John Travolta is riding the waves of yet another comeback as his new film, The Forger, debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The film is about an art forger in prison for his craft who must make one more jaunt into forging in order to make a deal for his freedom.
He wants to be free so that he may be with his dying son.
The premise sounds very interesting.
John Travolta actually completed a forgery of Monet’s Woman With Parasol in order to feel what the pressure is like for forgers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9uLCyJRtI8
“I have an affinity for painting, but I needed to know what it felt like under the gun,” Travolta said.
He continued, “I just needed enough of the taste of the pressure to feel what it would be like.”
So how did his real-life forgery turn out? He said, “I framed it. I’m very proud of it.”
Travolta studied with art forgers in the U.S. and Hong Kong to perfect the technique. One aspect of the role that he didn’t have to study for was facing the death of his on-screen son, played by Tye Sheridan.
In 2009 John Travolta’s autisitc son, Jett, died from a seizure while the family was on vacation in the Bahamas.
He said of playing that role, “I’ve experienced so much tragedy in my life, I didn’t feel the need to explore it any more.”
Travolta continued, “Tragedy is something I am very familiar with, so I did not need to research that.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gK4_Slhyyc
While he didn’t name the tragedy, all in attendance were aware of what he spoke.
It’s likely that John Travolta’s talents, along with the real-life experience and emotions of losing his son, will shine through in this movie.
Good luck to John Travolta as he enjoys his 87th comeback!