Categories
Archive Interviews

Interview: Chris Cornell on Casino Royale

With the sad news of his death yesterday aged 52, I was reminded of an interview I did in 2006 with the late Soundgarden and Audioslave singer Chris Cornell.

He was chosen to perform singing duties on that year’s Bond film, Casino Royale, which also saw a new actor cast as the iconic spy.

You could not wish to meet a nicer and more urbane rock star and my initial scepticism about a former grunge singer performing duties on a Bond film were immediately wiped away.

The subsequent doubts about the 007 reboot (a lot was riding on it) were wiped away as Daniel Craig triumphed as the British secret agent and the film garnered rave reviews and a massive worldwide gross of $599m.

Listen to the interview here:

> Find out more about Casino Royale (2006)
> BBC News on Chris Cornell’s death, aged 52

Categories
Archive Interesting Podcast

Frank Darabont on The Shawshank Redemption

Frank Darabont on The Shawshank Redemption

* A previously unpublished interview from the FILMdetail archives *

Back in 2004, I spoke with writer-director Frank Darabont about the 10th anniversary of The Shawshank Redemption (1994).

Whilst not an initial success, it gradually became one of the most beloved films of all time, consistently ranking at No. 1 on the Internet Movie Database.

Listen to the interview below, which was recorded in September 2014:

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/169632382″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

> Buy the film on Blu-ray or DVD at Amazon UK
> Find out more about The Shawshank Redemption at Wikipedia
> Frank Darabont at the IMDb
> WSJ article on how The Shawshank Redemption keeps making money

Categories
blu-ray DVD & Blu-ray Interviews

Interview: Joe Pilato on Day of the Dead

[ad]

George A. Romero’s Day Of The Dead has recently been released on Blu-ray in a special two-disc 25th Anniversary edition and I recently spoke to one of its stars Joe Pilato about the film and the enduring legacy of the horror series.

The third instalment in Romero’s ongoing zombie saga sees the living dead take over the world and only small pockets of human resistance survive. One group of survivors, a motley crew of scientists and soldiers, are holed up in a 14-mile long underground missile silo where tensions begin to erupt as the zombie hoards surround them.

The bleakest and goriest of Romero’s zombie films to date, Day Of The Dead has often been overshadowed by its more illustrious predecessors, but in recent years it has found greater appreciation, with Tom Savini‘s ground breaking make-up effects and the social commentary on Reagan’s America becoming more apparent.

This Blu-ray edition features a restored presentation of the film, a new hi-def soundtrack, four alternate sleeves, a double-sided poster, a 24-page collector’s booklet ‘For Every Dawn There Is A Day’, plus a very special collector’s comic – ‘Day Of The Dead: Desertion’ – featuring a brand new ‘Bub’ storyline.

Two all-new documentaries were also commissioned for this release: In ‘Joe Of The Dead’ (directed by Calum Waddell) Joe talks about his career in movies – from his early appearance in the little-seen Pittsburgh horror outing ‘Effects’ (which also featured Romero regulars Tom Savini and John Harrison) to his small parts in ‘Dawn Of The Dead’ and ‘Knightriders’ and his work as Captain Rhodes in Day Of The Dead.

In ‘Travelogue of the Dead’ (directed by Naomi Holwill), we join Pilato as he travels across Dublin, Edinburgh and Glasgow in October 2009 celebrating the 25th anniversary of Day Of The Dead and witness him meeting the fans, reciting his most famous lines from the movie – live and on stage – and drinking with the best of them.

Calum Waddell also penned the ‘For Every Dawn There Is A Day’ collector’s booklet, which is an essay on the making of the movie that collects brand new interviews with Romero, Savini, editor Pasquale Buba, assistant director/composer John Harrison and actors Joe Pilato, Lori Cardille and Gary Steele.

I recently spoke to Joe about the film’s Blu-ray release and you can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Joe_Pilato_on_Day_of_the_Dead.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

The two-disc 25th Anniversary Edition Day Of The Dead is out now on Blu-ray from Arrow Video

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> IMDb entry
> Pre-order the Blu-ray from Amazon UK

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Kevin Sampson on Awaydays

Awaydays

Kevin Sampson is a British writer best known for his novels Awaydays (1998) and Powder (1999).

Awaydays is now a film and the story, based on his Merseyside football-following youth, explores the relationship between two teenagers (Nicky Bell and Liam Boyle) in the late 1970s.

I recently spoke with Kevin in London about the film and you can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Kevin_Sampson_on_Awaydays.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

Awaydays is out now at selected UK cinemas

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Awaydays at the IMDb
> Official site
> Get local showtimes via Google Movies

Categories
Cinema DVD & Blu-ray Interviews Podcast

Interview: Ben Barnes and Jessica Biel on Easy Virtue

Ben Barnes and Jessica Biel on Easy Virtue

Easy Virtue is a comedy based on Noel Coward’s play of the same name.

