive, and so it’s fun to work with someone so passionate about the period. I think he’s channeling Frank sometimes.”
Tucker apparently met Stadiem and hit if off, hence his attachment to the project.
Tucker’s funny, at times, sure but he’s nothing to prove he’s worth the wage he gets – hopefully this is the part that makes him work for his worth, and shows us his name does deserve a place on a marquee.
Meantime, “Rush Hour 3” sinks further and further down the charts.
