Bentley

Wes Bentley
Photo: MTV News

We’ve already heard “Hunger Games” star Wes Bentley address the fan fervor surrounding his role as Seneca Crane — or, more specifically, the beard that was specially crafted for his character. Now it’s time to get into his thoughts on the impact of Suzanne Collins’ best-selling trilogy as a whole and what he thought about reading them for the first time knowing he might be bringing Crane to life on the big screen.

“I think they’re fantastic novels. She’s a great writer, very poetic at times, and I love that,” Bentley told MTV News. “What struck me first was that it was politically sophisticated, a level at which you don’t see in adult novels. I also found it very exciting, and I found the character of Katniss to be so intriguing and so inspiring and very clever. I love to see that in a book.”

Speaking to getting into the character of Seneca Crane, Bentley didn’t want to give away too much but did reveal that he felt that he had a lot to work with, thanks to director Gary Ross.

“Gary created a great version of the character from the script, and I had a lot of fun with it,” Bentley said. “We had a blast.”

The “American Beauty” actor also said he tried to maintain “tunnel vision” with regard to the constant online chatter and debates over the film’s casting, but his wife thwarted those efforts.

“I was sort of aware of that excitement about the book,” he said. “My wife was trying to tell me how people felt about me being cast, which seemed positive, but I didn’t want to hear much about it; I just wanted to focus on the work.”

Bentley said if he could play any other role in the film, it would be Katniss, because she is such a strong character. He also deftly avoided the Team Peeta or Team Gale question by emphasizing the fact that the story is about survival, not romance.

“I don’t even think it plays like that,” he said. “[Katniss] is a strong individual character who is having to do something much bigger. It’s about survival.”

Check out everything we’ve got on “The Hunger Games.”

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

Related Videos

• MTV Rough Cut: ‘Hunger Games’

Wes Bentley as Seneca Crane in “The Hunger Games”
Photo: Lionsgate

On Thursday, we treated our fellow “Hunger Games” fans to a fun and candid discussion with star Wes Bentley about his character’s curiously shaped beard and how its unique design and personality enhanced Bentley’s performance in the film as game master Seneca Crane.

Now we have yet another snippet from that interview, in which we tackle some more serious issues, like what secretive scenes Bentley was most excited to film, as well as what kind of Seneca Crane we’ll see on the big screen come opening day, March 23.

“It was all of it for me,” Bentley told MTV News about what scenes he was most eager to film. “I was curious to get on set and see what was going on. It was secret for everybody, so to get on and see what the look was and how it was feeling, I was excited to be a part of it every day.”

The “American Beauty” actor admitted that because author Suzanne Collins doesn’t provide a meaty character arc for Crane, he wasn’t exactly sure how they were going to interpret him for the film.

“For anyone who reads the books, he’s not mentioned much in the books, mostly because it’s told from Katniss’ first-person perspective, so I had no idea what kind of angle we were going to take on it, and I really didn’t have an idea until I got to set,” Bentley said. “[Director] Gary [Ross] had such a clear idea of it that it made it easy to dig into.”

Bentley was hesitant to describe his version of Crane in detail, but after a bit of prodding, he did reveal that he took a few cues from his experiences in Hollywood to flesh out Crane’s persona a bit.

“The idea of him was a flashier idea than what you would think. He’s more a flashy producer,” Bentley said. “I’m still a tech-y kind of guy, still a producer at heart, so I used my understanding of show business and sort of magnified that to get a clear-cut vision of Seneca.

“He goes big. He’s all about the show,” he added about Crane’s all-for-the-sake-of-the-Games showmanship. “I went as far as I could without [going over the top], but what he’s about in his show is flashy, his look is very flashy, but he still tried to play it like he’s a cool cat.”

Check out everything we’ve got on “The Hunger Games.”

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

Related Videos

• MTV Rough Cut: ‘Hunger Games’

Wes Bentley as Seneca Crane in “The Hunger Games”
Photo: Lionsgate

Three years can feel like an eternity. That’s how long “The Hunger Games” fans will have sat around sharpening their arrows between Lionsgate purchasing the film rights to Suzanne Collins’ novel and the movie ultimately swooping into theaters March 23. But it’s also been a productive 36 or so months for the series’ acolytes, evidenced by the plethora of Panem-centric memes that have cropped up online to amuse, inform and enthrall.

From Seneca Crane’s beard to Katniss’ orange backpack, let’s celebrate the things that have made this infernal wait a little less painful. (Special thanks to Twitter friends who sent in their recommendations.)

Seneca Crane’s beard
Wes Bentley’s flame-shaped fuzz was destined for Internet infamy. Following the debut of “The Hunger Games” full-length trailer, the stylized scruff seemed to be one of the hottest topics of conversation. A Facebook page (and insightful interview with Hollywood Crush) followed, proving the beard had staying power — even if it didn’t stay on Bentley’s face forever. “I would have loved to have kept the beard, but that beard took two hours to groom every day,” he told MTV News. “It’s such a cool look. Ve Neill, the makeup designer, did such an amazing job. It’s exciting that it’s getting that kind of attention.”