The story is about a glamorous American widow (Jessica Biel) who marries a young Englishman (Ben Barnes) in the South of France before going home to England to meet his parents (played by Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas).

It was previously made as a silent film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1928 but this version is directed by Stephan Elliott.

I spoke with Ben Barnes and Jessica Biel about the  film just after it had played at the London Film Festival last October and you can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Ben_Barnes_and_Jessica_Biel_on_Easy_Virtue.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

Easy Virtue is out now on DVD in the UK and opens in selected US cinemas on Friday 22nd May

* Check out our interview with Colin Firth and director Stephan Elliot about the film *

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Easy Virtue at the IMDb
> Buy Easy Virtue on DVD at Amazon UK
> Find out more about Ben Barnes and Jessica Biel at Wikipedia
> Get local showtimes via Google Movies

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Henry Selick on Coraline

Henry Selick on Coraline

Director Henry Selick is an American stop motion director, producer and writer who is best known for directing films such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach.

His latest film is Coraline, an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s 2002 novella about a young girl who finds a portal to an alternate world, featuring the voices of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher and Keith David.

I spoke with Henry recently in London about the film and you can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Henry_Selick_on_Coraline.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

Coraline is out now at UK cinemas

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Henry Selick at the IMDb
> Official site for Coraline
> Find out more about the Neil Gaiman novella at Wikipedia

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Eran Creevy and Daniel Mays on Shifty

shifty-poster

Shifty is a new British film about a young drug dealer (Riz Ahmed) in a town just outside London who sees his life spiral out of control when his best friend (Daniel Mays) returns home.

Directed by Eran Creevy and co-starring Jason Flemyng and Francesca Annis, it was funded by Film London‘s Microwave scheme and shot in just 18 days.

I recently spoke with Eran and Daniel in London and we discussed the film and how it got made.

Listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Eran_Creevy_and_Daniel_Mays_on_Shifty.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

 

Shifty is out at selected UK cinemas from Friday

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Eran Creevy and Daniel Mays at the IMDb
> Official site for Shifty
> Find out more about the Film London microwave scheme

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Justin Lin on Fast & Furious

Justin Lin on Fast and Furious

Justin Lin is the director of Fast & Furious, the fourth film in the franchise which sees Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster reprise their roles from the original 2001 film.

He made his solo directorial debut with Better Luck Tomorrow in 1997 and went on to direct films such as Annapolis (2006) and the third Fast and Furious film Tokyo Drift (2006).

I spoke with him in London recently about this latest Fast and Furious film and the how he went about shooting the car sequences.

Listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Justin_Lin_on_Fast_and_Furious.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

Fast & Furious is out now at UK cinemas

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Justin Lin at the IMDb
> Official site for Fast and Furious
> Find out more about the franchise at Wikipedia 

[Image courtesy of Universal Studios © 2009]

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Kari Scogland on Fifty Dead Men Walking

Fifty Dead Men Walking poster

Fifty Dead Men Walking is an adaptation of Martin McGartland’s 1997 autobiography, about his time as an informant within the Provisional IRA from 1988 til 1991. 

It stars Jim Sturgess as McGartland, Ben Kingsley as his British handler and was directed by Kari Scogland.

I recently spoke with Kari in London about the film and you can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Kari_Scogland_on_Fifty_Dead_Men_Walking.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

Fifty Dead Men Walking is out now at selected UK cinemas

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Fifty Dead Men Walking and Kari Scogland at the IMDb
> 
Find out more about Martin McGartland at Wikipedia

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Larry Charles on Religulous

larry-charles-on-religulous

Larry Charles is the director of Religulous, a new documentary in which US comedian Bill Maher explores the subject of religion.

It sees them travel to numerous religious places, such as Jerusalem, the Vatican and Salt Lake City, where they interview believers from a variety of backgrounds and groups including a former member of Jews for Jesus, Christians, Muslims, former Mormons and Hasidic Jews.

Previously, he was writer on TV shows such as Seinfeld and Mad About You and more recently has directed episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm and the Borat movie. 

I spoke with Larry last October at the London Film festival where we discussed Religulous and the ideas behind it.

You can listen here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Larry_Charles_on_Religulous.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

Religulous is out at UK cinemas on Friday 3rd April

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Official UK site
> Larry Charles at the
IMDb
> Find out more about world religion at Wikipedia

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Paolo Sorrentino on Il Divo

Il Divo UK poster

Paolo Sorrentino is the director of Il Divo, a new film that explores the extraordinary career former Italian prime minister Giulio Andreotti.

