Writer/actor Marlon Wayans recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his role in the new comedy sequel “A Haunted House 2.”
In “A Haunted House 2,” which opens Friday, April 18, Wayans reprises his role as a man who, having exorcised the demons of his ex, is starting fresh with his new girlfriend and her two children. However, after moving into their dream home, he is once again plagued by bizarre paranormal events.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Wayans by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the writer/actor discusses what his character is up to this time around.
“Malcolm left Kisha and he has started a new relationship. He tried a different flavor because he felt like his crazy, psycho girlfriend kind of spooked him. So he went a different way and he went for Megan, who is played by Jaime Pressly. She has two children … and the daughter is going through a teenage thing. She has got a box that is haunted. It is possessed. And the son has got an imaginary friend who is getting him in all kinds of trouble – like drinking vodka. Worst imaginary friend ever.
“On top of that, they move into a brand new house, which is haunted, and has this little, crazy, creepy doll that Malcolm winds up running from because it is a stalker doll that he probably shouldn’t have done what he did to her. On top of all that, his possessed ex-girlfriend moves next-door. So it has got a lot of complications.
“It is a fun little journey. The sociopolitical message is, ‘Get your [butt] to the theater and laugh. Be a teen again. Don’t worry about your bills. Don’t worry about all of the problems of the world. Don’t worry about anything except allowing yourself to just be silly, have fun, let your hair down and laugh – laugh, laugh, laugh.’ That’s all! This movie is not going to change your life. Hopefully it will just change your mood and make you happy.” – Marlon Wayans
Author Todd Burpo recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about the new motion picture based on his bestselling book “Heaven is for Real.”
In “Heaven is for Real,” which opens Wednesday, April 16, Greg Kinnear and Kelly Reilly portray a real-life married couple whose son (Connor Corum) claims to have visited Heaven during a near death experience, recounting the details of his amazing journey with childlike innocence and speaking matter-of-factly about things that happened before his birth.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Burpo by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the author discusses what he hopes that moviegoers will take away from watching “Heaven is for Real.”
“When you work with issues of faith and life after death and all of those questions that we have all asked, I think that people need to know that no one has all of the answers and there is a struggle in finding the right answers. This movie is going to walk through that struggle. It is a struggle of faith and a struggle of hurting and the struggle of rejoicing and balancing all of those things.
“When I have seen audiences watch this film, I have seen them cry and cheer and everything in between. It is incredible how they connect. I think that everyone is going to watch this family and connect with the mom and the dad and their almost losing a child and the big sister standing up for her little brother. All of that comes into play in this film. But the biggest things that I think people are going to find are hope and peace.
“How can you go into a movie about faith and have an uncompromising message and not be preachy? Have a child tell the story. That is what is going to happen here in movie theaters. He is going to connect with people’s hearts. He is going to connect with their heads. He is going to challenge people and give them hope. Hopefully, when people walk out of this movie, they are going to go, ‘Wow!’ That is what I want people to be able to experience.” – Todd Burpo
Among the new movies that were released Friday, April 11 are a comedy about a hostage situation at a radio station, a supernatural thriller about a haunted mirror and a crime dramedy about a Queens couple that takes on the mafia.
Steve Coogan plays a DJ whose radio station is taken over by a new media conglomerate, setting in motion a chain of events which see him having to work with the police to defuse a potentially violent siege. (R – 90 minutes)
“Alan Partridge,” a feature-length version of a bit that has been a hit for about 20 years over in the U.K., is the perfect vehicle to showcase star Steve Coogan’s incredible wit. The new comedy’s dry, over-the-top sense of humor will leave you in stitches regardless of your familiarity with the character for which it is titled. Moreover, the movie’s soundtrack is simply spectacular, using certain songs for comic crescendo and others for some surprising sentimentality. A few physical gags will have you laughing out loud but, in the end, it is the rapid-fire one-liners for which this flick will be known. (Thumbs Up!)
‘Oculus’
Karen Gillan plays a woman who tries to exonerate her brother, who was convicted of murder, by proving that the crime was committed by a supernatural phenomenon. (R – 105 minutes)
Crisscrossing timelines and warring states of consciousness make “Oculus” a dizzying nightmare of a motion picture. The new supernatural thriller borders on boredom for much of its runtime as viewers can never quite get a firm grasp on what is real and what is merely a figment of the characters’ imagination as induced by an enigmatic mirror. Perhaps that is the point but it still does not make for a very pleasant experience. Moreover, the movie is almost completely absent of any significant scares whatsoever while star Karen Gillan gives an annoyingly over-the-top performance that will have your eyes rolling in their sockets. (Thumbs Down!)
Michael Pitt and Nina Arianda play a Queens couple that, specializing in robbing mafia social clubs, stumbles upon a score bigger than they could ever imagine and becomes a target of both the mob and the FBI in the process. (R – 94 minutes)
Had “Rob the Mob” focused on its two Bonnie-and-Clyde-esque lead characters played so dynamically by Michael Pitt and Nina Arianda and maintained a comedic tone from beginning to end, it could have been quite the captivating flick. However, after about a half an hour or so of entertainment during which its stars draw us in with amateurish stick-ups lined with laughs, the new motion picture develops an increasingly more dramatic approach while adding several subplots and supporting characters causing its initial charm to become completely lost in the process – along with our attention. (Thumbs Down!)
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Writer/director Mike Flanagan, executive producer Jason Blum and producer Trevor Macy recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about their new supernatural thriller “Oculus.”
In “Oculus,” which opens Friday, April 11, Karen Gillan plays a woman who tries to exonerate her brother, who was convicted of murder, by proving that the crime was committed by a supernatural phenomenon.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Flanagan, Blum and Macy by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which they discuss why the movie avoids the found-footage trend.
“One of the things that we bumped into a lot when people would look at the short and want to do the feature is that they would come at it and say, ‘This clearly should be a found-footage movie.’ And that was never the way we wanted to go because one of the things about found-footage is you absolutely have to believe that what you are seeing in the frame is objective reality.
“The whole conceit of that style of filmmaking relies on that. And for this, it is all about distorting reality and never really knowing what is real. So found-footage was just the absolute wrong fit for this kind of story and it took a very long time and a lot of very frustrating meetings to kind of get past that knee-jerk reaction … and find people that wanted to do it differently.” – Mike Flanagan
“Part of the purpose of this movie is to compromise the objectivity of both the protagonists and – if we have done our jobs right – the audience. So being able to have Mike select what he was shooting and editing in order to do that was kind of essential. You have more options when you don’t have found footage.” – Trevor Macy
“If someone is dying or hurt or anything you want to see in a movie – any dramatic action – that is the last time you are holding a camera. If someone is in jeopardy and you are in the room, you are very unsympathetic if you are [just standing around filming it]. It is very hard to put drama into found-footage.” – Jason Blum
With special guests Preston Miller and Christina Catalano.
