News

It took a few years, but actor Peter Facinelli (“Twilight” series) will finally see his Whitey Bulger project get off the ground. Facinelli was originally on board to produce a film adaptation of “Street Soldier: My Life as an Enforcer For Whitey Bulger and the Boston Irish Mob,” which was written by Edward MacKenzie and Phyllis Karas, but now Fox is looking to turn the project into a TV series. Facinelli will play the lead and has signed on as an executive producer. The book’s about the life of boxer and drug dealer Eddie MacKenzie who used to be an enforcer for Whitey Bulger, the project is to be penned by Larry Golin (“Rocky Marciano”). [Deadline] If you’re a fan of the CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” and you’re sad the series is finally coming to an end after nine seasons, get ready to wipe away your tears.

The story about notorious New England crime boss Whitey Bulger may be coming to TV -- with a Cullen in tow.

Deadline reports that Fox is developing "Street Soldier," an event series about the criminal, which has "Twilight Saga" alum and "Nurse Jackie" star Peter Facinelli attached to play a lead.

"Street Soldier" will chronicle the life of boxer and drug deal Eddie MacKenzie, who worked as an enforcer for Bulger, revealing how he was able to remove himself from the crime boss' gang without losing his life. The script, to be written by Larry Golin, will be based on MacKenzie's memoir "Street Soldier: My Life as an Enforcer for Whitey Bulger and The Boston Irish Mob," which he co-wrote with Phyllis Karas.

Bulger had remained a fugitive for 16 years until he was finally arrested this June in Santa Monica and found guilty of 31 counts in August, including involvement in 11 murders.

Exclusive: While Warner Bros. is working on its Ben Affleck/Matt Damon Whitey Bulger feature, another project about New England’s most notorious crime boss is coming together, this time in TV. Fox has put in development Street Soldier, an event series that has The Twilight Saga alum Peter Facinelli attached to play a lead and executive produce and Michael De Luca to executive produce. Street Soldier chronicles the life of boxer and drug dealer Eddie MacKenzie as an enforcer for Bulger and details how he was able to extricate himself from Whitey’s gang without getting killed. Larry Golin will write the script based on MacKenzie’s memoir Street Soldier: My Life As An Enforcer For Whitey Bulger And The Boston Irish Mob, co-penned by Phyllis Karas. De Luca, Golin and Facinelli will executive produce with Facinelli’s producing partner at A7SLE Films Rob DeFranco and Ted Mann...

Manager/producer Cory Concoff has joined management company The Collective. Concoff, who comes from independent management and production company Fuel Filmworks, brings with him such clients as writers Vincent Angell (The Beast), Jason Richman (Detroit 187) and Jason Cahill (Fringe); writer/director Larry Golin (Cross Bronx); and actress Sarah Habel (Whip It). Concoff served as an executive producer on A&E's The Beast and as a producer on indie Cross Bronx. He was previously an agent at UTA for five years and a partner at the Bauer Co. The Collective has been in expansion mode over the past 2 years, adding a half-dozen managers.

Independent dramas were the sure bets at the 2004 CineVegas Film Festival. Andrew Wagner's The Talent Given Us, a family drama, was awarded the jury prize, while Larry Golin's coming-of-age drama Cross Bronx won the audience award. John Harkrider's Mitchellville, about a man's secret past, received the jury's honorable mention. The jury prize is presented to a feature-length narrative film seeking U.S. distribution. The jury included director Darren Aronofsky, actress Sarah Polley and IndieWire's Wendy Mitchell. Elsewhere, Dennis Hopper, chairman of the CineVegas advisory board, presented the Marquee Award to Jack Nicholson. Hopper also presented the Half-Life Awards to Sean Penn, Robin Wright Penn and Holly Hunter. Vanguard Director Awards were given to Bruce Conner, Julian Schnabel and David Lynch. Meanwhile, a special Changed My Life Award was presented to Dean Stockwell. All tributes and screenings took place at Palms Casino Resort's Brenden Theatres.

A handsome piano player, a singer and, alas, an older man -- they're the combustible ingredients of "Love Walked In", a story that keeps you completely aroused. With winning performances from Denis Leary, Aitana Sanchez-Gijon and Terence Stamp, this TriStar presentation is a curious, wonderfully old-fashioned gem.

In the small-but-lethal story line, Leary stars as Jack, a small-time piano man who works the Eastern-site circuits and woos available money women. He's handsome, caustic and, with his droopy, good hair, absolutely the type who can swoon a woman -- luckily in this case, it's his featured singer, Vicki (Sanchez-Gijon). She is sultry, to say the least, and soon wins over Jack, who has reservations nonetheless.

The overall story is delectable: some surprises and some predictabilities. One keeps rooting for both lovers, and that's the wonderful problem -- because, well, you know what happens.

The best thing about "Love Walked In" is the acting. Leary is stunning as the disaffected pianist. He is charismatic and fun, demonstrating a range beyond his strict comedy persona. Sanchez-Gijon is aptly sultry and sullen as the enigmatic female. She oozes badness in all the right ways, terrifically enticing. As the forlorn millionaire, Stamp is perhaps the film's strongest element: vulnerable, audacious and carnivorous all at once.

Although the scenario by Lynn Geller, Larry Golin and Juan J. Campanella is a bit muddy, it is very smart and nicely visualized by director Campanella.

Tech credits are above average, with special praise to composer Wendy Blackstone for the scrumptious score.

LOVE WALKED IN

Sony Pictures

TriStar

Producer: Ricardo Freixa

Director: Juan J. Campanella

Screenplay: Lynn Geller, Larry Golin,

Juan J. Campanella

Based on a novel by: Jose Pablo Feinmann

Director of photography: Daniel Shulman

Production designer: Michael Shaw

Music: Wendy Blackstone

Editor: Darren Kloomok

Costume designer: David Robinson

Casting: Pat McCorkle

Color/stereo

Cast:

Jack Morrisey: Denis Leary

Fred Moore: Terence Stamp

Vicki Rivas: Aitana Sanchez-Gijon

Cousin Matt: Danny Nucci

Vera: Moira Kelly

Eddie Bianco: Michael Badalucco

Running time -- 90 minutes

MPAA rating: R...