Moviefone Editorial

Tag: action

  • Movie Review: ‘Novocaine’

    Jack Quaid as “Nate" in 'Novocaine' from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    Jack Quaid as “Nate” in ‘Novocaine’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    ‘Novocaine’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.

    Opening in theaters on March 14th, ‘Novocaine’ takes the concept of a man who can feel no pain and applies it to ‘John Wick’-style action madness with a healthy dollop of comedy stirred in.

    Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen wrangle the chaos here, while star Jack Quaid brings his customary nerdy charisma to the main character of Nathan Caine.

    Related Article: ‘Prey’s Amber Midthunder Discusses Hulu’s New ‘Predator’ Prequel

    Will ‘Novocaine’ have you feeling something?

    Jack Quaid as “Nate" in 'Novocaine' from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    Jack Quaid as “Nate” in ‘Novocaine’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    ‘Novocaine’ certainly has the benefit of an appealing lead performance from Jack Quaid, who convinces as a man who has had to live a mostly sheltered, somewhat lonely life because, as he explains, his inability to feel pain or certain other sensations has led to him being in mortal danger –– even from eating a piece of pie, as he could bite his own tongue off.

    As a whole, the movie finds an amusing gear, blending the action which, while it never hits the highs of, say, a ‘John Wick’ is definitely fun to watch –– well, “fun” might be a somewhat subjective word when the comic brutality ramps up and hands are being plunged into deep fat fryers or bones are exposed from wrists.

    Script and Direction

    Jack Quaid as “Nate" in 'Novocaine' from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    Jack Quaid as “Nate” in ‘Novocaine’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    Lars Jacobson wrote the script for the new movie, and his experience in both horror and thrillers comes into play here. He’s crafted a convincing world for the main character and the movie spends time early on properly having us get to know Nathan Caine before the story kicks in.

    The screenplay also conjures up a solid character for Amber Midthunder’s Sherry, with the young bank clerk serving as more than just a bland love interest. While the other characters are primarily either cops or robbers, everyone has a little moment to shine, especially lead thief Simon (Ray Nicholson).

    If there’s one big issue with the screenplay (and the movie made from it), it’s outstaying its welcome, running longer than the plot really requires or can support and essentially turning one of its characters (not Nathan) into a Michael Myers/Jason Voorhees/Terminator type who can seemingly be seriously injured but keep on getting up.

    Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, meanwhile, find the right tone for the movie, dialing in on character work before the craziness of the plot takes over and it becomes more of a suspenseful chase (albeit with the comedy still intact).

    Cast and Performances

    Jack Quaid as “Nate" in 'Novocaine' from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    Jack Quaid as “Nate” in ‘Novocaine’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    ‘Novocaine’s casting is certainly on point, and while not all the roles are (or even can be) as satisfying as the lead pair, they have the benefit of a solid ensemble bringing them to life.

    Jack Quaid is our hero, and with the actor having shown different sides of a similar coin via ‘The Boys’ and this year’s excellent A.I. thriller ‘Companion,’ he’s on a good run of late. He’s completely convincing as someone whose unique condition has led to him living a quiet life, but who is essentially good in nature and yearns to find the sort of love that his favorite customer at the bank lived.

    Quaid (along with the stunt team) also handles the stunts well, bringing his gawky, lanky frame to bear particularly when Nathan has to pretend that a moment of torture is truly hurting him.

    (L to R) Amber Midthunder as “Sherry" and Jack Quaid as “Nate" in 'Novocaine' from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Amber Midthunder as “Sherry” and Jack Quaid as “Nate” in ‘Novocaine’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    As Sherry, ‘Prey’s Amber Midthunder puts in another great performance, bringing all sides of Sherry to the screens and displaying solid chemistry with Quaid. While her role is somewhat sidelined during the bank robbery until slightly later in the film, she makes a meal of every scene she’s in.

    Jacob Batalon, probably best known for the recent ‘Spider-Man’ movies, is playing a similar role here as Roscoe, Nathan’s online gaming buddy (they’ve never met in real life, which means Roscoe has told him all sorts of white lies about his height, his hair, his ride etc.) who shows up when Nathan is in dire straits.

    Batalon is charming and funny in the role, and while the character isn’t a million miles away from his Spidey work, it’s certainly something the actor knows how to do well.

    Playing Simon, the twitchy, violent leader of the bank robbers, Ray Nicholson notches up another fun role in a group that has already seen him playing a grinning ghoul in last year’s ‘Smile 2’ and –– in the same weekend as ‘Novocaine’s release, no less –– an obsessive stalker in ‘Borderline.’

    Jack Quaid as “Nate" in 'Novocaine' from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    Jack Quaid as “Nate” in ‘Novocaine’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    Nicholson feeds his intense energy well into Simon, and if he’s sometimes one-note as a character, the actor makes him watchable.

    On the robbers’ case are cops Mincy and Coltraine, played by ‘Get Out’s Betty Gabriel and comedy stalwart Matt Walsh (you’ll recall him from a hundred things, but notably TV’s ‘Veep.’)

    While the parts are necessarily smaller by design, both the performers make them work, Mincy coming across as committed and tough, Coltraine offering the comic relief side.

    Finally, making an impression in just a couple of things is Lou Beatty Jr., who appears as Earl, a friendly customer of Nathan’s at the bank who is recently widowed and worried that he’ll lose his hardware store and house. Earl is the initial beating heart of the film, and Beatty Jr. also gets to have some fun when Nathan shows up injured from his initial encounter with the robbers and goes about some unorthodox and slightly gross surgery.

    Final Thoughts

    Jack Quaid as “Nate" in 'Novocaine' from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    Jack Quaid as “Nate” in ‘Novocaine’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    ‘Novocaine’ might not have the impact of a ‘John Wick’ or anything directed by David Leitch, but it holds its own with the blend of comedy and stunt work.

    It’s definitely not painful to watch.

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    What’s the plot of ‘Novocaine’?

    Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) is a mild-mannered introvert with a rare disorder, congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP), who must rescue the girl of his dreams who has been taken hostage in a bank robbery.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Novocaine’?

    • Jack Quaid as Nathan “Nate” Caine
    • Amber Midthunder as Sherry Margrave
    • Ray Nicholson as Simon Greenly
    • Jacob Batalon as Roscoe Dixon
    • Betty Gabriel as Mincy Langston
    • Matt Walsh as Coltraine Duffy
    • Conrad Kemp as Andre
    • Evan Hengst as Ben
    • Craig Jackson as Nigel
    • Lou Beatty Jr. as Earl
    Jack Quaid as “Nate" in 'Novocaine' from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    Jack Quaid as “Nate” in ‘Novocaine’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    List of Jack Quaid Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Jack Quaid Movies On Amazon

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  • ‘Cleaner’ Exclusive Interview: Daisy Ridley

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    Opening in theaters on February 21st is the new action thriller ‘Clearner’, which was directed by Martin Campbell (‘Casino Royale’ and ‘Edge of Darkness’) and stars Daisy Ridley (‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’), Taz Skylar (‘One Piece’), and Clive Owen (‘Children of Men’).

