- Must Watch: Second Full Trailer for Zack Snyder's Watchmen!
- Must Watch: J.J. Abrams' Star Trek Trailer - What Do You Think?
- Must Watch: Teaser Trailer for Roland Emmerich's 2012!
- Must Watch: Star Wars Geeks Rule in Fanboys Trailer!
- Worth Watching - Nov 2: Bruce Campbell's My Name Is Bruce Trailer!
- Fox Moving Forward With Gossip Girl Young X-Men Spin-Off (Nov 18, 2008)
- Watchmen Legal Battle is About the Sequel Rights, Too?! (Nov 18, 2008)
- John Carpenter Has a Brutal Gangster Film in the Works? (Nov 18, 2008)
- Seth Gordon Directing Con Man Flick Suicide Squad (Nov 18, 2008)
- Spike Jonze Unveils New Where the Wild Things Are Photos! (Nov 18, 2008)
| Quantum of Solace | 9/10 |
| The Class | 9/10 |
| Zack and Miri Make a Porno | 7/10 |
| Changeling | 6/10 |
| Trick 'r Treat | 10/10 |
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Bond Week Interview: Quantum of Solace Director Marc Forster
After first seeing Quantum of Solace a few weeks back, I was given the immense opportunity to sit down and chat with the man behind this latest iteration of James Bond. Marc Forster is one of the most talented filmmakers working today with a very diverse filmography including Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland, and Stranger Than Fiction. It wasn't until I started talking with him that I realized he is a lot more brilliant than I could've ever imagined, and it shows in Quantum in the ways he applies independent filmmaking techniques to a big budget action movie. It may be a fairly short interview, but what Marc talks about in relation to Bond is certainly incredible - especially once you've seen the movie.
Exclusive: On Acting With Mark Strong - England's Secret Weapon
There's an English actor named Mark Strong who has been stealing the show right out from under big name actors like Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe and Tom Wilkinson. If you've seen either Body of Lies or RocknRolla then you'll probably recognize him - or maybe not, considering he plays two characters that couldn't be more unlike each other. On one hand, he plays the stern second-hand-man to the British high class gangster Lenny Cole and is famous for his "Archie slap"; on the other, he plays the levelheaded Chief of Jordanian Intelligence who walks a fine line between being a good guy and a bad guy. Speaking with Mark Strong out of character is as exhilarating as it is to watch him on screen - he's as fascinated at the art of acting and giving a great performance, different each time, as we are at watching those performances.
Interview: Repo! The Genetic Opera Director Darren Lynn Bousman
I first met Darren Lynn Bousman two years ago when we interviewed him for Saw III (you can still find that here). Not only do I think he's a great filmmaker, but he's a big horror movie geek and very down to earth, which as everyone knows, is quite rare to find in Hollywood. So when he showed Repo! The Genetic Opera back at Fantastic Fest in Austin, I walked in very optimistic and open, just because I wanted to give something so unique and so original a chance. Last weekend I caught up with Darren again down in Hollywood for an interview and an opportunity to chat about Repo. If there's anyone who might be able to convince you to see Repo! The Genetic Opera on November 7th, it's Darren Bousman himself.
Interview: Kevin Smith on Zack and Miri Make a Porno!
Kevin Smith! This man needs no introduction. I don't care whether you love or hate his directing, he's a bigger geek than anyone out there and is an amazing speaker and storyteller. Sitting down with this guy and talking with him was like hanging out with my best friend but realizing that he's a bigger geek than me and he has so many better stories to tell. I met up with Kevin down in Austin, Texas during Fantastic Fest right after seeing Zack and Miri Make a Porno up in Toronto. I was still so wrapped up by that movie that I spent the entire time talking with him about making Zack and Miri. The film is finally due out in theaters this weekend, so in honor of the release, here is my full interview with Kevin Smith.
Interview: Let the Right One In Director Tomas Alfredson
There's an incredible little indie horror movie that hits theaters this weekend - Let the Right One In. I've talked about it plenty of times before and featured a few trailers but now I've got a special treat to share with all of you. A few weeks back I had the honor of meeting Swedish director Tomas Alfredson, who directed this amazing movie. It was a very interesting experience and very revealing interview and I thoroughly enjoyed talking with someone who is outside of the North American filmmaking realm. And if you've already seen or are even remotely interested in Let the Right One In, then you need to read this.
Toronto Interview: Pride and Glory's Edward Norton
You've known him as Worm, Derek Vinyard, Monty Brogan, Eisenheim, and Bruce Banner, but get ready to know him as Ray Tierney in Pride and Glory. Every once in a while I have one of those rare opportunities to meet someone truly amazing, and this was one of them. I was lucky enough to interview Edward Norton, easily one of the most talented actors around, up in Toronto after seeing his latest film, Pride and Glory. Although it's a rather short interview, I got into a very deep level of discussion surrounding his character that rarely happens in any interview, and to me, that is a true dedication to the craft. So if you're looking forward to Pride and Glory or just want to hear from Edward Norton, then keep on reading.