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Among the new movies that were released Friday, April 4 are a comedy about dealing with infidelity, a superhero sequel starring Chris Evans and an actioner about a deadly Caribbean honeymoon.
‘10 Rules for Sleeping Around’
Chris Marquette, Tammin Sursok, Jesse Bradford and Virginia Williams play two young couples – one married, one planning to be, all best friends, dealing with the temptation of infidelity… both real and imagined. (R – 94 minutes)
“10 Rules for Sleeping Around” is a day late and a dollar short. That is to say that the new relationship comedy, which places its characters in all kinds of crazy situations that involve various stages of undress (and cross-dress), may have been able to blend in between early 2000 movies like “Tomcats” and “Buying the Cow.” But more than 10 years later, the film’s obviously low production budget leaves a bad taste in your mouth. As do the performances by the female cast members, which can only be described as annoying. Male stars Chris Marquette and Jesse Bradford along with uber-talented supporting actress Wendi McLendon-Covey deserve much, much better. (Thumbs Down!)
A vacationing family encounters an alien threat. Inspired by the real-life Brown Mountain Lights phenomenon in North Carolina. (NR – 85 minutes)
Although “Alien Abduction” earns a few points for actually utilizing a significant portion of its runtime with thrills as opposed to unnecessary exposition, unlike most other found-footage flicks, its Achilles heel is its stars’ atrocious acting – or perhaps it would be more appropriately referred to as overacting. After spending a mere 5 minutes with this annoying family, you cannot help but hope that they will get the anal probing they so richly deserve. And while it is occasionally stirring to see the events that lead up to that very outcome, the footage is far too obscure to ever be more than mildly amusing. (Thumbs Down!)
‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’
Chris Evans reprises his role as an super-powered American soldier struggles to find his place in a modern world after being frozen in ice since WWII while battling a new threat from old history – the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier. (PG-13 – 136 minutes)
“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is certainly action-packed and exciting but it may disappoint people who were looking for… you know… a superhero movie. This latest installment of the massive Marvel superhero saga plays out more like an espionage thriller, with Cap taking a backseat to S.H.I.E.L.D. – or at least serving as little more than a very small cog in a much larger wheel. Having said that, Steve Rogers remains the most dynamic member of the Avengers and this story sees some satisfying follow-up to his first adventure. (Thumbs Up!)
Gina Carano plays a woman whose new husband (Cam Gigandet) vanishes during their Caribbean honeymoon. Armed with a deadly set of skills, she sets out to discover the truth – and to take down the men she thinks are responsible for his abduction, one by one. (R – 108 minutes)
Although it is occasionally so outrageous that you cannot help but laugh out loud, “In the Blood” gets the red stuff pumping through your veins at an alarming pace. What starts out as a ho-hum honeymoon-in-paradise action flick develops into an exhilarating missing-person mystery before eventually morphing into a game of cat-and-mouse that will have you on the extreme edge of your seat. Star Gina Carano, who underwhelmed with her robotic performance in 2011’s “Haywire,” sets the screen on fire here as she nearly single-handedly takes on an entire island with emotional intensity. (Thumbs Up!)
Actor Amaury Nolasco recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his role in the new action flick “In the Blood.”
In “In the Blood,” which opens Friday, April 4, Gina Carano plays a woman whose new husband (Cam Gigandet) vanishes during their Caribbean honeymoon. Armed with a deadly set of skills, she sets out to discover the truth – and to take down the men she thinks are responsible for his abduction, one by one.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Nolasco by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the actor discusses his character in “In the Blood” – an antagonist named Silvio Lugo.
“I would not say that he is a bad guy. I would just say that he is misunderstood. He is one of those guys who runs the underworlds in this undisclosed Caribbean country and he is not great with foreigners. He just takes care of his own – whether he has to break the law or not.
“That is who he is and he is a force to be reckoned with. But I wouldn’t call him a bad guy. You just have to play it either his way or the highway. It is a little bit of a dictatorship if you want to describe it another way. But he is a guy with a gentle heart. You just don’t want to cross him.
“I always want to look for something that makes [my character] likable. I don’t want to hate a guy just to hate him. Villains are human after all. Evan a villain has got a mother. Even a villain has got a sister. He is probably liked by somebody so I always add some sort of a human side to it.
“Silvio is a guy who, as I was telling you earlier, is misunderstood and I made my own justifications. He is a guy who is going through an illness and this was his way of saying, ‘Look, it’s survival of the fittest. Nothing against you but I need to live.’ If it comes down between you or me, I am sorry but I am bringing you down.
“At the end the day, that is just animal instinct and who we are as humans. If you and I were in the middle of the jungle, I’ll be your loyal friend and I’ll be there with you. But if it comes down between you or me, I’m sorry but you’re going down. And that is the way that I justified who Silvio Lugo was.” – Amaury Nolasco
Actress Dee Wallace recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about her upcoming appearance during a special screening of the classic horror flick “Cujo” at the 14th Annual Phoenix Film Festival.
In “Cujo,” which will screen 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 4 at Harkins Scottsdale 101, a friendly St. Bernard contracts rabies and conducts a reign of terror on a small American town.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Wallace by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the actress discusses what she learned from her character – Donna Trenton.
“I didn’t have children at the time and I look back and think I would give myself up for my kid like that. Now that I am a mother, I understand how you would die for your kid; you would face death in order to save your child. Of course, I didn’t really know that at the time but I knew that through Donna. For me, that is what the entire thing was about. No matter what you are in fear of – even death – you will conquer that fear in order to take care of your kid.
“I think that [‘Cujo’] is a good film. It is a visceral fear that everybody has that something good – and even the goodness within ourselves – can be affected by something outside of ourselves; that we can lose control and evil takes over. I think that that is a really common fear with everybody and that is what Cujo represents. He is this beautiful, sweet dog who was attacked by a bat and loses his consciousness to evil.
“I think that my job as an actor is to cross that line and taking at least part of me into believing that this is really happening. The more real that it is for me, the more real that it is for my audience. But I will tell you that even knowing that those dogs were trained to go after toys, when they came at me to attack and play that part of their scene, it wasn’t very hard to get into that fear. Those St. Bernards are huge dogs and when they are 5 inches from your face and are slobbering and barking … it is pretty easy to cross that line.” – Dee Wallace
The absolute best and brightest among this year’s competition features at the Phoenix Film Festival include a road dramedy about a young artist’s search for an old record, a dramedy about a filmmaker’s search for perfect love, a musical dramedy about a mother who returns to her singing/songwriting roots and a dramedy about a depressed man who makes one very unusual request of his friends.
The 14th Annual Phoenix Film Festival will take place Thursday, April 3-Thursday, April 10 at Harkins Scottsdale 101 and, although all 10 of this year’s competition features are worth a look, “Breakthrough Entertainment” has named “45RPM,” “Jake Squared,” “Life Inside Out” and “Teddy Bears” as its 2014 Must-See Selections, designating them as the cream of the competition crop.