    Related Article: Daisy Ridley and Tom Bateman Talk ‘Magpie’ and Developing the Story

    Daisy Ridley stars in 'Cleaner'.
    Daisy Ridley stars in ‘Cleaner’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Daisy Ridley about her work on ‘Cleaner’, her first reaction to the screenplay, comparisons to ‘Die Hard’, her character’s relationship with her brother, shooting the action sequences, and working with director Martin Campbell.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Ridley, Taz Skylar, and director Martin Campbell.

    Daisy Ridley as “Joey” in the action film 'Cleaner', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
    Daisy Ridley as “Joey” in the action film ‘Cleaner’, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to the screenplay, and did it read like an old school action movie such as ‘Die Hard’, where one hero is pitted against a group of terrorists in a confined space?

    Daisy Ridley: When I finished it the first time, I thought, “Brilliant.” It was so propulsive and page-turning. Of course, you know ultimately, well you hope, that the good guy is going to win. But I could not, I was like, how is this going to be resolved? But that also coupled with the idea of working with Martin Campbell. But making it, I was excited to make a British action movie. Then of course it is essentially a love letter to ‘Die Hard’. I hadn’t thought about it in terms of one hero against everyone because I was so alone for so much of it, but because I’m constantly on the phone to the police, and me and the police officer build such a rapport and trying to figure out how to defeat what is ahead of us, and then me and my brother have built this beautiful relationship in the film, and that’s part of it. I felt weirdly alone but had a team. So, in that way it was lovely.

    (L to R) Daisy Ridley as “Joey” and Matthew Tuck as “Michael” in the action film 'Cleaner', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
    (L to R) Daisy Ridley as “Joey” and Matthew Tuck as “Michael” in the action film ‘Cleaner’, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

    MF: Can you talk about the trauma Joey suffered as a child, as well as her relationship with her brother, and what she’s willing to do to protect him?

    DR: It’s interesting because I feel like their relationship, I really wanted to honor relationships between siblings where one is in more of a caregiving position, and what that can do to the relationship and the dynamics that her and her brother have. Clearly, they love each other so much, but also, they are siblings. So, they fight, and they lash out and then they’re regretful, and certainly playing her, she loves him, but she has over the years put things off. In the small amount of time they have, she tries to say to him, “I’m so sorry for the time that was wasted up until now, and now we have no time.” But it’s so her driving force for the end of the film, and he ends up being such a hero in a way that I think is so beautiful. But working with Matt (Tuck), this is his first film, which is insane. Working with him was so wonderful, and it felt real in that she ends up taking accountability for the way she hasn’t been a great sister, but of course you learn that their childhood was difficult. Essentially everyone’s just trying to do the best they can really.

    (L to R) Daisy Ridley and Director Martin Campbell behind the scenes of the action film 'Cleaner', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
    (L to R) Daisy Ridley and Director Martin Campbell behind the scenes of the action film ‘Cleaner’, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

    MF: What was it like working with director Martin Campbell on this movie?

    DR: I mean, the whole shoot honestly was taxing because the of physical stuff, of course, but emotionally maintaining that level of angst, and understanding that the audience can’t be that angsty the whole time, so there has to be levels to the angst. I really had to rely on Martin to guide me through those levels. He’s just so wonderful to work with, really drawing out the emotion of the actors he’s working with and these relationships, so it feels like people you want to get behind. But I can’t speak highly enough of Martin, I just think he’s wonderful.

    Daisy Ridley behind the scenes of the action film 'Cleaner', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
    Daisy Ridley behind the scenes of the action film ‘Cleaner’, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

    MF: Finally, what was the most challenging action scene that you were asked to perform and how did you execute it?

    DR: Well, weirdly, the fight, I was really bruised. Like I was hurt. I’m pretty sure I wrenched something in my shoulder. But weirdly, the hardest thing was when I’m Spider-Woman for a moment, and it’s funny because a lot of the fighting is very realistic, but it’s the moment I was like, “Where does Joey come from?” But I dropped from the ceiling, must put a bag over someone’s head, and then I’m shoved into something here, and then I had to shove the stunt guy out of the shot. Someone was holding my toes, because I was just on wires that two guys were holding in the corner. I was floating, so someone had to hold my toes, so I was a bit stable. Then run away, and then my adrenaline was going because there was such choreography with the camera, I had to drop. A few times I missed his head. Then everything had to be so perfect. We ended up doing it maybe 50 times and my adrenaline was spiking. So weirdly, that ended up being one of the hardest moments, because there was so much to that one piece.

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    What is the plot of ‘Cleaner’?

    When activists take over an energy company’s annual gala held at One Canada Square, Canary Wharf in London, some more radical members of their group take hostages and threaten to blow up the building if police intervene. A dishonorably discharged but highly trained ex-soldier (Daisy Ridley), who works as the building’s window cleaner, attempts to save the hostages when she learns one of them is her older brother.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Cleaner’?

    Daisy Ridley as “Joey” in the action film 'Cleaner', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
    Daisy Ridley as “Joey” in the action film ‘Cleaner’, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

    Other Daisy Ridley Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Cleaner’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Daisy Ridley Movies On Amazon

  • ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’s Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr.

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    Opening in theaters on January 10th is the follow up to 2018’s action classic ‘Den of Thieves’, entitled ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’, which is once again written and directed by Christian Gudegast.

    The movie features Gerard Butler (‘Law Abiding Citizen’) and O’Shea Jackson Jr. (‘Straight Outta Compton’) reprising their roles as Big Nick and Donnie, respectively, but also includes new cast members Evin Ahmed (‘Girls of the Sun’), Michael Bisping (‘XXX: Return of Xander Cage’), and Salvatore Esposito (‘Fargo’).

    Related Article: Gerard Butler and Mike Colter Talk New Action-Adventure Thriller ‘Plane’

    (L to R) Gerard Butler and O'Shea Jackson Jr. star in 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'.
    (L to R) Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. star in ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. to talk about their work on ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’, what fans of the original can expect from the new sequel, the incredible action sequences and how Jackson portrayed Donnie this time around.

    You can watch the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Butler and Jackson Jr., as well as writer and director Christian Gudegast, and producer Tucker Tooley.

    Gerard Butler as 'Big Nick' O'Brien in 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'. Photo Credit: Rico Torres for Lionsgate.
    Gerard Butler as ‘Big Nick’ O’Brien in ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’. Photo Credit: Rico Torres for Lionsgate.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Gerard, what would you say to fans of the first movie sitting down in a theater right now to watch the sequel to prepare them for the theatrical experience they are about to have?

