The lovable talent that is Stanley Tucci has transcended three decades with turns as a fab-dad, TV presenter, airport security chief of JFK and now a Seventeenth Century Duke, as A LITTLE CHAOS comes to digital platforms from 10th August, 2015, and on Blu-ray and DVD from 24th August, 2015, courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Tucci has played in some fantastic films in his 27 year career and has played a variety of roles, some serious, some comic-relief and others are just indescribable. See below for our top ten.
A LITTLE CHAOS
A Little Chaos is a story about a brilliantly talented landscape gardener (Kate Winslet –Revolutionary Road) who finds herself an unlikely candidate to build the still‐to-be-completed gardens of the Palace of Versailles. British acting royalty Alan Rickman directs Academy Award® winner Kate Winslet in the wonderfully romantic period drama set in some of the most stunning gardens in Europe. In the floral-themed romance, Stanley Tucci stars as Philippe, Duc d’Orleans, the real-life brother to the infamous French king Louis XIV. Tucci’s character is filled with wit, bold exclamations and elaborate outfits, including a very large hat. This film is a wonderfully sumptuous drama that includes an all-star supporting cast, which includes Alan Rickman himself, Helen McCrory, Matthias Schoenaerts, Jennifer Ehle and Rupert Penry-Jones.
BIG NIGHT
This film has a subtle charm and is a stomach-grumbling tale of great food and passions, starring Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott. Brothers Primo and Secondo come to America in the hope of running a successful, authentic Italian restaurant in 1950’s New Jersey. By the end of the movie, the audience have been through an emotional wringer, in a film of great wisdom and delight. A real triumph for everyone involved, especially Stanley Tucci who brings hilarity to the table when a woman orders spaghetti and the following conversation ensues:
“Who’s the spaghetti for?”
“For the lady who ordered the risotto”
“Why?”
“Because she likes starch, I dunno! Come on!”
“Bitch!”
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
If you don’t know what The Hunger Games is than you must have been living under a rock for the past 5 years. For those under-the-rock dwellers, The Hunger Games is the story of a girl named Katniss who voluntarily joins a televised fight to the death between teens from each of the twelve districts of dystopia, Panem. Stanley Tucci shines as Ceasar Flickerman, the exuberant TV personality that interviews the competitors. Tucci portrays this colourful personality with equally colourful hair, making his few scenes quite memorable.
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
Andy (Anne Hathaway) is a recent college graduate who gets a job at a prestigious Runway Magazine and becomes the assistant to diabolical editor Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Street. Tucci shines in this film as the hilarious and very sarcastic fashion assistant to Priestly. His scenes are filled with mirth and are unforgettable. His character is one of the most frequently quoted of this cult film, e.g.: “alright everyone, gird your loins!” Tucci gives diversity to his character, portraying both hilarious wit and heartbreaking emotion.
EASY A
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is re-imagined as a contemporary high school comedy in this tale of a scheming student who plots to give her popularity a boost by painting herself the easiest lay in school. Stanley Tucci plays the fun-loving, adorable, hilarious, fabulous step father to Emma Stone’s Olive Penderghast, whose short scenes sporadically placed throughout the movie are some of the most quoted and memorable. If you need a good laugh, go to YouTube and type in “Who Told You?!”
WINCHELL (1998)
Winchell is the biographical drama from HBO that recounts the rise and fall of Walter Winchell, a gossip columnist and reporter who changed the face of news reporting. This film is a lively and vivid tale of an interesting man played by an even more interesting man. Tucci endured extensive makeup, aging him from his twenties to his early sixties and wore several different wigs throughout production. His charm and acting ability won him a Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy. Tucci stars alongside Paul Giamatti, Glenne Headly and Christopher Plummer.
THE TERMINAL (2004)
Tom Hanks plays Viktor Navorski, a visitor to New York from Eastern Europe. His homeland erupts in a fiery coup, while he is in the air en route to America. Stranded at Kennedy Airport with a passport from nowhere, he is unauthorized to actually enter the United States and must improvise his days and nights in the terminal’s international transit lounge, until the war at home is over. Stanley Tucci plays Frank Dixon, airport security chief and US customs official who wants to raise the stakes of airport safety. His portrayal of a mean spirited, power hungry antagonist is both amusing and infuriating. Tucci truly holds his own opposite Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
ROAD TO PERDITION (2002)
Road to Perdition is an epic film about the bonds of loyalty that are put the test when a hit-man’s son witnesses what his father actually does for a living. Stanley Tucci plays Frank Nitti, a crony for Al Capone’s outfit and mob boss from Chicago. This was a completely different role for Tucci who had previously avoided such roles, not wanting to be type-casted in to the typical Italian gangster role. Though after reading the script, Tucci joined and perfectly portrayed the Italian gangster he wanted to avoid. Tucci stars alongside some greats, including Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Daniel Craig and Tyler Hoechlin.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (1999)
Michael Hoffman brought the famous Shakespearian play to life on the silver screen in 1999. This version of the comedic play finds the world of humans interacting with the realm of magic and fairies. Tucci plays the malicious yet comical sprite Puck who causes mayhem and mischief throughout the film by administering a secret love potion – causing the lovers to mix-and-match with outrageous results.
THE LOVELY BONES
This is one of Tucci’s most serious roles, playing a psychopathic, paedophiliac serial killer. He plays George Harvey, a quiet man, living a seemingly normal life among his neighbours, who eventually rapes and brutally murders Susie Salmon, played by Saoirse Ronan. This film is a truly twisted, heartfelt thriller about the psychological fallout of a family after their daughter is murdered and her experience watching it all happen from heaven.
A LITTLE CHAOS, available on digital platforms from 10th August, 2015, and on Blu-ray and DVD from 24th August, 2015, courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment
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