Actor Geoffrey Rush triumphs, claiming the title of Best Actor at age 73.
C shafted as a ghost in Pirates of the Caribbean, twice! The elderly Geoffrey Rush, 73 and a winner of the '97 Oscar for "Shine," isn't void of wit. Known for playing Captain Barbossa without ever feeling queasy amidst the vomit-ridden crew, he bagged two awards at the 71st Taormina Film Festival. The first was for his role as best actor in "The Rule of Jenny Pen," and the second an Excellence Award for a life brimming with unforgettable roles, from Cate Blanchett's guide in "Elizabeth" to King George VI's therapist in "The King's Speech."
In "The Rule of Jenny Pen," this director James Ashcroft-guided psychological thriller, Rush portrays a judge facing a disquieting case in a retirement home. "For once, I'm embodying a man of my age. I often took on elder roles on stage years ago. Now, I'm winning awards for the complex character of an aged man, akin to me, who triumphs against a lunatic adversary, played by my pal John Lithgow, despite his dire medical condition (he's had a stroke, for crying out loud). It's unusual and poignant to have a film with two such eccentric and unconventional characters designed for actors of our age," Rush shares.
Rush harbors a fondness for "Italy's golden era of cinema, Fellini, De Sica, Leone, Comencini, Bertolucci, Pasolini, and Giuseppe Tornatore, whom I was fortunate to work with." Remembering Tornatore's visit, he laughingly recalls taking him to the best Italian restaurants, where the waitstaff held Tornatore in reverence, losing themselves in the charm of "Cinema Paradiso."
Among contemporary Italian filmmakers, Rush cherishes Paolo Sorrentino and Matteo Garrone, particularly Garrone's "The Captain," one of the best films of recent times. He yearns for the cinematic experience as a "communal bonding ritual in contrast to today's isolation." Recognizing the influence of streaming platforms, he confesses, "Streaming emerged with the pandemic and shook everything up. Perhaps it's won, but I adore cinemas. They remind us of the essence of watching a film together, as part of an audience."
In "The Rule of Jenny Pen," Rush stars opposite John Lithgow, playing a former judge stranded within an assisted living facility. The film delves into themes of power and vulnerability, set against an eerie and foreboding ambiance. Catch Rush and Lithgow tackle this gripping thriller when it hits theaters, an unmissable cinematic spectacle for film enthusiasts!
- Geoffrey Rush, known for his roles in movies-and-tv like Pirates of the Caribbean, won two awards at the 71st Taormina Film Festival, one for his performance in "The Rule of Jenny Pen," a psychological thriller that also features movies-and-tv entertainment.
- In an interview, Rush expressed his fondness for Italian cinema, mentioning directors such as Tornatore, and shared his desire to return to the communal experience of watching movies-and-tv in cinemas, contrasting it with the isolation of modern streaming platforms.