    Gerard Butler: Well, I wouldn’t say anything if they’re about to sit down and have the theatrical experience because I wouldn’t want to mess it up. That’s for real because I think this is delicious, fun, enjoyable, and everything is turned up a notch, and yet it doesn’t get away from the tension and the reality and the danger that is in there. But it has a lot of fun too, right? We kind of went, what could we do now? Let’s see these guys together more and let’s see them on the same side. There are a lot of great places to go. But if you were literally about to sit down, I’d go, “I’m just going to shut up and let you enjoy the experience because there’s a great amount of experience to be enjoyed.”

    MF: O’Shea, what would you say to add to that and hype the film up for audiences?

    O’Shea Jackson Jr.: I mean, we all know what it’s like to sit down for a sequel of a movie that we loved the first one, and it’s kind of a feeling you have when you’re like, “Man, here it is. Part two is happening.” When you see the title card, it’s like, “Man, I’m really in it.” We had our audience wait quite a long bit, letting them rewatch and get ready again. But what I love about this one, a lot of the times with sequels, there’s a lot of, you’re playing the jokes that you might’ve saw in the first one, but this one is all fresh and new and it shows you the characters that you know, and they still have the traits that you know, but they’re bigger and they’re put onto a bigger and wider display. There is just something about having us team up. When I first heard Christian tell me that the team-up was happening, I was like, “Oh man, the can of worms is open now.” The directions are all over the place. It becomes a much bigger story and a much bigger experience for you guys.

    O'Shea Jackson Jr as Donnie Wilson in 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'. Photo Credit: Rico Torres for Lionsgate.
    O’Shea Jackson Jr as Donnie Wilson in ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’. Photo Credit: Rico Torres for Lionsgate.

    MF: Gerard, the Benihana sequence in ‘Den of Thieves’ is one of the most iconic scenes from the first movie. Is there a scene, set piece or action sequence in the sequel that you are really excited for fans to watch?

    Gerard Butler: Oh. God, we have so many good scenes in this movie, but since what I do think as well as the great action and all that, but the centerpiece of this movie is really him and I together. It’s so much fun and everybody I know who’s seen the movie, they all come out going, “Those guys are great together.” I think the scene when we finally meet up, when I’ve kind of found my way into his house and we have a very nice dinner together and a few things are explained and a few things are revealed, that was an awesome scene. It was a great fun scene to play. It turned out great in the movie and it is the start. It’s really, I think where the movie kind of takes off and launches into another stratosphere.

    MF: Finally, in the first film, Donnie is really pretending to be someone else through most of the movie. O’Shea, now that Big Nick and the audience know who Donnie really is, what was it like playing the character this time around?

    O’Shea Jackson Jr.: It was refreshing. It kind of felt like when you get off a long day at work and you get to get comfortable in your house clothes, because it allowed me to have new things, new challenges for the character. It allowed me, as a performer, to learn more about the character and help him spread his wings a little bit. I’ve said this before, but in ‘Den of Thieves’, that was my third movie ever. So, I had the same kind of feeling of just wanting to keep my head down, do my job, get a positive approval, and then move on. With this one, I’m much more comfortable, I feel much more set into my ways as an actor and I feel like that comes out on the screen.

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    What is the plot of ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’?

    Immediately following the events of ‘Den of Thieves’, sheriff “Big Nick” O’Brien (Gerard Butler) is tracking down Donnie Wilson (O’Shea Jackson Jr.), who escaped to Europe and is planning another heist.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’?

    • Gerard Butler as Nicholas “Big Nick” O’Brien
    • O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Donnie Wilson
    • Evin Ahmad as Jovanna
    • Jordan Bridges as Lobbin Bob
    • Salvatore Esposito as Slavko
    • Meadow Williams as Holly
    • Michael Bisping as Connor
    • Orli Shuka as Dushko
    • Nazmiye Oral as Chava
    (L to R) O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Donnie Wilson and Gerard Butler as 'Big Nick' O'Brien in 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'. Photo Credit: Rico Torres.
    (L to R) O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Donnie Wilson and Gerard Butler as ‘Big Nick’ O’Brien in ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’. Photo Credit: Rico Torres.

    Other Gerard Butler Action Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Den of Thieves’ On Amazon

     

  • ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’ Director and Producer Interview

    (L to R) Producer Tucker Tooley and writer and director Christian Gudegast for 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'.
    (L to R) Producer Tucker Tooley and writer and director Christian Gudegast for ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’.

    ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’, which is the sequel to 2018’s action classic ‘Den of Thieves’, is once again written and directed by Christian Gudegast and opens in theaters on January 10th.

    The movie features Gerard Butler (‘Law Abiding Citizen’) and O’Shea Jackson Jr. (‘Straight Outta Compton’) reprising their roles as Big Nick and Donnie, respectively, but also includes new cast members Evin Ahmed (‘Girls of the Sun’), Michael Bisping (‘XXX: Return of Xander Cage’), and Salvatore Esposito (‘Fargo’).

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with writer and director Christian Gudegast and producer Tucker Tooley to talk about their work on ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’, crafting the idea for the sequel, moving the action to Europe, the action sequences, Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s chemistry together, and how the characters have changed since the first film.

    Related Article: Gerard Butler and Mike Colter Talk New Action-Adventure Thriller ‘Plane’

    Gerard Butler as 'Big Nick' O'Brien in 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'. Photo Credit: Rico Torres for Lionsgate.
    Gerard Butler as ‘Big Nick’ O’Brien in ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’. Photo Credit: Rico Torres for Lionsgate.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Christian, at what point during the making of the first film did you realize that you had something special on your hands and when did you start thinking about ideas for a sequel?

    Christian Gudegast: From the very beginning. So, from the research of the first one, Tucker and I worked together from the very beginning, and we saw that we had so much material, almost like enough material for a long form series that we couldn’t possibly put it on the first one. So, we knew that we wanted to go to different parts of the world to examine and dive into different heists because a great heist is just endlessly fascinating. So, we knew that we wanted something to be repeatable around the world.

    O'Shea Jackson Jr as Donnie Wilson in 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'. Photo Credit: Rico Torres for Lionsgate.
    O’Shea Jackson Jr as Donnie Wilson in ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’. Photo Credit: Rico Torres for Lionsgate.

    MF: Tucker, from a production standpoint, can you talk about taking the story out of Los Angeles, placing it in Europe and what that adds to the tone of the movie?

    Tucker Tooley: Well, look, the first intention was, let’s open it up. The first one was very focused in the Federal Reserve and in and around Los Angeles. We wanted it to be more of an international experience. So, we scouted several different locations. We were all set to shoot in one place, and then the tax credit fell through, so we had to move to another place. But where we ended up in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands was phenomenal. It was easy to double different places in Europe on the island of Tenerife, and we also shot in the South of France. But that island is incredibly unique because you have multiple different feels and vibes. One side of the island is dry, the other side is tropical. You have the place that literally looks like Nice. So, it was a perfect spot for us, and they have a great tax credit. So that was important.

    Gerard Butler as 'Big Nick' O'Brien in 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'. Photo Credit: Rico Torres for Lionsgate.
    Gerard Butler as ‘Big Nick’ O’Brien in ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’. Photo Credit: Rico Torres for Lionsgate.

