The 53rd Times bfi London Film Festival moved into its second George Clooney-dominated day yesterday, with the Oscar-winning megastar again on hand to promote The Men Who Stare At Goats, the second of his three movies here.
The military satire, which stars Clooney as a possibly deranged ‘psychic’ soldier on an odyssey through Iraq with Ewan McGregor’s bemused journalist, bagged the prestigious Times Gala slot, which meant it received the full red carpet treatment outside the Odeon Leicester Square, with a large crowd gathered to greet Gorgeous George.
And he didn’t disappoint, spending a decent amount of time with his adoring fans. Clearly in a good mood from all the adulation, Clooney even came over to spend some (brief) time with the press – you can see the results in the Day 2 videblogisode when it goes up later today. Probably.
He wasn’t the only star in attendance, though. Neve Campbell showed up, to give support to her former next door neighbour, the ace British journalist Jon Ronson, on whose book the film was based, while the film’s director, Grant Heslov (yes, him from True Lies) looked delighted by all the attention his offbeat but thoroughly disarming film was getting.
That’s it for Clooney, though. Although the acclaimed Up In The Air launches here on Sunday, the screen’s fourth greatest Batman won’t be in attendance, though Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick and director Jason Reitman will be able to shoulder the responsibility. Still, the LFF will miss you, George – you and your twinkly smile, and lovely hair.