Toronto Interview: RocknRolla's Mastermind Guy Ritchie
It may have been a few months back that I screened RocknRolla, but I definitely haven't forgotten it. It's one of my favorite films of the past few months and that's all thanks to Guy Ritchie - the mastermind writer and director behind such previous cult classics as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. After the film premiered up in Toronto, I was lucky enough to catch up with Guy Ritchie for a chat about making movies, RocknRolla, Sherlock Holmes, and even Beowulf. Even if you're not that interested in RocknRolla, delving into the mind of a brilliant filmmaker is always an interesting experience.
Fantastic Fest Interview: Eagle Eye Director D.J. Caruso
Hitting theaters this week is an incredibly entertaining action film titled Eagle Eye. After catching a screening of the film at Fantastic Fest in Austin last week, I met up with director D.J. Caruso to talk about making the film and, of course, Y: The Last Man as well. Caruso's past two directorial gigs were The Salton Sea and Disturbia, two films that showcase his talent for directing great characters and telling good stories. In Eagle Eye he steps above and beyond his past films and jumps into the action genre with an intense story that kicks off full of excitement and doesn't let up until the end. Whether you're a fan of D.J. Caruso or just curious to hear more about the behind-the-scenes of Eagle Eye, be sure to read this interview.
Toronto Interview: Appaloosa Writer, Director, and Star Ed Harris
It was just last year, when I caught a double dose of Assassination of Jesse James and 3:10 to Yuma in one day, that I finally realized how enjoyable westerns could be. Since then I've been exploring the genre and was admittedly excited to hear about a new film called Appaloosa. Written, directed, and starring Ed Harris, the film follows two friends hired to clean up a town of its local vermin, an outlaw named Randall Bragg. A few weeks back after the world premiere in Toronto, I had the immense honor of interviewing Ed Harris, and talked with him about all aspects of Appaloosa and westerns. If you're curious to hear about the behind-the-scenes aspects of the film and so much more, then this is an interview for you.
Toronto Interview: The Wrestler Director Darren Aronofsky
My very favorite experience of the entire Toronto Film Festival was meeting and interviewing Darren Aronofsky, the brilliant filmmaker behind Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, and most recently, The Wrestler. Not only is it amazing to speak with such an incredibly talented director, but it's like I was chatting with a good friend who is as big of a movie geek as I am. Aronofsky and I spoke at length about The Wrestler, my favorite film from Toronto, as well as the current state of independent cinema, RoboCop, and more. If you haven't already read my review for The Wrestler, all you've got to know is that it's another huge success for Aronofsky. And with that brief introduction, I bring to you my complete interview!
Telluride Interview: Slumdog Millionaire Director Danny Boyle
Out of nowhere, British filmmaker Danny Boyle has burst back into the spotlight this year with his latest film, Slumdog Millionaire. Not only did I absolutely love it when I saw it at its world premiere, but its gone on to earn incredible praise from critics worldwide. I had the honor of meeting Boyle at an afterparty in Telluride and interviewing him the following morning. Boyle is one of the most down-to-earth and incredibly outgoing directors I've ever met, and that's not an exaggeration. Not only is he excited to talk about every last detail about filmmaking, but he's so nice that it was like chatting with a close friend about movies at an early morning breakfast. I'm pretty damn sure this is an interview you don't want to miss.
A Look at Traitor - Interview with Jeffrey Nachmanoff and Guy Pearce
The Day After Tomorrow screenwriter Jeffrey Nachmanoff debuts his directorial first this Wednesday with the new country-crossing espionage thriller, Traitor, led by Don Cheadle and Guy Pearce. Believe it or not, the project was conceived 5+ years ago by Steve Martin and later handed off to Nachmanoff to develop the concept. After some change-ups, Nachmanoff was chosen as the film's director. In developing the script, he worked closely with Cheadle, who's production company was drawn to the story "because it had so many layers." Nachmanoff and Pearce were in Washington D.C. recently and sat down with me to discuss the film - an ambitious and complex first-go for the screenwriter turned director.
Interview: Hamlet 2's Comic Mastermind - Steve Coogan
The indie comedy Hamlet 2 first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and was bought for an enormous $10 million right when the fest began. It wasn't until the end of the fest that I was able to catch the film myself, but I still remember laughing non-stop during the screening. Steve Coogan, who stars as high school teacher Dana Marschz, was part of what made it such an amazing comedy due to his over-the-top performance. Coogan recently passed through San Francisco on a press tour and our Cannes Film Festival correspondent Marco Cerritos was able to catch up with him. In addition to talking about Hamlet 2, they also chat about comedy and subtle things that make us different from the UK.
Interview: Stoner Maestro Seth Rogen from Pineapple Express!
