The British are claiming Killarney movie star Michael Fassbender as their own, in an award nomination made for his role as Bobby Sands in the film ‘Hunger’.

31-year-old Fassbender, who grew up in Fossa, has been nominated for ‘British Actor of the Year’ category of the London Film Critics’ Circle Awards.

The list of nominees also includes Ralph Fiennes for ‘The Duchess’, Ben Kingsley for ‘Elegy’, Dev Patel for ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and Michael Sheen as ‘Frost/Nixon’.

While Britain seems keen to claim the Killarney man for itself, the waters are muddied a little further by the fact that he is the holder of a German passport.

Born in Heidelberg, Fassbender moved to Killarney with his parents, Josef and Adele, when he was two-years-old.

A past-pupil of Saint Brendan’s College, he cut his teeth in drama with the local theatre group, Bricriu.

He is currently holidaying with his family in Killarney, having flown in from Los Angeles.

The London Film Critics’ Circle has more than 100 members who write for newspapers and magazines published all over the UK. The awards will be held as a fund-raiser for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Source

I’ve just added a brand new photoshoot to the Gallery - enjoy!

Michael and Steve McQueen have been listed as having ‘quotes of the year’ by the Irish Times.

“I lost about 14 kilos and weighed 59 kilos by the end. It was the only way we could possibly do it and make it convincing.” - Michael Fassbender on portraying Bobby Sands in Hunger

“I am not a nationalist. I am not a unionist. The human element overrides all that nonsense. Before you are Irish or British, you are a human being.” - Director of Hunger Steve McQueen

I’ve added the dvd cover from The Devil’s Whore - many thanks to Estefania for letting us know! View it in the Gallery.

Another iconic British TV show set to get the big-screen treatment is The Sweeney. The UK company DNA Films is working on a version, with Ray Winstone signed to star in the role John Thaw made famous, and Michael Fassbender rumoured to take the Dennis Waterman part. Fassbender was catapulted into the spotlight last year for playing IRA hunger-striker Bobby Sands in Steve McQueen’s award-winning Hunger. Directing the men in the Cuban heels and flares will be roustabout Brit director Nick Love. // Source

Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company and David Linde, co-chairman of Universal Pictures, have announced that Inglourious Basterds will open in the US on August 21, 2009.

Source

From everyone here at MFO, I’d like to wish you all a wonderful and safe holiday season and a wonderful new year! Although we’ve been on a small hiatus recently with my absence from posting, I promise in the new year we’ll be back and better than ever. Also, we’ve reached out third year online! as of yesterday :D I’d like to thank everyone on the Fassinator Forum for being so supportive over our years online. Here’s to another fantastic and Fassinat-ing year online!

Accolades continue to roll in for Hunger, with the film receiving five nominations at the 2009 London Film Critic’s Circle Awards, including a nod for Michael as British Actor of the Year. Liam Cunningham has also been nominated for British actor in a supporting role, while director Steven McQueen has been nominated in two catagories, British Director of the Year and Breakthough British Filmmaker. The film will also be contending for the Richard Attenborough Award for the year’s best British film.

Best of luck, everyone, from all of us here at MFO!

The Awards will be held in London on February 4th. A complete list of the nominees can be found HERE.

The Irish-UK feature film ‘Hunger’ has been nominated for the Film Independent’s Spirit Awards in the category of Best Foreign Film.

Directed by Steve McQueen, starring Irish actors Michael Fassbender and Liam Cunningham and shot on location in Northern Ireland, ‘Hunger’ follows the final 66 days in the life of famous hunger striker Bobby Sands. The film has received critical acclaim across the globe with the Camera d’Or Award at the Cannes Film Festival among its many accolades received.

Read more here

You can expect The Devil’s Whore DVD to hit stores on 9 February 2009 according to Amazon.co.uk

Even mega-businesses like the film world are feeling the global belt-tightening as the world economy sinks deeper into recession. Luckily, Empire comes to Hollywood’s rescue in a feature they call “Credit Crunch Casting” in which pricey movie stars are paired with their low-budget doppelgangers—or at least passable knock-offs.

For instance, if your flick is begging for a Christian Bale-type, why not settle for 300’s buff German Michael Fassbender? Not a bad idea, Empire.

The Michael Pitt instead of Leonardo DiCaprio swap seems especially easy to pull off, although I do wonder if Pitt can do anything besides brood. Elsewhere, the Angelina Jolie/Shannyn Sossamon switch is guaranteed to save a few bucks. But overall, a nod to the British film mag for their IMDB digging—I mean, who the fuck is Jeffrey Dean Morgan?

Let’s do our own. Which A-lister has a lesser counterpart? I still can’t seem to tell the difference between Amy Adams and Isla Fisher…

Source

The original article is here:

Can’t afford Christian Bale? Get Michael Fassbender

Christian Bale is now one of the leading blockbuster picks in Hollywood as Batman and in his upcoming turn as John Connor in Terminator Salvation. And he’s shown his method chops by starving himself to play, say, sleep deprived Trevor Reznik in the Machinist. There are few actors who would be willing to virtually give up eating for a role, but German actor Michael Fassbender showed a similar level of starved obsession to play Bobby Sands in Hunger. The parallels don’t end there - Fassbender is just as adept at buffing up for action as Bale, as we saw in 300.

I’ve added a brand new still featuring (who I believe to be on the left hand side) Michael to the gallery // Source

Shock Till You Drop have posted an exclusive clip from Eden Lake: (Caution: not for children - adult themes and lots of blood are in the clip)

Goodies ahoy from the British Independent Film Awards!  Two images of Michael at the after party have been added to the GALLERY….