‘45RPM’
Liza Burns plays an artist who, struggling with the source of her inspiration, finds help from an obsessive record collector (Jason Thompson) in the search for her deceased father’s lost music. Boasting a spectacular soundtrack of garage rock, this road dramedy takes viewers on a journey that very well may encourage them to continue their search for something with symbolic or sentimental meaning in their own lives.
Max Gail and Coleman Kelly play a retired professor and his ranch hand son, respectively, who try to reconnect after years of estrangement. Even though the story is essentially boiled down to a series of dramatic moments, the movie’s mood falls flat, abolishing any atmospheric fluctuation while also making it difficult for viewers to remain invested in the story as it seemingly slowly unfolds.
E.J. Bonilla plays an ambitious young Latino man who, fueled by misguided nostalgia, buys a small apartment building in the Bronx and moves his boisterous family into the apartments to live rent-free. Although it features a few fine performances among its Latino cast, this drama plays out like a soap opera – one whose volume and intensity are turned up entirely too high, resulting in more annoyance than amusement much less affinity.
Elias Koteas plays a filmmaker whose problems compound exponentially when younger versions of himself invade his life and try to solve his romantic problems. Packed with poignancy and emotional resonance, this remarkably relatable dramedy encourages a great deal of introspection about our own issue-laden love lives while also being entertaining to the power of two.
Filmmaker Randy Murray takes a look at America’s most controversial sheriff – Joe Arpaio – and his ringmaster’s approach to media, politics and law enforcement. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is nothing if not entertaining and this documentary embodies every bit of that – from its riveting reflection of his pursuit of the spotlight to its extremely eye-opening examination of his less-than-savory exploits.
Eddie Jemison and David Jensen play small time wannabes who banter about the rickety streets of New Orleans to find themselves in a strange tug-o-war. Boasting both a contemplative story and an incredibly intriguing cast of characters, this black-and-white dramedy effectively draws viewers into the community that it creates even though it may be a bit too artsy for those seeking something straight-forward.
Maggie Baird plays a mother who returns to her musical roots, rediscovers the passion of her youth and finds a way to connect with her troubled teenage son (Finneas O’Connell). A magnificently moving motion picture, this musical dramedy inspires viewers to find meaning in life through creative expression while also treating them to some outstanding original songs.
Filmmaker Theo Love takes a look at the largest criminal investigation in East Texas history, when 10 churches in the buckle of the Bible Belt are burned to the ground in five weeks. As compelling as it is concise, this documentary demonstrates how violence can shake a close-knit community to its core while delving deep into the minds and hearts of everyone involved.
‘Misfire: The Rise and Fall of the Shooting Gallery’
Filmmaker Whitney Ransick takes a look at the company that rose to the top of the independent film scene in the 90s before financial risk-taking and mismanagement caused it to crash. Although it is an admirable effort and likely one that anyone familiar with the Shooting Gallery’s films will appreciate, most unacquainted viewers will feel as though they are students sitting in on a dry cinema studies lecture.
Gillian Jacobs, Zachary Knighton, Melanie Lynskey, Ahna O’Reilly and Jason Ritter play people who head to the desert to help their friend (David Krumholtz) heal from the loss of his mother. Boasting excellent performances from each and every member of its ensemble cast as well as some pretty surprising poignancy and emotional resonance, this dramedy entertains while also encouraging a great deal of introspection about our own desire for empathy and connection.
Writer/director Thomas Beatty and co-director Rebecca Fishman recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about their new dramedy “Teddy Bears.”
In “Teddy Bears” – which screens 5:15 p.m. Friday, April 4, 11:15 a.m. Saturday, April 5 and 2:15 p.m. Sunday, April 6 at Harkins Scottsdale 101 as part of the 14th Annual Phoenix Film Festival – Gillian Jacobs, Zachary Knighton, Melanie Lynskey, Ahna O’Reilly and Jason Ritter play people who head to the desert to help their friend (David Krumholtz) heal from the loss of his mother.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Beatty and Fishman by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which they discuss the inspiration behind “Teddy Bears.”
“[David Krumholtz’s character] has had a very bad year and he is obviously not in a very good place. He invites his friends out to the desert because, in his mind, he has decided that the thing that is going to heal him is for all of his best friends’ girlfriends to have sex with him at the same time.” – Thomas Beatty
“It is semi-based in reality. Thomas and I are married. We were not married at the time that he wrote [the script]. We had kind of gone through a really difficult time in our relationship and, although Thomas did not ask all of my girlfriends to sleep with him, we did go out with our friends to the same house that is in the movie … and it was during this dark time that we were out there and Thomas got the idea to write this movie.” – Rebecca Fishman
“I had a thought that was not dissimilar to the thought that [David Krumholtz’s character] has. I had this thought that everything would be better if everyone would just take care of me in this very basic way. I was so blown away that I had this thought. I genuinely thought that. It wasn’t a joke. My brain said to me that this is what we should do … and I was just lying in bed laughing about that. And that was the springboard for this movie.” – Thomas Beatty
Director Jill D’Agnenica, writer/actress Maggie Baird and actor Finneas O’Connell recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about their new musical dramedy “Life Inside Out.”
In “Life Inside Out” – which screens 10:50 a.m. Friday, April 4, 3:25 p.m. Saturday, April 5 and 2:05 p.m. Sunday, April 6 at Harkins Scottsdale 101 as part of the 14th Annual Phoenix Film Festival – Baird plays a mother who returns to her musical roots, rediscovers the passion of her youth and finds a way to connect with her troubled teenage son (O’Connell).
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment” full interview with D’Agnenica, Baird and O’Connell by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which they discuss what they hope audiences will take away from watching “Life Inside Out.”
“I would love people to be inspired and to understand that creativity is woven into everyday life and to just go for it because it makes your life so much richer.” – Jill D’Agnenica
“Being authentic at whatever it is that is authentic for you and letting your children be authentic is a huge step toward everything. There is also also a big message in the movie about family and the joy that we all have in our lives. If you don’t live your life wishing that you are doing something else then you can live a life very simply and that’s glorious.” – Maggie Baird
“As a teenager, if you are going through a tough time or if you are depressed or you are unhappy … go and discover new things. If you are not feeling fulfilled … then just experiment and follow new things. [My character] comes out of his shell because he follows his mom into a world that she loves and he discovers that it is what he loves, too, and is what he has been searching for.” – Finneas O’Connell
Writer/director Juli Jackson recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about her new road dramedy “45RPM.”
In “45RPM” – which screens 7:25 p.m. Friday, April 4, 12:55 p.m. Saturday, April 5 and 11:55 a.m. Sunday, April 6 at Harkins Scottsdale 101 as part of the 14th Annual Phoenix Film Festival – Liza Burns plays an artist who, struggling with the source of her inspiration, finds help from an obsessive record collector (Jason Thompson) in the search for her deceased father’s lost music.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Jackson by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the writer/director discusses what she hopes audiences will take away from watching “45RPM.”
