44°
PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. Academy Award nominated director Gus Van Sant was at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville Tuesday night to talk about his newest film, "Restless."
The movie is a tale about two teenagers, a troubled boy who lost his parents at a young age and falls in love with a fatally-ill girl. It stars Mia Wasikowska (Alice and Wonderland, The Kids Are Alright) and Henry Hopper, son of the late Dennis Hopper.
Van Sant, best known for directing "Good Will Hunting" and "Milk", shared a humorous story with the packed theater of the film legend critiquing his son's first movie before he died.
"Dennis, right before he passed away actually, said he thought the movie was kind of slow and he wasn't sure if a modern audience would be able to sit through the whole thing," Van Sant said.
Van Sant noted how much of a resemblance Hopper has to his father.
"Henry has this laugh that really reminded me of Dennis," Van Sant said. "He has this style that just makes him seem like he's from a different era.
Van Sant's film style gives the flick an old-school feel, even though the movie may take place in the present day.
"Even though times have changed, we still like the muted colors and grainy look so it tends to make the film something along the lines of something that was done years ago," Van Sant said.
Van Sant praised the work of his young actors in a large role.
"Henry and Mia hit it off pretty early, they had just met so they were just getting aware with each other at first and I think Henry was very taken with Mia," Van Sant said.
Ron Howard, a member of the Board of Directors at the Jacob Burns Film Center, and his daughter Bryce Dallas Howard were executive producers on the film. "Restless" will be released at select theatres in Los Angeles and New York on September 16.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Mount Pleasant and receive free news updates.
