For Anthony Hopkins, a grandfather role with personal echoes

NEW YORK — The “heart and soul” of a film is an often-overused term, but it’s practically unavoidable when it comes to Anthony Hopkins in James Gray’s “Armageddon Time.” Gray’s autobiographical film, drawn with exquisite detail from his childhood growing up in 1980s Queens, New York, follows an 11-year-old named Paul with dreams of becoming an artist. When a script is clear and concise, it’s like a roadmap.” Hopkins immediately began firing off long emails to Gray with reflections of his own grandfather as the two exchanged memories with one another. I remember waving and saying ‘Goodbye, grandpa,’ and then I never saw him again.” “That’s it,” says Hopkins. “I said, ‘You will always win any creative dispute with me,’” says Gray.