“There is a line that [Jason Thompson’s character] says that, to me, kind of sums up what the takeaway for the movie is and it’s really simple. ‘If you are trying to find something that nobody else cares about, the moment that you really stop looking for that thing is when it disappears.’ It is kind of the idea that if you believe the thing that will help you is out there in the world, you will find it. Just don’t give up looking for it – even if it is a record or something bigger. That was kind of the big push for me and something that inspired me to write the film in the first place and also give both [Liza Burns and Jason Thompson’s characters] that goal of not giving up in their search even if no one cares about what you are going for.” – Juli Jackson
Writer/director Howard Goldberg recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his new dramedy “Jake Squared.”
In “Jake Squared” – which screens 1:10 p.m. Friday, April 4, 4:55 p.m. Saturday, April 5 and 9:55 a.m. Sunday, April 6 at Harkins Scottsdale 101 as part of the 14th Annual Phoenix Film Festival – Elias Koteas plays a filmmaker whose problems compound exponentially when younger versions of himself invade his life and try to solve his romantic problems.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Goldberg by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the writer/director discusses what he hopes audiences will take away from watching “Jake Squared.”
“One of the things that I love about this film is that any time I have ever had screenings, I have had people come up to me afterward – people in their 60’s and 70’s, people in their 40’s, people in their 30’s and even young guys and women in their 20’s come over to me – and say, ‘Oh my God! I am Jake! I get it! I totally get it!’ So, in a way, I love that universal aspect of the frustration of the search for perfect love. Everybody is doing it. People in their 20’s and even people in their 70’s are all looking for that perfect love – unless, of course, they have found it.” – Howard Goldberg
Phoenix Film Festival President and Founder Chris LaMont recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about this year’s event, which will take place Thursday, April 3-Thursday, April 10 at Harkins Scottsdale 101.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with LaMont by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the present and founder discusses the perfect recipe for a great day at the festival.
“Our festival is all about the revolution of film. It is amazing how, with the digital revolution, everyone now has an opportunity to tell their story. People are shooting movies on their iPhones and editing them on their laptops. You can make a great little movie and not have to spend a lot of money to tell a great story. That is what independent film is all about.
“[We have got] some films that are not going to be at Camelview and are not going to make it Shea but they are still definitely deserving of an audience. You can’t be a filmmaker without showing your movie to people so we want to get the best presentation possible. And we are fairly successful at doing it because we always stay on track and we keep in mind what is important – which is great movies and a great audience.
“Every film in competition is amazing. There are some great comedies and great dramas that we have got. And we have got some really cool showcase films. We have got nonstop events. We have got workshops, we have got Kids’ Day on Saturday morning, we have got Geek Day on Sunday afternoon, we have got bands, [etc.]. We would love for people to come see the movies and then hang out with the filmmakers over at the Party Pavilion.
“That kind of synergy makes this festival special from other festivals because … everyone goes to the same party. The idea is that we build up this amazing film community over the weekend. And it is amazing. You have got to see at least two movies a day and then go hang out at the Party Pavillion. That is the perfect recipe for a great day at the festival.” – Chris LaMont
Among the new movies that were released Friday, March 28 are a biopic about a famed civil rights leader and labor organizer, a thriller about brutal bets and a romantic comedy about Iranian-Americans.
Clive Owen and Billy Crudup play brothers who, on either side of the law, face off over organized crime in Brooklyn during the 1970’s. Marion Cotillard, Mila Kunis, Zoe Saldana and James Caan also star. (R – 127 minutes)
“Blood Ties” boasts a simply spectacular soundtrack, an amazingly authentic atmosphere and a cast of actors whose combined talent is enough to bring down the entire organized crime community in 1970’s Brooklyn. So, with so much going for it, how could the new crime drama ever be anything but outstanding? Unfortunately, it could – thanks to a crazily convoluted narrative that seems to go everywhere and nowhere at the same time. There are too many characters to keep track of and subplots to follow, problems that are only made worse by placid pacing and a too-long runtime. (Thumbs Down!)
Michael Peña portrays a man who, torn between his duties as a husband and father and his commitment to bringing dignity and justice to others, embraces non-violence as he battles greed and prejudice in his struggle for the rights of farm workers. (PG-13 – 101 minutes)
“Cesar Chavez” effectively communicates the tale of the famed civil rights leader and labor organizer for which the new biopic is named, educating audiences who may or may not be familiar with him or be aware of the significant impact that he has had on so many lives. Fortunately, director Diego Luna does not sacrifice entertainment value for that aforementioned weight, as this account is absolutely arresting from start to finish – particularly because he tells Chavez’s story is such a way that symbolizes themes of dedication, perseverance and – perhaps most important of all – unity. (Thumbs Up!)
Pat Healy plays a struggling family man who, along with his friend (Ethan Embry), is roped into a series of increasingly dangerous dares by an obscenely wealthy stranger (David Koechner) and his mysterious wife (Sara Paxton). (NR – 85 minutes)
Who among us has never done something mortifying for money or at least been foolish enough to accept a degrading dare in an effort to prove a point? Granted, the new dark comedy “Cheap Thrills” takes the scenario to new – not to mention shocking – heights that may make many moviegoers so appalled that they will walk out of the theater. However, for the few of us with a truly twisted sense of humor, this amoral masterpiece is entertainment at its very best, forcing us to ask ourselves about the lengths that we would be willing to go – and the boundaries that we would be willing to cross – to better our circumstances. (Thumbs Up!)
Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan play a long-married couple who revisit Paris for a long weekend for the first time since their honeymoon, in hopes of rekindling their relationship – or, perhaps, to bring it to an end. (R – 93 minutes)
At times, “Le Week-End” resembles “Before Midnight” (and its two predecessors “Before Sunrise” and “Before Sunset”) as it takes a very patient and candid look at a realistic relationship between two people. However, here we do not have a history with these two individuals and therefore we never feel a true connection with them. Nor are we compelled to care deeply enough about their problems or encouraged to genuinely celebrate their joys. Although there is a handful of amusing scenes – thanks primarily to the tremendous talent of its two stars – this dramedy falls mostly flat. (Thumbs Down!)
Jason Spisak plays the nighttime janitor in an Old West theme park who delves into the mysteries surrounding an old locker. His sage supervisor recounts chilling tales that underscore the importance of making the right choice – a theme that comes into play when he makes an unsettling discovery and faces a life-or-death decision of his own. (PG-13 – 90 minutes)
Although there is an awful lot of talent involved in “Locker 13” (both behind the camera and in front of it), the new thriller anthology likely worked a bit better on the page than it does on the screen. Its stories are certainly interesting and leave you with a lot to think about but their static nature simply does not lend itself to the visual medium. Having said that, the most static story of all – one in which a would be suicide is shaken to his core by a menacing member of a very special club – is the best of the bunch, demonstrating that this is a property with plenty of potential. (Thumbs Down!)