    MF: Christian, the Benihana sequence in ‘Den of Thieves’ is one of the most iconic scenes from the first movie. Is there a scene, set piece or action sequence in the sequel that you are really excited for fans to watch?

    CG: Aside from the action, I would say in the middle of the film, the nightclub and shawarma sequence, that’s that version thereof. All that’s just based on personal experience and thinking as you’re living your life, “I feel like I’m living in a movie right now. This should be a scene in movie one day” and then it is. So yeah, it’s really that sequence, which is that version thereof in ‘Den 2’.

    (L to R) O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Donnie Wilson and Gerard Butler as 'Big Nick' O'Brien in 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'. Photo Credit: Rico Torres.
    (L to R) O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Donnie Wilson and Gerard Butler as ‘Big Nick’ O’Brien in ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’. Photo Credit: Rico Torres.

    MF: Tucker, can you talk about the chemistry that Gerard and O’Shea have on screen together playing these characters and what they bring to these roles?

    TT: We think they have incredible chemistry in the movie. In the first movie, they were separate the whole time. We separated the bad guys and the good guys. So, we saw some of that off camera in the first one. Certainly, in the scenes where they were opposite each other. There was a vibe there. When Big Nick is beating up Donnie in that room, there was a lot of tension there. So, when we started designing this one, it became apparent quickly when we were on set, certainly, but even in the writing of it with Christian writing it, that this was going to be much more of a buddy movie, and both just rose to the occasion. Big Nick is perfect for that role. No one can do that role better. That was a huge thing for us in the first movie. Then Donnie gets to evolve into a tough guy. In the first one, he’s sort of a kid. But in this one, he has evolved.

    O'Shea Jackson Jr as Donnie Wilson in 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'. Photo Credit: Rico Torres for Lionsgate.
    O’Shea Jackson Jr as Donnie Wilson in ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’. Photo Credit: Rico Torres for Lionsgate.

    MF: Finally, Christian, in the first film, Donnie is really pretending to be someone else through most of the movie. Now that Big Nick and the audience know who Donnie really is, what was it like writing for that character this time around?

    CG: Well, it was everything for O’Shea too, he really wanted to lean into “who I really am” and not have to play this, “I’m a bulls**t artist”. You know what I mean? He becomes, as Tucker said a grown man. So, it’s a completely different dynamic and one that then, it’s going to be tougher for Nick to bounce off that. He doesn’t get pushed around anymore. So now you have more natural rivalries. But at the same time, I think they learn to love each other. They’re like, “I like this dude.” It becomes a bromance. It’s like when you travel around the world and you go somewhere strange and different, and suddenly you recognize someone from home, even though he’s not your boy. It’s a weird Kumbaya that develops. So, we had a lot of fun with that.

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    What is the plot of ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’?

    Immediately following the events of ‘Den of Thieves’, sheriff “Big Nick” O’Brien (Gerard Butler) is tracking down Donnie Wilson (O’Shea Jackson Jr.), who escaped to Europe and is planning another heist.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’?

    • Gerard Butler as Nicholas “Big Nick” O’Brien
    • O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Donnie Wilson
    • Evin Ahmad as Jovanna
    • Jordan Bridges as Lobbin Bob
    • Salvatore Esposito as Slavko
    • Meadow Williams as Holly
    • Michael Bisping as Connor
    • Orli Shuka as Dushko
    • Nazmiye Oral as Chava
    (L to R) Gerard Butler as 'Big Nick' O'Brien and O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Donnie Wilson in 'Den of Thieves 2: Pantera'. Photo Credit: Rico Torres.
    (L to R) Gerard Butler as ‘Big Nick’ O’Brien and O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Donnie Wilson in ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’. Photo Credit: Rico Torres.

    Other Gerard Butler Action Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Den of Thieves’ On Amazon

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  • First Images of Tom Hardy in ‘Havoc’

    Tom Hardy in 'Havoc'. Photo: Netflix.
    Tom Hardy in ‘Havoc’. Photo: Netflix.

    Preview:

    • The first pictures of Tom Hardy in new thriller ‘Havoc’ are online.
    • He’ll play a detective who has to unravel a web of corruption.
    • Gareth Evans wrote and directed the movie.

    A new action movie? From the director of ‘The Raid’ and its sequel, Gareth Evans? And starring Tom Hardy, a man with no little experience in the genre?

    ‘Havoc’ is the example of a movie we figured would be on the fastest of fast tracks, but despite backing from Netflix when it was originally announced in 2021, it has been a slow road to screens for the movie.

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    Most of that can be chalked up to tricky scheduling –– after an initial shoot, he knew he needed to tweak certain scenes and had some footage he needed to add, but between the in-demand Hardy and the variety of brawlers and other actors in the cast, he had to wait.

    Yet Evans, who has also worked on the likes of ‘Apostle,’ sees it as an advantage.

    This is what Evans said about that to Empire:

    “It’s had a profound effect on the film. It allowed me to better streamline it and make it what it was always intended to be, which is a blistering, fast-paced action-thriller with nods to the Hong Kong cinema that I grew up watching.”

    Related Article: Tom Hardy, Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan Starring in Guy Ritchie’s ‘The Associate’

    What’s the story of ‘Havoc’?

    Tom Hardy in 'Havoc'. Photo: Netflix.
    Tom Hardy in ‘Havoc’. Photo: Netflix.

    After a drug deal gone wrong, bruised detective Walker (Hardy) must fight his way through a criminal underworld to rescue a politician’s estranged son, while unravelling a deep web of corruption and conspiracy that ensnares his entire city.

    Here’s Evans talking up Hardy:

    “When it comes to a film called ‘Havoc, with me and Tom Hardy, we deliver on the action front. That’s the primary focus. But with Tom, what you get as well is an intensely muscular central performance, and really well-developed character. There’s a lot going on under the hood.”

    Who else appears in ‘Havoc’?

    (Left) Tom Hardy in 'Havoc'. Photo: Netflix.
    (Left) Tom Hardy in ‘Havoc’. Photo: Netflix.

    The cast for Evans’ latest also includes Jessie Mei Li, Justin Cornwell, Quelin Sepulveda, Luis Guzmán, Michelle Waterson, Sunny Pang, Jim Caesar, Xelia Mendes-Jones with Yeo Yann Yann, Timothy Olyphant and Forest Whitaker (the latter of whom plays the politician Hardy must help).

    When will ‘Havoc’ be on screens?

    If you’ve been waiting for this one for a while, you’ll need to hold on a little while longer –– the movie is scheduled for a 2025 release on Netflix, but the streamer has yet to confirm an exact date.

    Tom Hardy in 'Havoc'. Photo: Netflix.
    Tom Hardy in ‘Havoc’. Photo: Netflix.