It spans the period since the seventh election of Andreotti (plyed by Toni Servillo) as Prime Minister of Italy in 1992, until the trial in which he was accused of collusion with the Mafia.

It has been a favourite on the festival circuit in the past year and was nominated for the Palme D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival last May, where it was awarded the Prix du Jury.

I recently spoke with Paolo on the phone when the film screened at the Dublin Film Festival.

Listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Paolo_Sorrentino_on_Il_Divo.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

Il Divo is out at selected UK cinemas on Friday 20th March

> Download this interview as an MP3
> Paolo Sorrentino at the IMDb
> Official website for Il Divo
> Find out more about Giulio Andreotti at Wikipedia

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Guillermo Arriaga on The Burning Plain

Guillermo Arriaga

Guillermo Arriaga is a Mexican writer and director best known for his work on films such as Amores Perros (2000), 21 Grams (2003), The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) and Babel (2006).

His latest film is The Burning Plain which stars Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger as two women in different parts of America struggling to deal with their lives.

It also stars Danny Pino, Jennifer Lawrence, Joaquim de Almeida, J.D. Pardo, Robin Tunney and Brett Cullen with cinematography by Robert Elswit.

I recently spoke with Guillermo in London about the film and we discussed his distinctive approach to narrative and other aspects of the movie.

Listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Guillermo_Arriaga_on_The_Burning_Plain.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

The Burning Plain is out at UK cinemas on Friday 13th March

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Guillermo Arriaga and The Burning Plain at the IMDb

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Emily Blunt & Rupert Friend on The Young Victoria

Emily Blunt (Queen Victoria) and Rupert Friend (Prince Albert) in The Young Victoria

The Young Victoria is a new film, directed by Jean-Marc Vallée from a script by Julian Fellowes, which chronicles the early years of Queen Victoria (Emily Blunt) and her romance and marriage to Prince Albert (Rupert Friend).

I spoke to Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend in London recently about their roles in the film.

Listen to the interview here:

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

The Young Victoria is out at UK cinemas on Friday 6th March

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend at the IMDb
> Official UK site for The Young Victoria
> Find out more about the real Queen Victoria at Wikipedia

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: John Patrick Shanley on Doubt

John Patrick Shanley

John Patrick Shanley is an award winning playwright who won an Oscar for his script for Moonstruck (1987) before going on to direct Joe Versus the Volcano (1990). 

In 2005, his play Doubt: A Parable won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Drama Desk Award and Tony Award for Best Play. 

Now Shanley has directed a film version called Doubt which stars Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams.

I spoke with him recently in London about the film and you can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/John_Patrick_Shanley_on_Doubt.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

Doubt is out at UK cinemas today

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> John Patrick Shanley at the IMDb
> Official UK site for Doubt

Categories
Animation Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: John Lasseter on Bolt

 

He initially worked as an animator at Disney in the late 70s before going on to join the computer animation division of Lucasfilm‘s Industrial Light and Magic.

In 1986 the department was purchased by Apple founder Steve Jobs who renamed the new company Pixar (a fake Spanish word meaning ‘to make pixels’) and gave Lasseter the freedom to direct, produce and create models for a variety of projects, many of which were television commercials.

In the late 1980s Lasseter made several award winning shorts before going on to direct the groundbreaking Toy Story in 1995, the first feature-length computer animated film.

As the chief of Pixar’s creative department, Lasseter became the key figure behind an extraordinary run of critically acclaimed, blockbuster animated films.

He directed A Bug’s Life (1998), Toy Story 2 (1999) and Cars (2006) whilst also serving as executive producer on Monsters, Inc. (2001), Finding Nemo (2003) and The Incredibles (2004), Ratatouille (2007) and WALL-E (2008).

If the success of Pixar was not enough, his career reached a new plateau in early 2006 when Disney officially acquired Pixar, and promoted Lasseter to Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Feature Animation.

The first movie he has overseen for Disney is Bolt, the tale of a small white dog who, having spent his entire life acting in a TV series, thinks that he has super powers.

Directed by Chris Williams and Byron Howard, it was produced by Lasseter and I spoke to him in London recently about his career and the new film.

You can listen to the interview here:

You can also stream it here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/John_Lasseter_on_Bolt.mp3]

You can download it as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

Bolt is out at UK cinemas on Friday 6th February

Download this interview as an MP3 file
John Lasseter at the IMDb
> Official UK site for Bolt
> Official Pixar site

Categories
Cinema Interviews music Podcast

Interview: Robyn Hitchcock on Rachel Getting Married

Robyn Hitchcock in Rachel Getting Married

Rachel Getting Married is a drama about a young woman named Kym (Anne Hathaway) who returns home from rehab for her sister Rachel’s (Rosemarie DeWitt) wedding.

It was written by Jenny Lumet and directed by Jonathan Demme in a naturalistic, documentary style.