‘Maladies’
James Franco plays a talented and successful actor who retires at a young age due to a perceived mental illness. Now living in a small town with his deranged sister (Fallon Goodson) and his best friend (Catherine Keener), we watch as their maladies intertwine. (NR – 97 minutes)
“Maladies” is a movie that is solely for James Franco’s most hardcore fans – the ones who have followed the actor’s various artistic efforts that extend far beyond the silver screen. That is because the new drama is more a performance experiment for Franco than it is a worthwhile piece of entertainment for audiences. Granted, there are a couple of amusing aspects of the film (such as Franco communicating with an omnipresent narrator and co-star Catherine Keener defending her decision to occasionally dress up as a man) but, as a whole, the motion picture is particularly pointless. (Thumbs Down!)
Nazanin Boniadi plays a young Iranian-American who, despite being engaged for years to a successful Iranian plastic surgeon (Maz Jobrani), finds herself breaking loyalty and tradition when she falls in love with a mysterious young man (Riley Smith). As her secret unravels and cultures clash, she discovers what it ultimately means to be true to herself. (NR – 104 minutes)
Granted, “Shirin in Love” is a fairly formulaic romantic comedy, telling a story of culture-clashed love that we have heard hundreds of times before, but it is far too likeable to be dismissed that easily. Instead, we relish the opportunity to witness stars Nazanin Boniadi and Riley Smith’s characters finding and falling in love with each other as well as the chance to spend some time with supporting performers such as the spectacular Marshall Manesh. The movie does have a somewhat distracting tendency to jump around, though, as writer/director Ramin Niami cuts scenes a little too quickly and often without proper transitions. (Thumbs Up!)
Director Diego Luna recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his new biopic “Cesar Chavez.”
In “Cesar Chavez,” which opens Friday, March 28, Michael Peña portrays a man who, torn between his duties as a husband and father and his commitment to bringing dignity and justice to others, embraces non-violence as he battles greed and prejudice in his struggle for the rights of farm workers.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Luna by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the director discusses his motivation for making the movie and what he hopes that audiences will take away from watching “Cesar Chavez.”
“I think that it is time to celebrate the story and the legacy of Cesar Chavez in film. Nobody has done it before and I am shocked. The 10 years that I am talking about happened in the 60’s and the beginning of the 70’s. That is the piece of Cesar’s life that I wanted to portray in cinema because I think that it is time to talk about what needed to happen for us to be here today and to raise a little awareness of the experience of farm workers in this country. This is a community that is feeding the country and deserves to be recognized and celebrated. We tend to think that food arrives magically to the stores or to the restaurants but it is the work of many behind it.
“And this is also a story that shows us that change is in our hands. It is a beautiful message of equality, of respect and of change happening because people got connected with other people. Our strength is in our numbers. Change can happen if you go out there and find out who thinks like you do. If you raise your voice at the same time with everyone that feels or thinks like you do, you can be heard. It is about getting out there and finding who thinks like you do and finding that connection with others – not what separates you.
“There are a few states in the country that celebrate Cesar Chavez today but we believe that it is time for this whole country to celebrate the legacy of this man. And I think that Cesar would be very happy if we celebrate him with a day of service instead of a day of doing nothing. He was always doing something. He never stopped. And a day of service – a day of actually giving something back to your community – is the way to celebrate a man like this. You just have to go to TakePart.com/CesarChavez and sign the petition so we can send 100,000 signatures to President Obama and urge him to celebrate the legacy of this amazing man and to make sure that we keep it alive.” – Diego Luna
Actor Ethan Embry recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his role in the new dark comedy “Cheap Thrills.”
In “Cheap Thrills,” which opens Friday, March 28, Pat Healy plays a struggling family man who, along with his friend (Embry), is roped into a series of increasingly dangerous dares by an obscenely wealthy stranger (David Koechner) and his mysterious wife (Sara Paxton).
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Embry by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the actor discusses what he hopes that moviegoers will take away from watching “Cheap Thrills.”
“The first thing that drew me to [‘Cheap Thrills’] was the script. I think that [David Chirchirillo and Trent Haaga] really did a great job with the script because it touches on what so much of the world – the United States in particular – is going through right now, which is economic struggles and the disparity between the 1 and the 99 percent.
“It touches on things that we can all identify with and then puts them in a completely outlandish situation. And it just gets nuttier and nuttier and crazier and crazier. When I read the script, I knew that it was going to be something that triggers a lot of different emotions in its audience – from laughter to fear and there is even a little bit of sadness. For me, that is all I want to do – trigger an emotional response in people.
“That is the main goal of [‘Cheap Thrills’]. The film itself is a thrill. It does touch on the corporate world that we live in and how a lot of the things that drive our daily lives are run and controlled by psychopaths. In a way, David Koechner plays the puppet master – that ultimate psychopath that is controlling Pat [Healy] and I. In a whole, it sort of touches on modern civilization but the bottom line of it is a crazy ride. It is a popcorn thriller. It is a thriller that leaves you thinking after.
“Throughout the screenings that we have had for the movie, what we have sometimes done is have the audience do certain things as dares. The fact of the matter is that people will volunteer for anything. You can get people to do anything. And it is crazy. Most of the time there haven’t even been rewards given.
“In fact, there was one guy who got the name of the movie tattooed on his butt before he had even seen the movie – and he didn’t have any tattoos before that. The other night we got three people in the audience to volunteer before they even knew what they were going to do … to squeeze entire limes worth of juice into their eyes. People will do anything. I don’t know what it is about human nature but you will always be shocked at what they will volunteer to do.” – Ethan Embry
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Actor Marshall Manesh recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his role in the new romantic comedy “Shirin in Love.”
In “Shirin in Love,” which opens Friday, March 28, Nazanin Boniadi plays a young Iranian-American who, despite being engaged for years to a successful Iranian plastic surgeon (Maz Jobrani), finds herself breaking loyalty and tradition when she falls in love with a mysterious young man (Riley Smith). As her secret unravels and cultures clash, she discovers what it ultimately means to be true to herself.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Manesh by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the actor discusses what appealed to him about “Shirin in Love” as well as why he believes he has had such a successful acting career.
“Ramin Niami – who is the writer, director and producer of this movie – sent me the script. I read the script and it was totally different from the scripts that I usually get regarding Iranian/Middle Eastern kind of stuff. So I liked this story and immediately said, ‘Yes.’ It is a romantic comedy about an Iranian girl who was born and raised here and is supposed to marry an Iranian plastic surgeon.
“She falls in love with another guy, played by Riley Smith, and there is a clash of culture of things that shows the other side of Iranians. Whereas the media shows all of this bad stuff, this says, ‘Hey! Iranian people are like normal people! They have the same families! They have their own problems! They fall in love and, believe it or not, they laugh.’ People do not know that Iranian people laugh, too. But they do. They have fun, they party and they have great food.