    Other Gareth Evans Movies:

    Buy Gareth Evans Movies on Amazon

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  • ‘Get Fast’ Exclusive Interview: Lou Diamond Phillips

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    Available on digital and on demand beginning November 15th is the new action thriller ‘Get Fast’, which was co-written and directed by James Clayton (‘Fringe’) and stars Clayton, Bradley Stryker (‘Terrifier 3’) and Lou Diamond Phillips (‘La Bamba’, ‘Young Guns’ and ‘Courage Under Fire’).

    Related Article: Sony Plans to Take 1987 Musical Drama ‘La Bamba’ Out on the Remake Route

    Lou Diamond Phillips stars in 'Get Fast'. Photo: WellGo.
    Lou Diamond Phillips stars in ‘Get Fast’. Photo: WellGo.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with veteran actor Lou Diamond Phillips about his work on ‘Get Fast’, his first reaction to the screenplay, his character, his wardrobe, having fun playing a villain, the action sequences, and working with actor and director James Clayton, as well as his reaction to the announcement of a ‘La Bamba’ remake, if he is involved in the project, and which of his past projects he is most proud of.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.

    Lou Diamond Phillips stars in 'Get Fast'. Photo: WellGo.
    Lou Diamond Phillips stars in ‘Get Fast’. Photo: WellGo.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and why did you want to be part of this project?

    Lou Diamond Phillips: It always starts with the script. This one, it was just fun. It knew what it wanted to do, and automatically reminded me of a Guy Ritchie heist film and its wall-to-wall action. It doesn’t try to be anything other than what it is, which is a fantastic popcorn movie. I got to say, I get a hoot out of playing characters who lean into the baggage I bring to a project. Having done a ton of Westerns and there’s a certain demographic out there that sees me this way and it’s like, “Let’s have some fun with this.” The Cowboy, I don’t know, he just tickled me. I got to say that the dialogue was just fun.

    MF: How would you describe your character in your own words and your approach to playing him?

    LDP: Like I said, he’s got this Guy Ritchie sensibility about him. You turned a stereotype on its head a little bit. My wife even said he reminded her of an anime character in a video game or something. My dad talks like that. That’s how he talks. He lives down in Texas, and he’s got that whole thing going on. The Cowboy is just a hit man with a sense of humor, a ridiculously narrow sense of style. I just knew he was going to be, for lack of a better term, and not to get too pretentious about it, but iconic as soon as he makes an entrance. I love characters like that. It reminds me of some of the other ones I’ve done in ‘The Big Hit’ where just automatically this guy makes an impression. For me, it was taking some of the tropes of being a cowboy and having fun with it. James let me embellish some lines and talk like my dad would talk in the character and just really add a sense of humor. In a weird way, a lot of good bad guys have a sense of honor. They have a sense of integrity and dignity, and this is one of those bad guys.

    (L to R) Lou Diamond Phillips and James Clayton star in 'Get Fast'. Photo: WellGo.
    (L to R) Lou Diamond Phillips and James Clayton star in ‘Get Fast’. Photo: WellGo.

    MF: Can you talk about the specific look of the character and how the wardrobe helped you find the character?

    LDP: In the script, it said he’s this guy in a duster, in a cowboy hat, and that’s prototypical. I didn’t have a whole lot to say about it. I showed up and I got to say our costume designer nailed it. She nailed it in the first things I tried on. She brought in several choices, but the outfit that you see in the movie is the outfit that I tried on first, and everybody just went, “Done.” When you’re playing a character like this, I think you alluded to a real key for a lot of actors, and that is when you look in the mirror, you see that guy. The externals of a character really help to define who that person is, how they walk, how they move, and how they operate in the universe. You put on a duster like that and a cowboy hat and some cowboy boots, and you’re not walking down the street in Manhattan unless you’re doing ‘Midnight Cowboy’.

    MF: Is it fun playing a bad guy?

    LDP: I’ve always played bad guys. When I’ve played bad guys, I’ve had a lot of fun with them because you are unfettered of the constraints of morality or doing the right thing or whatever else, or to a certain extent, even making the audience like you. You want your heroes to be likable. You want the bad guys to not be. But in so many situations, the bad guys are so entertaining that you can’t help but like them. Come on, we all love Hannibal Lecter and The Terminator. It is like, “Wow. It’s just fascinating to watch.” Once again, I think especially for a film like this to work, you need a good bad guy, and in this movie, there were a bunch of them.

    James Clayton directs and stars in 'Get Fast'. Photo: WellGo.
    James Clayton directs and stars in ‘Get Fast’. Photo: WellGo.

    MF: What was it like working with James Clayton as both an actor and director?

    LDP: I have so much respect for James. Even before we started shooting, I thought, “This kid’s got something going on. He has a vision.” I’ve done plenty of independent films. The biggest problem that an independent film runs into is the ambition to want to do more than your budget will allow. James, he knew what he could accomplish. As a director, he had all that in his back pocket. Whenever I’ve had to direct myself, you never take on a role that is going to be too demanding because you have so many other things as a director to oversee. This character, James just had to show up and open his mouth. It is his sensibility, it’s his sense of humor, it’s his rhythms, and it’s all that stuff. He was there for the actors. We weren’t doing Shakespeare, there wasn’t a lot to really mold a character. He is like, “Hey, do you want another take? Because that was great.” I got to tell you, anytime, anywhere I’d show up for that guy, which is not something I’d say about everyone I’ve ever worked with. He is a talent and he’s somebody to watch, and he deserves bigger budgets and bigger schedules because he can do it.

    MF: What was it like filming the action sequences?

    LDP: Having done so many of those in my life, the most important thing is that you feel safe, that somebody’s not going to blow you up. Somebody’s not going to hit you in a fight scene, that the equipment somehow is going to go wrong, and you will end up scarred. I have been scarred on many movie sets. It’s the real deal. When there are explosions, there really are explosions. You’re dealing with blanks a lot of the time. In this respect, they were smart. We didn’t have a whole lot of blanks on set, it was all done digitally, which is smart these days. They had come up with this device that combined a Segway, a Steadicam, and a crane arm so that they could get shots that you just go, “I’m remembering that and stealing it one day or I’m going to hire you.” Because it was innovative, and it was ingenious. Like I said, on day one, I looked at this crew and I went, “I’m in good hands.”

    Lou Diamond Phillips as Ritchie Valens in 'La Bamba'. Photo: Columbia Pictures.
    Lou Diamond Phillips as Ritchie Valens in ‘La Bamba’. Photo: Columbia Pictures.

    MF: Sony recently announced that they are developing a remake of ‘La Bamba’. What are your thoughts on that and are you involved in the project?

