Rosamund Pike, Sam Neill join 'Long Way Down': Pascal Chaumeil adapts Nick Hornby novel (CHICAGO TRIBUNE)

LONDON -- Rosamund Pike and Sam Neill have joined the cast of French filmmaker Pascal Chaumeil's English-language debut "A Long Way Down."

Pike and Neill join Pierce Brosnan, Toni Collette, Aaron Paul and Imogen Poots in the adaptation of Nick Hornby's darkly comic best-seller, which has just started lensing in the U.K. and Spain.

The film is about four strangers who meet on New Year's Eve on the top of a London skyscraper, who each had intended to jump off but make a pact to stay alive and help each other.

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James McAvoy 'amazing' in Filth (PRESS ASSOCIATION)

James McAvoy is "absolutely amazing" in Filth, author Irvine Welsh has revealed.

The Scottish star plays drug-addicted and misogynistic detective sergeant Bruce Robertson in Jon S Baird's big-screen adaptation of Irvine's best-seller, alongside Jamie Bell, Alan Cumming and Imogen Poots.

"He is absolutely amazing. It's just one of the greatest acting performances I have ever seen," Irvine said.
"I think he's better than Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver. He is absolutely electric and is right into the character. It's a fantastic emotional performance."

Irvine - who is promoting the release of Ecstasy on DVD and Blu-ray on August 20 - said film fans will be surprised by James' transformation.

"This is a totally different thing from anything he has ever done before. I've never seen him in that kind of role.

When you meet him in real-life, he's such a nice guy but he plays this monster, which he humanises too," the writer explained.

READ MORE: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5h3cOItyD1Xc0Zfv5ZWdg7JHFrhaA?docId=N0386901344605796732A