Voice actor John Kassir recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his role as the Cryptkeeper in “Tales from the Crypt” in honor of Halloween.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Kassir by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the voice actor discusses the likelihood of his character and the “Tales from the Crypt” franchise returning to television or movies.
“Well, there is always room for me on the ‘big scream’ boys and ghouls. [Laughs.] But I’m just not sure. It was a very expensive show to do in its day. Joel Silver, Richard Donner, Walter Hill, Bob Zemeckis and David Giler – the producers – are still great guys in the business but they were at their prime as far as being able to get favors back then; getting stars for scale and everybody involved in that show. That level of quality is a difficult thing to do.
“I think that the Gaines family has the rights back [to ‘Tales from the Crypt’] and they are looking to do something different with it – some other kind of non-anthology style show that that would be more of a serial-type show like ‘American Horror Story.’ Characters from the comic books would have an ongoing profile each week. Hopefully they will do something really cool with it.
“It’s a great property and I would hate to see it not be something really good. But I think the fans want something like what we have now. Of course, Joel and those guys have the rights to the Cryptkeeper and he will certainly always be around in some form. We don’t know whether he’ll ever be attached to another ‘Tales from the Crypt’ – but probably not with this other thing that the Gaines family is doing.
“I think one of the big differences in the popularity of this particular show over all those other horror anthologies was the connection to the comic book and the ‘tongue through the cheek’ approach that the Cryptkeeper had. So we will see. But what we did is a tough thing to do. My perfect scenario would have been to get Robert Rodriguez and [Quentin] Tarantino to launch a couple of new episodes like they did with Bob Zemeckis, Walter Hill and Richard Donner in the original series and then launch it from there.” – John Kassir
Among the new movies that were released Friday, Oct. 25 at theaters throughout the Valley are a drama with only one on-screen actor and just a few lines of dialogue, a creature feature about a giant arachnid and an ensemble crime drama written by Cormac McCarthy.
Robert Redford plays a resourceful sailor who, after a collision with a shipping container at sea, finds himself – despite all efforts to the contrary – staring his mortality in the face. (PG-13 – 100 minutes)
There is no doubt that “All is Lost” is an incredible crowning achievement for both writer/director J.C. Chandor and star Robert Redford, who manage to make a movie with only one actor and just a handful of spoken dialogue an intense and even exhausting piece of entertainment. Moreover, it is a movie that effectively demonstrates that so long as one has a will to survive, their ingenuity and resilience is limitless. However, while the minimalist approach is definitely admirable, it leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to backstory, which is an essential element in earning an emotion reaction. (Thumbs Up!)
Greg Grunberg and Lombardo Boyar play an exterminator and a security guard, respectively, who are unlikely heroes trying to stop a towering mutant arachnid from rampaging across Los Angeles. (PG-13 – 85 minutes)
Save for the nonsense that for some strange reason passes for entertainment on the SyFy Channel, creature features are few and far between nowadays – especially the kind that include recognizable actors and halfway believable visual effects. Therefore, that makes the arrival of a movie like “Big Ass Spider!” that much more exciting when it comes crawling along on eight huge hairy legs. Director Mike Mendez’s new thriller may not send shivers down your spine as well as the genre’s classic efforts did but it will definitely tickle your funny bone as it spins a web of wild amusement. (Thumbs Up!)
Michael Fassbender plays a respected lawyer whose one-time dalliance with an illegal business deal spirals out of control. Other stars include Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem and Brad Pitt. (R – 117 minutes)
“The Counselor” has got its high-points – like when Cameron Diaz gets a car’s (and its occupant Javier Bardem’s) motor running and when one of its actors is killed in a particularly horrifying fashion – but they are few and far between what is an otherwise boring, babbling and batty motion picture. Ridley Scott directs from a screenplay penned by Cormac McCarthy and the result bears absolutely no resemblance to the author’s “No Country for Old Men.” It barely even makes any sense much less provides any entertainment value – aside from those aforementioned high-points, which are less amusing than they are appalling. (Thumbs Down!)
Among the new movies that were released Friday, Oct. 18 at theaters throughout the Valley are a remake of a classic thriller, an actioner that sees the pairing of Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger and a drama about WikiLeaks.
‘2 Jacks’
Danny Huston plays a celebrated movie director who sweeps a gorgeous woman (Sienna Miller) off her feet during a whirlwind trip to Hollywood to raise financing for his latest film. Years later, his son (Jack Huston) shows up in Hollywood eager to bankroll his feature debut. Playing exclusively at Harkins Shea. (NR – 90 minutes)
“2 Jacks,” writer/director Bernard Rose’s fourth cinematic adaptation of a Leo Tolstoy short story, places much more importance on art than it does on entertainment. As a result, the new two-part dramedy (the film’s first half is set in the past while its second half is set in the present) will appeal primarily to bibliophiles and English majors whereas the rest of us will be beyond bored. All three leads (Danny Huston, Sienna Miller and Jack Huston) give great performances but the style and story are too tepid to afford us anything except the basic theme of contrasting times. (Thumbs Down!)
‘A.C.O.D.’
Adam Scott plays a grown man who, caught in the crossfire of his parents 15-year divorce, discovers he was unknowingly part of a study on divorced children and is enlisted in a follow-up years later, which wreaks new havoc on his family. Playing exclusively at Harkins Camelview. (R – 87 minutes)
Thanks to its remarkable cast – which includes Adam Scott, Richard Jenkins, Catherine O’Hara, Amy Poehler, Clark Duke, Jessica Alba and Jane Lynch – “A.C.O.D.” is a more than amusing motion picture. Its first half is actually quite funny as writer/director Stu Zicherman keeps things bouncing along at a brisk pace with broad comedy and outrageous situations that anyone can relate to regardless of if they are an adult child of divorce or not. However, the second half loses a little of that momentum as laughs make way for drama that, unfortunately, does not quite live up to its promised poignancy. (Thumbs Up!)
‘All the Boys Love Mandy Lane’
Amber Heard plays a young woman who is invited by a group of high-schoolers to a weekend party on a secluded ranch. While the festivities rage on, the number of revelers begins to drop quite mysteriously. Playing exclusively at Harkins Valley Art. (R – 90 minutes)
Having unfairly sat on the shelf for 7 years, “All the Boys Love Mandy Lane” finally has the opportunity to be loved by many more – especially horror flick fans who will find the film to be both a breath of fresh air and a tribute to classic slashers. That is to say that director Jonathan Levine’s thriller plays out in a relatively predictable fashion for the most part before finally featuring a delightfully killer twist. Granted, time has undoubtedly stolen some of its steam, but it is still worth watching what is certain to have inspired the inclusion of intelligence in the genre. (Thumbs Up!)
‘Carrie’
Chloë Grace Moretz plays a shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother (Julianne Moore) who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom. (R – 92 minutes)
In reviewing “Carrie,” director Kimberly Peirce’s remake of Brian DePalma’s 1976 telekinetic thriller, there is really only one thing that matters – the prom scene. And it is perfect; and every bit as exciting, suspenseful and dramatically resonant to the rest of the story as you could possibly hope. Having said that, everything else is pretty well done, too, thanks primarily to the performances of star Chloë Grace Moretz, who embodies the title character’s awkwardness and fury, and co-star Julianne Moore, who appears to have been born to play Carrie’s neurotically devout mother. You will squeal with bloody delight. (Thumbs Up!)
Khaled Nabawy plays a man who, yearning to leave behind his life of misfortune in the Middle East, wins the U.S Green Card Lottery for a chance to become an American citizen. He lands in New York City on Sept. 10, 2001. Playing exclusively at Harkins Shea. (PG-13 – 99 minutes)
The journey to U.S. citizenship is a rough road to hoe in and of itself. Throw in the added obstacle of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and that uphill battle becomes so steep that most men would lie down in defeat. Therefore, “The Citizen” – a story of a man who not only chooses to keep climbing but also does so with a smile still on his face and his integrity intact – is a source of spectacular inspiration. Sam Kadi’s feature-length directorial debut is a true triumph, encouraging viewers to never take for granted what others are willing to fight tooth and nail for. (Thumbs Up!)