Advice Peeta
Peeta is the wisest baker’s son we know. Need proof? Take a gander at Advice Peeta, recommended by @TheHobOrg, where the disembodied head of Josh Hutcherson dispenses pithy platitudes and nuggets of wisdom. “Remember who the real enemy is: Panera,” one reads, while another declares, “I set fireeeeeee to the bread.” Aw, Peeta’s an Adele fan! We knew it.

Lord Buttercup
District 12′s male tribute isn’t the only character pontificating online. Even Prim’s mangy tomcat is getting in on the action. Similarly styled to Advice Peeta, Lord Buttercup, recommended by @mirandahakim, has plenty to say too, like “I am the Mockingjay. LOL JK I’m a cat.” The busy feline also manages his own Twitter account, @LordButtercup. Because the revolution needs social-media-minded mongrels.

Effie’s shoes
One of the newer (and perhaps less prevalent) memes, recommended by @HGgirlonfire, is a foot fetishist’s best friend. Effie Trinket’s gold booties (supposedly fashioned after an Alexander McQueen design) made their debut on the recently launched Capitol Couture. And our shoe envy will never be the same.

Katniss’ orange backpack
Clearly, “Hunger Games” fans are a fashion-conscious bunch, because when the first “Hunger Games” teaser debuted, and it appeared Katniss’ bright backpack had been replaced by a duller version, die-hards were not pleased. Thankfully, further peeks have confirmed that the fiery bag, which Katniss grabs at the beginning of the Games, is indeed a player. And, as recommended by @pikko, it continues to be celebrated on Facebook.

What’s your favorite “Hunger Games” meme? Sound off in the comments below and tweet me @amymwilk with your thoughts and suggestions for future columns!

Check out everything we’ve got on “The Hunger Games.”

For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

Related Videos

• MTV Rough Cut: ‘Hunger Games’

Related Photos

• The Hunger Games

For many customers, a Bentley is as much about the badge on the hood as the engine beneath it. So it should come as little surprise that the company’s range of branded merchandise has expanded over the years to become one of the most extensive and the most exquisite in the business.

Among those partnerships on which Bentley has embarked with merchandising partners are timepieces by Breitling, writing instruments by Tibaldi, sunglasses by Estede, skis by Zai, leather goods by Robert Ettinger of London and newly-announced scarves by Heritage Cashmere. The full collection will be on display at the Paris Auto Salon, beginning precious few days from now at the Port de Versailles, but you can see them for yourself in our extensive high-resolution image gallery below.

Bentley’s Expanded Collection on Display in Paris originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you’re going to write a check for a $285,000 luxury sedan like the new Bentley Mulsanne, you’re not going to use any old disposable pen, now are you? Of course not. That’s why, like their sister-company Bugatti, Bentley has teamed up once again with an Italian pen-maker to deliver the same Flying B feel in a smaller package.

Designed to accompany the new Mulsanne, the latest Tibaldi writing instrument is the product of a long collaboration between the two companies. The Mulsanne series includes roller-balls and fountain pens, crafted in sterling silver and 18-karat rose gold, with knurled metal grips and wood trim in any of Bentley’s three veneers: dark stained vavona, burr oak or burr walnut. With a clip designed to emulate Bentley switchgear and an emblem styled after the car’s starter button, the Mulsanne series will be built in limited quantities and available to an elite cadre of clientele…again, like a Bentley.

Tibaldi for Bentley Mulsanne Pen Series originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Back in December my colleague Noah Joseph previewed some of the notable early consignments at Gooding & Company‘s Amelia Island sale. Now with the auction date of March 11 looming we have details on starring lots added in the interim. Recent additions to the stunning lineup include an extraordinary “barn find” 1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback with coachwork by H.J. Mulliner; a highly-original and unrestored 1961 Aston Martin DB4 Series IV; and a 1962 AC Cobra. They join other incredible offerings including a 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV Prototype, a 1963 Lotus 23B and a 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (above).

“A true connoisseur’s car, the Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback has a place in the world’s finest collections,” says David Gooding, President and founder. “This recently-discovered, two-owner R-Type is the ultimate collector’s Bentley for its role in luxury motoring history and sophisticated performance specification.” Gooding have not released estimates for the Bentley or Miura, but expect the bidding to be fierce. Meanwhile the Aston Martin’s estimate is $425,000 – $475,000; the AC Cobra $450,000 – $550,000; the Lotus $175,000 – $225,000; and the Ferrari 250 GT Lusso $600,000 – $750,000.