    LDP: At this point, I am not involved. I had the exact same reaction that original director Luis Valdez had, and that is, “Why? I think we did it all.” Ritchie (Valens) was 17 years old, and his career was eight months long. You’re not going to be digging up a whole lot of biographical details that we didn’t cover. But I’ve said it before, if the family benefits from it, I’m all for it. That’s fantastic. We just did a 4K screening at the Academy a few months ago. I donated the green guitar to the Academy Museum. I’m one of the governors of the Actor’s Branch right now. If there’s a different take to it and it provides an opportunity for another young man to have because that movie gave me my career. If there is another Chicano kid out there who will benefit from this career boost, I’m all for it. I’ll wait and see. I’m certainly not a naysayer in any respect. Luis Valdez, by the way, is going to advise on it. He’s got his doubts, but he can at least steer them in the right direction. I wouldn’t say it’s hard for me to see it happening. I am interested to see somebody else’s take on it. I don’t think that I have a hundred percent ownership. The family’s okay with it. Literally, his sister, Irma, and his little brother, Mario, were at that screening and they’re like, “We’ll see.” There are situations where it’s benefited from it. But for instance, they just remade ‘The Crow’ again and Brandon Lee was a dear friend of mine. They haven’t managed to do it justice. They’ve not come up to the standard that Brandon set. We’ll see. I would wish that Hollywood would come up with a few more original things but oh well.

    MF: Finally, of all the projects you’ve been involved in throughout your career, which one are you most proud of?

    LDP: I will say I’ve been so grateful and continue to be with a fun role, like ‘Get Fast’. I’ve got a movie coming out December 6th called ‘Werewolves’ with Frank Grillo, and again, another young director who’s getting a massive step-up. That’s coming. I got a couple of films submitted to Sundance, both of which I’m incredibly proud of. I have been honored because films like ‘La Bamba’, ‘Stand and Deliver’, ‘Young Guns’, they stand up. They are watchable today. Then, a movie like ‘Courage Under Fire’, or another film that I had called ‘The 33’ about the Chilean Miners was terribly underseen, but I’m proud of all that work. A lot of people ask, “What’s my favorite role?” I have to say the fact that I’ve been doing this for 40 years. I’m a huge fan of the genre of employment and the fact that challenging work continues to come my way and work that I can have fun with. For instance, in ‘Get Fast’, the ability to work with people that I think are going to be the filmmakers of the next generation.

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    What is the plot of ‘Get Fast’?

    When his partner in crime is kidnapped after pulling off a massive money heist, a notorious professional thief (James Clayton) tracks the abductors into the territory of a merciless drug lord, pursued by dirty cops, low-level cronies, and the crime syndicate’s deadliest hitman, a gun-loving and coldly charming sociopath known as The Cowboy (Lou Diamond Phillips). But with millions of dollars and multiple lives at stake, how long will loyalty amongst thieves last when the bullets start flying?

    Who is in the cast of ‘Get Fast’?

    'Get Fast' will be available on digital and on demand beginning November 15th.
    ‘Get Fast’ will be available on digital and on demand beginning November 15th.

    List of Lou Diamond Phillips Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Lou Diamond Phillips Movies On Amazon

  • ‘Elevation’ Interview: Anthony Mackie and Morena Baccarin

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    Opening in theaters on November 8th is the new action thriller ‘’Elevation‘, which was directed by George Nolfi (‘The Adjustment Bureau’) and stars Anthony Mackie (‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’) and Morena Baccarin (‘Deadpool & Wolverine’).

    Related Article: Glen Powell, Anthony Mackie and Laura Dern Starring in ‘Monsanto’

    (L to R) Anthony Mackie and Morena Baccarin star in 'Elevation'.
    (L to R) Anthony Mackie and Morena Baccarin star in ‘Elevation’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Anthony Mackie and Morena Baccarin about their work on ‘’Elevation’, Mackie’s character’s journey to save his son, why Baccarin’s character helps him, preparing for the action sequences, and working with director George Nolfi.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Mackie, Baccarin, actress Maddie Hasson and director George Nolfi.

    (L to R) Anthony Mackie and Danny Boyd Jr. in 'Elevation'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Anthony Mackie and Danny Boyd Jr. in ‘Elevation’. Photo: Vertical.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Anthony, can you talk about your character’s journey to save his son and the unlikely alliance he is forced to make with Nina?

    Anthony Mackie: Well, it starts off with him in a very tumultuous situation with the loss of his loved one and now the potential loss of his child. So, he’s kind of forced into this position with his balls to the wall and he must make allies and he has to kind of play down his hatred for his enemies to achieve what he wants to achieve. So, he’s kind of put in between a rock and a hard place. He doesn’t want to be there, but it’s something he must do.

    (L to R) Morena Baccarin and Anthony Mackie in 'Elevation'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Morena Baccarin and Anthony Mackie in ‘Elevation’. Photo: Vertical.

    MF: Morena, can you talk about Nina’s plan to kill the monsters and why she decides to help Will?

    Morena Baccarin: I don’t think she wants to. I think it’s something that she sort of at first does against her will. I think initially it’s a very selfish thing that she does, “If we have a chance to survive, I am that chance, to figure out how to get this thing. I’m almost there. I need to figure out how to kill this thing.” Then I think as she’s going on this journey, she realizes it’s so much bigger than just her and it becomes much more meaningful for her. I think the relationship with Will is obviously very complicated and it’s kind of like the crutch for her that then becomes the thing that she can really rely on and becomes the valuable aspect of her life. Will finds out things about her and why she is who she is, and she also takes a lot of responsibility at that point for what she’s done in his life and the role she’s played in his family’s life.

    (L to R) Morena Baccarin and Anthony Mackie in 'Elevation'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Morena Baccarin and Anthony Mackie in ‘Elevation’. Photo: Vertical.

    MF: Anthony, can you talk about how you prepared for the action sequences?

    AM: Well, George forced us into altitude acclamation. That’s the stuff he made up for us to do, which he didn’t do! He didn’t do none of the training with us, but it was more so just us going hiking and running every day. It was a lot of physical work because we knew how much running we were going to have to do during shooting. So, the longer we were there, the easier it got. After that first week, I was pretty much adjusted but that first hike was hard.

    (L to R) Morena Baccarin, Maddie Hasson and Anthony Mackie in 'Elevation'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Morena Baccarin, Maddie Hasson and Anthony Mackie in ‘Elevation’. Photo: Vertical.

    MF: Finally, Morena, can you talk about your training process and working with director George Nolfi on set?

    MB: I was impressed. We all went out on this hike together and Mackie was like a good half a mile ahead of me, I think most of the time. I am like sucking in air and my lungs are burning. Maddie (Hasson), who at the time was smoking a pack a day, was also far ahead. I was like, “What the heck?” Then I realized, of course, she’s 20 years younger, but it did not get easier for me. We had oxygen canisters on set all the time, and I utilized them quite a bit. That elevation is no joke. It was mostly that. It was mostly training and hiking and running and hiking to just feel like we could run at a sprint up a hill if we had to.

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    What is the plot of ‘Elevation’?

    A single father (Anthony Mackie) and two women (Morena Baccarin and Maddie Hasson) must venture from the safety of their home to face monstrous creatures to save the life of a child (Danny Boyd Jr.).