Sylvester Stallone plays one of the world’s foremost authorities on structural security who, deceived and wrongly imprisoned, must recruit his fellow inmate (Arnold Schwarzenegger) to help devise a daring, nearly impossible plan to escape from the most protected and fortified prison ever built. (R – 116 minutes)
“Escape Plan” is an extremely entertaining combination of brains and brawn. On the one hand, the new prison break flick featuring the one-two-punch of Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger is surprisingly clever – sometimes even confusingly so – in the way that its characters go about concocting their… well… plans. On the other hand, the actioner is… well… escapist cinema at its finest, easily enjoyed without any use of your mental muscles. The end-result is a fun albeit awkward mixture of smarts and silliness that is sure to satisfy – so long as you do not take it too seriously. (Thumbs Up!)
Benedict Cumberbatch and Daniel Brühl play men who become underground watchdogs of the privileged and powerful and eventually gain access to the biggest trove of confidential intelligence documents in U.S. history. (R – 124 minutes)
“The Fifth Estate” is without a doubt the worst motion picture of 2013. Director Bill Condon’s new sleeping pill makes a crucial mistake in assuming that its audience already knows a lot about… scratch that… is a scholar in its incredibly complicated subject – WikiLeaks. As a result, the film fails to educate much less entertain. Granted, the central theme of weighing the costs of keeping secrets in a free society against the costs of exposing them is one worth pondering but presenting it in a way that plays out primarily in cyberspace does not make for a very satisfying cinematic experience. (Thumbs Down!)
Robbie Kay plays a young boy with leukemia who embarks on a “scientific investigation” with questions, observations, evidence, reflections and lists of all the things he wants to do someday. (PG-13 – 95 minutes)
“Ways to Live Forever” may sound like an overly sentimental movie that exists only to make its viewers sob uncontrollably but, surprisingly, taking a look at tragedy through unadulterated eyes turns it into triumph. And while it is true that you may shed a tear or two (it is about a young boy with leukemia, after all), the more dominant emotion experienced will be one of joy. Writer/director Gustavo Ron’s new drama based on Sally Nicholls’s book is an inspiring story of one boy’s journey not toward death but through life, encouraging us to make the most of each and every day of ours. (Thumbs Up!)
Bill Sage plays the patriarch of a reclusive family who find their secret existence threatened as a torrential downpour moves into their area that forces two daughters (Julia Garner and Ambyr Childers) to assume responsibilities beyond those of a typical family. Playing exclusively at Harkins Camelview. (R – 105 minutes)
Perhaps arthouse film fans will appreciate “We Are What We Are,” writer/director Jim Mickle’s new dramatic thriller about a family that engages in cannibalism. But that feels like an awfully small segment of the moviegoing population – arthouse film fans who are anything except repelled by the idea of cannibalism. Meanwhile, horror flick fans will be beyond bored, waiting for the blood and guts that should, by all means, be constantly dripping down this family’s chin but only make a brief appearance at the end. Granted, it has got great atmosphere and therefore an ever-present impression of impending doom, but the story itself is somewhat of a snooze-fest. (Thumbs Down!)
Sam Eidson plays an overweight and overbearing fantasy role-playing gamer who finds his life turned upside-down when a handsome and charismatic hipster (Garrett Graham) joins his game. Playing exclusively at the FilmBar. (NR – 97 minutes)
At first glance, “Zero Charisma” looks like a flick that only tabletop role-playing gamers will get. However, contrary to its title, the new comedy has heaps of charisma, drawing viewers – even those who would never be caught dead playing Dungeons and Dragons – in with themes that will feel familiar to anyone who has ever been a designated “leader” – or an “outcast.” Star Sam Eidson’s unlikeable protagonist earns our empathy against insurmountable odds and we laugh an awful lot on the way to understanding that you cannot win at the game called life unless you relinquish at least a little control. (Thumbs Up!)
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Writer/director Jim Mickle recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his new arthouse thriller “We Are What We Are.”
In “We Are What We Are,” which opens Friday, Oct. 18 exclusively at Harkins Camelview, Bill Sage plays the patriarch of a reclusive family who find their secret existence threatened as a torrential downpour moves into their area that forces two daughters (Julia Garner and Ambyr Childers) to assume responsibilities beyond those of a typical family.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Mickle by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the writer/director discusses his decision to flip the characters’ genders from those in the foreign film that inspired “We Are What We Are.”
“I think that it started in an effort to make it our own and something that would say, ‘OK, this obviously isn’t the original film.’ But as it went on, it kind of took on a life all its own. To me, one of the biggest things about it is the religious aspect. What became really interesting once we did flip the genders is that we were able to point out a lot of the ways that religion can weigh pretty heavily on the females in that faith and a lot of the ways that old men dictate what women are allowed to do.
“I think that a lot of that comes from organized religion. That is something that I felt strongly about and always wanted to make a movie about. And I think that once we realized if we didn’t make this a story about two brothers battling to be the man of the house but actually one about two young girls who sort of inherit the chores that their mother has lived her whole life through this would be not only our own story but also our own theme as well.
“[I hope that viewers take away that] questions are OK. That questioning traditions, questioning rituals and questioning what you have been told is OK. It doesn’t mean that you are not faithful. It just means that you are getting to the heart of the issue and making it make sense for yourself. I grew up in a family that was very much ‘make up your own mind and make your own decisions’ – not just with religion but with philosophy as well. I had a lot of freedom from my parents and I always thought that was a pretty bold move on their part. So hopefully someone who watches this movie comes away feeling like that is something that is OK to do.” – Jim Mickle
Actress Alison Lees-Taylor recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about her role as the witch/other woman in the new dramatic fantasy flick “Escape from Tomorrow.”
In “Escape from Tomorrow,” which is now playing exclusively at Harkins Valley Art, Roy Abramsohn plays an unemployed father who, in a world of fake castles and anthropomorphic rodents, sees his sanity challenged by a chance encounter with two underage girls on holiday.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Lees-Taylor by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the actress discusses the guerilla style in which “Escape from Tomorrow” was shot without the awareness much less permission of Walt Disney World.
“They were almost caught once. They went inside of the park twice in seven minutes and people got very suspicious. The security called them to one side and both [Roy Abramsohn] and [Elena Schuber] took the children into the bathrooms. And they all have different last names so if they were to check their I.D.’s they would have been in trouble. So then they were like, ‘Oh my God, we have got to take our mics off and throw away these tapes.’ But they didn’t know how much footage was on the tapes so they couldn’t throw them away.
“So then they came of the bathrooms and one of the assistant directors discreetly walked by them and said, ‘Get out of the park.’ So they quickly got out of the park and jumped into a white van that was waiting for them. Security kind of followed them and took the number the van. They were walking after them so they sped off and the assistant director said, ‘Go home. Everybody go home. Get out of the hotel and go home.’ So that is what they did. But they got most of the footage that they needed.
“I think that [viewers] will be asking themselves a lot of questions like, ‘What the heck was going on at the end of the film?’ I am still asking myself what was going on because there are so many different ways that it can be interpreted. But you never know what is going to happen next in the movie. You really don’t. So I just hope that that they go on a crazy ride and are left thinking, ‘What was going on there?’ It’s food for thought. They will keep thinking about it and they will be entertained – not just because of the Disney stuff but because I think that it is a really entertaining film.” – Alison Lees-Taylor
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Actor Daniel Breaker recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his role as Donkey in “Shrek: The Musical.”
“Shrek: The Musical,” which will be available beginning Tuesday, Oct. 15 on Blu-ray and DVD at retail stores and rental outlets throughout the Valley, is a highly acclaimed Broadway production based on Dreamworks’ 2001 animated adventure. It is the recipient of eight 2009 Tony Award nominations.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Breaker by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the actor discusses what message he hopes that “Shrek the Musical” imparts upon viewers.