And be sure to check out THIS site for a brief video interview with the man himself!  Thankyou, Tina, for the discoveries!

It is with great sadness that we share news of the loss of a true and beautiful friend to us all… our sweet and lovely Maz.

We would like to honor Maz and all of her friends by celebrating the amazing, gorgeous and ever-giving person she was and still is. Even though she has left this life she is still working her magic through the wonderful, fun and happy memories she has gifted to all of us that were blessed to get to know her, even if it was a little bit.

All that she has done for so many of all walks of life, from all over the world will live on for a long time to come. Maz was always thinking of others… always knew how to lift you up when you were down and struggling with life’s challenges. Her positive energy, bright light, and beautiful spirit was a gift to all that met her, no matter how brief.

Maz really enjoyed her time as a Fassinator, having fun and sharing a few of her amazing experiences with all of us. She truly cared about us and had great admiration for Michael.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Liz, Sara, Sophie and all of Maz’s friends for keeping our MFO community in their thoughts during this very difficult time. We love you and thank you for your much cherished friendship, kindness and giving hearts.

The deep pain that is felt at the death of every friendly soul arises from the feeling that there is in every individual something which is inexpressible, peculiar to him alone, and is, therefore, absolutely and irretrievably lost. ~Arthur Schopenhauer

MFO has truly lost a treasure. A treasure that is priceless and irreplaceable for you cannot put a price on friendship or replace a friend that is lost.

Maz showed us the brilliance of her smile in every post. She gave us laughter, love, and personal insight. She invited us into her lovable soul and we gladly stepped inside where there was brilliant light and love. We could not see her smiling, but we could feel the smiles and hear her laughter with each and every post.

Remember when she so wanted to play the role of Cathy to Michael’s Heathcliff? We had no doubt that she could do it and do it with flare and elegance! We could see the curtain call and jazzy “Ta Da” hands with every recitation of Wuthering Heights she gave us.

Maz took us to Cannes 2008 where we experienced each and every glorious moment of Michael’s performance in Hunger. It was there where we learned the phrase, “Just say No to Pandas!” Maz’s vivid details gave us a panoramic view. It was as if we were there with her and cheering Michael on! While there, Maz did everything she could to promote MFO and to showcase Michael’s talents to the film making industry. She was our ambassador in the whacky world of Cannes.

While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet her behind the veil. ~John Taylor

Maz was there behind the scenes with messages for those of us who needed support outside the realms of MFO and gladly extended her friendship to those who would take her hand. Those who did were so very lucky indeed. For to be Maz’s friend, was nothing short of the most wonderful gift and such sheer delight!

Maz was and is MFO’s Angel. Maz had a way of spreading sunshine. Her wit was sharp and her laughter was contagious. You couldn’t help but feel happy when talking to her even when the situations around you were miserable. That’s what an Angel is. An Angel brings light, love, and hope to the most darkest and desperate of situations. Somehow things didn’t seem so bad when seen through Maz’s eyes. She helped light the way out of the darkest tunnels.

We will mourn the loss of our friend, but most importantly we will honor and remember her because through our memories of Maz, she will live forever. She is forever in our hearts and forever our friend. We will remember her with light, laughter, and love. We will never forget our Angel.

Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, and the things you never want to lose. ~From the television show The Wonder Years

If you would like to leave a tribute message for our wonderful Maz or read more about her and all of her amazing stories, please go to the Fassinator Forum to celebrate our treasured friend. Thank you everyone.

The award for best directing debut was given to Steve McQueen for “Hunger”, a film which the jury deemed helpful to “understand and identify with both sides of a violent conflict.”

Michael Fassbender won the award for best actor for his role in “Hunger.”

Congratulations, Michael and Steve!

Sources: 1, 2 and 3

Congratulations from everyone here at MFO to Michael for winning the Best Actor Award at the British Independent Film Awards! Steve McQueen also won Best Debut Director and Best Cinematography for Sean Bobbitt (Source)

Here’s a little article snippet of Michael:

Boyle’s award-hoovering urban fairytale was followed closely by the not-quite-so-cheery Hunger, with Steve McQueen winning Best Debut Director and completing a unique BIFA/Turner Prize double, and Michael Fassbender taking the Best Actor prize. A happily well-fed Fassbender paid glowing tribute to the artist-turned-filmmaker: “He’s a genius. You don’t have to be working in the world of film to have an understanding of people, and he creates such a comfortable, confident, creative environment to work in. I’m just happy to have had the experience of working with him.”

Sadly, one mention of Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds and Fassbender made like a Trappist, although he did share a weakness he’d detected in QT’s frightening film knowledge: Tom Selleck’s perma-tanned private investigator. “You can name any film and he will give you a scene that he liked or disliked, but I did get him on one thing — he didn’t know what the two dogs were called on Magnum.* Although he hit me straight back, ‘OK, so what’s the name of Crockett’s pet crocodile?’ Of course, it’s Elvis.” Empire Online’s daily quiz may have found a new contributor… Source)

I’ve just posted 877 screencaptures from The Devil’s Whore to the Gallery.

To pass the time, [John Simm] borrowed Michael Fassbender’s guitar (Simm grew up playing in a band with his father and, until recently, had his own band, Magic Alex). “Michael was out on benders and I’d stay in, strumming away. That’s how old I am. It’s over.”

Read the full article here.

I’ve put the Gallery back online now - sorry for the inconvenience. More updates are coming soon!