When Goodfellas was released in 1990, Paul Sorvino was asked what he thought of it. “I thought I was boring,” he said. “I thought that I had hurt my career. I thought that this movie should not have been made, and it’s not a good movie.”
After thinking about it some more, he revisited that opinion, according to WhosDatedWho.com. “I’m kind of coming through a clearing here, and I’m thinking that’s not a boring movie; that’s a good movie; that’s a great movie maybe,” he reflected. “And I’m really good in it!”
Most people would agree with Sorvino’s second take on the Martin Scorsese classic, but you may want to resume the debate with the actor himself when he appears at next month’s Florida Film Festival, which runs April 4-13. Sorvino’s appearance at the screening of his new film, Last I Heard, is probably the biggest festival news so far, although, as of press time, we were still awaiting confirmation of perhaps an even bigger celebrity, since Sorvino isn’t as big a draw as recent attendees Cary Elwes, Cloris Leachman and Barry Levinson.
Even if bigger names aren’t confirmed, the festival can also boast Giancarlo Esposito of Breaking Bad fame, who will be there for a 25th-anniversary showing of Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, and animator Bill Plympton, whose first feature in five years, Cheatin’, will play on April 7.
On April 2, expect a full Orlando Weekly spread on the festival, but what you should know now is that some of the more popular events may sell out, so start planning now by visiting the new, interactive floridafilmfestival.com. There you can see all ticket options and peruse the schedule. Most importantly, you can reserve a seat for “An Evening with Giancarlo Esposito” on April 6 and Paul Sorvino’s screening of Last I Heard on April 11 (it will also screen on April 7).
Other items of note include the retro films, such as the Italian classic Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion on April 7, The Big Lebowski on April 9 outdoors at Eden Bar and Murder on the Orient Express on April 8 in Winter Park’s Central Park.
The festival offers 170 films (roughly 50 features and 120 shorts) from 26 countries, at three theaters (Enzian and two theaters at Regal Winter Park Village). It gets underway on April 4 with The Trip to Italy, the follow-up to The Trip, starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, and ends with the James Bond classic Goldfinger on April 13. By the end of the 10-day extravaganza, let’s hope you’re both shaken and stirred.