“I think that what we were doing with the live musical version of ‘Shrek’ was taking the ideas and the structure of the movie and not necessarily reinventing it but reimagining it. It is a very different medium to perform. I think that the lovely thing about the core of this piece is – especially for Donkey and his relationship to Shrek – is that it is a buddy comedy. You are watching these two characters that are really alone in the world and are trying to find themselves and find some sort of friendship.
“I think that that is naturally in the story. So I sort of went off of that … and I hope that that will translate onto the screen. I think that the major message in ‘Shrek: The Musical’ is be who you want to be. I think that it is about being your true self in this world. I think that there are a lot of elements and events that will make you scared in life and make you not want to sort of show your true self.
“But I think that the best way to live through this world is to be your true self. I think that that is very clear in the musical – and also in the song ‘Let Your Freak Flag Fly.’ That is sort of our power song for the musical. I feel like I have found a new version of silly in myself after playing Donkey. I think that maybe I was a little too serious in life and when that part came around I found a new level of open insanity.” – Daniel Breaker
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Among the new movies that were released Friday, Oct. 11 at theaters throughout the Valley are a dramatic thriller based on the 2009 hijacking of a U.S. container ship by a crew of Somali pirates, a drama about a woman suffering from a midlife crisis brought on by a blow to her head and a sequel to a 2010 grindhouse-esque actioner.
Tom Hanks plays Captain Richard Phillips, the commanding officer of U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama, which in 2009 was hijacked by a crew of Somali pirates. (PG-13 – 134 minutes)
Forget seasickness; “Captain Phillips” is so relentlessly intense that the insanely high levels of stress alone will cause a malaise that is much worse than anything as trivial as a little motion on the ocean. Director Paul Greengrass’s new dramatic thriller will have you digging your fingernails deep into your seat’s armrests and sitting as close to the edge of it as you can without falling off from beginning to end. The nonstop nature of it all will leave you feeling just as horribly discombobulated and emotionally exhausted as star Tom Hanks’s title character is in the film’s final moments. (Breakthrough!)
‘CBGB’
Alan Rickman plays Hilly Kristal who, in 1973, started a groundbreaking Lower East Side club as a home for New York’s dynamic punk rock scene, showcasing cutting-edge bands. Playing exclusively at Harkins Valley Art. (R – 101 minutes)
“CBGB” will likely be sweet music to the ears of anyone who has ever been into the punk scene. Unfortunately, everyone else will likely hear nothing but a bunch of noise. Although the visual aesthetic of the film – especially its use of graphic novel panels, word bubbles and sound effects – is incredibly creative and its seemingly endless parade of recognizable actors who make appearances as some of the biggest names in music is quite amusing, the central plot of Hilly Kristal’s invention, so to speak, is drowned out by all of the chaos of the club. (Thumbs Down!)
Robin Weigert plays a wealthy, middle-aged, married, lesbian housewife who, after suffering a blow to the head, walks around every corner of her suburban life to confront a mounting desire for something else and inaugurates a double life as a high-end escort. Playing exclusively at Harkins Shea. (R – 93 minutes)
Movies about midlife crises are nothing new. After all, finding meaning, purpose and passion in a life filled with insipidity, tedium and routine is an extremely common conflict. Therefore, it is only natural that writer/director Stacie Passion sought to spice up the story by making her protagonist in “Concussion” a lesbian who decides to re-light that spark, so to speak, by becoming a high-end escort. Unfortunately, an exciting setup can only take a film so far as Passion’s project goes nowhere – both in terms of plot and of thematic significance. Star Robin Weigert does give a commendably complex performance, though. (Thumbs Down!)
Roy Abramsohn plays an unemployed father who, in a world of fake castles and anthropomorphic rodents, sees his sanity challenged by a chance encounter with two underage girls on holiday. Playing exclusively at Harkins Valley Art. (NR – 90 minutes)
For all of the controversy, you would think that “Escape from Tomorrow” would be a bit better than it actually is. Granted, writer/director Randy Moore’s new dramatic fantasy flick automatically earns any film fan’s respect for the way in which it was shot at Walt Disney World – without Walt Disney World’s knowledge much less permission. After all, that takes a little gumption and a whole lot of guts. However, what begins as a haunting and disorienting look at the most magical place on Earth quickly spirals into sheer madness with nothing in particular to say of its subject. (Thumbs Down!)
Danny Trejo reprises his role as an anti-hero who, this time, is recruited by the U.S. government to battle his way through Mexico in order to take down an arms dealer (Mel Gibson) who looks to launch a weapon into space. (R – 107 minutes)
At first glance, “Machete Kills” looks like it will be just as much fun as its 2010 predecessor – if not more so. However, the new gindhouse-esque actioner possesses very little of that earlier effort’s social commentary and off-the-wall weirdness, trading it in for an incredibly complicated plot. In fact, it is far more convoluted than a gimmick-flick like this has any right to be, leaving viewers who were merely looking to have a fun tongue-in-cheek time feeling a bit dazed and confused. Granted, the film has got its high-points – namely a coming attraction for a sequel set in space – but this movie marks one of the year’s most massive misfires. (Thumbs Down!)
Jessica Straus plays a young woman who journeys across an icy land, facing difficult obstacles and meeting wonderful new friends, in a quest to set her imprisoned brother (Marianne Miller) free, defeat an ice-cold queen (Cindy Robinson) and save the world from eternal frost. (NR – 80 minutes)
You would be hard-pressed to find a kid who could actually comprehend “Snow Queen.” The plot of the new animated adventure is too complicated and convoluted to be understood by most adults much less the movie’s target audience. It may be inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s timeless fairy tale but somehow the story’s simplicity gets lost in translation. The chilly landscapes look amazing but the characters themselves lack the same visual appeal while the film itself is too loud and obnoxious to charm anyone except children. Then again, those who are attentive enough to follow the narrative will undoubtedly be annoyed right alongside their parents. (Thumbs Down!)
Filmmaker Nick Ryan recounts the story of the deadliest day on the world’s most dangerous mountain, when 11 climbers mysteriously perished on K2. Playing exclusively at Harkins Camelview. (R – 104 minutes)
“The Summit” leaves its viewers confused on multiple levels. First of all, the new documentary showcases some spectacular sights, typically only seen – in person – by those who have nerves of steel, yet it tells a tremendously tragic tale of loss. One does not know whether they suddenly want to go mountain climbing or have developed a newfound fear of it. More importantly though, the film fails to organize its thoughts in an easily comprehensible fashion, interweaving the central story of 11 climbers who mysteriously perished on K2 with that of one man’s expedition in the 1950s. (Thumbs Down!)
In the late 1800s, a fanatical religious leader (Jason Isaacs), a renegade Sheriff (Ed Harris), and a former prostitute (January Jones) collide in a blood triangle on the rugged plains of the New Mexico Territory. Playing exclusively at Harkins Arrowhead Fountains and Harkins Shea. (R – 95 minutes)
From the outside looking in, “Sweetwater” looks spectacularly appealing. After all, who does not love an eccentric revenge fantasy set in the Old West? However, once inside, it is a completely different story as writer/director Logan Miller’s new western is the kind of flick that is so selfishly obsessed with its own exaggerated loquaciousness and far-fetched features that it forgets to actually entertain its audience. It also fails to offer much of a compelling motivation behind its events – aside from the simplest and most obvious one, of course. Its only bright spot is a splendidly sinister performance from star Jason Isaacs. (Thumbs Down!)
Actor Danny Trejo recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his new grindhouse-esque actioner “Machete Kills.”
In “Machete Kills,” which opens Friday, Oct. 11 at movie theaters throughout the Valley, Trejo reprises his role as an anti-hero who, this time, is recruited by the U.S. government to battle his way through Mexico in order to take down an arms dealer (Mel Gibson) who looks to launch a weapon into space.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Trejo by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the actor discusses the theme of “Machete Kills” and how his past has helped him become a better actor – and human being.