Robyn Hitchcock is one of England’s most enduring contemporary singer/songwriters who also appears in the film as part of the wedding band. 

He has collaborated with Demme before on the 1998 concert film Storefront Hitchcock and released many acclaimed albums throughout a distinguished career. 

I spoke with him recently in London about Rachel Getting Married:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Robyn_Hitchcock_on_Rachel_Getting_Married.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

Rachel Getting Married is out now at selected UK cinemas

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Rachel Getting Married at the IMDb
> Official site for Robyn Hitchcock 

[Image:  Sony Pictures Classics  © 2008]

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interviews: Valkyrie

Valkyrie poster

Valkyrie is a new film set during World War II that depicts the plot to kill Adolf Hitler by German army officers in July, 1944.

Directed by Bryan Singer and written by Christopher McQuarrie, it stars Tom Cruise as Claus von Stauffenberg, one of the key figures in the conspiracy.

It also features Bill Nighy, Eddie Izzard, Terence Stamp and Tom Wilkinson in key supporting roles. 

I recently spoke in London with several of the major players in the film:

You can listen to the interviews here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Valkyrie_Interviews.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

Valkyrie is out now at UK cinemas

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Valkyrie at the IMDb
> Find out more about the July 20th plot to kill Hitler at Wikipedia 

[Image: United Artists / 20th Century Fox  © 2008]

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Gabriele Muccino on Seven Pounds

Gabriele Muccino directing Seven Pounds

Gabriele Muccino is the director of Seven Pounds, a new film starring Will Smith as a man trying to change the lives of seven people.

As a director Gabriele initially found success in his native Italy with films such as One Last Kiss and Remember Me, My Love, before making his breakthrough in  Hollywood with The Pursuit of Happyness in 2006.

I spoke with him in London recently about his latest film and how he first hooked up with Will Smith.

You can listen to it here: 

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Gabriele_Muccino_on_Seven_Pounds.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

Seven Pounds is out at UK cinemas from today

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Gabriele Muccino at the IMDb
> Official UK site

[Image: Merrick Morton SMPSP  © 2008 Columbia Pictures and Beverly Blvd LLC / All Rights Reserved]

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Darren Aronofsky and Mickey Rourke on The Wrestler

Mickey Rourke and Darren Aronofsky filming The Wrestler

The Wrestler is a new film about an ageing wrestler – Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson (Mickey Rourke) – past his prime, who struggles to make ends meet doing shows on the weekends in New Jersey.

The story follows him as he works in a deli, strikes up a relationship with a stripper named Cassidy (Marisa Tomei) and seeks a reconciliation with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood).

I spoke with the director Darren Aronofsky and Mickey Rourke back in October when the film played at the London Film Festival.

You can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Darren_Aronofsky_and_Mickey_Rourke_on_The_Wrestler.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

The Wrestler is out at UK cinemas on Friday 16th January

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Darren Aronofsky and Mickey Rourke at the IMDb
> Read reviews of The Wrestler at Metacritic
> Official UK site

[Image: Niko Tavernise / Optimum Releasing © 2008]

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott on Role Models

sean-william-scott-and-paull-rudd-on-role-models

Paul Rudd (right) and Seann William Scott (left) are the two stars of Role Models – a new movie in which they play two guys working for an energy drink company forced to do community service for a charity after breaking the law.

Called ‘Sturdy Wings’ it is a place where they have to mentor two very different teenagers: a foulmouthed youngster obsessed with breasts (Bobb’e J. Thompson) and a nerd (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) obsessed with live action role-playing games.

I spoke with them recently in London about the film and you can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Paul_Rudd_and_Seann_William_Scott_on_Role_Models.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

Role Models is out now at UK cinemas

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott at the IMDb
> Official UK site

[Image: Universal © 2008]

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Danny Boyle on Slumdog Millionaire

Danny Boyle directing Slumdog Millionaire

Danny Boyle is the director of Slumdog Millionaire, a new film out in the UK this week about a young street kid (Dev Patel) who ends up on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Adapted by Simon Beaufoy from the novel Q and A by Vikas Swarup, it deservedly received a lot of buzz and acclaim at the Telluride and Toronto film festivals and is widely considered a frontrunner for BAFTA and Oscar consideration.

I spoke with Danny in London recently about the film and we discussed: the story, filming in Mumbai, using digital cameras, the Indian actors he worked with and the interesting backstory of how the film got financed and released.

Listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Danny_Boyle_on_Slumdog_Millionaire.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

Slumdog Millionaire is out at UK cinemas from Friday 9th January

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Danny Boyle at the IMDb
> Official UK site
> More reviews of Slumdog Millionaire at Metacritic
> Read our selection of the best films of 2008

[Image: Ishika Mohan / Pathe / TM and © 2008]

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Stephen Daldry and Ralph Fiennes on The Reader

Stephen Daldry and Ralph Fiennes

The Reader is the film adaptation of the 1995 German novel by Bernhard Schlink that follows a complicated love affair in the 1950s between a German teenager named Michael Berg (David Kross) and a woman twice his age called Hannah Schmitz (Kate Winslet).

Years later as a law student he discovers a terrible secret about his former lover and struggles to deal with the repercussions of her actions in World War II.

The book became a bestseller that was translated into 37 languages and the film is directed by Stephen Daldry with Ralph Fiennes playing Michael Berg as an older man.

I recently spoke to both of them in London about their work on the film and you can listen to the interviews here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Stephen_Daldry_and_Ralph_Fiennes_on_The_Reader.mp3]

Download it as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

The Reader is out at UK cinemas from today (Friday 2nd January)

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Get showtimes for the film via Google Movies 
> Stephen Daldry and Ralph Fiennes at the IMDb
> Official site for The Reader

[Photo: AP Photo/Evan Agostini]

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Danny Wallace on Yes Man

Danny Wallace Yes Man poster

Danny Wallace is the author of Yes Man, a 2005 book that explored what happened when an old man from the Aldgate area in London encouraged him to say yes to more things in life.

It is now a film starring Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel and I recently spoke to Danny about inspiration for the book and its journey to the big screen.

I’ve known Danny since 1999, when we both worked on the Ian Collins show on Talk Radio (now TalkSPORT) and – coincidentally – this interview took place in a studio on the very same street where we first met in a pub called The Marquis of Granby.

Listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Danny_Wallace_on_Yes_Man.mp3]

Download it as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

Yes Man is out at UK cinemas from Friday 26th December

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Get showtimes for the film via Google Movies 
> IMDb entry for the film
> Official Site for Yes Man
> Official site for Danny Wallace

[Images © Getty Images / Warner Bros. Pictures 2008]

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Alex Gibney on Gonzo

Gonzo UK poster

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson is a new documentary directed by Alex Gibney.

It explores Hunter S. Thompson‘s life and times as well as his landmark writings on music and politics with contributions from the likes of Tom Wolfe, Ralph Steadman and Jann Wenner.

It is narrated by Johnny Depp, who played Hunter in the 1998 film version of Fear and Loathing and Las Vegas.

I spoke with Alex about the film when it screened at the London Film Festival back in October and you can listen to it here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Alex_Gibney_on_Gonzo.mp3]

Download it as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

Check out the trailer for the film here:

 

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson is out at selected UK cinemas now

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Get showtimes for the film via Google Movies 
> Gonzo and Alex Gibney at the IMDb
> Check out our review of Alex Gibney’s last film Taxi to the Darkside

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Robert Pattinson on Twilight

Twilight is the film adaptation of the novel by Stephenie Meyer and it Kristen Stewart as Bella, a teenage girl who falls in love with a vampire, played by Robert Pattinson.

I recently spoke to Robert in London about the film, his character, the Twilight phenomenon and his previous work in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Listen to the interview here on Soundcloud:

You also can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

Twilight is out in UK cinemas on Friday 19th December

UPDATE 14/07/12: Twilight became a huge hit and made enormous stars of its cast. It also took my site down as thousands of people tried to download it.

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Robert Pattinson at the IMDb
> Official site for Twilight
> Find out more about the novel at Wikipedia
> Listen to our interview with co-star Cam Gigandet on Twilight

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Scott Derrickson on The Day The Earth Stood Still

The Day The Earth Stood Still poster

The Day the Earth Stood Still is a remake of the 1951 sci-fi film about an alien who comes to earth in order to assess the planet.

This version stars Keanu Reeves as the alien (named Klaatu), who is assessed by team of scientists (played by Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm and John Cleese) who must convince him that the human race is worth saving.

I recently spoke to the director Scott Derrickson about updating a sci-fi classic for the present day.

You can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Scott_Derickson_on_the_Day_The_Earth_Stood_Still.mp3]

Download it as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

The Day The Earth Stood Still is out at UK cinemas from Friday 12th December

> Download the interview as an MP3 file
> Official website for The Day The Earth Stood Still
> Scott Derrickson at the IMDb
> Find out more about the original 1951 film at Wikipedia

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Samuel L Jackson on Lakeview Terrace

Lakeview Terrace is a contemporary drama set in LA about a young couple (played by Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington) who move in to an upmarket neighbourhood next to a sinister police officer (Samuel L Jackson) who begins to make their life very difficult.

Directed by Neil LaBute, it explores some of the uncomfortable prejudices beneath contemporary US society.

I spoke to Samuel L Jackson back in late August and we discussed the film, the US elections and the Ryder Cup.

Listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Samuel_L_Jackson_on_Lakeview_Terrace.mp3]

Download it as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

Lakeview Terrace is out at UK cinemas from Friday

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Get showtimes for the film via Google Movies 
> Samuel L Jackson at the IMDb
> Official website for Lakeview Terrace
> Listen to an interview we did in 2006 with Samuel about Snakes on a Plane

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Jonås and Alfonso Cuarón on Año Uña

Año Uña is a new film directed by Jonås Cuarón about a Mexican teenager and an older American woman who meet one summer in Mexico.

Unusually, it was edited entirely from photographic stills and was made without a script or set.

I recently spoke to Jonås and his father Alfonso Cuarón, who served as an exec producer and is a noted director in his own right having made such films as Children of Men and Y Tu Mama Tambien.

We talked about this movie, the business of making films on a smaller scale, new distribution models for movies on the web and the wider future of cinema in general.

You can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Jonas_and_Alfonso_Cuaron_on_Ano_Una.mp3]

Download it as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

Año Uña is out at selected UK cinemas from Friday 

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Get showtimes for the film via Google Movies
> IMDb entry for the film
> Official MySpace page
> Jonås Cuarón and Alfonso Cuarón at the IMDb
> Listen to an interview we did with Alfonso in 2007 about Children of Men

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Fernando Meirelles on Blindness

Blindness is the film adaptation of the 1995 novel by José Saramago about a society suffering an epidemic of blindness.

Directed by Fernando Meirelles it stars Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo , Danny Glover and Gael Garcia Bernal as a group of people struggling to survive amidst the chaos that ensues.

In recent years Fernando has directed such acclaimed films as City of God (2002) and The Constant Gardener (2005) and I recently spoke to him in London about this latest film.

You can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Fernando_Meirelles_on_Blindness.mp3]

Download it as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

Watch the trailer here:

 

Blindness is out at UK cinemas from today

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Fernando Meirelles at the IMDb
> Official UK site for Blindness
> Find out more about the novel at Wikipedia
> Get local showtimes for the film via Google Movies

[Image © Ken Woroner 2008 / Courtesy of Pathe]

Categories
Animation Interviews Podcast

Interview: Ari Folman on Waltz With Bashir

Waltz With Bashir is the remarkable new film that deals with the memory of Israeli soldiers involved in the invasion of Lebanon in 1982 which culminated in the Sabra and Shatila massacre.

Directed by Ari Folman, it examines his experiences in the army and struggle to remember what happened as he interviews fellow soldiers from the time.

The strange title is taken from a scene with one of Folman’s interviewees remembers taking a machine gun and dancing an ‘insane waltz’ amid enemy fire, with posters of Bashir Gemayel lining the walls behind him.

Gemayel was the Lebanese president who whose assassination helped trigger the massacre.

The most unusual and startling aspect of the film is that it is animated, an unconventional approach for what is essentially a documentary.

I recently spoke with Ari in London about the film and you can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Ari_Folman_on_Waltz_With_Bashir.mp3]

Download it as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

Watch the trailer here:

 

Waltz With Bashir is out at selected UK cinemas from Friday 21st November

* Find a cinema near you that is showing the film by clicking here *

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Ari Folman at the IMDb
> Official site for Waltz With Bashir
> Find out more about the Shabra and Shatila massacre at Wikipedia
> Get local showtimes for the film via Google Movies

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Bernd Eichinger on The Baader Meinhof Complex

Bernd Eichinger is a writer and producer who came to prominence in the 1980s by helping Constantin Film to become one of the most successful production companies in Germany with films like Christiane F., The Neverending Story and The Name of the Rose.

More recently he wrote Downfall, a stark examination of the final days of Hitler and The Third Reich and his latest film deals with another dark chapter of German history.

The Baader Meinhof Complex explores the creation and actions of the West German terrorist group the Red Army Faction (RAF), which was the most active and prominent terrorist group in post-war West Germany.

Directed by Uli Edel, it stars Moritz Bleibtreu, Martina Gedeck and Johanna Wokalek and is based on the best selling non-fiction book of the same name by Stefan Aust.

I spoke with him recently in London about the film and you can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Bernd_Eichinger_on_The_Baader_Meinhoff_Complex.mp3]

The Baader Meinhof Complex is currently showing at UK cinemas

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Bernd Eichinger at the IMDb
> Find out more about the Red Army Faction at Wikipedia

N.B. Currently the podcast isn’t available via iTunes but we hope to get this fixed as soon as possible.

UPDATE 19/11/2008: The podcast is now working in iTunes. Hallelujah.

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Stephan Elliott and Colin Firth on Easy Virtue

 

Easy Virtue is a new comedy based on Noel Coward’s play of the same name.

