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How Glee’s Darren Criss transformed for new role as Gianni Versace’s killer

Glee star Darren Criss’ latest role is a world away from the one that made him a TV star. In The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, he plays spree-killer Andrew Cunanan.

In 1997, Andrew gunned down the Italian-born fashion icon outside his home in Miami. He’d killed four others in the three months prior.

The manhunt ended when he turned the gun on himself. Twenty years on, the killer’s motive remains unclear.

It’s a dark role for someone who rose to fame as singing, dancing Blaine Anderson in Glee. But Darren points out his latest character was all too human.

“People think what Andrew did was really far away from what they are capable of being or are,” Darren, 31, tells TV WEEK.

“The truth is, we all have access to the same thoughts and feelings someone like him had.”

The nine-part series also stars Édgar Ramírez as Gianni Versace, Penélope Cruz as Donatella Versace and Ricky Martin as Gianni’s partner, Antonio D’Amico.

Darren admits that between the challenging scenes, he and Ricky would “blow off some steam” by singing together.

“Have I sung Ricky Martin songs with Ricky Martin?” he asks. “Yes I have – and it’s awesome!”

Darren will soon be touring the US with his former Glee co-star Lea Michele. The pair will sing Broadway tunes – and, of course, several songs from the TV show.

Meanwhile, former The Voice Australia coach Ricky Martin put his world tour on hold when he was offered a role in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

The singer plays Antonio D’Amico, Gianni Versace’s long-time partner.

“I was living in Miami when Versace was killed,” he says. “I was obsessed with this character and project.”

The series lovingly portrays the 15-year relationship between Versace and D’Amico. It was he who found him on the steps after he’d been shot by Andrew.

Filming in the real Versace mansion, preserved as a boutique hotel, helped Ricky, 46, connect with the grief.

“I was waiting inside while they laid out Edgar on the steps,” he says. “It helped me so much to reach a level of sadness. All I had to do was see him covered in blood and hear ‘Action!’ to let it out.”

How Glee’s Darren Criss transformed for new role as Gianni Versace’s killer

Soundtrack review: The assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (Mac Quayle – 2018) – Soundtrack dreams

“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” is the second season of the FX true crime anthology television series American Crime Story. The season premiered on January 17, 2018, and concluded on March 21, 2018. It consists of a total of 9 episodes, and explores the murder of designer Gianni Versace by serial killer Andrew Cunanan, based on Maureen Orth’s book Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History. Mac Quayle, the new composer of choice for Ryan Murphy shows, wrote the score.

The score starts boldly with an almost 8 minute long “Adagio in G Minor” which I imagine serves as a sort of elegy for Gianni Versace and somehow using such a familiar piece to open the score fits with the popularity and elegance of the designer. It’s the kind of deep, sombre orchestral piece hat cannot leave anybody unaffected. Mac Quayle’s original contribution starts with the theme for Donatella and it’s really my kind of cue, deeply ambient, just the kind Mac Quayle knows how to write so well; a mix of tenderness and mystery that always gets to me. It’s almost a Pavlovian like reaction for me to be hypnotized by these sounds. After hearing a little while ago Mack Quayle’s surprising score for “Feud”, so old school orchestral, I didn’t know what to expect from ACS; as an electronic music fan I am more than happy to discover a pure electronic ambient score that just flows and lets me get lost in it, very inviting to reflection. I get Zimmer vibes when I hear a cue like “All of them” (not just because of the title) as this sounds similar to his electronic sound as of late; it goes quite deep.

It is hard for me to be objective and clear minded when I listen to a score like this because this is the sound that’s closest to me, I can’t help it. Electronic ambient, with subtle nuances of suspense and sadness that break the mood every now and then; I don’t even care or notice where one cue ends and another one begins because it’s all just an ambient feast for me. I do notice “Idea to kill” because this is one of those cues where the craft of a composer really shines, because in keeping his sound and atmosphere he manages to evoke completely different and raw feelings, aggressive,violent, full dark.

Fans of Mac Quayle and fans of ambient electronic music will love this score for sure. I can’t wait to listen to it in context as well and see how it fits with the story, the investigation. Until then, Mac Quayle cements his place as one of the best electronic music composers right now.

Cue rating: 82 / 100

Highlights:
Adagio in G Minor
Donatella
All of Them
Autopsy
David Murdered
Interviews 
This Is Not for You
Calling Modesto
Another Stage

Soundtrack review: The assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (Mac Quayle – 2018) – Soundtrack dreams

Emmy Predictions 2018: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Last Year’s Winner: Laura Dern, “Big Little Lies”
Still Eligible: No.
Hot Streak: FX and HBO have both earned nominations in this category since 2012 (and HBO’s streak dates back to 2003).
Fun Fact: For the first time since “Downton Abbey” made the jump from limited series to drama series in 2013, not a single anthology series (or other franchise) that was nominated the year prior is in contention this year.

