‘The Ventriloquist’: Short film sees Kevin Spacey confront a wooden dummy (and himself)

Will Perkins
·Blogger

Since making it big in Hollywood with Oscar-winning roles in both "The Usual Suspects" and "American Beauty," actor Kevin Spacey has become something of a patron of the arts. When he's not acting, Spacey is often producing. Through his production company, Trigger Street, Spacey has executive-produced films like "21," "Fanboys," and "The Social Network."

But the "Se7en" actor doesn't limit himself to just movies. In 2006, Spacey became the artistic director of London's historic Old Vic theatre, helping breathe new life into the stage productions by bringing in the kind of major talent that a star like Spacey could attract. Now Spacey's production house has teamed with Jameson Whiskey to help foster emerging film talent around the world with the JamesonFirst Shot — a short film competition in which Spacey lends himself out as an actor to promising young filmmakers.

The resulting shorts from the United States, South Africa, and Russia are an awesome mix of weird, funny, and charming, but the highlight is definitely "The Ventriloquist," a film by American Benjamin Leavitt. In the film, Spacey plays a shy and lonely ventriloquist whose puppet, Higgins, is much more outgoing (and outspoken) than he is. At just over 10 minutes in length, "The Ventriloquist" packs a whole lot of funny into its short running time and delivers one heck of a performance by Spacey as both the puppet master and the dummy. Watch "The Ventriloquist" below.

Leavitt's short film is essentially just an extra-long commercial for Jameson (although the whiskey doesn't actually appear in the movie), but it's a lot of fun and an excellent reminder of why Spacey is one of the most talented actors working today.

Also on Yahoo! Movies Canada:

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Analysis-BHP's proposed bid for Anglo American is a big bet on copper

    BHP Group's proposed $39 billion buyout of Anglo American is a big bet on copper that could spark a scramble for mining assets as a bullish demand outlook and tight supply for a mineral crucial to the energy transition sends prices to multi-year highs. "The energy transition is only just getting started, and if electricity is the lifeblood of this revolution, copper is the veins and arteries," said Peter Arkell, chairman of the Global Mining Association of China (GMAC).

  • Pop musician Shawn Hook thought he may never sing again after tonsil cancer diagnosis

    TORONTO — Shawn Hook is plotting his return to pop music after a tonsil cancer diagnosis threatened to silence his singing career. The 39-year-old performer says his life was put on hold in January 2023 when he learned a lump on his neck was cancerous. Hook underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation last year, which he says made him unable to speak properly for some time, and presented him with the possibility that he would never be able to sing again. Getting the Juno nominee's voice back on

  • London mayor election: Sadiq Khan's lead smallest over Susan Hall since campaigns started, new poll shows

    Exclusive Savanta survey for the Mile End Institute at Queen Mary University of London put the Labour mayor on 46 per cent, with his Tory challenger on 33 per cent, a lead of 13 points

  • Tottenham announce summer friendly with Vissel Kobe in Tokyo

    Spurs are heading to Japan for the first time in 33 years

  • Astros play the Cubs looking to stop road slide

    Houston Astros (7-18, fifth in the AL West) vs. Chicago Cubs (15-9, second in the NL Central)Chicago; Thursday, 2:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Justin Verlander (1-0, 3.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, four strikeouts); Cubs: Javier Assad (2-0, 2.11 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 21 strikeouts)BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Astros -126, Cubs +107; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros visit the Chicago Cubs looking to end a four-game road slide.Chicago has a 9-3 record in home games and a 15-9 record overall

  • Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays play in game 4 of series

    Toronto Blue Jays (13-12, fourth in the AL East) vs. Kansas City Royals (15-10, second in the AL Central)Kansas City, Missouri; Thursday, 2:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Blue Jays: Jose Berrios (4-0, 0.85 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 27 strikeouts); Royals: Cole Ragans (0-2, 4.32 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 33 strikeouts)BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Royals -119, Blue Jays -101; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals play the Toronto Blue Jays with a 2-1 series lead.Kansas City has an 11-5 record in home gam

  • Bohm leads Phillies against the Reds after 4-hit game

    Philadelphia Phillies (15-10, second in the NL East) vs. Cincinnati Reds (14-10, third in the NL Central)Cincinnati; Thursday, 1:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Zack Wheeler (1-3, 2.30 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 38 strikeouts); Reds: Nick Martinez (0-0, 4.76 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 14 strikeouts)BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Phillies -161, Reds +135; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Phillies play the Cincinnati Reds after Alec Bohm had four hits on Wednesday in a 7-4 loss to the Reds.Cincinnati

  • San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies meet in game 4 of series

    San Diego Padres (14-13, second in the NL West) vs. Colorado Rockies (6-19, fifth in the NL West)Denver; Thursday, 3:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Padres: Randy Vasquez (0-1, 1.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, three strikeouts); Rockies: Dakota Hudson (0-4, 4.64 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 12 strikeouts)BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Padres -154, Rockies +130; over/under is 10 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Diego Padres face the Colorado Rockies leading the series 2-1.Colorado has gone 4-8 in home games and 6-19 overall. The Roc

  • Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers meet in game 4 of series

    Milwaukee Brewers (15-8, first in the NL Central) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (13-12, fourth in the NL Central)Pittsburgh; Thursday, 12:35 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Brewers: Freddy Peralta (2-0, 1.90 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, 33 strikeouts); Pirates: Mitch Keller (2-2, 4.80 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 25 strikeouts)BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Brewers -127, Pirates +107; over/under is 7 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Milwaukee Brewers with a 2-1 series lead.Pittsburgh has gone 5-6 in home games and 13-12 ov

  • Red Sox play the Guardians after Abreu's 4-hit game

    Boston Red Sox (14-11, third in the AL East) vs. Cleveland Guardians (17-7, first in the AL Central)Cleveland; Thursday, 1:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Red Sox: Chase Anderson (0-0, 2.77 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, eight strikeouts); Guardians: Triston McKenzie (2-2, 5.00 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 11 strikeouts)BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Guardians -156, Red Sox +131; over/under is 7 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Boston Red Sox play the Cleveland Guardians after Wilyer Abreu's four-hit game on Wednesday.Cleveland has a 7-4

  • Rangers and Mariners meet with series tied 1-1

    Seattle Mariners (12-12, second in the AL West) vs. Texas Rangers (13-12, first in the AL West)Arlington, Texas; Thursday, 2:35 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Mariners: Luis Castillo (1-4, 4.40 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 36 strikeouts); Rangers: Andrew Heaney (0-2, 6.35 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 15 strikeouts)BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Mariners -122, Rangers +103; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners meet on Thursday with the three-game series tied 1-1.Texas has a 13-12 record overall an

  • Smith leads Dodgers against the Nationals after 4-hit outing

    Los Angeles Dodgers (15-11, first in the NL West) vs. Washington Nationals (10-13, fourth in the NL East)Washington; Thursday, 4:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Dodgers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-1, 4.50 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 30 strikeouts); Nationals: MacKenzie Gore (2-1, 3.60 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 27 strikeouts)BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Dodgers -197, Nationals +165; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers play the Washington Nationals after Will Smith had four hits on Wednesday in an 11-2 wi

  • New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics meet in game 4 of series

    Oakland Athletics (9-16, fourth in the AL West) vs. New York Yankees (17-8, first in the AL East)New York; Thursday, 7:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Athletics: Alex Wood (0-2, 7.89 ERA, 2.03 WHIP, 20 strikeouts); Yankees: Nestor Cortes Jr. (1-1, 3.41 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 28 strikeouts)BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Yankees -254, Athletics +206; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The New York Yankees lead 2-1 in a four-game series with the Oakland Athletics.New York has a 17-8 record overall and an 8-4 record

  • White Sox look to break losing streak in matchup with the Twins

    Chicago White Sox (3-21, fifth in the AL Central) vs. Minnesota Twins (10-13, fourth in the AL Central)Minneapolis; Thursday, 1:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: White Sox: Mike Soroka (0-3, 7.50 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, 12 strikeouts); Twins: Simeon Woods Richardson (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, five strikeouts)BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Twins -250, White Sox +202; over/under is 7 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Chicago White Sox are looking to end their six-game slide with a victory against the Minnesota Twins.Minneso

  • India's poll panel seeks responses to complaints against Modi, Rahul Gandhi

    India's Election Commission said on Thursday it has sought responses from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress on alleged violations of poll rules by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. India is holding the world's largest election over seven phases, with votes due to be counted on June 4. In their complaints to the commission, the BJP accused Gandhi and Congress accused Modi of making divisive speeches on religion, caste and linguistic issues, notices from the panel said.

  • Taxi driver describes moment military horse smashed into side of his Mercedes van with passenger inside

    Five military horses bolted through central London on Wednesday morning in bizarre circumstances

  • London travel news LIVE: Euston rush-hour disruption after train hits obstruction near Watford Junction

    Disruption is expected throughout the morning rush-hour on Thursday after a train crashed into an obstruction near Watford. Trains to and from Euston are among those affected. National Rail warns trains are having to run at reduced speeds on the line towards Milton Keynes Central.

  • Barclays profits slip amid mortgage squeeze

    Barclays reported a 12% fall in first quarter profit as mortgage lending and deposits dipped.

  • Two horses which bolted through central London in a 'serious condition'

    Two horses which bolted and charged through central London on Wednesday are in a "serious condition", a minister has said. The Household Cavalry said the animals - which were taking part in what the army called a "routine exercise" in the Belgravia area - were spooked by builders dropping rubble from a height "right next to them". "Three of them are fine, two of them are unfortunately in a relatively serious condition and obviously we will be monitoring that condition."

  • Exam stress, TikTok and money worries: a parent’s guide to dealing with teen mental health

    Anxiety levels are soaring among teenagers, but our top tips from mental health experts help parents navigate the minefield