In addition to chatting with David Gordon Green at Comic-Con, we also caught up with Seth Rogen, not only the star of Pineapple Express, but also the writer and executive producer. In short time, Rogen has become one of the most well-known comedic actors and has consistently delivered laughs in everything he's in, from Knocked Up to Superbad to Kung Fu Panda (as the voice of Mantis). In addition to Kevin Smith's Zack and Miri Make a Porno, he next stars in the funniest stoner comedy of the decade - Pineapple Express. We shot-the-shit with Rogen about everything from smoking weed, to working with David Gordon Green, to the magic of Huey Lewis, and finally, The Green Hornet. If you're a fan of Rogen or are just looking forward to seeing Pineapple Express, be sure to check out this interview before you do!
Interview: Pineapple Express Director David Gordon Green
During Comic-Con this past weekend, I got a chance to catch up with David Gordon Green, the director of the upcoming comedy Pineapple Express. I first took an interest in his work two years ago when I saw Snow Angels at Sundance, a phenomenal heart wrenching drama that he wrote and directed. Now he's joined Judd Apatow's team and is bringing us the funniest stoner comedy of this decade. As he mentions multiple times, David's a huge nerd, just like all of us, and loves writing and making movies and it's refreshing to hear from such a talented filmmaker who just enjoys having fun in everything he does. We talked about working with Judd Apatow and his influences on the project, the math of comedies and figuring out how to make an audience laugh, his hate for credits, and so much more, so read on!
Interview: Hellboy II's Creature Mastermind - Doug Jones!
With the upcoming release of Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy II: The Golden Army this weekend, the talented Doug Jones yet again gets to showcase his brilliant creature acting in three roles: Abe Sapien, the Chamberlain, and the Angel of Death. Luckily I had the chance to interview Doug recently and it was truly an honor - he is one of my favorite actors who always does a fantastic job. His talents are limitless and he's captured my fascination as Abe in Hellboy, the Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four, and the Faun in Pan's Labyrinth. Doug and I talked about the mythology of the character of Abe Sapien, about being a lost soul, how glad he was to finally hear his own voice for Abe, and his work with the now legendary Guillermo del Toro. If you're as big of a fan of his work as I am, this is an interview you should definitely read!
Exclusive: Wanted's Mark Millar Settles the Score for Fans
After seeing Wanted last week and being blown away by the film, I was angered to find that many fans aren't even giving the film a chance. Their reason: they're concerned that it's too much of a deviation from the source material and doesn't stick with the violent, villains-win storyline that Mark Millar and J.G. Jones so brilliantly put to paper in the comic. To prove to all of them that Wanted is the perfect adaptation of the comic, I exclusively went to Wanted's creator, Mark Millar himself, and asked him a few brief questions to settle any disputes. His answers were exactly what I thought he'd say - Millar has been involved from the start and made sure Wanted was the proper adaptation of the comic.
Interview: Wall-E's Writer and Director Andrew Stanton
I have always dreamed of stepping inside the walls of Pixar. A week ago that dream came true. Disney invited me out to San Francisco to interview Andrew Stanton, the writer and director of Wall-E, at Pixar Studios. I am a true dedicated Pixar fan, from Toy Story all the way to The Incredibles and it's breathtaking to be sitting inside of Pixar with the man who has been a part of some of the greatest films in history. Stanton worked with John Lasseter on A Bug's Life and eventually went on to bring us the wonderful Finding Nemo, easily one of my Pixar favorites (although it's impossible to truly rank them). And now it's a great honor to present my interview with the mind behind Pixar's latest film, Wall-E.
Follow-Up Interview: Get Smart's Director Pete Segal
Back in March I had the honor of interviewing Get Smart's director Pete Segal, who afterwards personally thanked me for speaking so highly of his film here on FirstShowing.net based on the trailers at the time. A few weeks ago I met up with Pete again in Los Angeles for a follow-up interview. When I talked with him in March, I hadn't seen his movie, but was excited for it anyway. This time I had seen it and had new questions, including more about the behind-the-scenes stories, Mel Brooks' involvement, shooting on location, and of course, the latest on Billy Batson and the Legend of Shazam. It was definitely a delight to talk with Pete again after finally seeing Get Smart. The film hits theaters this weekend and in honor of its release, I present to you my complete follow-up interview with Pete Segal.
Interview: Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard on The Dark Knight's Score
Last weekend I had the wonderful honor of meeting both Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard in person at their studio in Santa Monica. The two talented composers are teaming up again to bring us the score to The Dark Knight, a movie I know many are looking forward to this July. If you've seen any of the trailers for the film, you'll instantly recognize the iconic score that has so brilliantly become the sound of this new Batman. When I say that Batman Begins is my all-time favorite score, that is no understatement. The soundtrack is always near the top of my playlist and I typically listen to it almost every night, so you can understand why it was such an honor to meet these two. Let's just say that their work on The Dark Knight should not be overlooked - Zimmer and Howard have promised one hell of an incredible score!