“Fortunately, I have been doing this for a long time. I started when I was like 10 or 12 years old. I came to America in the mid-70’s and we had our own theatrical group. We traveled all over the world – for like 8 or 9 years. Then my wife said, ‘You know what? If you want to travel, I am not going to be here anymore.’ So I decided to stay.
“I have to say that I have been really lucky to make it as a working actor – make a living by doing this, which is really rare in Hollywood. As they say, ‘Preparation and opportunity create luck.’ I believe that you have to be prepared for whatever you are doing. It doesn’t matter if you are an actor or a plumber or an engineer – you have got to know what you are doing. There are a lot of people who have talent. There are hundreds of us. So you have to get lucky. Like Paul Newman said a long time ago in an interview, ‘Whoever doesn’t mention luck is lying through their teeth.’” – Marshall Manesh
Actor Jamie Bamber recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his role in the new crime thriller “John Doe: Vigilante.”
In “John Doe: Vigilante,” which opened Friday, March 21, Jamie Bamber plays an ordinary man who fights violence the only way that he knows how – by killing one criminal at a time. Is he a hero or a villain? Are his actions justice or vengeance? You decide.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Bamber by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the actor discusses what he hopes that audiences take away from watching “John Doe: Vigilante.” And do not forget to enter the “15 to Life Sweepstakes,” in which you can win a 15-year online subscription to Netflix.
“I was shocked when I read the script. It seemed, for a bit there, to be a call to arms for individuals to sort of stand up and say that they’ve had enough and take the law into their own hands to some degree. I think that it taps into quite a popular and broad feeling that maybe our courts aren’t being as efficient as they could. But it is a much more problematic film than that and, as it unravels, I think that it challenges everyone to really think about victims, about aggressors in society and how we solve those problems.
“It is also very much about how the media covers instances like this. We have had several instances, in the US in this last year, of people taking responsibility for their own safety and the safety of their neighbors. It is controversial and I think that it will get everybody to think but it is also a very good thriller as well. There are a couple of great twists in there so hopefully it will entertain as well as challenge.
“But it has been a difficult film to sell because of that. You don’t come out whistling songs. You don’t come out punching the air. You come out challenged. You have had to think about what maybe is the opposite political view or social view and you have had to sort of understand a bit more about how other people think who maybe don’t agree with you. I think that in the end it is a mature film – one that hopefully won’t be too controversial – and I think that people will enjoy it. I think that there is a satisfaction in looking at these issues.” – Jamie Bamber
Among the new movies that were released Friday, March 21 are a horror flick about body-snatchers, the latest young adult book series to be adapted for the silver screen and an intellectual thriller that asks audiences to come to their own conclusions.
Josh Ethier plays a man named Mark who disappears from his home in a brilliant flash of blue light while Graham Skipper plays his friend Seth, who is the last person to see him alive. Now a string of grisly, violent murders leads Seth to believe that Mark is back – and that something evil is inside of him. (NR – 80 minutes)
Throwbacks are fun so long as they either offer something surprisingly original or are played entirely for laughs. Unfortunately, after a somewhat promising start, “Almost Human” plays it more or less by the 80’s body-snatching book – albeit with a bit more gore than we are used to seeing in the genre – and fails to bring anything new or even the least bit funny to the table. The new horror flick may still be worth a watch for some fans who will be happy to indulge in the resulting nostalgia but it ultimately cannot garner a general recommendation on the grounds that it simply is not all that special. (Thumbs Down!)
Shailene Woodley plays a young woman who is warned that she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy to destroy all Divergents, she must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous – before it is too late. (PG-13 – 143 minutes)
It may take most audiences a little while to get into “Divergent” and completely comprehend the unique qualities created exclusively for its incredibly imaginative world – especially if you are entirely unfamiliar with the books on which the new action adventure is based and are still trying to wrap your head around Districts, Tributes and other “Hunger Games” lingo. However, it eventually evolves into the best of the recent young adult film franchises, drawing viewers in with compelling characters and a story that keeps them on the edge of their seats. It is fun, thought-provoking and extremely exciting. (Thumbs Up!)
Annette Bening plays a widow who, several years after the loss of her husband, meets a man (Ed Harris) who looks exactly like him. Suddenly, a flood of old feelings rush back to her. She has met the love of her life… again. Robin Williams also stars. (PG-13 – 92 minutes)
“The Face of Love” is a film that manages to be both spectacularly suspenseful and remarkably romantic at the same time. Unfortunately, it is also anticlimactic, lightly gliding to its conclusion rather than delivering a dramatic apex that seems much more appropriate given the terrific tension that is built up over the course of the story. Moreover, the movie never exactly offers any answers to the questions it poses and Robin Williams’ presence is almost entirely wasted. However, it remains completely consuming from beginning to end, using the idea of doppelgangers to demonstrate the role that fantasy plays in attraction as well as how our minds prevent us from ever truly letting go of lost love. (Thumbs Up!)
Jamie Bamber plays an ordinary man who fights violence the only way that he knows how – by killing one criminal at a time. Is he a hero or a villain? Are his actions justice or vengeance? You decide. (R – 90 minutes)
“John Doe: Vigilante” is well-intentioned and, in theory, extremely effective in conveying its messages about the inconsistencies in our justice system and what we need to do (band together) in order to remedy the situation. However, as entertainment, it is far less effective, coming across as a dramatized version of a lecture rather than a full-fledged story that engages viewers. It will undoubtedly make you think and challenges you to develop your own opinions about the events that transpire but the experience lacks emotion and feels somewhat stilted, similar to an arduously dry documentary. (Thumbs Down!)
Actors Jai Courtney and Miles Teller recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about their roles in the new action adventure “Divergent.”
In “Divergent,” which opens Friday, March 21, Shailene Woodley plays a young woman who is warned that she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy to destroy all Divergents, she must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous – before it is too late.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Courtney and Teller by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the actors discuss their characters in “Divergent.”
“On the page I guess that I thought Peter was a little more one-dimensional – especially when I read the book. I was like, ‘Oh man! This is guy is just mean all of the time. He just says ‘Stiff’ after every sentence. And he is always just kind of like the picking on [Shailene Woodley’s character].’ So, for me, it was nice to just kind of get into that headspace. I mean, the kid is very competitive. He wants to be the best in the program. But he is also very mischievous and conniving. What I learned is that you don’t always have to worry about who likes you. And that is fine sometimes.” – Miles Teller
“It doesn’t require much of a transformation for me. I think that you probably have a tendency to try to make your characters as likable as possible – even when you are playing someone who is not supposed to be. So that was probably the challenge; remembering that you are not supposed to be liked. I would often try to just instinctively be a little more charming or something with the character and [director Neil Burger] was always telling me to kind of just make him dead and flat.