It was previously made as a silent film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1928 but this version is directed by Stephan Elliott and stars Jessica Biel, Ben Barnes, Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas.

I recently spoke to Stephan and Colin about the film just after it had played at the London Film Festival.

You can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Stephan_Elliot_and_Colin_Firth_on_Easy_Virtue.mp3]

Easy Virtue is out now at UK cinemas

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Easy Virtue at the IMDb
> Find out more about Stephan Elliot and Colin Firth at Wikipedia
> Get local showtimes via Google Movies 

N.B. The podcast isn’t currently available on iTunes but we hope to have it fixed as soon as possible

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Cam Gigandet on Twilight

Twilight is the upcoming film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Stephenie Meyer.

The book is a bestseller, which has been translated into over 20 langauges worldwide, and is one of the most eagerly anticipated films of the year.

It is directed by Catherine Hardwicke and stars Kristen Stewart as Bella, a teenage girl who falls in love with a vampire, played by Robert Pattinson.

I recently spoke to Cam Gigandet, who plays James, the leader of a group of nomadic vampires who intends to kill Bella.

Listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Cam_Gigandet_ on _Twilight.mp3]

You can download this interview as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here

Twilight is out in UK cinemas on Friday 19th December and in the US on November 21st

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Cam Gigandet at the IMDb
> Official site for Twilight
> Find out more about the novel at Wikipedia

Categories
Cinema Interviews Podcast

Interview: Liam Cunningham on Hunger

Liam Cunningham is one of the actors in the new film Hunger, which deals with the 1981 IRA hunger strike and marks the feature film debut for director Steve McQueen.

Although he only appears in one scene, it is an extraordinary unbroken sequence in which plays a priest who questions Sands about the wisdom of his actions.

The film premiered to great acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival and recently screened at the London Film Festival, which was when I spoke to Liam.

You can listen to it here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Liam_Cunningham_on_Hunger.mp3]

Download it as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

Hunger opens at selected UK cinemas on Friday 31st October

> Download the interview as an MP3 file
> Official UK site for Hunger
> Liam Cunningham at the IMDb
> Read our recent LFF piece on Hunger and a longer review from last month
> Green Cine Daily with the reactions to Hunger at Cannes earlier this year
> Find out more about the 1981 Hunger Strike at Wikipedia

Categories
Interviews London Film Festival Podcast

Interview: Mark Hartley on Not Quite Hollywood

Not Quite Hollywood is a new documentary exploring the world of Australian exploitation cinema that began in the early 1970s.

Directed by Mark Hartley it shows how a new generation of maverick filmmakers capitalised on the relaxing of censorship laws to create wilder films on smaller budgets.

Whilst more refined directors like Peter Weir achieved worldwide acclaim with films like Picnic At Hanging Rock, more maverick directors and actors created a crazier breed of exploitation movie.

This is the trailer:

Many of the titles were sloppily made, politically incorrect and outraged critcs but some also made money in their home country and abroad.

One of the pleasing aspects of the documentary is Hartley’s irreverent approach, which allied to a huge amount of clips and interviews with the likes of George Miller, Quentin Tarantino, Barry Humphries and many others, makes for a thoroughly entertaining examination of Australian film culture.

I spoke with Mark recently about the film which is screening at the London Film Festvial this week.

You can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Mark_Hartley_on_Not_Quite_Hollywood.mp3]

You can also download it as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

Not Quite Hollywood screens at the London Film Festival on Saturday 24th and Tuesday 28th before getting a UK release in March.

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Mark Hartley at the IMDb
> Official website for the film
> Buy tickets for the film at the LFF website

Categories
Cinema Festivals Interviews London Film Festival

Interview: Toa Fraser on Dean Spanley

Dean Spanley is a new film based on the novella by Irish author Lord Dunsany.

Set in the Edwardian era it is the story of a father (Peter O’Toole) and son (Jeremy Northam) who attend a lecture by a visiting Hindu Swami (Art Malik).

There they encounter Dean Spanley (Sam Neill), with whom, after a series of chance encounters, Henslowe strikes up an unlikley friendship.

It screened at the London Film Festival last Friday and I spoke to the director Toa Fraser earlier that afternoon.

You can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Toa_Fraser_on_Dean_Spanley.mp3]

You can also download it as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

Dean Spanley is out at UK cinemas on December 12th 2008

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Dean Spanley at the IMDb
> Toa Fraser at the IMDb
> Rotten Tomatoes UK visit the set

Categories
DVD & Blu-ray Interviews

Interview: Ian Freer on Reservoir Dogs

Reservoir Dogs was a gangster film that landed like a bombshell in the early 90s, making an instant star of writer-director Quentin Tarantino.

The tale of a heist gone wrong it starred Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi and Lawrence Tierney as a gang of criminals struggling to find the traitor within their group.

