14 - Friday, October 22, 1999 — North Shore News Heaven can wait: Actor/director has always known where he was gaing Robert Aiker Contributing Writer DIRECTOR Oliver Stone’s first choice for the role of Richard Nixon was Warren Beatty. Anthony Hopkins got the part and turned in a masterful performance, although, had Beatty and Stone seen eye to eye regarding how to interpret the Nixon character, it would have been most interesting, indeed. Beatty, a self-described “bleeding heart liberal,” would have had a difficulr time rendering the politically conservative Nixon remotely sympathetic. He would have been simulrane- ously conflicted about presenting himself as less attractive than he actually is, or as darkly homely as the demonized Nixon actually was. ~~ When I was acquainted with Warren, during our _Hallywood days ("60s), he off. terred to himself as “a nar- * cissistic'son ofa bitch.” He ha, : - been concerned about looking as good as possible. Larry - ..g of CNN, while inter- viewing him, called him on it, “Why che key light?” Warren had arranged his own lighting, a small spotlight from above (the way Josef von Sternberg would light Marlene Dietrich) to ash away wrinkles and bring out the cyes. am-reminded, by Beatty's current public posturing putting himself “out there” as a potential candidate for President of the United States) of when I was a guest,on 2 radio show i in downtown Carmel, California, (1 was being ed about my astrological practice) and in sauntered Clint. Eastwood. He joined us and the host asked him if all the around the Monterey peninsula were . ‘Are you going to run. for mayof?”. After much ctgoked gs-hemming and hawing; Eastwood flatly denied it.” he announced his candidacy. He was, of course: subsequently elected.’ And a most effective mayor he - n'developers thréatened to move in on and ruin an cally ; hland area, Eastwood just up and. = now. out, and if Warren ‘Beatty 's breadth of being nomi-,- ake ‘a big enough difference, he diy, in spite of mayor, nor governor of : resident of the Screen actor" 's Guild. gan had been S-A.G. Presi ipport of friends like: Barbra Streisand, nan; Jack Ni holson,’ Robert — spport liberal, causes, Twill ccintinué o ; I have the Nanay of | WARREN Beatty ina scene from Bulworth — very aware of prevailing potitics! possibilities. saying what I want to say as a non-candidate” etc. However, took at what Jesse Ventura is saying — being outrageously bluat (@ /a Buiworth, the character Beatty plays in 1998’s Bulworth) and he was a duly clected governor of Minnesota, Beatty is canny, very intelligent. He is highly aware of the prevailing political possibilities. He knows that his former ibido-driven Lothario reputation is unlikely to thwart him, but rather, if anything, te colour him even more charismatic . (as he has known/exploited all along). Besides, he is now mar- ".tied to a most desirable Annette Bening (he loves her joy) who is now with child (their fourth).- She starred in The American President (as the first lady) and is enjoying the success in her latest, the darkly brilliant American Beauty. Way back in 1959/ 1960, my astrologer friend Ben Gary and I were telling actress Joan Collins how phenomenally suc-: ~ cessful her boyfri ‘done William Inge’s "A Los of Roses on Broadway, thete. was :. » Elia Kazan’s upcoming Splendor in ‘the Grass (written by, Inge), cis with Natalie Wood. There was a major buzz in Hollywood ‘ © about Shirley MacLaine’s tall, dark and haridsome brother who . ’ was such a good aczor and makirig:all the right moves (profes* . ‘be only too glad to'get their projects off the gre d aue t “the willingness of the town’s newest heartt! ‘ab end, Warren Beatty, was going to be. He had ~ Sional and “personal publicity” wise — publicly romancing the right ladics, etc.) , “debuts ronight, Sarah :, Reeves leaves her San ° Francisco home for the Big . 4 HOCKEY Vancouver at : “Philadelphia (Sportsnet’: Channel Bo. 4: 30 p-m.) : Canucks continue foad tip. pe m.) Profiles on Porn to ; Manic Street Preachers ~ an, ‘Alliance Ethnik, on kitchen cabinets - and appliances ' (BRAVO Channel 28, : - 11:45 p.m.) Interviews and performances from opera Stars Martha Medi, Anita - Cerquetti and Rita’ Go THURSDAY “SE DOCUMNTAR' Witness (CBC Channel 3, 9 p.m.) The sixth instalment : : of Michael Apted’s: 7Uj 3 MUSIC The New Music ° (M achMusic Channel] 29,9 ~ ; "tonight. The first film docu mented the lives of « group” series (begun for. Granada Television in 3954) aizs. ofEnglish seven-year-olds and has continued to’ co! nest wie ther 1128 Mainlarid ‘St. t: (Yaletown) me Mancouver * » 682-0545 I knew of his political proclivities from the horoscop experienced it up close during dinner“at Beverly Hil be __ restaurant (we would sneak in the back way) in the’Com| ‘of Paul and Joanne Newman and screenwriter, Stewart en We were most impressed t by Warren’s poise and self < lence. He knew who he was and where he was goin New, to: Hollywood, he had a long list of the directors he not only, wanted to, but was definitely going to work with: Rober: Rossen, Arthur Penn, George Stevens, the They with "Elia Kazan: had ‘done i it again; Brando, Dean, now, Beatty. He referred to Warren as “formidable.” And, he was to -; tually 5 prove. himself to. be just that Splens : producer/writer/actor since 1975, ai a successful producer/acto r sinc : Ee eanated Foe Rear ‘or sinc ‘1978 He h inated for Academy Awards in four’ ‘Can Wait and Raids).