Chatterbox: The Hobbit diet

Lord of the Rings star Sean Astin has revealed how he got the got the job of Sam the Hobbit — a bit of old fashioned family connection. In an interview with E Online Astin says his father John — who played Gomez in the 60s television series The Addams Family — had worked with Peter Jackson on The Frighteners (he played poltergeist "the Judge") and came back raving about working and living in New Zealand.

Astin jun also said that the director was forever encouraging the actor to fill out his Hobbit costume — complete with giant hairy feet — just that little bit more: "Peter is forever suggesting I have more food. 'A little more shepherd's pie for Mr Astin, please. Another dessert for Sean' ... I can't wait to get back to LA and break into Jane Fonda workouts." Sounds like any cost over-runs on LOTR will be in the catering department first.

EXPERT OPINION: A further instalment in an occasional series ... this week Dr Tom Stevenson, senior lecturer in Roman history at Auckland University on that No 1 box-office hit starring "Our Russell Crowe," Gladiator: "I enjoyed it. It was a rollercoaster ride.

"It's a Hollywood Rome reflecting a Hollywood Rome. It doesn't come from ancient Rome. It's more contemporary Hollywood's conception of Rome take from an earlier Hollywood conception of Rome. "It [the opening battle] looked more like a fire-fight out of a Vietnam war movie rather than any battle out of ancient Rome. It looked like they napalmed the forest."

IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODHILL TODAY: Pukekohe, Riverhead and the Woodhill State forest will take on a decidedly American accent this week as shooting starts on the movie House Guest (working title only). The film's biggest imported name is Kelly McGillis (Top Gun, Witness) while Craig Parker and Elizabeth Hawthorne will be among the supporting local players. The movie is being made by Daybreak Pictures and is curiously described by its advance publicity as "a thriller along the lines of The Hand That Rocks the Cradle or Fargo." Which would appear to make it a snowbound story about a botched kidnapping by a psychopathic nanny solved by a pregnant sheriff. Can't wait.

THE PAIN OF TOURING: Almost every time Aussie rock trio Spiderbait attempt to tour New Zealand, something goes wrong. In the past they've lost passports at the last minute and cancelled visits due to various injuries. They made it this week having postponed for medical reasons early in the year — but drummer-singer Mark Maher, aka Kram, was suffering from fractured ribs sustained while playing football. Probably helped him reach a few high notes.

BREATHE, MEET WHEEZE: Move over pop kids and let a real recording artist through ... the people's poet Sam Hunt has recorded a single entitled Your Body Has No Flaw complete with video and is heading towards an album where his poetry will be dealt to by a variety of producers. The LP should be out next next year and is provisionally titled Songs for the Tone Deaf.

HELENA GOES BANANAS: And this just in from Hollywood — having finally broken out of all those costume dramas with roles in the likes of Fight Club, English actress Helena Bonham Carter is about to get her heftiest wrapping yet. She's to play an ape princess in the big-budget remake of Planet Of The Apes to be directed by Tim Burton. Other cast confirmations include Mark Wahlberg and Tim Roth as an ape military commander. Filming starts later this year.

Links:

E Online