It’s the movie stars vs. the TV favorites in a surprisingly competitive Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie race. Penelope Cruz (“American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace”) and Nicole Kidman (“Top of the Lake: China Girl”) are looking to crack in for respected turns in prestige projects; Cruz as the sister of a fashion icon who became a star, Donatella Versace, and Kidman as an Australian mother, Julia, whose story dovetails with Elisabeth Moss’ detective.

Meanwhile, Angela Lansbury — a three-time Oscar nominee and 18-time Emmy nominee — aims for her first statue from the TV Academy for her role in “Little Women.” (No, Jessica Fletcher was never rewarded for “Murder She Wrote.”) Last year’s winner Laura Dern — who has a pair of Oscar nominations herself — is back in the race for “Twin Peaks: The Return.” She’ll be competing against another former Emmy winner Merritt Wever, who took home the trophy in 2013 for “Nurse Jackie” (and hasn’t been back in the race since).

But even with these big names in play, there are plenty more heavyweights vying for slots. Ellen Burstyn hit all the right notes in a tricky performance for “The Tale” (as did Elizabeth Debicki, whose haunting turn leaves a lasting mark) and Jennifer Jason Leigh played a complicated victim over decades of narrative in the Showtime drama, “Patrick Melrose.” Naomi Watts is hoping voters look fondly on David Lynch’s Dougie storyline, and Judith Light hopes members are taken with “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” enough to nominate her and Cruz.

Throw in Julia Ormond (“Howards End”), Anna Paquin (“Alias Grace”), and Sharon Stone (“Mosaic”) — who would be locks in other years — and this competition is looking mighty fierce. Much like the rest of the Emmys, the final tally could come down to which shows are seen, remembered, and beloved; two (or more) nominees from one show aren’t out of the realm of possibility.

Below are IndieWire TV Critic Ben Travers’ predictions for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie (listed in alphabetical order), which will be updated throughout the season. Make sure to keep checking IndieWire for all the latest buzz and highlights from the 2018 race, and read predictions for the rest of the categories, as well.

Predicted Nominees:

  1. Ellen Burstyn, “The Tale”
  2. Penelope Cruz, “American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace”
  3. Laura Dern, “Twin Peaks: The Return”
  4. Nicole Kidman, “Top of the Lake: China Girl”
  5. Jennifer Jason Leigh, “Patrick Melrose”
  6. Merritt Wever, “Godless”

Spoilers: Elizabeth Debicki, “The Tale”; Angela Lansbury, “Little Women”; Judith Light, “American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace”; Anna Paquin, “Alias Grace”; Naomi Watts, “Twin Peaks: The Return”

In a Perfect World: Julia Ormond, “Howards End”; Julia Garner, “Waco”

Emmy Predictions 2018: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Emmy Predictions 2018: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie

Last Year’s Winner: Alexander Skarsgård, “Big Little Lies”
Still Eligible: No.
Hot Streak: HBO won this category eight out of nine years between 2003 and 2011. Since then, as the race has gotten more and more competitive, the premium cable network has only won twice in the last six years.
Fun Fact: Only one actor has won multiple times in this category: Beau Bridges, for “The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom” (in 1993) and “The Second Civil War” (in 1997).

Jeff Daniels is aiming to be a double nominee in 2018, as a lead actor in “The Looming Tower” and also in the supporting category for “Godless.” But in which category does the former winner have his best shot? On the one hand, “The Looming Tower” is getting quite the prestige push from Hulu, but “Godless” has proven to be popular and long-lasting. Fans are still buzzing over his one-armed turn as the villainous outlaw Frank Griffin.

There’s still a lot of competition in the best supporting actor race via the limited series and TV movies in competition. Daniels has a few of his peers from “The Looming Tower” coming at him, from Michael Stuhlbarg to Bill Camp (who was nominated in 2017) to Peter Sarsgaard. Stuhlbarg has an early edge — hopefully to make up for his “Fargo” turn being snubbed in 2017 — but two Hulu favorites could end up making the cut. That, or Daniels’ “Godless” co-star Scoot McNairy could snag a nomination, too.

If they don’t bump Daniels, there are plenty of contenders disconnected from the “Newsroom” star, too. Brandon Victor Dixon made quite a mark on audiences in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” as did Bill Pullman in the USA Network thriller “The Sinner.” Edgar Ramirez and Ricky Martin played a couple onscreen in “American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace”; could they score joint nominations to match?

They may have to fight off two impressive performances from a couple of HBO films. Jason Ritter may be playing a monster in “The Tale,” but the well-liked actor took a big risk and made the most of it. (Similarly, Hugo Weaving plays a very bad man in “Patrick Melrose,” but will voters look past the character and see the work done to bring his evil to life?) He’s more than deserving, as is Michael Shannon for “Fahrenheit 451.” The Chicago theatre veteran and Oscar-nominated big screen star created a nuanced new take on Captain Beatty.

Below are IndieWire TV Critic Ben Travers’ predictions for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie (listed in alphabetical order), which will be updated throughout the season. Make sure to keep checking IndieWire for all the latest buzz and highlights from the 2018 race, and read predictions for the rest of the categories, as well.

Predicted Nominees:

  1. Jeff Daniels, “Godless”
  2. Brandon Victor Dixon, “Jesus Christ Superstar”
  3. Edgar Ramirez, “American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace”
  4. Jason Ritter, “The Tale”
  5. Michael Shannon, “Fahrenheit 451”
  6. Michael Stuhlbarg, “The Looming Tower”

Spoilers: Bill Camp, “The Looming Tower”; John Leguizamo, “Waco”; Ricky Martin, “American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace”; Bill Pullman, “The Singger”; Peter Sarsgaard, “The Looming Tower”; Hugo Weaving, “Patrick Melrose”

In a Perfect World: Miguel Ferrer, “Twin Peaks: The Return”; Robert Forster, “Twin Peaks: The Return”; Scoot McNairy, “Godless”; Tobias Menzies, “The Terror”; Tahar Rahim, “The Looming Tower”

Emmy Predictions 2018: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie

TV’s Top Supporting Actors Reveal Most-Coveted Roles: ‘Big Little Lies,’ ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘The Crown’ [Ricky Martin edit]

“I would love to be part of a series like The Crown,” said Ricky Martin (The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story). “Be Prince Phillip, maybe? I think that would be amazing. And yes, obviously I would dive into that British accent. If you give me time, I’ll know it.” | 4 June 2018

The Best TV Shows of 2018 (So Far)

American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace (FX)

It’s not completely surprising that this second round of “American Crime Story” didn’t get as much attention as its “People vs. O.J.” season. For one, every episode essentially acts as its own excruciating horror story, ramping up the tension to near unbearable degrees as serial killer Andrew Cunanan (an electric Darren Criss) tears through victims. For another, the series tells the very real, ugly, and undeniably recent history of homophobia in the United States, laying bare its costs and enduring consequences. The series could be very hard to watch, but its unrelenting gaze made for some of the year’s most compelling television. — Caroline Framke

The Best TV Shows of 2018 (So Far)

Emmys: 33 Supporting Actors Pose for Star-Studded Class Photo

Their roles couldn’t be more different — from aspiring spies (Holly Taylor on The Americans) to awkward tech execs (Zach Woods on Silicon Valley) to sheriffs searching for justice (Scoot McNairy on Godless) and a man who loses his longtime partner at the hands of a serial killer (Ricky Martin on The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story) — but one thing these 33 supporting actors have in common is that they’ve all brought to life memorable characters on TV in the past year. On April 17, at a beautiful estate in Silver Lake, these breakouts gathered together for The Hollywood Reporter’s annual megashoot, which reunited old friends (like This Is Us’ Susan Kelechi Watson and Insecure’s Yvonne Orji, who stuck around after the shoot to snap selfies together) and brought together many actors who’d never met before. By the end of the lovely garden party shoot, a few stories had been swapped and new friendships forged as they all prepared for the long Emmy season ahead.

Ricky Martin
‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace’ (FX)

What inspired you to act?
A movie many years ago called The Priest. I grew up Catholic, and it was sad, it was intense.

Most intimidating scene?
I was playing Gianni Versace’s lover, so to have to shoot a scene where you find your lover murdered in the streets was intense. I think I lived as Antonio for those 10 days that we were in Miami because we were in the set, we were there right where it actually happened, so the energy of that house really was of impact for me and my performance.

Penélope Cruz on Woody Allen: “The Case Has to Be Looked at Again”

[…] Cruz also reunited with Darren Criss at the lavish afternoon polo match, her co-star in American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace. Both are top Emmy contenders for their work in the FX limited series, which has been praised by critics—though Cruz isn’t sure whether the real Donatella Versace, whom she played in Versace, has watched her emotional performance.

“I don’t know if she has seen it, because I think it’s a tricky subject,” Cruz said. “But she sent me flowers as good luck at the premiere. I sent things to her, and we both talk about each other. Somebody asked her in Spain during an interview, and she talked a little about me with affection, so that’s very important for me that she knows that I have played her with a lot of respect.”

Cruz also said that the role of the famed designer, whom she has met only four or five times at parties, was one of the most “challenging” performances in her career.

“I have a lot of respect and affection for her, so I was very intimidated by the idea of playing her. I wanted to show that she’s a force of nature that she is,” said Cruz. “So when I talked to [Versace show-runner] Ryan [Murphy], I knew he wanted to do the same. I talked to Donatella and she said, ‘If someone is going to play me, I’m happy that it is you.’ So it was like her blessing for me to do it.”