Rare Ferraris, Bentleys, Astons & More at Gooding’s Amelia Island Sale originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Some of the most precious gems in famed fashion designer Ralph Lauren‘s incredible car collection will be exhibited for the the first time ever in Paris this spring. Lauren’s collection, in our opinion the finest one in private hands on the planet, features impeccable examples of the rarest and most valuable vehicles in the world. We can reveal exclusively that four of his exquisite automotive works of art, which have never before been seen in public, will be on view at the Muse des Arts Dcoratifs in Paris from April 28 – August 28: a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM; a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Scaglietti; a 1956/1958 Jaguar XKSS; and a 1931 Alfa Romeo Monza 8C 2300.

13 other Lauren cars will also be on display during the exhibit, entitled The Art of the Automobile: Masterpieces from the Ralph Lauren Collection, including an amazing 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (above), a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, and a 1938 Bugatti 57 SC Atlantic Coup. The last two alone are worth about $30 – $40 million each, and are among the world’s most expensive cars. The Paris exhibit will focus on European models created between the 1930s and the 1990s, “illustrating the evolution of car design in the 20th Century.” They were selected by curator Rodolphe Rapetti and will be arranged by scenographer Jean-Michel Wilmotte, with the “kinetics” and sound of the vehicles conveyed by means of various films and recordings. The museum will also be producing a luxe book to celebrate the occasion.

Continue reading EXCLUSIVE: Ralph Lauren to Exhibit Car Collection Classics for the First Time

EXCLUSIVE: Ralph Lauren to Exhibit Car Collection Classics for the First Time originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A recent decision by two venerable British brands to drop the Royal Warrants from their packaging has occasioned some hand-wringing in the UK over whether the much-coveted distinction has lost its lustre. The Classicist calls it a tempest in a Royal Doulton teacup; read on to find out why. Only three royals are entitled to grant warrants – the Queen of England, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales – to firms who supply their royal requisites for at least five years, though most warrant holders have ties to Britain’s royal family dating back several decades or more. Of course, Prince William will one day be granting his own.

Holders of the Royal Warrant include many of our favorite luxury brands – Asprey, Aston Martin, Bentley, Barbour, Burberry, Fortnum & Mason, Gieves & Hawkes, Holland & Holland, Hunter Boots, Jaguar, John Lobb, Johnnie Walker, Land Rover, Laphroaig, Lock & Co., Swaine Adeney Brigg, Smythson, Tanqueray and Turnbull & Asser – along with a host of lesser names, such as After Eight mints and Jacob’s Cream Crackers. It is the latter two that have now decided to do without their warrants – though no insult is intended to the royal family, as it was when former Harrods owner Mohamed al Fayed burned his last year. That coupled with the results of a new survey showing that only 13% of respondents thought that warrants make any difference have called their usefulness into question, the London Guardian reports.

However, “It’s hard to say that interest in royal warrants is conclusively on the wane,” Vicky Bullen, chief executive of Coley Porter Bell, tells the paper, “because there is no existing data with which to make a comparison. However, consumers’ apparent indifference to the royal warrants has surprised us. We can only surmise there could be a number of factors at play.” Said factors, Bullen says, include “that we live in a less deferential society in which the royal family enjoys less prestige and political support.” That of course is not exactly new, though the upcoming Royal Wedding may give them a boost. [cont'd]

Continue reading The Classicist: Is the Royal Warrant Losing Its Lustre?

The Classicist: Is the Royal Warrant Losing Its Lustre? originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Salon Priv, Europe’s finest and largest dedicated display of supercars, exotics, classics and luxury goods in an English garden party setting, is moving to an amazing new venue this summer to house the largest exhibition to date and an incredible auction alongside. Syon Park (above), the sprawling London estate of the Duke of Northumberland, whose family have lived there for over 400 years, is best known as the mansion used in the movie Gosford Park and is the last surviving ducal residence retaining its country estate in Greater London, making a fitting new setting for the five-star event slated for June 22nd – 24th.

To mark the occasion, RM Auctions, the world’s largest collector car auction house, has selected Salon Priv as the venue for its third annual European sale. Themed ‘Quintessentially English’ and scheduled for June 23, the new RM sale is set to become a regular fixture on the company’s global events calendar, catering specifically for collectors with an affinity for British marques. Also joining the luxe event, now in its sixth season, for the first time is Land Rover who have confirmed that they will show the new Range Rover Evoque models which guests will be able to test drive.

2011 marks a return to the event for Porsche alongside such brands as Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Maserati, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Morgan and Rolls-Royce. In addition to the stunning display of modern super and luxury cars, the event’s internationally renowned Concours d’Elgance returns with seven new categories and a display of some of the rarest and most valuable cars in the world. Examples of this year’s categories include Ferrari 250 Competizione, Historic Grand Prix Single Seaters, Grand Routier, Oddballs, Motorcycles from the Steve McQueen era and a collection of stunning Rolls-Royce models to celebrate the 100 year centenary of the Spirit of Ecstasy. [cont'd]

Continue reading The Classicist: London’s Luxe Salon Prive Comes to ‘Gosford Park’

The Classicist: London’s Luxe Salon Prive Comes to ‘Gosford Park’ originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.