Speaking with The Improper, Jennifer Connelly has discussed Dustin Lance Black’s mainstream directorial debut “What’s Wrong With Virgina,” in which she’ll star alongside Ed Harris (who replaced Liam Neeson), Emma Roberts and Amy Madigan.
The film centers on a charming but psychologically disturbed mother (Connelly) who holds a secret 20 year affair with a sheriff (Harris) now running for state senate. Their relationship is then tested when the mother’s 16 year old son begins a relationship with the sheriff’s daughter (Roberts).
“Yes, I love it, I love the script. It was written by and directed by Dustin Lance Black,” explains the actress. “It’s really hard to pinpoint [what genre it falls under]. It’s funny, but it’s also really moving to me. It’s sort of a moving story of this woman who does have a lot wrong with her, but a lot that’s right about her and her relationship with her son who’s sort of a teen. She’s getting to the point where she kind of needs to let him go. It’s very funny because she’s wildly inappropriate. I thought the script was wildly funny, but also really sad.”
Wildly funny? Now that’s something we didn’t expect. Connelly though seemed to be confused with her helmer’s credentials seemingly mistaking that “it was like he was not a first time director. He was remarkable. He really had his wits about him. He’s a very clever guy.” Lance Black has in fact been behind the camera numerous times albeit for a handful of lo-fi sexuality-tinged efforts early last decade.
The writer-director is best known though for his Oscar-winning “Milk” script and is due to reunite with Gus Van Sant for an adaptation of “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.” No release has yet been scheduled for ‘Virginia’ but, last we heard, Lance Black was already in post-production so maybe this fall?