“I think that the underlying message is that the bad guys never win. Good guys win. I just love that message. Anything else that you want to get out of it is up to you. But it deals with a lot of bad stuff and the bad guys lose. There are two kinds of people in the world. There are those who want to make a difference and those who are taking up space. I took up space for a long time [until] I decided that I wanted to make a difference.
“I have dedicated my life to helping other people. I’ll help anybody. If the lady down the street is moving, I’ll help her move. Or if somebody gets sick, I’ll go mow their lawn for them. I don’t care what it is. You have just got to help somebody and do that every day. They talk about karma. Good things start happening to you. Everything good that has happened to me has happened as a direct result of helping someone else.
“Because of where I have been, it is really easy for me to keep an attitude of gratitude. I have done movies where we have been in the desert and I hear people complaining, ‘It’s too hot.’ And I say, ‘Wait a minute. We knew we were coming to the desert. We knew it was going to be hot.’ And I’ll think, ‘Let me see. The fifth tier in San Quentin [State Prison] during the summer is a lot hotter than this.’ It’s all relative. So I’ll say, ‘I’ll tell you what we’ll do. Give me some suntan lotion and let’s all get tans.’” – Danny Trejo
Actor Jason Isaacs recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his role in “Sweetwater,” an eccentric revenge fantasy set in the Old West.
In “Sweetwater,” which opens Friday, Oct. 11 exclusively at Harkins Arrowhead Fountains and Harkins Shea, Isaacs plays a fanatical religious leader who collides with a renegade Sheriff (Ed Harris), and a former prostitute (January Jones) collide on the rugged plains of the New Mexico Territory.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Isaacs by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the actor discusses just how unusual a film “Sweetwater” is.
“It is so unusual. It looks from the street like a Western. We have got the hats, we have got the horses. And there are dresses. And there are guns. But it is indescribable in terms of genre. But it is certainly thrilling and unusual and twisted and dark. Although it has an outlandish plot and some outrageous sequences, you are diving into the lives of complicated people and that is rarely seen on screen I think. I hope that people enjoy the film. It was made with relish; I hope that it is enjoyed with relish.
“One of the joys about having the Miller brothers write and direct it is that they are fresh filmmakers. They absolutely refused to adhere to all of the normal rules of storytelling. When you watch most films and television programs, somewhere inside of yourself, you actually know what is going to happen next and what is going to happen to which people and how things are going to be resolved. [The Miller brothers] deliberately do none of that stuff and subvert it. They didn’t want to do all the things that years of filmmaking would lead them to do.
“So what is refreshing as an audience member and as one of the actors taking part is that you are telling a story like I do my children. They lie there at night and I am making it up. I don’t have a structure in mind. It is not schematically planned. It is a story that unfolds. And that is what happens. This story gathers a kind of unstoppable and deeply unpleasant momentum and somehow they make it enjoyable along the way. Somehow there is a pleasure to be taken in the violence; there is a pleasure to be taken in the revenge; and yet nothing ever works out how anybody wants. Life is more complicated than that.” – Jason Isaacs
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Among the new movies that were released Friday, Oct. 4 at theaters throughout the Valley are a space-based thriller starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, a star-studded drama set on the day U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated and a crime thriller that revolves around the high-stakes world of online gambling.
Ken Marino plays a man whose mounting stress starts to trigger an insufferable gastrointestinal reaction: a pint-sized demon living in his intestine that, triggered by excessive anxiety, forces its way out and slaughters the people who have angered him. Playing exclusively at Harkins Valley Art. (R – 85 minutes)
For some, “Bad Milo!” may sound ridiculous. Actually, it probably sounds ridiculous to everyone; but some may see that as a bad thing while others may see it as weirdly entertaining. Unfortunately, both segments of the population will discover that the joke’s juices run out quite quickly and even those who were initially amused by the motion picture’s premise will become bored with the seemingly infinite flow of butt-gags. Had writer/director Jacob Vaughan allowed star Ken Marino’s character to bond a bit more with his materialized anxiety rather than simply sicking the creature on the supporting characters, this flick may have been more fun. (Thumbs Down!)
‘Gravity’
Sandra Bullock and George Clooney play a medical engineer and an astronaut who work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space. (PG-13 – 90 minutes)
“Gravity” has got an awful lot of weight to it. Granted, that pun is at least a little lame, but writer/director Alfonso Cuarón’s new space-based thriller does indeed pack a potent punch with a message about planting one’s feet firmly on the ground and mustering the strength and courage to continue taking steps forward after tragedy. Beyond that, the motion picture is also a visual magnum opus, leaving viewers absolutely astonished at how such special effects were accomplished. Those two aspects paired with a series of events that can only be survived by holding one’s breath make this movie a must-see masterpiece. (Thumbs Up!)
‘Parkland’
Zac Efron, Marcia Gay Harden, Billy Bob Thornton, Jacki Weaver and Paul Giamatti star in a recounting of the chaotic events that occurred at Dallas’ Parkland Hospital on the day U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. (PG-13 – 93 minutes)
“Parkland” captures a moment in time. And not just any moment in time. It captures one of the most heartbreaking moments in American history. And although it is true that the new drama’s lack of a cohesive narrative or particular destination lessens its lasting impact, its authentic reflection of not only the events that transpired on the day U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated but also the general environment that is universally experienced in the wake of any monumental tragedy make the movie well worth watching. Writer/director Peter Landesman takes us to a time when the weight of the world is on all of our shoulders. (Thumbs Up!)
Justin Timberlake plays a poor college student who cracks an online poker game, goes bust and arranges a face-to-face with the man he thinks cheated him – a sly offshore entrepreneur (Ben Affleck). (R – 91 minutes)
“Runner Runner” is a bummer bummer. The new dramatic crime thriller has some spectacular tension but it takes its gambling theme entirely too seriously. That is to say that the flick fails to show all of its cards until late in the game, which is kind of inconsistent with star Justin Timberlake’s narration and only frustrates and confuses viewers. Moreover, there are too many cards in play in the first place – a problem that is personified when Gemma Arterton’s character completely disappears for the whole midsection of the movie. And to make matters even worse, the whole affair feels flat. (Thumbs Down!)
Dr. Sandra H. Magnus, executive director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about her experience with space exploration in celebration of the release of the new space-based thriller “Gravity.”
In “Gravity,” which opens Friday, Oct. 4 at movie theaters throughout the Valley, Sandra Bullock and George Clooney play a medical engineer and an astronaut who work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Dr. Magnus by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the astronaut discusses the safeguards against and contingency plans for emergencies similar to the one seen in “Gravity.”
“We work very hard to not let that happen. That is not a good situation. Whenever we do spacewalks, we are always tethered. We have a safety tether on our spacesuit attached firmly at a permanent place on the station. Then you have sort of a pulley reel that unwinds the safety tether as you move around. So you are always attached by the safety tether.
“Then, let’s say I am working on an ammonia tank or I am installing an antenna or some other piece of equipment. I will take another tether and local tether myself there. So if my local tether breaks, I am still on the safety tether. And if the safety tether breaks, we have a jet-pack and you can fly back to the station if you don’t separate too quickly.
“We actually train for that in a virtual reality environment that will put us in a tumble as if we have just fallen off the station. We have to stabilize our orientation and then figure out how to fly back. You have to take orbital mechanics into account when you do that. We have to be able to do that at a certain rate.
“You get blasted so many feet per second and you have to be able to fly yourself back in order to be certified. So we have two or three levels of redundancy there because if you fly off and cannot fly yourself back based on the resources you have in your jet pack,. you are kind of in a bad place because the station can’t come and get you like the shuttle could.” – Dr. Sandra H. Magnus
Director Dennis Iliadis recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his new party flick with a sci-fi twist “+1.”
In “+1,” which is now playing exclusively at the FilmBar, Rhys Wakefield, Logan Miller and Suzanne Dengel play college friends who go to the biggest party of the year, where mysterious phenomenon disrupts the night, quickly descending into a chaos that challenges their friendships – and their ability to stay alive.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Iliadis by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the director discusses his inspiration for “+1’s” story and what he hopes that viewers take away from the film.
