Joker Clooney launches film gala

By Liam Allen
Entertainment reporter, BBC News

George Clooney on playing Fantastic Mr Fox

Stars of Fantastic Mr Fox, including George Clooney and Bill Murray, have walked the red carpet as the movie launched the London Film Festival.

But Meryl Streep, who voices Mrs Fox in the film version of Roald Dahl's book, stayed in the US because she has flu.

Clooney signed autographs for fans in Leicester Square, accompanied by his Italian girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis.

Earlier he was asked about his plans to settle down, and joked that he intended to "adopt Brad Pitt's kids".

'First book'

Wednesday's gala screening, also attended by actor David Morrissey, supermodel Cindy Crawford, presenter Jonathan Ross and film director Gurinder Chada, launched the 53rd London Film Festival.

Fantastic Mr Fox tells the tale of a fox who decides to go back to his old thieving ways with disastrous consequences.

Stars of stage and screen at the premiere of Fantastic Mr Fox

Director Wes Anderson, 40, whose previous films include The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou, said: "This was actually the first book I ever personally owned, which was officially my property."

"It introduced me to Roald Dahl's books in general," he continued. "It made a big impression on me."

A modest Anderson said the voices of Clooney and Streep, among others, had been the real driving forces behind the film, which was made using stop-motion animation.

"One thing I learned during the course of the movie was how much the voices of these actors give to the animators to work with.

"You record the voices first and the animators spend all their time animating these puppets, but their inspirations come from these moments with these actors."

It's sort of made for grown-ups and its also made for kids and you never know how that plays George Clooney on Fantastic Mr Fox

Clooney, 48, said he had doubts about who would watch the film.

"I'm not sure who's gonna see it - it's sort of made for grown-ups and it's also made for kids and you never know how that plays".

"Wes said, 'don't worry about it, let's just go make movie and have some fun' and I think that's a great way to approach making a film."

Throughout the press conference, Clooney was forced to bat away questions about his personal life.

Asked whether he thought the line of questioning was inspired by his decision to play characters "that need to find responsibility", the star replied: "Thank you for that question and I will now have to consider the other jobs. I was going to play Peter Pan."

He added: "I don't have an answer - obviously."

Biggest laughs

And asked if the relationship between Mr Fox and his son, Ash, in the film had made him feel "broody", Clooney turned to co-star Jason Schwartzman, 29, and joked: "Do you know, just having Jason here next to me, I feel like a father."

But it was Lost In Translation star Murray who raised the biggest laughs.

That line, I put everything into it and I hope that when people see the film they'll be able to sense the preparation and the pain that went into doing it Jarvis Cocker on his one line in Fantastic Mr Fox

When Anderson was asked why the film's human characters were the only ones with British accents, Murray chipped in "because they're the bad guys".

And talking about a meeting with Roald Dahl's widow, Felicity, twice-divorced Murray said: "She's a wonderful, wonderful woman and if I was going to remarry I'd take a chance with her."

But former Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker - who voices one solitary line as a banjo-playing musician - was not to be outdone in the comedy stakes.

"That line, I put everything into it and I hope that when people see the film they'll be able to sense the preparation and the pain that went into doing it."