The innovative flashback structure, pop-culture laden dialogue, clever soundtrack and unnerving violence all marked it out as a major film of the decade even though it wasn’t initially a major success at the box office.

It is being re-issued on DVD in the UK this week and I recently spoke to Ian Freer of Empire Magazine about the film.

We discussed various aspects, including the importance of Harvey Keitel in getting it made, its impact and how it compares to Tarantino’s other work.

Listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Ian_Freer_on_Reservoir_Dogs.mp3]

You can also download it as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

Reservoir Dogs is out now on DVD and Blu-ray disc from Lionsgate

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Buy Reservoir Dogs on DVD or Blu-ray at Amazon UK
> Reservoir Dogs at the IMDb
> Official site for Empire Magazine
> Ian Freer’s entries on the Empire blog

Categories
DVD & Blu-ray Interesting Interviews Podcast

Interview: Noel Clarke and Adam Deacon on AdULTHOOD

AdULTHOOD is the sequel to the 2006 hit Kidulthood and follows the story of Sam Peel (Noel Clarke) six years on from the events of the last film.

After returning home, Sam struggles to deal with life on the outside and is pursued by Jay (Adam Deacon)

The film was also written and directed by Noel and I recently spoke to him and Adam about the film which is out on DVD this week.

Listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Noel_Clarke_and_Adam_Deacon_on_AdULTHOOD.mp3]

You can also download it as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

AdULTHOOD is out on DVD now from Pathe

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Noel Clarke and Adam Deacon at the IMDb
> Official UK website for AdULTHOOD
> Buy AdULTHOOD on DVD at Amazon

[Image courtesy of Pathe © 2008]

Categories
Festivals Interviews Podcast

Interview: Eliot Grove on The Raindance Film Festival 2008

Eliot Grove is the founder and director of The Raindance Film Festival, which is the UK’s largest independent film festival.

He founded it in 1993 and since then it has premiered films such as Pulp Fiction, The Blair Witch Project, Capturing the Friedmans, Memento, and Oldboy.

The Raindance organisation also offers advice and support for independent filmmakers.

Although based in London they are open for anyone who might want to work with them in another city or country.

In addition, Eliot also helped start the British Independent Film Awards in 1998.

The current Raindance festival is currently on in London until October 12th and I recently spoke with Eliot about what’s been happening this year.

You can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Eliot_Grove_on_The_Raindance_Film_Festival_2008.mp3]

You can also download it as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

For the full Festival programme go to www.raindance.co.uk

Tickets can be booked online at their site or by telephone on 0871 200 2000

Raindance.tv will host further exclusive material via www.raindance.tv with trailers and filmmaker interviews.

> Download this interview as an MP3
> Official Raindance site
> The British Independent Film Awards
> Join the Raindance Facebook group
> Eliot’s MySpace page

Categories
Interviews Podcast

Interview: Matteo Garrone on Gomorrah

Matteo Garrone is the director of Gomorrah, a new film based on the best selling book by Roberto Saviano.

It explores the world of the Comorrah, the mafia-like organisation based around the city of Naples in Southern Italy.

The film follows five stories that are based on real life accounts:

  • A young boy named Toto (Salvatore Abruzzese) who is slowly sucked into the world of drug dealers near his housing estate
  • An elderly accountant named Don Ciro (Gianfelice Imparato) who acts as a courier for the relatives of imprisoned gang members
  • A tailor named Pasquale (Salvatore Cantalupo) who endangers himself by trying to work for new company that isn’t controlled by organised crime
  • A university graduate named Roberto (Carmine Paternoster) who starts working for a toxic waste company that has ties to criminal gangs
  • Two unruly young men called Marco (Marco Macor) and Ciro (Ciro Petrone) who fantasise about being mobsters when they uncover a stash of weapons.

I recently spoke to Matteo in London where we discussed various aspects of the film, including: his initial reaction to the book; how he approached casting the various roles; the issues the film raises about contemporary Italy; the reaction at the Cannes film festival back in May and the music in the film by Massive Attack.

N.B. Although Matteo conducted the interview in English, we had an interpreter handy for those trickier phrases and words.

You can listen to the interview here:

[audio:http://filmdetail.receptionmedia.com/Matteo_Garrone_on_Gomorrah.mp3]

You can also download it as a podcast via iTunes by clicking here.

Gomorrah is out at UK cinemas from this Friday

> Download this interview as an MP3 file
> Matteo Garrone at the IMDb
> Official UK website for Gomorrah
> GreenCine Daily with links to the various reactions to the film at Cannes
> Find out more about the Comorrah at Wikipedia
> Guardian feature on the film by Clare Longrigg
> Buy Roberto Saviano’s book at Amazon UK