“I came up with this story and it is a combination of a few ideas. The first thing is I have always been fascinated by the idea of what would happen if you could meet yourself. I took this idea and put it in a very compressed, crazy environment where you don’t really have time to intellectually process it. I threw it into a crazy party where desires are high and emotions are raw.
“So when these things happen, you are actually in the same crazy space with yourself but yourself is claiming those exact same things that you want. So it very quickly becomes quite aggressive and competitive. It is also a movie about second chances. Many times in my love life I have messed up real bad and I was like, ‘Please give me those 20 minutes back so that I will not mess up again.’ This kind of gives the characters that second chance.
“I want [viewers] to ask themselves what would happen if they found themselves in the same space with themselves but realized that the duplicate or doppelgänger was claiming the same things that they want. In this movie, the characters embrace that in very different ways. I would like [viewers] to think, ‘What if this happened but I didn’t have time to think about it?’ Would you become your enemy? Would you be able to find harmony with yourself? I also want them to have great time with this film because I think that this film flexes your brain but it is also a very fun experience.” – Dennis Iliadis
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Among the new movies that were released Friday, Sept. 27 in theaters throughout the Valley are Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut, one of James Gandolfini’s final film and Ron Howard’s biopic about Formula One racing.
‘+1’
Rhys Wakefield, Logan Miller and Suzanne Dengel play college friends who go to the biggest party of the year, where mysterious phenomenon disrupts the night, quickly descending into a chaos that challenges their friendships – and their ability to stay alive. Playing exclusively at the FilmBar. (NR – 95 minutes)
If you attempt to think about it too much, “+1” can quickly bring about a big headache. That is to say that director Dennis Iliadis’s new party flick with a sci-fi twist gets increasingly more complicated as time goes on. However, if you forget about trying to figure out what is happening and simply succumb to the existential experience, you are likely to be entertained. Moreover, the movie has got some incredibly insightful ideas about how our actions always seem to catch up with us as well as how our true selves always seem to be in conflict with our self-images. (Thumbs Up!)
Tequan Richmond plays an abandoned boy who is lured to America and drawn into the shadow of a dangerous father figure (Isaiah Washington). Inspired by the real life events that led to the 2002 Beltway sniper attacks. Playing exclusively at Harkins Shea. (R – 93 minutes)
“Blue Caprice” cruises along at a near crawl to a grand finale that, unfortunately, is neither exciting nor insightful. The new drama, which is said to be inspired by the real life events that led to the 2002 Beltway sniper attacks, takes an extremely artistic approach to violence. That is to say we do not see anything. And that would be all well and good except for the fact that we do not feel or think anything, either. Instead, we merely observe obscurity as director Alexandre Moors seemingly tries too hard to avoid anything that could be considered controversial. (Thumbs Down!)
‘Don Jon’
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a New Jersey guy who, dedicated to his family, friends and church, develops unrealistic expectations from watching pornography and works to find happiness and intimacy with his potential true love. Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore also star. (R – 90 minutes)
“Don Jon” is not only a superb movie; it is also an exceptional example of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s tremendous talent as both an actor and, as it turns out, a filmmaker as well. The new guy-friendly romantic dramedy is sweet, charming and endearing without ever losing its cool edge. Gordon-Levitt does lay it on a bit thick near the end, stumbling slightly with a subplot involving Julianne Moore, but the movie remains remarkably relatable and extremely entertaining throughout as it culminates with an admirable and naturally absorbed message about the euphoria that can be experienced when one loses their self in another person. (Thumbs Up!)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays a divorced woman who, upon deciding to pursue the man (James Gandolfini) she is interested in, learns that he is her new friend’s (Catherine Keener) ex-husband. Playing exclusively at Harkins Camelview. (PG-13 – 91 minutes)
“Enough Said” is not only exceptionally charming, featuring the incredibly cute and charismatic pairing of stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini; it is also thoroughly thought-provoking, encouraging us to consider what things might be dealbreakers in our relationships and what things we might be willing to live with. The new romantic comedy boasts a career-best performance from Louis-Dreyfus – whose very telling facial expressions are a never-ending source of entertainment – and incredibly clever script from writer/director Nicole Holofcener – who has an uncanny knack for creating dialogue that is fantastically frank and therefore infinitely funny. (Thumbs Up!)
Filmmaker Jacob Kornbluth follows former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich as he looks to raise awareness of the country’s widening economic gap. Playing exclusively at Harkins Camelview. (PG – 85 minutes)
“Inequality for All” accomplishes the impossible. Filmmaker Jacob Kornbluth’s new documentary is not only interesting to people who ordinarily find politics to be prosaic but also effectively encourages them to speak up and take action. Kornbluth uses a down-to-earth approach and an entertaining character in former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich to keep general audiences engaged in the conversation from start to finish without ever dumbing down the discussion. When all is said and done, it is downright impossible for anyone to deny that inequality of wealth comes with consequences that make global warming look like spilled milk. (Thumbs Up!)
‘Rush’
Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl play two 1970 Formula One race car drivers – James Hunt and Niki Lauda – who push themselves to the breaking point of physical and psychological endurance, where there is no shortcut to victory and no margin for error. (R – 123 minutes)
The heavy accents, dual narration and sheer spontaneity of the story make it somewhat hard to get into “Rush” for at least a little while. However, you will inevitably be sucked into the path of the new movie’s exhilarating action – and life-affirming drama. Director Ron Howard places viewers directly in the driver’s seat to give them a first-person-point-of-view of not only the death-defying danger that racers voluntarily put themselves in but also the magnificently meaningful motivation behind competition – the cosmically constructive concept that a wise man gets more use from his enemies than a fool from his friends. (Thumbs Up!)
Writer/director Paul Andrew Williams recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his new musical dramedy “Unfinished Song.”
In “Unfinished Song,” which will be available beginning Tuesday, Sept. 24 on DVD at retail stores and rental outlets throughout the Valley, Terence Stamp plays a grumpy pensioner who honors his wife’s passion for performing by joining the unconventional local choir to which she used to belong – a process that helps him build bridges with his estranged son (Christopher Eccleston). Gemma Arterton also stars.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Williams by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the writer/director discusses star Terence Stamp’s performance and what he hopes viewers take away from “Unfinished Song.”
“[Terence Stamp] is a very interesting actor. He has done some very iconic movie roles and he has also done some stuff that you might consider to be a bit off the wall. He read the script and, when we met, he was a bit frightened of it – as was I in making any kind movie. But he was intrigued, we got on and he was a real pleasure to work with. He was a really good choice.
“That’s the thing about Terence and most good actors – they really work internally rather than externally. He is actually very good. And once you have got a good actor and have a rapport with them, you actually don’t have to do that much because they are usually pretty good. [Terence] is intelligent, he knows what’s going on in [any given] scene and he gets it. So a lot of the time it’s just us chatting and finding the best way to do it. And also, when you have got Vanessa Redgrave in front you, it kind of makes it easier as well.
“I wrote about family and I hope that people see it like that and get some of the family dynamic out of it. I mean, we have all been there. We have all got family. And most of us have, unfortunately, lost people. So I just want people to sort of come away away thinking, ‘I enjoyed that. I laughed a bit, I cried a bit but all in all I feel happy.’ We have had people who have said, ‘I am going to ring up my dad with whom I haven’t spoken for 8 years.’ You get lots of messages like that, which is very nice.” – Paul Andrew Williams
Actress P.J. Soles recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about her role as Lynda van der Klock in the classic horror flick “Halloween,” which will celebrate its 35th anniversary with the Tuesday, Sept. 24 release of a new special edition Blu-ray.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Soles by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the actress discusses her memories of making the movie.