“Eric is interesting because his attitude may kind of reflect the fact that he is a [jerk] or whatever but in the early part of the training there is a drive there. He wants the initiates to be as fit and as strong as they possibly can be. So he is not there to be a [jerk]. It is just kind of his way. It is his method. I think that is highlighted by the relationship with Four and that kind of dynamic rivalry there. It is fun playing those kinds of stakes – even if you are the guy with the attitude problem. It is always good to kind of get into that. It is a little meatier. I don’t necessarily agree with his approach but I don’t judge him either.” – Jai Courtney
Writer/director Joe Begos recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his new horror flick “Almost Human.”
In “Almost Human,” which opens Friday, March 21, Josh Ethier plays a man named Mark who disappears from his home in a brilliant flash of blue light while Graham Skipper plays his friend Seth, who is the last person to see him alive. Now a string of grisly, violent murders leads Seth to believe that Mark is back – and that something evil is inside of him.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Begos by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the writer/director discusses his inspiration for “Almost Human’s” story and tone.
“I grew up in new England. Essentially, most of New England is exactly like a Stephen King story. It is like these very dense woods with a very small town where everybody knows each other. Growing up, I would always watch ‘Unsolved Mysteries.’ And one of my favorite movies was ‘Fire in the Sky.’ One of the things that frightened me more than anything was alien abduction.
“I always had these ideas swirling around in my head about how I would attack an alien abduction movie. And I was also a fan of very brutal 80’s-style slashers. So when it came time to make my first movie, I decided to go back home and do an ‘Evil Dead,’ bad-taste style movie and just make the craziest kitchen-sink alien abduction movie that I could.
“When you have 10 minutes of such an intense pace and such an intense build … there is almost no other reaction that you can have than a funny break. When you have the audience in the palm of your hand, you try to figure out a balance of emotion. I see as many horror movies as I can. I am at the theater three times a week, just taking in the audience’s reaction and seeing what makes them tick.
“I was really thinking about that when I was constructing this screenplay because I wanted it to work best when seen with a group of people. To me, that is when horror movies work the best you – when you have a bunch of people around you and you can all kind of react off of each other. It is kind of like a domino effect. It gets everybody going. So it is important to have those screams and gasps and let the audience laugh a little bit so that you can get them white-knuckle again, gripping their armrests.” – Joe Begos
Writer/director Kelly Dolen and co-writer Stephen M. Coates recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about their new crime thriller “John Doe: Vigilante.”
In “John Doe: Vigilante,” which opens Friday, March 21, Jamie Bamber plays an ordinary man who fights violence the only way that he knows how – by killing one criminal at a time. Is he a hero or a villain? Are his actions justice or vengeance? You decide.
The following are statements submitted to “Breakthrough Entertainment” by the filmmakers about what they hope that audiences will take away from watching “John Doe: Vigilante.” And do not forget to enter the “15 to Life Sweepstakes,” in which you can win a 15-year online subscription to Netflix.
“I think the message of ‘John Doe: Vigilante’ is loud and clear; the greater community need to band together as a whole and demand change. If people truly believe the system is failing – that good people are being treated unfairly – then the only way to make a difference is to stand united and make that change.” – Kelly Dolen
“It’s quite easy to walk away from ‘John Doe: Vigilante’ fired up and angry about the injustices in the world and the inconsistencies in our justice system. However, our intent with this film was not to start any vigilante activity but rather to stimulate debate, to start a conversation; The first step in addressing the issues is to start talking about them – which isn’t really happening at the moment. In addition, we would like people to consider that if we can become a community again and start looking out for each other – start protecting and caring for each other – then we might actually start to prevent some of these violent crimes.” – Stephen M. Coates
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Among the new movies that were released Friday, March 14 are a dramedy in which Sam Rockwell plays a pill-popping pharmacist, writer/director Wes Anderson’s latest quirky creation and the cinematic adaptation of a popular video game.
Kurt Russell plays a third-rate motorcycle daredevil and part-time art thief who teams up with his snaky brother (Matt Dillon) to steal one of the most valuable books in the world. (R – 90 minutes)
“The Art of the Steal” is certainly not the worst heist movie ever made. However, for a heist movie that includes so many accomplished actors, one would have liked it to have been a lot better. Granted, you cannot say that any talent is wasted here as stars Kurt Russell, Matt Dillon, Terence Stamp and Jay Baruchel are each given sufficiently fun material to play with but it comes across as one giant, annoying argument, with the characters constantly bickering back and forth about trust. It’s weakest link, though, is its central scheme, which is way too twisted to follow and therefore more burdensome than entertaining. (Thumbs Down!)
‘Better Living Through Chemistry’
Sam Rockwell plays a straight-laced pharmacist whose uneventful life spirals out of control when he starts an affair with a trophy wife customer (Olivia Wilde) who takes him on a joyride involving sex, drugs and possibly murder. (NR – 91 minutes)
Sam Rockwell’s best performances are in those films that require the actor to get a little goofy. See “Choke,” “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” or “Moon” for proof of this. Or you could simply see “Better Living Through Chemistry,” a new dramedy in which Rockwell goes from friendly neighborhood pharmacist to completely unhinged pill-popper – a journey that is absolutely amusing to behold. The fact that the flick’s story is significantly different than those found in most cinematic fare is an added bonus, but the real draw here is Rockwell going off the rails in tremendously entertaining fashion. (Thumbs Up!)
Ralph Fiennes plays a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel who befriends his lobby boy (Tony Revolori). The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune. (R – 100 minutes)
There’s eccentric and then there are Wes Anderson films. And then there is “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” which is in a class all by itself. As a result, the new comedic caper may be the writer/director’s most visually mesmerizing movie to date – but it is also his least accessible as it tells a story that seems to go on and on without any particular direction. Although one could never regret seeing it simply because of its innate uniqueness, this flick is clearly a large step down from Anderson’s previous effort “Moonrise Kingdom,” which gave as much weight to its story as it did its whimsy. (Thumbs Down!)
Elijah Wood plays a stage-fright-plagued concert pianist who, moments before his comeback performance, discovers a note written on his music sheet: “Play one wrong note and you die.” Without leaving the piano, he must discover the anonymous sniper’s motives and look for help without anyone realizing. (R – 90 minutes)
It may take a little while to get the momentum going and it may also end in a particularly over-the-top fashion but there is a segment smack-dab in the middle of “Grand Piano” that is so suspenseful, intriguing and intense that it has your heart racing right alongside the musical score’s frantically paced tempo. Star Elijah Wood continues his hot streak here, which hit a fever-pitch last year with his roles in “Maniac” and “Pawn Shop Chronicles,” while director Eugenio Mira tackles the real-time/single-setting thriller genre with spectacular success and cinematographer Unax Mendía takes full advantage of every visual angle imaginable to keep viewers on the extreme edges of their seats. (Thumbs Up!)