Cruz’s dramatic physical transformation, meanwhile—which required multiple blonde wigs to replicate Donatella’s iconic platinum hair—was the least stressful aspect of embodying the character.

“I’ve been blonde before for other projects, so I wasn’t very shocked when I saw myself with the wig on,” she said with a smile. “I liked it!”

Penélope Cruz on Woody Allen: “The Case Has to Be Looked at Again”

Serial thriller with designs on Versace

dcriss-archive:

Gunned down by a serial killer on the steps of his Miami Beach home, the murder of fashion icon Gianni Versace in July 1997 captivated the world. But the crimes that festered around, and later were exposed by Versace’s death, most fascinate Darren Criss, the 31-year-old actor who plays killer, Andrew Cunanan, in a new TV drama series. After his breakout role as Blaine in Glee, Criss has made a string of TV appearances; wowed Broadway as Hedwig in the musical Hedwig And The Angry Inch; developed the alt-pop band Computer Games with his brother, Chuck; and in January this year got engaged to his longtime girlfriend, writer-producer Mia Swier.

American Crime Story 2: The Assassination of Gianni Versace has already aired in the US, what’s been the reaction?

I’m just thrilled people have watched it — not for my own ego — but because it’s such a fascinating and compelling story that raises so many questions. It’s the kind of show that I’d like to talk about, even if I wasn’t in it!

We don’t totally know Cunanan’s motivation for the serial killings, do we?

I don’t think it is as simple as this guy wanted fame and fortune or glory. It’s sort of a pretty big cocktail of a lot of unfortunate factors.

And the crimes around that crime?

The show tries to hone in on this theme of homophobia in the United States. One of the great things about American Crime Stories is that we centralise our story on a crime, but we kind of really investigate and explore the other crimes around that, and how they affected the central crime, and vice versa. The first series (The People v O.J. Simpson) obviously is centred on the murder, but what it is really investigating is racism in Los Angeles; and what that trial meant for national black identity. What we focus on here (Versace) is how homophobia plays a hand in these crimes — not just for Cunanan and Versace, but how it manifests itself in the FBI and in the military.

20 years on, those issues are still relevant.

Absolutely. It’s unfortunate, fear and prejudice always seem to be in fashion in one way or another.

Aimee Mann guest stars in a powerful scene for Cunanan, where she sings “who’s going to drive you home tonight?” (The Cars, Drive). How psychologically revealing are those lyrics?

Oh, yeah. It’s a great scene. He’s terrified of being left alone. There’s a key line — and I’ll summarise — where he says, ‘I’m a new person. Now I just need someone to be a new person for’. He just needs these people so he can share this fantastical version of himself.

Segueing now, The Cars, ’Til Tuesday, did they influence your band Computer Games?

Sure. Any popular good music. Everything influences you either consciously or not. So, yeah, sure, I’ve played my fair share of Cars covers in my day.

Hedwig creator John Cameron Mitchell will be in Brisbane next month. Did John give you any advice on the role when you took over from him on Broadway?

He’s been such a great friend and a great mentor in general, that I can’t boil it down to one specific piece of advice. But I will say John was always very encouraging of me to learn my own stuff to sort of add to the internal narrative that is Hedwig. And, yep, I’m a ‘Hed-head’ myself. I was a Hedwig fan that got to wear the wig!

American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, Foxtel, showcase, Thursdays, 8.30pm; also available Foxtel On Demand

The Origin of Love: The Songs and Stories of Hedwig, QPAC Concert Hall, July 17, 8pm, qpac.com.au

Serial thriller with designs on Versace

From Dunkirk to Mad Bastards: what’s streaming in Australia in June

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (US, 2018) by Ryan Murphy – new episodes on Thursdays

The failure of the American dream has always made for juicy storytelling. Now, in the follow-up to The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story, it gets the Ryan Murphy (Glee) treatment, spun through the tale of the assassination of Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace in Miami in 1997.

Murphy’s American Crime Story series has always been pulpy, high-production melodrama; this season is no different, right from the luxuriously lengthy opening sequence that introduces Versace (Édgar Ramírez) and his agonised killer, Andrew Cunanan (Darren Criss). The rest of the season works backwards from there as a period piece and police procedural that emphasises trademark Murphy themes of queerness, wealth and celebrity, spun through the lens of 1990s fashion culture, as well as the homophobia that inhibited the investigation. It is as satisfying and schlocky as we’ve come to expect from a Murphy production, and features Penélope Cruz as Gianni’s sister, Donatella Versace, and Ricky Martin as Antonio D’Amico, his partner.

From Dunkirk to Mad Bastards: what’s streaming in Australia in June