“It always makes me giggle it was such a delightful time. I was young, we were all hoping that our parts in the movie would lead to other jobs and it was an exciting time – the beginning of all of our careers. And just the chance to work in such a creative atmosphere I think is what delights me the most When I recall having worked on many other movies since then, there is nothing that compares to the ambience. It was pure fun.
“I totally appreciate the experience. I felt like I was a major player and wasn’t just some hired actress to be the director’s puppet. I was actually a contributor on the film. That is how John Carpenter … made us all feel. We were collaborators. And there is nothing more special than that. On ‘Carrie,’ we were all sort of pawns in Brian de Palma’s game. That is how we felt and we would all laugh about it. That is really the way that it is supposed to be, though. It is very unusual for a director to have his set feel like you are really a collaborator.
“It seems like just yesterday. I can recall the memories at the drop of a hat. It was such a fun time. It is astounding to me that it has been 35 years and that the interest continues and continues to grow. It is totally amazing. People have tuned into it and get a good feeling from watching it. It is a scary movie but it is also called a masterpiece. A masterpiece is something that appeals everybody and makes them feel good. So I am really honored to be part of that.” – P.J. Soles
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Among the new movies that were released Friday, Sept. 20 in theaters throughout the Valley are a comedy about a man who learns how to “act Jewish” in order to impress a woman, a crime drama about child abduction and a dramedy about sex addiction.
‘C.O.G.’
Jonathan Groff plays a cocky young man who travels to Oregon to work at an apple farm. Out of his element, his lifestyle and notions are picked apart by everyone who crosses his path. Playing exclusively at Harkins Valley Art. (R – 92 minutes)
We are all simply searching for happiness; and no one person’s search is any more important than anyone else’s. That essential insight – along with the absurdity that accompanies religion – is what one ultimately takes away from writer/director Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s new dramedy “C.O.G.” based on one of humorist David Sedaris’s essays. And although the movie may also leave you feeling at least a little flabbergasted, it is as poignant a portrayal of the rocky road to self-discovery that we all must take at some point in our lives as possible – thanks in part to a complex performance from star Jonathan Groff. (Thumbs Up!)
‘Jewtopia’
Ivan Sergei plays a man who, desperate to keep the girl of his dreams (Jennifer Love Hewitt), turns to his best friend (Joel David Moore) to teach him how to “act Jewish.” However, his friend has problems of his own with a fiancé (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) pushing him closer to a mental breakdown as their wedding approaches. Playing exclusively at Harkins Shea 14. (NR – 89 minutes)
While watching “Jewtopia,” a strange sense of familiarity rushes over you – regardless of your religious affiliation. Granted, the new comedy takes some spirited jabs at Judaism – especially when it comes to a Jewish woman’s tendency to control every aspect of a man’s life, leaving him without any free will (or responsibilities, depending on your particular point of view). However, it also tackles universally relatable themes about how weird and wacky our families can be and how that can ultimately lead to our own unique neuroses. It boasts a brisk pace, an unbelievable cast, boisterous laughs and – best of all – bountiful heart. (Thumbs Up!)
Hugh Jackman plays a man who, when his daughter and her friend go missing, takes matters into his own hands while the police (Jake Gyllenhaal) pursue multiple leads. As the pressure mounts, the desperate father shows just how far he will go to protect his family. (R – 146 minutes)
“Prisoners” is a tad too long, features characters who do some fairly dumb things and does not exactly boast the best performances from its big-name stars, but it beckons in the fall awards contenders in a profoundly powerful fashion. Director Denis Villeneuve’s new crime drama may be one of the hardest motion pictures that you will watch all year as it upsets and unsettles on an exceedingly deep level. Despite its flaws, the film remains well worth watching thanks to the insights it communicates with the wafer-thin and permeable line that it draws between criminal and victim. (Thumbs Up!)
Sam Rockwell plays a hunter who accidentally shoots a young woman, watches her die and discovers a box of money near her body. He hides her body and takes the cash but when he discovers that the money belonged to a group of hardened criminals, the hunter becomes the hunted. Playing exclusively at Harkins Shea 14. (R – 116 minutes)
The first 15 minutes or so of “A Single Shot” are nothing short of masterful. Anyone who has seen “Moon” knows just how much of an amazing actor Sam Rockwell can be when on-screen all by his lonesome and armed with nothing but body movements and facial expressions to convey a narrative. Unfortunately, director David M. Rosenthal’s new crime thriller quickly becomes a convoluted game of cat-and-mouse and loses a little of its vigor before a fantastically suspenseful finale. Having said that, it still remains a solid-if-slow-burning story about the search for the only redemption that truly matters – from oneself. (Thumbs Up!)
Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins and Josh Gad play three men dealing with different stages of sex addiction. As they navigate the rocky shores of recovery, they become a family that encourages, infuriates and applauds each other on the journey toward a new life. Gwyneth Paltrow, Joely Richardson and Alecia Moore also star. Playing exclusively at Harkins Camelview 5. (R – 112 minutes)
“Thanks for Sharing” is an absolutely amazing motion picture. It is real, honest and heartfelt, taking viewers through a remarkable range of emotions while speaking extremely earnestly about the highly stigmatized subject of sex addiction. It is both intensely specific – talking directly to those who are familiar with the trials and anxieties faced by its characters – but also exceptionally universal – affecting anyone and everyone who has ever struggled to open their self up to love, relinquish all control or face life’s hardest truths. Packed with sincere poignancy and impressive performances, it is undoubtedly one of the year’s very best movies. (Breakthrough!)
Writer/director Kyle Patrick Alvarez recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his new dramedy “C.O.G.”
In “C.O.G.,” which opened Friday, Sept. 20 exclusively at Harkins Valley Art, Jonathan Groff plays a cocky young man who travels to Oregon to work at an apple farm. Out of his element, his lifestyle and notions are picked apart by everyone who crosses his path.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Alvarez by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the writer/director discusses what he hopes that audiences take away from watching “C.O.G.” as well as what he took away from making the movie.
“I wasn’t raised religiously but I grew up in a very religious community so I always felt a natural sense of being at odds with them – not with them as individuals but just with the belief systems and what was expected of me. I was also dealing with my sexuality. This was a story that handled my two greatest angsts and made it really funny but also kept it dark and left it accessible. And the story had just stayed with me over the years.”
“There is strength in humility. That is the broadest idea that the movie has. Learning self-awareness. Learning to see when you have made mistakes and when you have acted wrong. And realizing that in trying to move on from it. I think that is what the character is trying to do in the second half of the film. I just hope that it evokes questions of that and also questions of where do your spiritual beliefs and the way that you act as a human being intersect. Without ever saying that I wanted there to be a clear message of this movie, I just thought that that intersection would be an interesting setting for a film.
“It took about 3 and a half years to get the film made … so I learned a lot about being thrifty with a budget and making a film that I think still looks really impressive quality-wise. I also learned a lot about trying to stay tenacious and not take ‘no’ for an answer. I think that more than 250 producers or financiers passed on making this film before we finally found the right fit. So it was really just an effort of working hard at it and staying persistent to see it through the right way.” – Kyle Patrick Alvarez
Writer/director Bryan Fogel and actor Ivan Sergei recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about their new comedy “Jewtopia.”
In “Jewtopia,” which opens Friday, Sept. 20 exclusively at Harkins Valley Art, Sergei plays a man who, desperate to keep the girl of his dreams (Jennifer Love Hewitt), turns to his best friend (Joel David Moore) to teach him how to “act Jewish.” However, his friend has problems of his own with a fiancé (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) pushing him closer to a mental breakdown as their wedding approaches.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Fogel and Sergei by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the writer/director and actor discuss “Jewtopia’s” universally relatable comic sensibility.
“There are some things that kind of came from a personal place in a sense of myself growing up Jewish and just all of the kind of craziness that goes along with it and mining that for humor. But then there is so much stuff in the movie that has nothing at all to do with being Jewish or religion. It’s just comedy. And I think that you just never know if other people are going to share your sensibility until you see it in front of an audience.
