Samuel L. Jackson has played some cool characters from Nick Fury in Marvel's Avengers movies to portraying the first black Jedi in Star Wars: Episode I, II, and III as Mace Windu. He's often said in the past he wouldn't mind reprising the role if by some miracle he survived or at least in the form of a hologram. At THE HATEFUL EIGHT press conference in Los Angeles recently, CineMovie asked the actor if he was looking forward to seeing STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS. Surprisingly, Jackson said "No!" Listen to what he had to say.
Nobody knows yet which characters will survive in STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS since Disney and Lucasfilm have not screened it for the public, but producer Kathleen Kennedy may have hinted at which actors will return for Star Wars: Episode VIII at a recent press event. Listen to the interview below.
Parents have long kept their children in line for the holidays with threats using Santa Claus 's naughty or nice list. Thanks to the holiday horror comedy, KRAMPUS, there is a much greater scare to instill in children this merry season. Director Michael Dougherty and KRAMPUS stars Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense), Adam Scott (“Parks and Recreation”) and Allison Tolman (“Fargo”) talk about why this holiday film is the perfect morality tale for the whole family.
Santa Claus’ naughty or nice list motivates children to behave as the holiday season approaches, but unknown to many Americans - there is a much tougher critic in town. In many European countries, the tale of the cloven-hooved demon known as Krampus pays a visit during the holidays not to punish children, but to take them away. The KRAMPUS legend is the basis of the new horror comedy, KRAMPUS. Scott, Collette, Tolman and David Koechner are parents in a dysfunctional family with misbehaving children and obnoxious adults. When one of the children, Max Engel, swears off Christmas by ripping up his Santa’s list, the wrath of Krampus is unleashed along with other a demonic forces in the shape of iconic holiday symbols such as the gingerbread man, cherubs, snowmen and in Toni Collette’s words in the interview - an “angel bitch with a demonic tongue.”
Director Michael Dougherty, most famous for his cult favorite Trick ‘r Treat, says he loves to tackle holidays with a twist. The director, whose other credit includes co-writing X-Men 2, tells CineMovie KRAMPUS is a throwback to his favorite films of the 80s such as Gremlins, Poltergeist and Dark Crystal. The Amblin films influenced his decision to make KRAMPUS not only as a horror film, but a comedy that children of a certain age could enjoy alongside their parents. However is the movie based around Christmas appropriate for the young ones?
“It’s okay to give kids a healthy dose of fear now and then. You teach them to deal with anxiety, stress and fear.”
He was up for the task of scaring children by mixing up genres much like Amblin did in the 80s with their iconic films.
CRAMPS star Adam Scott similarly was a fan of those Amblin films including E.T. so he was excited to join the cast once Dougherty explained his influence on the film. KRAMPUS, he says, continues the tradition of exploring the idea of what is “domestic bliss” in a suburban setting. Scott also agrees with the KRAMPUS director that fear is part of children’s lives.
“Kids are always looking for that thing to be afraid of. It’s part of being a kids.”
Whether it’s nature versus nurture, Scott says parents don’t want to instill fear in their kids, but you want them to be afraid and careful of strangers and traffic.
Toni Collette can’t relate to her on-screen dysfunctional family in KRAMPUS, but the originality of the film drew her to the role of Sarah Engel.
“It was so original and nothing like I’ve ever done before. It feels like a John Hughes movie - this dysfunctional family is acerbic, witty and dry and then it fully swings into something else.”
She does view KRAMPUS as a family holiday film but agrees with the director that it’s a “family film for children of a certain age.” The Australian actresses' experience of Christmas holds fond memories for her then and now that she has children of her own. Collette loves Christmas so much, she starts shopping mid-year. Christmas time in Australia is not exactly the imagery we see in KRAMPUS. The land down under experiences summertime during Christmas, so there is no snow in site. Her family tradition includes opening presents and hitting the beach later in the day.
KRAMPUS is not aimed at children's behavior. The adults are similarly misbehaved. The movie opens with images of adults storming and trampling others in a retail story on Black Friday over Bing Crosby's version of "Santa Claus is Comin' To Town."
"It's a morality tale not just for kids. Adults are really overgrown spoiled children."
The actors agree KRAMPUS is aimed at adults like the ones they portray in the movie who need a little lesson in the holiday spirit. That begs the question of the stars - what methods did their parents employ to keep them in line?
