Paul Giamatti Kinda Trashes Japanese Remake of 'Sideways'
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy, Newsstand
Evidently, nothing disturbs an Academy Award-nominated actor more than being offered a cameo role in a foreign-language remake of a movie in which he starred. Reportedly, Paul Giamatti was "stunned" when he was offered a small part in the Japanese remake of Alexander Payne's Sideways. "I don't know what I was going to play," the actor said, according to WENN.com. "I said no. I felt my career hasn't hit that low yet. I thought, 'What am I gonna play - the sushi chef or something?'" Giamatti was also none too pleased with the actor chosen to play Miles, the wine snob he made semi-famous: "They got a strange, little troll to play me."
We wrote about the remake last November. At the time, I noted that California wine imports in Japan had significantly increased, and also observed that a popular, wine-themed comic was credited with sending wine sales skyrocketing across Asia. A recent article in the New York Times cited those same points, and also reports the low-budget remake eliminates 'merlot bashing' while adding plugs for Napa Valley wineries, restaurants, and tourist spots. Sideways did not do much box office business in Japan; that, combined with its "international travels (and the cultural dislocations) of its main characters" made it potentially apealing to the late 30/early 40s audience the Japanese producers are targeting.
I can understand Giamatti not wanting to do a cameo role, though I don't understand why he would trash another actor for his looks. Was he joking? The actor Giamatti reportedly called "a strange, little troll" is named Fumiyo Kohinata. We've posted a publicity still from the movie down below, so you can decide for yourself; he's second from the left. Who's the troll?
Gallery: Japanese 'Sideways'
Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams Reunite for 'Mission Impossible 4'
'Big Top Pee-Wee': The Original Benicio Del Toro Wolfman
Spin-ematical: New on DVD and Blu-ray for 2/9
Watch This: Brilliant Oscar-Nominated Short 'Logorama'
Chris Nolan to Lead 'Superman' Reboot!?
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-30-2009 @ 1:20PM
David said...
Considering the number of foreign films that get remade and allegedly "improved" by Hollywood, I don't recall reading interviews with original actors that trash the American stars who are now playing their roles. I like Giamatti a lot, but this is definitely not class on his part.
Reply
3-30-2009 @ 2:11PM
John R said...
Well his stock just went down a couple of points.
"They got a strange, little troll to play me."
Really? Hey, Paul, have you checked yourself out in a mirror lately? If you ask me, this troll here looks to be in better shape than you are.
Reply
3-30-2009 @ 2:28PM
Kurt Munro said...
What a jackass.
He's pretty much a no-name actor anyway. It was cool to like him when Sideways came out, but he'll fade soon enough. Decent actor but nothing more.
Reply
3-30-2009 @ 2:48PM
Peter Hall said...
Uh, is no one else confounded that a comic strip is capable of skyrocketing wine sales anywhere yet alone the sporadically dense expanse that is Asia?
Reply
3-31-2009 @ 2:54AM
Marilyn said...
The Japanese word for "comic" doesn't really have the same connotations as it does here. In Japan, the comics are called manga, and the industry is far more prevalent, with series aimed at all ages and genders. Here, most comics are aimed at grown men, and there's a bit of a nerdy stigma attached to them. No such boundaries exist in Japan, so it's far easier for a manga series to influence the people. And I know Asia is vast and sporadically populated, but the cities are really well connected and a lot of Japanese media get exported throughout, so it's not that far-fetched of an idea that it would become popular.
Not to mention, there is a live-action TV drama airing in Japan based on the manga that stars one of their pop idols, so it's not surprising that the movie wants to capitalize on that wave of enthusiasm while the series is still popular.
3-30-2009 @ 3:49PM
ARLO said...
I'm not sure what you all are complaining about. I think he summed it up perfectly.
"I felt my career hasn't hit that low, YET".
Bitter Party of 1, you table is ready.
Reply
3-30-2009 @ 5:10PM
juiceboxrock said...
I gotta say, I'm a huge fan of Mr. Giamatti and his work, so I hope that these reactions were light-hearted and jokingly said (though, if they were, were not terribly well-landed jokes).
Fumiyo-san is the furthest thing from a troll. On set he was always upbeat, pleasant, and incredibly professional. After wrapping for the day he very often hung out with the American crew (despite knowing limited English), bought rounds of drinks, and worked on improving his English while imparting some Japanese words/phrases to us.
Reply