Khalid Abdalla at Four Seasons

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I sat down late this morning with the extremely bright and gracious Khalid Abdalla, 27, who plays the tortured lead character in Marc Forster's The Kite Runner (Paramount Vantage 12.14). He delivers a first-rate performance as a San Francisco-residing, Afghanistan-born writer who goes back to his country to try and rectify a terrible error -- a betrayal of a friend -- he made as a child. Not incidentally, he's also an immensely nice and likable guy.

The Kite Runner star Khalid Abdalla at the Four Season restaurant -- Thursday, 10.25.07, 11:40 am

I had found Abdalla's performance as one of the United 93 hijackers affecting also, particularly in the looks of doubt and conflict that he wore on his face throughout that harrowing Paul Greengrass film, so I was keen to speak to him when given the chance.

I'll summarize our chat a bit more tonight or tomorrow morning, but here's the mp3 of it. It goes on quite a while, but it's easy to hear and make sense of. Abdalla, whio lives in southwest London, expresses himself clearly and concisely on a range of topics. Sorry, but I have to sign off now in order to make an 8 pm screening of a very important Oscar-level film.

Written by David Benioff and based on the book by Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner is an assured and touching drama about a universal experience, which is the need we all have for redempton and forgiveness. One could argue that with this film, his best since Monster's Ball, Forster has corrected the three mistakes he made when he directed Finding Neverland, Stay and Stranger Than Fiction.

ditto

I don't have time to write a review this evening either, but I can report that it seemed to emotionally connect with the Academy members I saw it with two or three weeks ago. There was a warm feeling in the room as everyone filed out. Forster's film is screening this evening at the Academy, with a q & a to follow and then an after-party. I'm sure I'll have a sense fo the rreaction by this time tomorrow.

Zodiac, Heaven, Once screeners<< previous | next >>Two "Devil" reactions

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 25, 2007 at 5:59 PM

comment #1

EOTW says ...

i read the book a couple of years back and thought it was mostly well done. I saw the trailer for this last week before JESSE JAMES and was kinda shocked that the ratings logo which tells you any sex or whatever is in the movie, basically, gave away a HUGE part of the novel, which is gonna be spoiled anyway, but still, anyone reading that might think the film is not something they could stomach.

That being said, the guy who directed this really grates me. I HATED everything about MONSTER's BALL. For that alone, this will be a DVD for me.

Posted by EOTW at October 25, 2007 6:46 PM

comment #2

Hash says ...

He was indeed phenominal in United 93.

Posted by Hash at October 25, 2007 7:30 PM

comment #3

silver says ...

Leave Stranger Than Fiction out of it.
So that's really only two mistakes Forster made, when he directed Finding Neverland and Stay.

Posted by silver at October 25, 2007 7:33 PM

comment #4

WJ says ...

It seems I'm the only one who liked Stay. The story wasn't original at all, but the film had interesting visuals and some good twists along the way. And Stranger than Fiction had a saccharine ending, but was a good film otherwise. Missed Finding Neverland.

Outside of Billy Bob and Berry's performances, I wasn't that impressed with Monster's Ball, but to each his own.

So, yeah, cut the guy some slack. He seems to be consistently cranking out quality films. We need more workman directors like Foster.

Posted by WJ at October 25, 2007 7:42 PM

comment #5

MiraJeffAICN says ...

So Gruver, how was THERE WILL BE BLOOD?

Posted by MiraJeffAICN at October 25, 2007 7:46 PM

comment #6

actionman says ...

WJ, I agree, STAY is a little underrated. it was one of those nothing-makes-any-sense mind-fuck thrillers that is needlessly hard to follow. but, the style in that film is fucking incredible. i also seem to remember liking mcgregor and watts and gosling. but damn, as i recall, the scene transitions throughout the entire film were made to feel/look seamless and there was just something unique about every single shot. its not great by any stretch, but its always interesting.

Posted by actionman at October 25, 2007 8:18 PM

comment #7

actionman says ...

and i also agree...Khalid Abdalla was sensational in UNITED 93, still the scariest movie I have ever seen.

Posted by actionman at October 25, 2007 8:20 PM

comment #8

BurmaShave says ...

Does anyone else notice that on the MPAA reasons, the word Rape turns red? Is this a special distinction?

Also interested to hear about your warm buzz feeling, because this is still my dark horse Best Picture nominee pick.

Posted by BurmaShave at October 25, 2007 8:25 PM

comment #9

Craptastic says ...

These look like "before" and "after" pics...

Posted by Craptastic at October 26, 2007 12:44 AM

comment #10

Walter Sobchak says ...

You said "bright and gracious" like you're surprised or something.

Yo, what's the deal?

Just because he's from the middle-east?

Posted by Walter Sobchak at October 26, 2007 1:14 AM

comment #11

jeffmcm says ...

He's not from the Middle East. He's from Scotland.

Posted by jeffmcm at October 26, 2007 2:27 AM

comment #12

nemo says ...

"These look like "before" and "after" pics..."

Before and after coffee.

Maybe gruver is saying "bright and gracious" because he's encountered so many actors who treat an interview as a chore.

Posted by nemo at October 26, 2007 6:14 AM

comment #13

Alan Cerny says ...

I thought the novel was good and affecting, and I'm looking forward to the film. Marc Forster certainly isn't the best director out there, though.

Posted by Alan Cerny at October 26, 2007 6:46 AM

comment #14

Filthy Rich says ...

I thought Finding Neverland was fine - not great but on okay, if largely unoriginal, film.

Stranger than Fiction however was a mediocre turd that felt like it was written by a 9th grader who thought he'd said something profound.

Posted by Filthy Rich at October 26, 2007 7:18 AM

comment #15

Walter Sobchak says ...

Are you surprised he's "bright and gracious" because he's Scottish?

I know I am.

Posted by Walter Sobchak at October 26, 2007 10:32 AM

comment #16

BurmaShave says ...

Filthy Rich I think people hate on FINDING NEVERLAND because of all the Oscar love it got, including Depp's completely average performance being honored over Paul Giamatti. It's a perfectly fine movie though, and one of the few things I can watch with my young nephews without wanting to hang myself.

Posted by BurmaShave at October 26, 2007 11:59 AM

comment #17

redhot4 says ...

Khalid is an exceptional actor.

Please join my fan page for him myspace.com/khalidabdalla!

Posted by redhot4 at December 1, 2007 11:20 PM

comment #18

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