Aaron Paul plays a street racer who, fresh from prison when framed by a wealthy business associate (Dominic Cooper), joins a cross country race with revenge in mind. His ex-partner, learning of the plan, places a massive bounty on his head as the race begins. (PG-13 – 130 minutes)
So long as you strap in for the ride and resolve to remain unbothered by its entire setup’s ludicrous logic, “Need for Speed” is a thoroughly thrilling experience. After all, if there are two things that, when mixed together, make for an awful lot of fun they would be illegal street racing and an intense desire for revenge. And the only things revving hotter than the motors in this new actioner are the emotions. Having said that, the whole thing leaves a bad taste in your mouth as it ignores intelligent solutions in favor of ones that cause much more destruction. Then again, destruction is always more entertaining to watch than the alternative. (Thumbs Up!)
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Writers/directors Geoff Moore and David Posamentier recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about their new dramedy “Better Living Through Chemistry.”
In “Better Living Through Chemistry,” which opens Friday, March 14, Sam Rockwell plays a straight-laced pharmacist whose uneventful life spirals out of control when he starts an affair with a trophy wife customer (Olivia Wilde) who takes him on a joyride involving sex, drugs and possibly murder.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Moore and Posamentier by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the writers/directors discuss “Better Living Through Chemistry’s” ultimate takeaway.
“In a movie like this where there is sort of the subject matter of all of this stuff going on, I think that it is very easy to come off like we are trying to make some sort of statement about something dealing with drugs or whatever but we are really not. We are storytellers. When we set out to write the script, we started with the character of Doug and sort of built this world around him.
“This just so happened to become his world. And that is really all we are trying to do – tell the story of Doug, his wife and Elizabeth, who are each in sort of their own orbit, and follow them on this little bit of a journey. I think what we want the audience to walk out of the theater thinking is ‘I know things didn’t wrap up in a pretty little bow but I am glad to know that these people are headed for a better place.’
“The plot of the movie is ultimately about people who intersect in life and, while they don’t stay together, they have adjusted each other’s journey in a way that it is going to be very beneficial. It is more a story and less a statement on this. But I think that [Jane Fonda] says it best in the movie: You can’t help everybody but everybody can help somebody. And that is a big part of it as well.” – Geoff Moore and David Posamentier
Among the new movies that were released Friday, March 7 are a thriller pitting John Cusack against Robert De Niro and a documentary about the extremely abrasive Elaine Stritch.
John Cusack plays a criminal who bides his time at a seedy motel, waiting for his boss (Robert De Niro) after killing several men and making away with a bag whose contents are to remain unknown to all – including himself. (R – 100 minutes)
If it were not for Brazilian actress Rebecca Da Costa, “The Bag Man” may have actually been a halfway decent thriller. After all, stars John Cusack and Robert De Niro turn in powerfully peculiar performances and the plot is compelling enough to at the very least keep viewers interested if only to find out what’s in the bag. However, De Costa’s uncanny inability to act completely demolishes any potential that the motion picture possesses. It is not entirely the actresses fault, though, as writer/director David Grovic created a character for her that is so boring that she stops the story dead in its tracks. (Thumbs Down!)
Filmmaker Chiemi Karasawa showcases uncompromising Tony and Emmy Award-winner Elaine Stritch both on and off stage via rare archival footage and intimate cinema vérité. (NR – 80 minutes)
“Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me” is a rare documentary about a single celebrity that does not require viewers to like – or even be familiar with – said celebrity in order to enjoy the experience. That is because rather than simply celebrating who Tony and Emmy Award-winner Elaine Stritch in on stage, filmmaker Chiemi Karasawa reveals who she is off stage as well. And, frankly, Stritch may be even more abrasive off stage as she is on stage. But that only makes her more real and therefore also relatable. It is a portrait that Stritch can be proud of because it shows that she truly is this outrageous character that we have come to know and love. (Thumbs Up!)
Writer/director David Grovic recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his new thriller “The Bag Man.”
In “The Bag Man,” which opens Friday, March 7, John Cusack plays a criminal who bides his time at a seedy motel, waiting for his boss (Robert De Niro) after killing several men and making away with a bag whose contents are to remain unknown to all – including himself.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Grovic by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the writer/director discusses “The Bag Man’s” cast and ultimate takeaway.
“I was so lucky because really everybody that we had was fantastic in front of the camera and also behind-the-scenes. They were all just a lot of fun, very involved and caring in what was going on. I think that the key to getting [Robert De Niro] and [John Cusack] was really that these characters had something different. John is the hero but his character has imperfections and flaws as well as a lot of upsides – like most of us. We have different characteristics and I think that John very much took to the core ingredients of his character.
“Where [Robert] is concerned, obviously everybody knows how many fantastic crime boss type figures he has played over the years. But, again, he really loved his dialogue and it gave him the chance to really sort of play against a typical stereotype. I think that it is very interesting because a lot of actors work from the inside out but [Robert’s] method is the exact opposite in that he concentrates on getting his look exactly the way he wants it – from his hair … to even as far as his jewelry.
“It’s a great ride and I think that people will have a really good time. I hope that they like the humor. I think that [humor] is very important. We have a lot of tension and I hope that that fact that we have humor interwoven throughout the movie helps to release that tension and then lets it build up again. I think – and I really hope – that people will walk away and say that everybody – but especially John Cusack, Robert De Niro and Rebecca De Costa – have given just wonderful performances.” – David Grovic
Seasoned filmmaker Ben Altarescu and Fivestar Basketball social media reporter Zack Samberg recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about their new short documentary “The Book of Lone Peak.”
“The Book of Lone Peak,” which is now available on iTunes, tells the story of a predominantly Mormon high school basketball team from Utah and their road to the National Championship.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Alarescu and Samberg by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the unlikely duo discuss “The Book of Lone Peak’s” humble beginnings.
“Zack and I met through a family friend who had heard about the story that Zack had come upon and discovered and, luckily for me, threw my name in the circle as a filmmaker who could help. We met in April of last year and a few days later we were out in Utah shooting the film.
“I think that one of the most challenging things about the documentary for me was finding a dramatic narrative in a story about a team that politely beats almost every team they play by an average of 30 points per game. So, I found the real heart of the story – these kids, their beliefs, their David versus Goliath story about how every time they walk into a gym they are discounted and the way that their faith bonded them together and sort of inspired them to continue to work hard and eventually led to this result.” – Ben Altarescu
“This was my first experience with a film so it was great to have Ben on board with me. I have always had an interest in film but, at the age of 14 last year, I never really thought that something like this could actually happen. But it was great that the story came to me and, once I heard it, I thought that it was a big enough that it could not just be an article that I wrote. It had to be something bigger and I thought that a documentary would be great.
“When I first saw these guys in Springfield, Mass., I was shocked. They beat the team they were playing – which was a very well-respected team – by 40 [points]. I went to talk to them afterward and asked, ‘How are you guys so good?’ They said, ‘We have all been playing together since second grade. Using the bond that we built together both on and off the court just helps us win games. That is how we are so good.’” – Zack Samberg
