The latest incarnation of the Jack Abramoff story is now playing at the Toronto International Film Festival. “Casino Jack,” the big-screen adaptation of Abramoff’s rise to power and fall from grace, stars Kevin Spacey in the lead role.
Spacey, who was on hand for the film’s premiere in Toronto, told Reuters that he played the role with a certain amount of sympathy for the now-disgraced lobbyist:
“His greed wasn’t self interest… Is it just that he got caught up in the game of being the best, of making the most money in the culture of the lobbying industry? When you break it down, he wasn’t doing anything that everyone else in Washington wasn’t doing. He was doing it louder, better and making more money than everyone else.”
Spacey apparently met with Abramoff while Abramoff was still in prison (he has since been released and is working in Baltimore).
“Casino Jack” is directed by George Hickenlooper; it will open in theaters in December. It was previously reported to be titled “Bagman.”
The Reuters story is available here: “Casino Jack” Shines Light on Disgraced Abramoff.”
Tags: Casino Jack, Jack Abramoff, Kevin Spacey