“That is always the ultimate excitement of comedy. You come up with something and go, ‘I think this is funny. I think people are going to laugh.’ But you really never know. Even when I first saw the film in front of an audience, I sat there and went, ‘Oh my God! I hope that they find this moment funny.’ Then it would get a laugh and I would go, ‘OK, phew!’ That is always the excitement of comedy – when you are sitting there, watching it and wondering, are people liking this or are they not liking this? With comedy, it is very intimate.” – Bryan Fogel
“Bryan was using the Jewish stereotype for comedy and all but, really, this is a story that a lot of people can understand because everybody has parents. Everybody loves their parents, hates their parents, loves their wife, hates their wife, etc. It is kind of universal in that sense. It is a people piece. It is really just about different personalities. Ultimately, you have just got a lot of different people in different walks of life being crazy. And it was just a lot of fun to do.” – Ivan Sergei
Actor Jon Lovitz recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his role as Dennis Lipschitz in the new comedy “Jewtopia.”
In “Jewtopia,” which opens Friday, Sept. 20 exclusively at Harkins Valley Art, Ivan Sergei plays a man who, desperate to keep the girl of his dreams (Jennifer Love Hewitt), turns to his best friend (Joel David Moore) to teach him how to “act Jewish.” However, his friend has problems of his own with a fiancé (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) pushing him closer to a mental breakdown as their wedding approaches.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Lovitz by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the actor discusses what attracted him to “Jewtopia,” keeping in character amidst ridiculous comedy and his co-star with whom he was most impressed.
“‘Jewtopia’ was a very successful play. I had never seen it but it was very well known and my manager had told me about it. I met with the director Bryan Fogel, we talked about the style of the movie and I said that I would like to do it – I think just because of its reputation. The play is just hilarious and the script was very funny. Just the premise of the movie of a non-Jewish person wanting to be with a Jewish woman, saying, ‘All of the stuff that drives you nuts, I love.’
“You have to focus on the part. If you laugh, it ruins the joke. It is a basic in acting called breaking character. You try to not laugh but sometimes it is so funny that you just start laughing. So sometimes it is hard not to when what you are saying is so ridiculous. But to say something ridiculous and deliver it as if you are really angry can be very funny. You know, when your kids are doing something that you don’t want them to do, they are disappointing you or you are concerned about them. I played it a lot like my own father in certain scenes.
“I didn’t know Joel David Moore or Jamie-Lynn Sigler. They were all great but Jamie was just really funny and as good as any comedy actress that I have ever seen. I knew who she was from ‘The Sopranos’ but she was just hysterically funny. So that was really exciting to discover somebody that you knew of but didn’t know they had that talent. She was just amazing.” – Jon Lovitz
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Writer/director Stuart Blumberg recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his new romantic dramedy “Thanks for Sharing.”
In “Thanks for Sharing,” which opens Friday, Sept. 20 exclusively at Harkins Camelview 5, Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins and Josh Gad play three men dealing with different stages of sex addiction. As they navigate the rocky shores of recovery, they become a family that encourages, infuriates and applauds each other on the journey toward a new life. Gwyneth Paltrow, Joely Richardson and Alecia Moore also star.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Blumberg by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the writer/director discusses what he hopes that audiences take away from “Thanks for Sharing” and what he took away from the film himself.
“Sex addiction was a topic that had not really been explored when I was first thinking about it. Of course, ‘Shame’ came out a couple of years ago but I came up with the idea during the whole Tiger Woods scandal. I had been researching addictions for many years and I had always thought that 12-step groups were fascinating. When that addiction broke, I thought, ‘This is a fascinating addiction because, unlike drugs or alcohol, healthy people should have sex in their lives.’
“So what do you do with you develop an unhealthy relationship with this behavior? That was sort of the germ of the idea – exploring how people take an unhealthy relationship to sex and transform it, hopefully, into a healthy one. It may sound kind of cheesy – some of the best things in life are – but it is sort of the idea that we may all be broken inside but if we are broken together we just might have a chance at putting the pieces back together. We can really only heal together.
“I learned that the best stuff happens when you really surrender to a flow that takes place. You really have to put in the work and you really have to surround yourself with great people – which is the same thing like if you are trying to heal from an addiction. I am not trying to compare the two but at a certain point in both things you have to let go; surrender to the work that you have done and to the power that is greater than yourself, which is the team that you have around you.” – Stuart Blumberg
Director David M. Rosenthal recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his new crime thriller “A Single Shot.”
In “A Single Shot,” which opens Friday, Sept. 20 exclusively at Harkins Shea 14, Sam Rockwell plays a hunter who accidentally shoots a young woman, watches her die and discovers a box of money near her body. He hides her body and takes the cash but when he discovers that the money belonged to a group of hardened criminals, the hunter becomes the hunted.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Rosenthal by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the director discusses why actor Sam Rockwell was perfect for this project and what he hopes that audiences will take away from watching “A Single Shot.”
“Before I met [Sam Rockwell], he was someone whose worked I absolutely revered and someone who I thought of as one of the greatest actors of his generation. The characters that he has portrayed in ‘Moon,’ ‘The Assassination of Jesse James,’ ‘Confessions of a Dangerous Mind’ and so many other films combined with all of his comedy work, he is a guy who shows such muscular range as an actor.
“When you see that, you go, ‘This is someone who can do anything. This is someone who you can just watch and watch and watch.’ It is those kind of performers who you have to employ to tell stories and to be the central focus of stories like this one, where it is resting completely on their shoulders. We are with this guy John Moon from beginning to end. He is almost in every frame of the movie. So it has got to be someone who compels us, draws us in on several levels and has a deep inner life.
“My intention for telling this story was never to moralize in any way, but I think that this is a story about redemption. He redeems himself by overcoming something very personal – and not in a public way. He does that redemption to nature and to God. When he goes back into the woods at the end and what he does, it is not like he is going to the public or to the cops. The peace that he needs to make is peace with his maker and peace with nature. The guy is very connected to nature. So I guess that there is something in there about redemption as it relates to the natural world.” – David M. Rosenthal
Actor Dan Feuerriegel recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his role as Agron in Starz’s television series “Spartacus: War of the Damned,” which is now available on Blu-ray and DVD at retail stores and rental outlets throughout the Valley.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Feuerriegel by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the actor discusses the series’ progression over the course of its three seasons.
“Agron came in about halfway through the first season – ‘Blood and Sand.’ He was sold into slavery with his brother – Ande Cunningham’s Duro. He is a very passionate and quite angry character. He is very protective of his brother and certain events occur which cause him to join Spartacus’s revolution.
“He is one of the gay characters and he has a very intense relationship throughout the entire three seasons which has been closely watched and has a great following. And that is fantastic. But he is Spartacus’s right-hand man and a bit of a hothead.
“I remember coming into the first season and they were just flying by the seat of their pants basically. Everything was new and it kind of got released and had a small following. As time went by, it generated this great cult following. The second season obviously had to top the first and then the third season had to top it even more.
“By the end of the third season, everybody knew exactly what they were doing. It just kept getting bigger and bigger and the technology just kept getting better and better. Actors, special effects guys and directors started to really want to push the boundaries as far as they could with what the budget allowed and I think that they did a fantastic job.” – Dan Feuerriegel
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Actress Kaitlyn Dever, who last month appeared on the big screen in “The Spectacular Now” and “Short Term 12,” recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about her role as Eve Baxter alongside Tim Allen on television’s “Last Man Standing.”
In “Last Man Standing,” which returns for its third season Friday, Sept. 20 on ABC, Allen plays a married father of three daughters who tries to maintain his manliness in a world increasingly dominated by women.
Question: What about working on “Last Man Standing” appeals to you as an actress?
Answer: I really do like the show and the fact that I can bring out my sarcastic side. I feel like I have been really blessed because during my last hiatus between seasons one and two I was able to shoot “The Spectacular Now” and “Short Term 12.” And during this [last] hiatus I got to do a big comedy and another drama in North Carolina. But, basically, “Last Man Standing” is overall a lot of comedy. And I love doing that. I love going back and forth from drama to comedy. I love switching it around and showing people that I can do both.
