Whilst I was asleep, word started hitting the web that George Hicklenlooper, director of Factory Girl, Hearts of Darkness (one of the very best documentaries I have ever seen), The Man From Elysian Fields and the forthcoming Casino Jack, has passed away at just 47 years of age. Reports say he died of natural causes during his sleep. Way to young. Hickenlooper was in Denver preparing to premiere Casino Jack, which explores the career of disgraced Washington lobbyist and con man Jack Abramoff (Kevin Spacey) who was involved in a massive corruption scandal that led conviction charges of fraud, conspiracy, and tax evasion in 2006. His cousin is Denver mayor John Hickenlooper, and together they were set to unveil the movie together at the Starz Denver Film Festival;
Shock and sadness do not begin to describe our emotions. We are devastated, John Hickenlooper said in a statement. George had immense creative talents and cinematic gifts, but he was so much more than that to us and all his family. His passion for life, zeal for people and unquenchable curiosity enriched everyone who had the fortune to know him. We will miss his sense of humor, his warm character and the avid encouragement he gave anyone around him. Our hearts go out to his wife, Suzanne, and his son, Charles.
Really sad news. I always enjoyed Hickenlooper's films, so few of them there are and always appreciated that he was a real filmmaker who was in this business for the passion of telling stories and not for making money. Casino Jack opens in the U.S. in December. Wish it wasn't his last film. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKD-eNyW7Aohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78hyQgShrrA