    Who is in the cast of ‘Elevation’?

    (L to R) Anthony Mackie and Morena Baccarin in 'Elevation'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Anthony Mackie and Morena Baccarin in ‘Elevation’. Photo: Vertical.

    List of Anthony Mackie Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Elevation’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Anthony Mackie Movies On Amazon

  • Lily James and Pierce Brosnan to Star in ‘Cliffhanger’ Reboot

    Lily James in 'Cliffhanger'. Photo: Rocket Science.
    Lily James in ‘Cliffhanger’. Photo: Rocket Science.

    Preview:

    • Lily James and Pierce Brosnan is starring in a new version of ‘Cliffhanger.’
    • Sylvester Stallone is no longer aboard.
    • Jaume Collet-Serra is taking over directing.

    Back in May of last year, it appeared that the long-gestating reboot of ‘Cliffhanger’ was ready to be born instead as a sequel to the 1993 original, with star Sylvester Stallone pulling on his climbing gear for a return as Gabe Walker.

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    Yet as these things always seem to do, the project has since evolved back into more of a reboot, with Stallone dropping out (hopefully not down a giant cliff) and the storyline switching to characters played by Lily James and Pierce Brosnan.

    And there have also been some changes behind the camera, too.

    What’s the story of this new ‘Cliffhanger’?

    Lily James on the set of 'Cliffhanger'. Photo: Rocket Science.
    Lily James on the set of ‘Cliffhanger’. Photo: Rocket Science.

    The first change beyond the stars for the movie is in the script, which is based on a story by Ana Lily Amirpour (who was involved with the film back in another incarnation in 2019). Variety has heard it described as a father-daughter take on ‘Die Hard.’

    Brosnan will play seasoned mountaineer Ray Cooper, who operates a luxury chalet in the Dolomites with daughter Sydney.

    During a weekend trip with a billionaire’s son, they are targeted by a gang of kidnappers. Ray’s other daughter Naomi (James), still haunted by a past climbing accident, witnesses the attack and escapes. To save her family, she must confront her fears and fight for survival.

    Related Article: Sylvester Stallone is Ready to Cling to Mountains Again for a New ‘Cliffhanger’

    Who else is in the new ‘Cliffhanger’?

    Nell Tiger Free Talks 'The First Omen'.
    Nell Tiger Free Talks ‘The First Omen’.

    The cast for the new movie also includes ‘The First Omen’s Nell Tiger Free, ‘Passages’ Franz Rogowski, Shubham Saraf of ‘Shantaram,’ ‘Franklin’ actor Assaad Bouab, ‘Poor Things’ performer Suzy Bemba and Bruno Gouery from ‘Emily in Paris.’

    Who is working on the new ‘Cliffhanger’ movie?

    (L to R) Director Jaume Collet-Serra and Dwayne Johnson on the set of New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Frank Masi. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Director Jaume Collet-Serra and Dwayne Johnson on the set of New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Frank Masi. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    While Ric Roman Waugh was aboard to direct the film when Sly was still aboard, the reins have now passed to ‘Non-Stop’s Jaume Collet-Serra, with the producing team of Rocket Science still aboard after all these different iterations.

    Collet-Serra is busy rolling cameras on the movie now in Austria and offered up this statement:

    “Shooting our movie on location in the Dolomites using large format cameras was imperative for us to show the scope and scale of the story we’re telling. We’re going to bring the audience a truly thrilling and visceral, premium theatrical experience. Lily in particular has gone above and beyond for the role, putting in real training and learning to climb. Her dedication has allowed us to capture some incredible shots we couldn’t have achieved otherwise, and the whole crew is blown away by her commitment.”

    When will the new ‘Cliffhanger’ dangle into theaters?

    Rocket Science will be offering domestic distribution rights to the movie, with CAA Media selling international.

    Which is a longwinded way of saying that there is no studio aboard yet, so we’ll have to wait for any release date details. But the fact remains that the movie shooting at all is a big step forward.

    (L to R) Lily James and Richard Madden in 'Cinderella'. Photo: Walt Disney Studios.
    (L to R) Lily James and Richard Madden in ‘Cinderella’. Photo: Walt Disney Studios.

    List of Lily James Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Lily James Movies On Amazon

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  • William H. Macy and Michael Cera join ‘The Running Man’

    (Left) William H. Macy in 'Fargo'. Photo: Gramercy Pictures. (Center) Michael Cera in 'Superbad'. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing. (Right) Emilia Jones in 'CODA'. Photo: Apple Original Films.
    (Left) William H. Macy in ‘Fargo’. Photo: Gramercy Pictures. (Center) Michael Cera in ‘Superbad’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing. (Right) Emilia Jones in ‘CODA’. Photo: Apple Original Films.

    Preview:

    • William H. Macy, Michael Cera and Emilia Jones are joining ‘The Running Man’
    • Glen Powell is starring alongside Josh Brolin, Lee Pace, Katy O’Brian and Daniel Ezra.
    • Edgar Wright co-wrote and will direct the Stephen King adaptation.

    With production about to start on Edgar Wright’s ‘The Running Man,’ we’re learning about more names who will be joining Glen Powell in the movie.

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    William H. Macy, Michael Cera and ‘CODA’s Emilia Jones are the latest recruits, according to The Hollywood Reporter. They join the likes of Josh Brolin, Katy O’Brian, Lee Pace, Daniel Ezra and Karl Glusman.

    This is, of course, a fresh adaptation of Stephen King’s classic dystopian tale which was famously previously brought to screens by ‘Starsky and Hutch’ actor-turned-director Paul Michael Glaser in 1987 with Arnold Schwarzenegger starring.

    Wright will start the cameras rolling next week in London. He wrote the script with his ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ collaborator Michael Bacall.

    What’s the story of ‘The Running Man’?

    Arnold Schwarzenegger as Captain Benjamin "Ben" Richards in 'The Running Man.'
    Arnold Schwarzenegger as Captain Benjamin “Ben” Richards in ‘The Running Man.’

    ‘The Running Man,’ which King published in 1982 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, was set in 2025 in an America under a totalitarian regime that uses violent game shows to placate the disenfranchised masses.

    The story centered on one desperate man, needing money for his gravely sick daughter, who joins the most popular show, ‘The Running Man,’ in which teams of killers hunt down contestants. The longer that a contestant survives, the more money that person makes. But as the game show’s producers and killers will find out, our conflicted hero will break all the rules and expose the show’s dark secrets.

    Powell is playing the main character, while O’Brian would be one of the other contestants.

    What do we know about the new recruits for the movie?

    Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure 'Dune: Part Two,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure ‘Dune: Part Two,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Niko Tavernise. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Macy will be playing a man who helps Powell’s Richards when he’s on the run.

    Brolin, meanwhile, stars as the ruthless producer of the game show, and Pace is the brutal chief hunter tracking down Powell.