KRAMPUS actress Allison Tolman reveals she was a “pretty good kid” so scare tactics didn’t come into play much but she does recall one Christmas where she was “a selfish, little brat” and recalls her mom threatening to take back her presents. She immediately changed her behavior. A more effective tool her mother used throughout the year was her go to line, “That was disappointing” which often worked.
Toni Collette starts singing "Santa Claus is Coming To Town's" iconic verse - "you better watch out..." when asked the question whether her parents put a scare in her every year.
Adam Scott must have been a naughty boy since he reveals his mom often used Santa's naughty or nice list. He adds that if his mom knew of the Krampus myth, she would have employed it “as much as possible” in addition to the Santa threat. Another line which he himself has adopted as a parent is Scott's mom's favorite line, "this isn't a hotel" and she's not the maid, which he feels like sometimes picking after his kids.
KRAMPUS will now be a film parents whip out every season. KRAMPUS is now in movie theaters.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has been adapted for the screen numerous times. The latest version VICTOR FRANKSTEIN, aims to reinvent the chilling tale. James McAvoy stars as the title role while Daniel Radcliffe portrays Egor in what may be viewed as a buddy film.
1950s New York at Christmas time serves as the backdrop of Carol, a beautifully shot love story that leaves a lasting impression. Rooney Mara stars as Therese, a department store clerk who falls for a wealthy married woman named Carol (Cate Blanchett). Directed by Todd Haynes, the stylish drama paints a vivid portrait, featuring riveting performances.
At a recent press conference for the film, held at the Essex House in New York, Haynes, Cate Blachett, Rooney Mara, Kyle Chander, Sarah Paulson, Jake Lacy and Phyllis Nagy the screenwriter spoke about working on the film.
Actor Alfred Molina has a varied filmography spanning across all genres in both mainstream and independent films. The British-born actor is currently starring in SECRET IN THEIR EYES opposite Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman and Chiwetel Ejiofor. The son of Spanish and Italian immigrant parents, Molina tells CineMovie he was thrilled SECRET IN THEIR EYES reflected the cultural diversity of the setting.
Christmas came early in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday night for the red carpet premiere of THE NIGHT BEFORE starring Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Christmas decorations, dancing girls and celebrity imposters roamed the decked out red carpet including the stars of the film who stopped by to talk to CineMovie.
Ray Santiago was 19 when he hit the actor jackpot to star opposite Ben Stiller,Robert De Niro, Barbara Streisand and Dustin Hoffman in Meet The Fockers (2004). Ten years later he’s starring with another cinematic icon - Bruce Campbell in Ash vs Evil Dead directed by Sam Raimi. CineMovie talked to the Ash vs Evil Dead star about the important advice he got from Campbell and Raimi about improvising and how to play his character in the horror comedy.
Filmmaker Bernardo Ruiz (Reportero) documents the effects of the U.S./Mexico drug war on families that have lost loved ones because of the drug cartels and police corruption. Ruiz and one of his subjects, Oscar Hagelsieb, a Homeland Security agent discuss the never ending crisis that has led to over 26,000 reported missing in Mexico alone.
Actor Paul Bettany’s first directing venture SHELTER, is a haunting story of struggle and reinvention. The film stars Bettany’s wife Jennifer Connelly as a homeless drug user still coping with the loss of her husband. When she meets an immigrant (Anthony Mackie) who is also living on the street and dealing with grief, the two form a crucial bond that inspires them both to pick up the pieces and pursue a more viable life.
Julia Roberts is DA investigator Jess Cobb in SECRET IN THEIR EYES, but the role required two looks far removed from the usually beautiful actress; a tomboyish professional and loving mother, and 13 years later after the loss of her daughter takes a toll on her mind and body. To achieve both looks, Roberts revealed at a recent interview that she collaborated with her husband of over 12 years and SECRET IN THEIR EYES cinematographer Danny Moder, who she credits with coming up with the final look.
The Hunger Games franchise is coming to the end with the release of Mockingjay Part 2. Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson reflect on their journey in making the series, and there was one scene that proved difficult for both the actors and director Frances Lawrence. At a press conference in Los Angeles, the actors and helmer talked about shooting in the confined tunnels in water. CineMovie also asked the stars what other character in the Hunger Games series they admired and would want to play in another lifetime if the series were ever rebooted.