Q: Tell me about Tim Allen. What it is like to work with him and what have you taken away from the experience?
A: It is the best. I have learned so much from him. He is always coming up with funny stuff to say. He has always got something on his mind. And when we about to roll on a scene, I will ask him, “When should I say my line? I really wanted to time it right.” He is really good about comedic timing. That is one of the key things that I have learned from him. I feel like timing is one of the most important things about doing comedy and he has really taught me a lot about that. And also, just being in his presence on the set is just the funnest thing because he is always making laugh. We go in, everybody is sort of tired and the stage lights are down but he is just on all of the time. He makes me laugh every day on the set.
Q: Finally, what does season three have in store for Eve Baxter?
A: She is in high school right now and is still trying to figure out what she wants to do. In season two, she had some girly episodes where she wanted to be a little more girly and she went shopping with her older sister Mandy, the next episode she wanted to join the Junior ROTC and the next episode she was twirling guns. I feel like she is still trying to find herself, which is really fun to do because I get to go back and forth with different personalities. But we don’t know what the next episode is going to be until right after the live taping. That is when we get our script – 8 hours before the next table read. We get the next episode very last minute so we never know what the stories going to be until the night before. It is always a surprise. That is another fun thing about the show. Everything is at a really quick pace. I feel like we get so many episodes done in such is short amount of time. I love it.
Among the new movies that were released Friday, Sept. 13 in theaters throughout the Valley are a crime comedy starring Robert DeNiro, a horror sequel from filmmaker James Wan and a French flick about a speed-typing championship.
Robert DeNiro plays a mafia boss whose family (Michelle Pfeiffer, Dianna Agron and John D’Leo) is relocated to a sleepy town in France under the witness protection program after snitching on the mob. Tommy Lee Jones also stars. (R – 110 minutes)
“The Family” operates on a single, solitary running gag – a mafia boss, his wife and their children overreact to everyday suburban annoyances by blowing things up, beating people to a bloody pulp and threatening to do worse if anyone squeals. Granted, gimmick flicks can be fun but, unfortunately, that aforementioned gag is not really very funny the first time much less the dozen or two times thereafter. Moreover, writer/director Luc Besson’s new kind-of-boring crime comedy cannot decide upon a tone and comes off extremely uneven – especially at the onset of a remarkably dark final act. (Thumbs Down!)
Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne reprise their roles as a married couple who seeks to uncover the mysterious childhood secret that has left them dangerously connected to the spirit world. (PG-13 – 105 minutes)
“Insidious: Chapter 2” will undoubtedly leave fans of the motion picture’s 2011 predecessor deeply disappointed. It is a pale reflection of what this critic called a “horror masterpiece … guaranteed to instigate numerous nightmares.” After all, it seems as though writer/director James Wan and his writing partner Leigh Whannell were not going for scares this time around and instead just tried to make the movie incredibly clever. However, this turns out to be a massive misfire because not only is the movie missing the elements that fans loved from the first flick, but it also makes it impossible for anyone aside from said fans to follow. (Thumbs Down!)
‘Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself’
Filmmakers Tom Bean and Luke Poling explore the life of one of the greatest adventurers of the 20th century – George Plimpton- a man who hung out with U.S. Presidents, played quarterback for the Detroit Lions, photographed Playboy models, played goalie for the Boston Bruins, struck the triangle for the New York Philharmonic and much, much more. Playing exclusively at Harkins Shea 14. (NR – 87 minutes)
Although it feels as though “Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself” would have been a much more dynamic documentary if Plimpton were still alive to dabble in its production, it remains a compelling portrait of one of the most interesting men who ever lived. Filmmakers Tom Bean and Luke Poling do a decent job of exploring Plimpton’s life, which was generally all about collecting as many experiences as he could, but their approach is a bit too dry to appeal to anyone who is not already familiar with Plimpton. Still, we can all learn a lot from Plimpton’s life and this movie makes that not only an easy task but also a fairly fascinating one. (Thumbs Up!)
Déborah François plays a young woman in 1958 who is a terrible secretary but a demon typist while Romain Duris plays her handsome boss who resolves to turn her into the fastest girl in the world. Playing exclusively at Harkins Camelview 5. (R – 111 minutes)
“Populaire” is an instant classic. And I do not just mean that in the hackneyed sense of the phrase that is often used to sing something’s praises. Although it is true that the new French flick is phenomenal, the thing that really sets it apart from the pack is how it genuinely feels like a film that was made in the 1950’s, exuding every essence of the era – from its simple-yet-stylized tropes to its remarkably romantic view of the world. You may not see a more charming movie all year than this exuberant love letter to not only classic cinema but also love itself. (Breakthrough!)
Lindsay Burdge plays a young high school teacher whose seemingly innocent fling with one of her teenage students (Will Brittain) becomes increasingly complex and dangerous as she is fully consumed by her emotions and starts crossing boundaries and acting out in progressively startling ways. Available on demand and digital. (NR – 77 minutes)
If there were not stories in the news about this sort of thing almost every other day, one may think that “A Teacher” is a bit far-fetched. After all, what on earth could possibly possess a seemingly smart young woman to not only cross the ethical boundary of having an affair with one of her students but also become carelessly fixated on keeping him for her own? The answer – insecurity – seems simple but, as dynamically demonstrated by actress Lindsay Burdge, it cannot be more complicated or complex. Burdge’s performance is a tour de force, making this movie a compelling-yet-unsettling piece of provocative entertainment. (Thumbs Up!)
Kate Bosworth plays a young American writer who finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when she accompanies her husband Leonard (Iddo Goldberg) on a business trip as she stumbles into a romantic affair with a younger man (Jamie Blackley). Playing exclusively at Harkins Valley Art. (R – 83 minutes)
“And While We Were Here” could not be more drastically different than writer/director Kat Coiro’s previous project – a comedy called “L!fe Happens.” However, the one thing that they share in common is that they are both substantially enjoyable motion pictures that also possess the ability to make a viewer authentically think about his or her life – where they have been and where they are going. This time, Coiro dials down the laughs and amplifies the dramatic essence, using an extraordinarily strong performance from actress Kate Bosworth to demonstrate a human’s absolutely indispensable need to feel loved. (Thumbs Up!)
Actor Dallas Roberts recently spoke with “Breakthrough Entertainment” about his role as Milton Mamet in AMC’s television series “The Walking Dead.”
In the third season of “The Walking Dead,” which is now available on Blu-ray and DVD at retail stores and rental outlets throughout the Valley, Andrew Lincoln reprises his role as a police officer who leads a band of survivors in a fight against not only the dead but also a whole new fear – the living.
Listen to “Breakthrough Entertainment’s” full interview with Roberts by clicking HERE. The following is an excerpt from the interview in which the actor discusses the underlying themes behind the third season of “The Walking Dead.”
“When you think of ‘The Walking Dead,’ you think of stumbling into an area with this horde passing by. Woodbury sort of blew that out for a little while. We weren’t really worried about bumps in the night and that sort of thing. That being said, once we did go out and found them in the pits and found them lurking in the outskirts of town, it was an amazing thing to be a part of.
“The level at which Greg Nicotero and his group are executing the makeup and special effects… it gets sweetened for TV for sure but face-to-face it’s a remarkable thing and is just as awe-inspiring and scary as you would want it to be. Underlying the ‘let’s run zombies through the head with spikes’ and that sort of thing, I think that there is an interesting discussion about what it takes to hold a civilization strong and the violence and secrecy at the borders.
“That resonates in a larger way. I think that all sort of great art works on multiple levels. And I have tuned into that. I thought that the writers did a great job in terms of discussing [the problems] a nation of people face when there are these sort of elements at the border that are trying to knock down the doors and and how do you do that in a way that doesn’t turn you into the savages that you are trying to keep yourself away from. I thought that was really interesting.” – Dallas Roberts
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