    Cera (who starred in ‘Scott Pilgrim’ for the director) will be a naïve rebel who tries to help the desperate man, while Jones is playing a privileged woman blind to the oppression of the government.

    Ezra and Glusman’s roles have yet to be revealed.

    Related Article: Josh Brolin Joins Edgar Wright’s New Take on ‘The Running Man’ as a Villain

    When will ‘The Running Man’ be in theaters?

    Given the original story’s setting, it’s somewhat fitting that Paramount has scheduled the movie for theatrical release on November 21st, 2025.

    William H. Macy in 'Jurassic Park III'. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    William H. Macy in ‘Jurassic Park III’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

    List of William H. Macy Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy William H. Macy Movies On Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘The Silent Hour’

    (L to R) Joel Kinnaman and Sandra Mae Frank in 'The Silent Hour'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Joel Kinnaman and Sandra Mae Frank in ‘The Silent Hour’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    Opening in limited release on October 11th, ‘The Silent Hour’ is proof that one intriguing element is no guarantee that a thriller won’t turn out to be rote and mostly bland despite a decent cast.

    It’s even more surprising coming from a director such as Brad Anderson, who has made the far more striking and interesting likes of ‘The Machinist’ and ‘Transsiberian.’

    Related Article: Joel Kinnaman Talks ‘Silent Night’ and Working with Director John Woo

    Will ‘The Silent Hour’ make itself heard?

    (L to R) Joel Kinnaman and Sandra Mae Frank in 'The Silent Hour'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Joel Kinnaman and Sandra Mae Frank in ‘The Silent Hour’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    With the feel of a straight-to-home entertainment movie cranked out on the cheap, ‘The Silent Hour’ doesn’t really have too much that makes it stand out, and too little to recommend it besides to Joel Kinnaman completists.

    It’s predictable and workmanlike, with decent performances, but rarely rises above the blandly basic in terms of its story or action.

    Script and Direction

    (L to R) Joel Kinnaman and Mark Strong in 'The Silent Hour'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Joel Kinnaman and Mark Strong in ‘The Silent Hour’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    The movie appears to be the first produced credit for writer Dan Hall, and indeed the finished product does bear some hallmarks of a first-time writer whose early drafts ended up on screen.

    ‘The Silent Hour’s characters are serviceable at best, and perfunctory at worst –– the vast majority of them exist to be archetypes or plot devices, and even Ava, who is one of the lead characters, is mostly reduced to being a damsel in distress.

    Director Brad Anderson has certainly made better movies than this in his career, and while he shows a few flashes of the stylish, gritty flair he’s brought to those (he does, for example, make good use of the claustrophobic setting of the near-abandoned apartment building).

    And as a filmmaker who has gotten astonishing performances from actors before, this time he appears stuck in a rut.

    Performances

    Joel Kinnaman scores the lion’s share of the screen time, but beyond his condition, it’s hard to really empathize with his situation.

    Joel Kinnaman as Frank Shaw

    Joel Kinnaman in 'The Silent Hour'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    Joel Kinnaman in ‘The Silent Hour’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    We’ve seen Kinnaman in gimmicky thrillers such as this before –– last year found him as a voiceless, vengeful, grieving father in John Woo’s ‘Silent Night’, but that at least boasted the filmmaker’s singular, stylish eye for action.

    Here, while the idea of a cop whose hearing is failing following an accident is sufficiently interesting at first, the character offers little for the actor to really dig into. His reliance on his less-than-proficient sign language and his sparky partnership with Sandra Mae Frank’s Ava work, but they’re not enough to support a film that has other, major issues.

    Sandra Mae Frank as Ava

    (L to R) Sandra Mae Frank and Joel Kinnaman in 'The Silent Hour'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Sandra Mae Frank and Joel Kinnaman in ‘The Silent Hour’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    Frank is a deaf actor who campaigns for deaf performers to be cast in more roles, but here it still feels like she is used as a gimmick more than a layered character. As a drug-using occupant of a condemned apartment building, she spends most of her time being threatened or saved by the men around her.

    Mekhi Pfifer as Lynch

    Mekhi Phifer in 'The Silent Hour'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    Mekhi Phifer in ‘The Silent Hour’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    Pfifer can bring nuance and subtlety when he’s given a chance, but the character of the gruff crooked cop who leads a group of similarly on-the-take officers gives him little chance to show that off.

    Instead, he’s reduced to barking orders, swearing and firing a gun (it’s somewhat hilarious that this movie’s villains have almost ‘A-Team’ levels of inability to shoot straight), or running around the apartment block looking for Kinnaman’s character.

    Mark Strong as Doug

    Mark Strong in 'The Silent Hour'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    Mark Strong in ‘The Silent Hour’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    Playing Kinnaman’s partner, Strong is also fairly wasted. Introduced as the friendly, jokey best-pal cop, he largely disappears from the movie for large stretches of it, until called upon to return.

    Strong is a much better actor than this movie deserves, and though he does his best with what is on offer, even his talent can’t make it work.

    Supporting cast

    (L to R) Joel Kinnaman and Mark Strong in 'The Silent Hour'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Joel Kinnaman and Mark Strong in ‘The Silent Hour’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    Most of the other characters are entirely forgettable; a bunch of baddies who run around and shoot guns (as mentioned above, badly) and shout vulgarity while trying to achieve their crooked aims. Frank’s daughter Sam, played by Katrina Lupi, primarily serves the purpose of being his concerned cheerleader in a couple of brief scenes. Her role falls to a cliched level we’ve seen many, many times before.

    Final Thoughts

    Joel Kinnaman in 'The Silent Hour'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    Joel Kinnaman in ‘The Silent Hour’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    The idea of a cop who has to deal with failing hearing and comes up against corrupt colleagues should really have made for a more interesting movie than this.

    And given the talent involved –– particularly Anderson –– it feels like even more of a disappointment. The resulting film is akin to watching a good-looking car driving past that sounds like a broken-down jalopy; there’s a real sense of cognitive dissonance.

    There are much better thrillers out there in the world, and much more nuanced treatments of deafness on screen, where people who live with it are not just used as props.

    ‘The Silent Hour’ receives 5.5 out of 10 stars.

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    What’s the plot of ‘The Silent Hour’?

    Frank Shaw (Joel Kinnaman) is a Boston detective who, after a line-of-duty accident, loses his hearing. Frustrated with his new life, Frank contemplates leaving the police force, but his partner Doug (Mark Strong) convinces him to prove he can still be a great cop.

    With his new role as a sign language interpreter for the department, Frank is now tasked with protecting Ava (Sandra Mae Frank), a deaf woman witness to a double murder.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Silent Hour’?

    • Joel Kinnaman as Frank Shaw
    • Sandra Mae Frank as Ava
    • Mekhi Phifer as Lynch
    • Mark Strong as Doug Slater
    (L to R) Sandra Mae Frank and Joel Kinnaman in 'The Silent Hour'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    (L to R) Sandra Mae Frank and Joel Kinnaman in ‘The Silent Hour’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

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