Willem Dafoe and Greta Lee Clash Over Legacy in Trailer for Kent Jones’ Late Fame

      Late Fame strikes a unique balance between sharp and reflective, featuring Willem Dafoe (radiating renewed enthusiasm) and Greta Lee (embodying a sense of excessive eagerness) as they bring to life Samy Burch’s adaptation of Arthur Schnitzler’s novella. Kent Jones leverages his extensive understanding of New York to create the city’s most visually striking screen representation in years. This film is likely to resonate with the adult audience, and Magnolia Pictures plans to release it on August 7 at Film Forum. In anticipation, a trailer has been released, pairing the film's vintage New York atmosphere with Lou Reed’s "Charley’s Girl."

      As noted by Leonardo Goi in our Critic's Pick review, “A familiarity with the ’70s New York poetry scene is not necessary to appreciate this insightful snapshot. Jones captures the boys’ environment with almost anthropological precision regarding its nuances, language, and social norms; Late Fame reaches its peak of humor and relevance when it focuses on these self-important recent graduates and their idiosyncrasies. In adapting Arthur Schnitzler’s 1895 novella, Burch presents Ed’s group as nostalgic figures in a digital age. Yet, this is merely one of their many postures."

      Here’s the official synopsis: “When an eager and complimentary young admirer (Edmund Donovan) arrives at his door, Saxberger is drawn into a circle of twentysomething enthusiasts who celebrate him as a rediscovered talent. Enchanted by the attention—and the captivating presence of Gloria, the group's ‘tragic heroine’ (the enchanting, Kurt Weill-singing Greta Lee)—Saxberger slowly confronts the genuineness of his newfound poetic community.”

      Watch the preview below: